Christmas

Riding on Virginia's giraffe
Rocking on the cow Granny gave you, Bibby latered flipped it over backwards she rocked so hard
Your beloved Sleeping Beauty that is "just my height."

Girls,

Christmas was so much fun this year. I was actually awake at 5:30 just laying in bed full of excitement knowing that you could wake up and go see your gifts without us. We actually ended up waking you up at 7:45. We had big plans that you were going to leave your passy on the placemat with Santa's cookies and he was going to take it to the children in Peru that didn't have any. Fat chance. You set it down, ran and got in your bed and had a complete meltdown. I knew that you would be up all night so after some negotiation we conceded. Now you say you are going to give it up when you are 4 or 5 or 6 or 7. I always hear the phrase, "She won't go to school with it." I don't believe it. Anyway, Christmas was a blast. After Santa we went to Papa and Mammy's. Bibby got a growing puppy, easy bake oven, books, kitchen and some fun surprises. One of the books was called, "No more passies." You didn't like it and said that we could leave it there. Virginia got one of the V-tech things that you bounce along with the TV, the kitchen some snowflake lights, funky monkey jammies to match Caroline and Bibbys and some other goodies. We then all walked over to Granny's to meet the rest of the gang. Virginia got a purse, rocking cow, cell phone, puzzles, maracas and other surprises. Bibby got Mia, the American girl doll with three outfits, a table and chairs for Mia, tea set, working microphone with i-pod connection and lots of other trinkets. We did all of this and made it to Brucie and Gigi's by brunch. Bibby got a V-tech (she calls it her Wii), princess dolls, toy laptop, remote control car and once again, lots of other surprises. Virginia got a Noah's ark, foldable doll house, a baby in a moses basket with a loaded diaper bag. We had a great brunch and hung out and watched Daddy and Michael play Wii. It was pretty entertaining. After their house we went on to Pop and Mymama's house. Bibby got her red-headed Cabage Patch that she has named, "Mary Bibb." We have changed her clothes 42 times since Christmas. This year was a blast. It was so full of those, "Please don't ever forget this" moments. Bibby, I overheard you when you were supposed to be napping singing a made-up song and the lyrics were the Christmas story......precious. One day you said, "Now, Mom, Mary and Joseph left Bethlehem and went to Nazereth, or was it the other way around." I loved that you were thinking about the real reason for the season. I love you girls.

Christmas List

Bibby,
I decided to document everything on your list this year. It is so precious and considering it won't be long before things like an Ipod and cell phone top your list I wanted to remember the innocence.

1. A life-sized Sleeping Beauty doll that talks and is "just my height." You saw this doll when we made a trip to Opry Mills mall but conveniently didn't mention that you wanted it for Christmas until we were home.
2. A growing puppy. You saw this in a magazine at Papa and Mammy's house. They have it covered. The darn thing links to your computer and knows your name and grows four times it's regular size when fed and watered correctly.
3. Belle dress-one of the only dress-up dresses we don't have.
4. Groom doll-to go with the bride Barbie aunt Birdie gave you for being in her wedding. She has the groom covered as well.
5. Surprises- You have figured out that this covers getting extra toys.

You have been so curious about Santa and the whole, "naughty and nice thing." Anytime I have gotten on to you the first thing you say is, "Am I still going to get some toys from Santa?" You have recently resorted to saying, "But only Jesus is perfect, Mom!" You are right but still sassy.

First Steps

Virginia,

You did it! You took your first couple of steps this week. They were precious. Daddy put a medicine spoon in his mouth (that you were really interested in for some reason) and held both arms out to you and you teetered across our kitchen floor. One of those sights that I pray will forever be etched in my memory. Those chunky little legs, you in nothing but a diaper stopping to clap for yourself every once in a while and Bibby giving Dad a high-five after your big accomplishment. {Oh man, I just looked up and you had to top off of the jar of Vasoline and were playing in it.} I have a feeling our days are going to change soon but I can't wait. It is so much fun to watch how you and Bibby have really been playing lately. You laugh harder at her than anything else. I pray that you always take these little steps in the right direction and that I can always be there to guide you.

Aunt Birdie went to a wedding with a candy bar and this is what you two got!!!! Way to go Birdie.

Fancy Nancy

Bibby,

We went to a Fancy Nancy birthday party. It was at Memi's and everyone dressed like Fancy Nancy and painted pottery. You were beside yourself with excitement. I let you completely dress yourself.........priceless

10 months

Virginia,

You are ten months old now. Once again, and I know, I say this all the time but I can't believe it. You have changed so much this month. Just some of the months accomplishments: two top teeth have cut through, you are standing without holding on to anything, you can do the sign for please (which is precious because you are supposed to rub your chest but you do your tummy), you can point to a light, you do funny face and clap for yourself, you can love a baby doll when we ask you to, you crawl up stairs and you even had your very first deliberate temper tantrum. You continue to be such a joy and an incredibly sweet and happy baby.

