Big Girl (or Not So Much)

I went to the doctor today for my one year check up. It goes without saying that I am small. I didn't clear 17 pounds on Dr. Reilly's scale. She said that in all likelihood, I am just "slight;" but to be sure, she ordered some labs to check my thyroid, iron levels, and heaven knows what else. Mommy warned the nurses that I can be a touch dramatic...just so they wouldn't be shocked in the event that my screams actually propelled my lungs out of my body. The nurses had mommy lie down on the examining table and then positioned me next to her. They put my right arm was under mommy's side and sandwiched my legs between mommy's so I wouldn't kick. I don't know what all the fuss was about. I didn't whimper, much less cry. This is likely going to be the first of many times that I publicly prove mommy wrong just because I can.

After the doctor visit, mommy had a playdate with her friend, Caroline. They've been having playdates ever since mommy had Thatcher and Caroline had Elizabeth just two days apart. I think it is just an excuse for them to get together. I don't care because mommy's friend ROCKS! She bought me my first milkshake. I love her...almost as much as that shake!

Birthday Girl

How convicting! I logged on to see that I haven't posted since before Christmas! Yikes! I've been busy learning how to walk, saying, "Uh-huh," and waking up all hours of the night. I'm also pleased to report that I am finally, at long last, cutting my first tooth. You can't see it yet, but you can feel it. Hooray!

Anyhow, I took my first step back in December when I was 10 months old. This January, I really took off! Gone are the days of crawling! I just pick my 17-pound self up off the floor and walk around wherever I need to go. I really enjoy walking while holding things. Granddaddy says I'm "pulling a Linus" whenever I do it. He says lots of things about me, though. When he was here last week, he dubbed me "Diva Davis" because I put my head down on the floor and cry if things aren't going my way. It usually works, though, so I'm sticking with it.

We've had a big weekend around here on account of my big birthday on Saturday. Nana and Papa and Gran and Papa were in town to celebrate. I was a little grumpy when my party started. Okay...maybe I was more than "a little grumpy." I REALLY perked up when I got my hands on the chocolate cake with strawberry buttercream frosting mommy made for me! It was like having eight cups of coffee. It rocked! Thatcher showed me how to open my presents (read: he ripped open all of my presents himself). Nana and Papa gave me a really cool kitchen set; while Gran and Papa gave me a "Bitty Baby." Mommy and daddy gave me paintings of Paris for my room (clearly daddy had nothing to do with the gift choice); and Thatcher gave me a singing tea set. Those presents (and the many others) were all cool...but none so cool as the MONSTER TRUCK Thatcher received for his birthday. I just won't take my hands off of that thing. Do you think they come in pink???

I'll try to do better about posting. My typist--who is weary from the long hours--assures me that she would have more time for my dictation if I were to start sleeping through the night.

Digging the Cake.

The Caffeine Kicking In...

My Family.

Opening My Tea Set (Note the new outfit. Gran and Nana put me in the tub after the cake. My hair and clothes were simply not fit for opening presents)!

Escape Artist

I haven't been out of trouble long enough to blog. Sorry. Yesterday, I poured two cups of dog food on the floor before heading out to school. That was in a rare moment when I wasn't in time out for torturing Hadley...or W. Mom says what I did this morning takes the cake (coconut, I wonder?). She was drying her hair and told me to go put my paci in my room. I did, but then I decided that I wanted to go outside, so I unlocked the front door and out I went. Who cares that it was 34 degrees outside and I was only wearing my "Mater" jammies and no socks or shoes! The trouble was that once I was out there, I couldn't get back in. I rang the bell, but mom didn't hear me (thanks to the hair dryer). Thank heaven for our dear neighbor, Mrs. Russo, who heard me crying. She picked me up and brought me into the house. When she opened the door, mom heard our security system chime that a door had opened, so she came running, trying to figure out how I had opened one of the doors. Mrs. Russo told her that she found me crying on the front porch. Mom scooped me up in her arms and hugged me so tight that she probably left a mark. I didn't think she would ever let me go. I'm fine now, but I think mommy is going to need awhile to recover. It goes without saying that she is now investigating child-proof door lock mechanisms.

Home Movies

Last week, Thatcher and I watched a movie together. Of course, it was Cars. Just wait until I get to pick it out! I wonder how Thatcher will like Princess and Fairy movies. Anyhow, I didn't really watch it, but it was fun having cheese puffs and a cup of water in front of the TV for a few minutes. By the way, I am REALLY in to having a cup of water these days. If I see mommy getting a cup for Thatcher, she better be getting one for me, too, or else. I also am totally in to talking on the phone. Oh, and walking...don't let me forget that. I took my first step on Friday. I'm still wobbly and don't go more than one step, but I'll get the hang of it real soon, I'm sure.

Nothin' for Christmas

If the song is true, I'm definitely "gettin' nothin' for Christmas." Mom says I am possessed by the ghost of Christmas Naughty. This morning, mom made a coconut cake to give to the Webers for Christmas. It was a triple-layer masterpiece. Just as she finished icing it and putting the coconut on, Hadley started complaining that it was time for her morning nap. Mom put the cake in the middle of the kitchen island out of my reach (or so she thought). Five minutes later, she came downstairs to this:

Can you see where I just dove in with both hands? Hands make great cake excavators. It's a wonder I'm still alive (but mom says there are no guarantees that I will be come Christmas morning).

PS - When she iced the second cake and had to leave the room, she put it on top of the china cabinet to be extra safe.

PPS - When I talked to Gran this afternoon, I told her, "Gran, come my house. Made you a cake. I ruined it."

Breakfast With Santa

No one ever told me how busy the Christmas season would be! A couple weeks ago, we went to the Club to have Breakfast with Santa. It was so much fun! We headed there right after church, so I was all dolled up in my Christmas finery. I'm glad Advent lasts awhile so I can wear all of my Christmas dresses. Anyhow, instead of the usual omelet bar and waffles, there was a breakfast buffet spread. I'm a pretty big carnivore, so mommy got me the closest thing to meat she could find: a plate of scrambled eggs. I just devoured them - two plates, to be precise!

The whole point of the Breakfast with Santa, of course, was to meet the big guy. You probably remember that Thatcher was not really a big fan of the man in red the first couple of times he met him, so mommy and daddy were a little nervous. I, on the other hand, thought he would be a great cuddler, so I snuggled right up. Maybe he'll remember how cuddly I am when he visits my house on Christmas Eve.

Things I Say in the Car

1. "Go, mom."
2. "Look, mom, ex-ca-ba-tor!"
3. "Fire Truck, mom!"
4. "Lellow light, slow down."
5. "Go, honey."
6. "Slow down, mom."
7. "Hadwee sweepin'."
8. "Need band-aid, mom."
9. "Go Tar(g)et, wook Thomas, not buy it."
10. "Dinky Doo Spe-al Milk, Waaaht Eee-aay-go, Feed Hadwee." (This translates into "Drink Dinky Doo Special Milk, Watch Diego, Feed Hadley," and it is what I say every time we get in the car after preschool.