new red, shiny toys... they're for me, right?

Oh, man... you gotta get one of these trees for your house, too! Last night, daddy brought a BIG box down from somewhere upstairs & it had a tree in it. It didn't look like much at first, but now it's got all kinds of fun toys hanging ALL over it. First mom turned on some jingly music (which daddy quickly turned off), then she fixed the million lights all over it, then she put some sparkly, curly sticks on it, and then to top it off... she hung lots of shiny balls all over it. It lights up our whole room & I LOOOOOVE to play with it. Everyone should have one of these trees!

When I woke up this morning, the whole house was decorated in red & green. I am not sure what it all means... but let me tell you, I'm on sensory overload at this point. There's so much to play with, yet mom keeps moving me away from it all. Can't a girl have a little fun? Aren't these toys for me?? The dogs are not playing with them - so they must be mine!

Also - mom has been working tirelessly on some big socks for the past few weeks. This morning they were hung above the fireplace. I don't think she's quite finished with her sock yet (the middle one), but she put them up anyway. I have included a couple of pictures of our mantle... see what you think!? She keeps telling me that some big jolly guy will come & fill them with goodies soon.... well - hurry up big guy... when ya coming????

me 'n' my bestest bud.. keecha

helping daddy with the lights & showing off my ballet releve'

....mom's been working with me ;o) ha!

some trees that are just my size


oh man... knocked them over... but don't worry - I'll pick 'em up

get.... it... offfffff

ok... where's this santa dude... I'm calling him


see... I told you there were red & shiny!

me under the tree.... isn't that the best present of all?

lots of thanks to give...

Oh boy... were you people right, or what?!?!? That bird was the bestest bird I've ever tasted. My trip to San Angelo was short 'n' sweet, but that certainly did not stop me from eating my heart out & making lots of memories!

I spent Thursday with all of my daddy's aunts, uncles, cousins, & grandparents out at my popi's ranch... I ate some turkey & dressing, rode a mini donkey (yes - a REAL ONE), played with my cousins, ate some more turkey & dressing, watched everyone shoot sporting clays, and topped it all off with some chocolate pie. Whew! On Friday - I got to visit with mommy & daddy's friends - Sarah & Jon. We went to Ichiban & then practiced my walking at granna's house a little bit. My 2nd Thanksgiving celebration was on Saturday - this time I spent the day with mommy's family at my doodah's house. I ate some more turkey, but this time there was a whole different smorgasbord of food. Geez - it was hard finding room in my little tummy for any more food, but you better believe that I made room for some ice cream cake... woo wee!

I had such a special first Thanksgiving... I am so so so very lucky to have such an amazing family & wonderful friends. Mommy, Daddy, & I are so very thankful for all of the people who love & pray for us every day. We are so blessed to have each and every one of you in our lives!

i'm patiently awaiting the bird....

... Well - I'm expecting a lot tomorrow, as everyone keeps talking up this bird 'n' stuff. Hey - if it turns out to be true - it sounds like I'll have the best meal of my short little life... hope I won't be disappointed :o)


We are heading out to see my family back in Texas, so I'll have some great pictures & videos when I get back! I hope you all have a wonderful turkey day. I know that I'm certainly blessed & thankful to have so many wonderful people that love me!


Happy Thanksgiving!

a few stairs..... that ain't no thang!

You read it correctly - I said STAIRS! But before you grandmas start to worry... mom does not let me get near them, unless she's behind me. We have a gate at the bottom - don't fret!

For those of you who don't know, my daddy has been studying a WHOLE, WHOLE lot lately. He is preparing to take his written dental boards in January (the 28th to be exact), so he's been hitting the books pretty hard. Usually he's at the library, but when he stays home, he studies upstairs. So - if I know he's home - I constantly try to escape from mom to find him. I crawl over to the stairs... sit at the bottom... and yell to him. I'd say it pulls at his heart strings just a little to hear me hollering for him. hehehe! (*note to self: use this to my advantage in the future)

Sometimes mom does let me go to find him... she'll carry my up to almost the top of the stairs & let me finish climbing the last two or three, but today - she let me get the whole flight. I think they were a little surprised at how quickly I managed them. So - of course, they had to get out the video camera, but once again - be warned... it's a little shaky, as mom was following me up, as to make sure I did not fall!

The big picture at the top is of my 1st experience with grapefruit & fresh blueberries - two of my daddy's favorites... it looks like they might be mine, too! The other pictures are from my shopping trip with Mia today... we had a blast. Ms. Kellye had to make a quick trip out to the car, so Mia & I stopped for a cookie break - girls gotta eat!

you be the judge...