Sleeping Beauty and Snow White

Girls,

We had a ball this Halloween. Bibby, you of course wanted to be a princess so I told you to choose from the enormous pile of dress up clothes in the playroom and you picked Sleeping Beauty. You then decided that Virginia needed to be a princess as well. She looks the most like Snow White and Shimy found her a Snow White costume so you decided that would do. We had a ball at Trunk-or-Treat at church. They had an inflatable slide and Bibby, you brought your sleeping beauty doll with you and would throw her down first then you would fly down it. The material your costume is made of is that unbelievably slick polyester so you really flew. The worst part of the night was the costume contest. You all got on stage (I didn't really think you had a clue what was going on) and when they announced the last prize, "Most Beautiful" and it went to one of your best buds, Lydia, these enormous tears started welling up and you ran off the stage. Dad had to take you out in the hall and talk to you about being a good sport. I did think that you shouldn't have acted that way but when you started saying, "Why am I not beautiful?" "Sleeping Beauty is beautiful, isn't she Mom?" It just broke my heart. Snow White just sat on stage and chewed on an upopened pack of mini M&M's and smiled. Your legs were priceless under that yellow tulle skirt. Trick-or-treating was a blast. We went to all the family then stopped at Brucie and Gigi's where a hay ride was coming around the neighborhood. I thought we might just wave as they went by but Bibby you took off running saying, "Wait for me!" You and I jumped on and had a blast. We stopped with the other 20 or so kids that were on the ride and hit every house in the neighborhood. Your dad and I had a great time watching you. It was a really fun night. You ate so much candy and started playing like you were Tinkerbell and ran about 500 laps through Brucie's house yelling, "I can fly, I can fly, I can fly!" Cousin Caroline even stopped by and got in the post-candy-eating craziness. She was the Cat-in-the-Hat since that was what Uncle Dan was dressed like the night that he and MoMo met.

Zoo

Girls,

We had a great time going to the zoo with our friends Anne and Jack Liles and Bethy and Griffin Allen (who was only 10 days old). Bibby, you of course loved every second of it. The big tiger got right up against the glass and you and Jack both loved that. You kept saying that every animal we saw was your favorite. Virginia, this was your first trip to the zoo and you were so in tune to everything going on. The train was your favorite. You were a perfect angel. You took a little nap on the way down and were asleep instantly in the car on the way home. I hope you are always friends with Jack and Griffin and we can do the zoo again soon.

Pumpkin Patch

Girls,

Today was a fun one. One that your dad and I have been looking forward to for a year now. We went back to Tate Farms. This time Brucie and Gigi went with us. Bibby you were so excited and way more in to everything than you were last year. You loved jumping in the cotton, climbing the tire mountain, petting the animals and the hey ride. You were very determined to pick the perfect pumpkin. We walked a long time and you kept talking about all the "mess" or the pumpkin vines that were in your way. Virginia, you just sat back and took it all in like you always do, that is until the hay ride. Then you really hammed it up, waving and laughing at everyone. I can't wait to see you there next year. We managed to make it out with an assortment of pumpkins all picked out by you, Bibby. There is nothing more fun to me than watching the two of you learn and really soak up the life around you.

Girls,

I can not believe it is already October. That means Caroline will be one next month, which also means my baby's first birthday isn't far behind. I can't believe it. Virginia, you are now cruising around the coffee table and letting go with one hand. You have conquered getting up the one step in to the playroom. You also can feed yourself anything and everything and like your sister aren't too keen on your veggies but everything else suites you fine. You love to be outside. You are trying so hard to say different words. Mama and Dada are definitely your best and you can say them in the right context. You say dada almost everytime you see him and Mama when you are stuck in your crib and want out. I know that it is kindof, technically against the law but I turned your carseat around to face forward. You are way over the weight requirement and love being able to see what is going on. You just look like such a big girl. Bibby, you are totally trying to cut your nap out. I have finally resolved to setting the egg timer. The first time I put it in your room you thought it was the coolest thing ever and came running in the kitchen, "Mom, you are never going to believe what happened---it dinged!!!" Now, not so much. Everything is a "project" right now. We play school constantly and you work on bead projects and sticker projects and are really working on writing your name. Shadow has been acting up lately. This is your imaginary friend and coincidentally anytime you act up it is really shadows fault. Shadow also has to have a birthday party about every other meal. You get out the leftover napkins from your princess party and set the table. You can fly on your tricycle now. Dad and I took you to the fair this past week. You looked so big riding those rides by yourself. That was until I had to ask the man to stop the dinasour roller coaster so you could get off. It was pitiful watching it go around with you screaming, "Mommy, get me off of this thing." Daddy grabbed you off and you kept talking about how scared you were going over all of those HUGE hills. You braved up and did several more things. We had a lot of fun. School for you seems to be going great. You loved having "Donuts with Dad Day." Overall, you two remain two incredibly sweet and happy children. I love you, Mom

Only you, Bibby.....

would tell a preacher how to pray.

