2008 was a busy time for me! I learned how to crawl, walk, run, and talk! I had my very first birthday which was "one"derful and got to spend plenty of time with my parents, cousins, grandparents, friends and neighbors!
No one can believe how nurturing I am with little ones and how I care for my dolls! I feed them, wash their faces, cover them with blankets, and pat and caress them!
I dress and undress myself! I even practice using the potty. I know whose shoes belong to whome and like to help around the house. I sweep, put my toys away, and sometimes, and even like to point out crumbs to Mommy so she can help keep the place clean! I teach Daddy about shortcuts on his computer keyboard and have become very-savvy with electronics. I LOVE taking baths and playing in the tub! I can quickly spot the moon and stars in almost any bedtime story and I know that spiders and ants belong outside!
Also in my repertoir of skills I have discovered magic! Every time I laugh and giggle, somebody smiles, no matter how bad their day! It's my little way of making the world a better place. I greet strangers and their eyes light up with joy! Sometimes my parents wonder if the world would be a better place if it were run by children!
I also revealed my hemoglobin stash and stopped hiding it. The doctors never figured out where I kept it and I'm not telling! But Mommy and Daddy are no longer fretting over my health and are confident I'm as strong and vigorous as the determined little girl I know I am.
Now, on to recapping the events leading up to this!
CHRISMAS, 2008!
We put up the Christmas Tree on the first Sunday after Thanksgiving! Many of it's branches were low enough for me to reach so I managed to hang a few ornaments! The advent calendar was out all month so I sampled chocolate from it and hid many other items behind it's many doors! Mommy bought me a few animated musical toys that brought the season to life for me - a Land of Misfit Toy and Rudoph and Frosty stockings!
I got to ride on the NC Museum of Life and Science Santa Train. We "travelled" to the North Pole where I was greeted by Santa and Ms. Claus. It was a really cold night and I didn't really know what was happening at the time, but while leaving the museum grounds, Mommy could tell from my mumblings that I was contemplating that I had just met Santa Claus, one of the most magical of characters!
Santa was everywhere I looked it seemed - in front yards, on stockings, clothes, cookies, and wrappers! It became easy for me to recognize him by his white beard and red suit. Christmas lights were a joy to discover as well and whenever I spotted a house adorned in light and color, I shouted "WOW!" and Mommy and Daddy cheered! 'Tis certainly a fun season!
Nana watched me on Christmas Eve and we played and laughed all day. She painted my toenails red to my delight and by night, the house was filled with food and laughter as all my nearby cousins, Uncles, and Aunts floated in for a celebration of the season! Grandma, Gramps, and Happy (my favorite puppydog) brought good Charleston cheer from West Virginia and even stayed a couple of nights! When I heard Happy was coming, I actually started dancing and clapping! She is my favorite dog and I love giving her smooches!
Cousins Brandon, Charlotte, Kyralia, Matilda, and Rylan celebrated the evening with us and we played lots of games and opened lots of presents together. We later went Christmas Caroling around the neighborhood but only caroled t0 three houses since the hour was late when we started.
I woke up on Christmas Day to another celebration of the season and a dollhouse, complete with furniture and lots of dolls to play with! Daddy got into the Spirit of Pretend and made a stuffed bunny play the make-believe piano. I was a little peaved the piano didn't have palpable keys, but once I realized it was all for pretend purposes, it was all the more fun!
The day after Christmas, Uncle Jon, Aunt Jennifer, and Cousin Harrison Lyle joined in the fun and we had another giant feast and opened yet even more presents! It was a fabulous time!
THANKSGIVING, 2008!
We celebrated Thanksgiving at Moosemont! I got to play with Cousin Harrison's giant Tonka trucks and he got to ride my shiny red tricycle throughout the house! Uncles John and Chris, Aunts Andrea, Jennifer, and Elizabeth, and Grandma and Gramps really went out of their way to talk to me! I love being the only little baby girl in the family - it makes me feel special!
Harrison and I also got to share time on the Rocking Horse, an classic antique rocking horse that is sturdy enough to hold Daddy. We took turns rocking on the horse and Gramps and Grandpa saw that I loved it so much, they let me take it home to North Carolina. The horse is featured in my Christmas Card since I smile quite genuinely when I'm in the midst of a ride!
Aunt Elizabeth dressed me up in some super cute and ultra warm winter garments (pink knitted hat, scarf, and gloves) and convinced everyone to go for a long walk to the entrance gait. It was a third of a mile each way and I did it all by myself in the cold. I decidedly expressed a preference to hold the hand of my Gramps and the hand of my Grandma in lieu of Mommy's. This delighted Mommy even though I flat out turned down her offer of a hand. Half-way back, I learned how to do the kick-walk and Gramps and Grandma would pick me up and swing me.
The driveway is amazing as it is on top of a narrow mountain ridge that falls off sharply on either side. I walked over to the ridge a couple of times as the night came down and was amazed by the site (lights from the city shining up from all directions). I was so amazed I learned two new expressions... WOOOOOWWW! and WOOOOOOAH! No matter what I said, it seemed everyone was delighted!
HALLOWEEN, 2008!
There were many occassions to dress up Halloween! I actually had two costumes, but can only be seen pictured in one, the ladybug outfit. The Anne Geddes Flower costume was fun for a while but I am not comfortable in it for long since it makes me feel clostorphobic!
Mommy and Daddy selected Jackolantern templates online and then, Daddy ended up carving both pumpkins because Mommy had no idea how much strength it required.
I went trick-or-treating with Cousins Charlotte, Kyralia, and Rylan in our neighborhood and got the hang right away of knocking on the door and extending my little lamb basket for goodies. I was the first to knock on the door several times and the host would answer and then, smile as he or she looked down to discover me way down below! I didn't master the "trick or treat" request, but they seemed to understand me just fine! The idea that I could knock on a door and get these shiny wrapped goodies was fascinating to me! At first, I didn't even realize I was collecting candy!
On Saturday night, we celebrated at Cousin Matilda's house and got door prizes for dressing up!
GENERAL AUTUMNAL HAPPENINGS, 2008!
I went to the NC State Fair in October and got to see lots of animals, ride lots of rides, and eat lots of goodies. Mommy and Daddy were surprized to learn that I am NOT a fan of cotton candy! That stuff looks so weird it's scarry. I did love the animals and danced to a lot of music that was playing. Daddy had broken his foot in late September so it was difficult for him to amble around but Mommy was able to keep up with me. I enjoyed seeing Cousins Charlotte, Kyralia, and Rylan at the fair but we only spent enough time together to ride a few rides and compete over a few toys!
I got to rake some leaves with Mommy in the front yard! I helped her load the leaves into trash bags and that was so much fun!
BEACH TRIP, 2008
The annual family beach vacation at Duck was a blast this year! I got to play in the pool, sand, and ocean! I must say, I'm not incredibly fond of sand yet, but the water play was great! I went on long rides in the stroller and had a great time out of daycare all week! A fun time was to be had by all at the Cousins' Party! We fingerpainted, placed stickers, made cookies, colored, and found fish all throughout the house! Next year, I want to fly a kite and do some extraordinary site-seeing. I brought back a Christmas a sand-dollar, a lighthouse bulb tree ornament, a pair of sponge-bob shoes that I picked out myself and a couple of pairs of crocks, one orange and glittery and the other blue/purple tie dye. I also got a pair of shades with orange crab collapsable shields and a mini-beachbag! I did discover salt water taffee and love it!
SUMMER, 2008
In early to mid-August, we made a trip to Moosemont and hung out with family for the weekend. I got to spend some time with Cousin Harrison.
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