I had not planned on posting more tonight, but in response to begging from one of my grandparents (I won't name names)... I thought I'd come up with something.

My courage is growing these days, as well as my balance, so - I decided to try taking a few more steps tonight. Mom said she counted about 10 steps in a row at most, but geez it felt like a lot more than that! I am still not sure it would qualify as "walking"... but you be the judge. I still can't quite figure out how to stand up without help... I try & try to stand up with one leg - off of one knee, but am not quite strong enough for that yet - so I'll keep working on that technique. Hope you enjoy the videos!

The pictures are also from today - mom caught me red-handed digging through daddy's sock & boxer drawers... that will teach him to leave his drawers open :o) Hope you don't mind me showing off your unmentionables, daddy... I don't think you have seen these pictures yet... hehehe!

so i have a belly button.... who knew?

Do you have a belly button, too? Mom's been pointing mine out to me for some time now. Every time she'd ask "where's your belly button?"... she would tickle my tummy with her finger. So, starting a couple of days ago - when she asks me... I take her finger & put it right to my tummy. She proceeds to tickle me - and I LOVE it :o). Of course - they caught it on video.

I also sort of learned how to stack bowls. Yeah, yeah - I know - it's not too glamorous of a feat, but it's quite an accomplishment for a li'l tike like me. Sometimes, mom gives me the plastic set from the kitchen & it keeps me occupied for a good while. After several tries - I can usually get them to stack correctly, unless I get sidetracked that is :o) Hope you enjoy these videos - catch ya later!


**ps - if you've not noticed yet... you can go to my "growingupgrier youtube channel" to view all my latest videos....you can find the link to the left, under MY FAVE SITES... on youtube - you can watch them larger & in a little bit better quality if you like.

i'm no fairweather fan, but...

... I will say that it is much more fun to support a team that can win (at least every once in a while)! GO BOYS! I put on my uniform to try to bring them some luck tonight... I guess it worked. Mom will have to wash it for next week! Thanks for the outfit, Popi!!!

....oh, & I must give a shout-out to my other "boys"... the Titans, who might I add, are 10-0 so far this season.... woot woot!!!

i'm getting closer to the 'w' word...

No, no - not my wedding.... WALKING. Actually, I am not so sure I'd call it walking, in fact - it is probably closer to graceful falling than walking, but nonetheless... I can take a couple of steps by myself. I have really improved my skills with my walker, but I'm just starting to venture out on my own, and honestly, I don't do it much at all, unless mom & dad coax me. Like I said - I'm no pro, so don't expect much, but the day is getting closer - watch out world! You can see for yourself in the first 2 videos below. In the third video, you can see a shot of my new goofy face (the one mom spoke of in the previous post). Kellye says it is my Elmer Fudd face... ha! I am quite the little ham & make my "Elmer Fudd" face ALL of the time now... notice I even have the sound effects down, too.

Also included are a few pictures from tonight... how do you like my darling new coat? My sweet Granna sent it to me & boy am I glad she did, because it was cooooold out there today! They are forecasting some snow flurries for Nashville tonight - woo hoo!

ok, ok... i'm a wee bit goofy

Mom thought this picture was just too cute not to share. I've been making this face for a couple of weeks now when I get excited, or when I'm just being goofy. It is usually accompanied by a funny noise that I make, too. She has tried a million times to catch me on camera... so I finally gave her the shot she's been hoping to capture. Lucky her.

uncle 'n' cuz visit & "walking" with some help

Whoa baby - what a weekend - - I'll try to give you the condensed version. My great uncle Mike & cousin Jerrod came to Nashvegas for a short visit. We maxed out our 1 day yesterday, so that they (and I) could see the city... included in our day: Country Music Hall of Fame, Broadway Street, Ryman Auditorium, Tennessee State Capitol, Opryland Hotel, Grand Ole Opry, and the Gibson Guitar Outlet. By the end of the day, I was pooped.. see the sleepy picture below. We had an awesome time & are so glad they came to see us. Anyone else want to come visit??? You can have my bed - hard mattress, bars, and all!

Today, I finally started walking behind my walker. I've been able to walk holding onto someone's finger or a piece of furniture for a long time, but a couple of weeks ago, mom bought me a walker, so I could practice more. I was not sure about that crazy contraption & anytime it starting moving on me, I'd plop my bottom down to the ground. But - just today... I figured out that walking with it is not so bad. In fact - I kinda liked it. I started by taking a few steps, but within a few minutes... I was trucking it across the floor... I keep going until I run into an obstacle. Enjoy the pix from this weekend & videos of me "walking"!