During Wednesday night dinner at church our preacher, "Mr. Terry," (who we adore and has a great sense of humor) was standing next to us while Rev. Bolding said the blessing. Bibby you have always been enamored with him. He can do the fake, removable thumb trick and on the way home you were grunting in the back seat saying that you weren't very strong because you couldn't get your thumb off. Anyway, as we were saying the blessing, everything was silent, obviously, and I peeked at you. You looked like an angel with your little prayer hands up and head bowed. Then I heard you calling for Terry. I look over and you keep on in a whispering voice, "Mr. Terry, Mr. Terry." When he looks at you, you tell him he needs to get his hands up! You not only say it but motion with your hands in an upward waving motion. So, there you two are both standing there with prayer hands in place. It was priceless, only you, sassy frassy would tell a preacher how to pray.

Times they are a changing

Virginia,

You are such an incredible baby. You have mastered crawling and with that are trying so hard to explore everything in your little world. I walked in just yesterday to find you standing up holding on to the side of your crib----so I guess you can pull up now. You also managed to get your self up on the side of the coffee table today. You have also learned how to feed yourself. No joke- we were eating dinner with Pop and Mymama while Dad was away studying in Bham when I was saying in a very frustrated voice that you won't feed yourself (I know you are only 8 months and aren't supposed to be on solids until 9 months) when you looked at me, reached down, picked up a piece of bread and put it in your sweet little mouth. It was truly like you just wanted to prove a point. Since then, you have used both hands to stuff those chunky cheeks. You also are saying "Bye-bye, mama, dada and yesterday you said, "Bibby." She was soooo excited. In all of the excitement of life you have decided that there is very little need for sleep and having been getting up at night. Just once, not crying but talking loudly until I come give you a bottle and put you back in your crib to continue your slumber. I really don't mind rocking you. I know how fast your sisters life has gone by and the fact that you are only 4 short months away from your first birthday I want to hold on to every minute. I love you little chunkenella ( I know it is not a very flattering nickname but it just comes out). Oh, another thing that you do that cracks me up is put the big chunky puzzle pieces with the wooden knobs in your mouth like a pacifier.

Beach

Girls,



We just got back from the beach. Honestly, I was very apprehensive about driving down with a 7-month-old, 9-month-old and 3-year-old but you girls could not have been better. Mammy had packed a "treasure box" for you Bibby with several tiny, individually wrapped gifts for you to open along the way. With the treasure box she also included an egg timer that we were supposed to set for 15 minutes and let you open one when it dinged. After you asking, "Did it ding?" at least 92 times before we even got on the interstate and hearing the tick-tick-tick MoMo and I decided that we would just tell you when you could open them. The rest of the ride went pretty smoothly. We went to Tacky Jack's when we got there and by this point Virginia, both you and Caroline had enough and were screaming and then Bibby, you decide to unplug your DVD player and stick the end of the cord in your mouth giving you a nice little jolt. Needless to say we were glad to be there. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. I guess it really was the "calm before the storm." Hurrican Gustav was on the way and there was not a single wave in the ocean. The water was crystal clear and calm enough that we could set the babies in it and they loved it! There were huge sand bars that you loved walking out to Bibby. Wednesday it was just MoMo and me with you girls and it couldn't have been a sweeter day. There was no one on the beach and the weather was perfect and your girls were really precious. Virginia, you loved digging in the sand with your hands and splashing in the water. Bibby, you chased and enormous Herron and loved looking for shells. It was also blue crab jubilee (mating season) and all the males were up really close to the shore and very lethargic (according to the umbrella man) so we could catch them really easily. I caught one that was so big that it wouldn't even go down in your little net. Bibby, you thought that was the coolest thing ever. Bibby, you changed so much during this trip. You really became a mature kid. You wanted to help with everything. Once you even opened the dryer and tried to fold the laundry for me all on your own. You were so helpful and sweet I walked you across the street to Surf City to get the "bag of rocks" you talked about the entire trip. The trip home was pretty uneventful except for the large amounts of evacuees. It took us seven hours to get home. The best part was at our last stop outside of Birmingham Mammy gave me a big lecture about how fast I was driving then pulled off ahead of us while MoMo and I changed diapers. Well, we get about a mile down the rode and Mammy and Granny had been pulled over with you in the car, Bibby. It was pretty funny. She didn't get a ticket. I think he felt sorry for ya'll because Gran couldn't figure out how to roll down the window and Mom said she was just trying to get Frosty the Snowman movie to play. We made so many sweet memories. I hope I never forget how precious you two are at the beach. Splashing in the water, digging in the sand and hunting for seashells.

Cousin Caroline

Bibby,

You were so excited that we were going to get to keep Caroline for a little while so Mo Mo could get her hair cut. We had a really good time. Of course Caroline was adorable. The only trouble I had was figuring out how to transport everyone from room to room. Neither one of the babies are crawling so I would get you to watch one while I moved the other one. You took your job so seriously. Virginia, you looovvee Caroline and light up when she comes over. She is really big in to pointing right now. You are usually the first one she points to.

Through your eyes

Bibby,
You always want to use my camera. I let you today and you thought it was the greatest. These were the results of your photo shoot.

Just some cute shots I didn't want to forget