MERRY CHRISTMAS

Our holiday season was filled with family and friends. Out trip to Oklahoma was hectic, yet really great. We enjoyed spending time with the Grandparents and our families. We want to thank everyone who took the time and made the effort to host get-togethers this year. Your hard work was appreciated. Hannah had a wonderful time getting reaquainted with our family. She did really well in spite of being out of her normal routine. She is a social butterfly. We hope you all had a wonderful holiday.

Sorry about the long delay between posts.

Ok...I apologize for how long it has been since I posted a new blog. My computer was at the shop, but now it is up and running again. It ha been a trying couple of weeks for us. Hannah is cutting her molars. She has had a difficult time with all her teeth. However, the molars have proven to be the most difficult for her (and Mommy and Daddy.) She is talking very well. She says about 6-10 words that you can understand and thousands that you can't. She is without a doubt Daddy's little girl. It is so sweet to watch the two of them together. As we prepare for our trip to OKC for the holidays, we can't help but feel a little sad about how quickly the first yar came and went. She was my little baby. Now she is my little girl. of course she will always be Mommy's baby.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We truly enjoyed ourselves this Thanksgiving. We went against the "norm" and had charcoaled ribeye steaks with all the trimmings. I of course whipped up a couple of pies. What feast is complete without dessert? Hannah enjoyed her first Thanksgiving. Well, this isn't actually her first, but it is the first time she was able to eat with us. She also helped her Mommy make pies. We have so much to be thankful for this year. She reminds us everyday of how blessed we truly are. From our family to yours...Happy Thanksgiving

YES WE CAN!!!!

I have never been very political. I vote. I complain. I talk about politics, but I know very little and very rarely add anything insightful or intelligent to a political discussion. My Brother-in-law can vouch for me on this. However, this current election has had me very inspired and encouraged. Our country has been going downhill for at least the last ten years. The rhetoric in Washington has become so redundant that many Americans have become like sheep. Agreeing to anything because of fear and lack of information. I truly felt a breath of fresh air when Sen. Obama accepted his nomination to run for President. His words inspired me like no other politician in my lifetime. I feel he understands me and my family. I believe he has my best interests at heart. I watched the returns last night like it was the Sooners National Championship. Each and every electoral vote had me on the edge of my seat. I felt a victory coming, but refused to get too excited until it was official. I watched with great interest as Sen. McCain graciously conceded. I commented on the questionable attire of the candidates wives. I hung on every word that any political analyst had to say. I watched the crowds of people in Grant Park, dancing and chanting: "Yes we can." When Sen. Obama got past the magic number of 270, I felt something I haven't felt in a longtime...Patriotism! I am very proud that in my lifetime I have witnessed what will go down as the most historical event in American History. I am so happy that my daughter was a part of that. Even if you didn't vote for Obama, I am sure you will agree that this was a tremedous event to witness in our lifetime.

Wa' Tat Mommy

Well, it has officially began. Hannah is now asking us Wa'Tat (what's that?) Everything needs an official title. Wa'Tat Mommy? That's a tree. Wa'Tat Mommy? That's a cat. Wa'Tat Mommy? That's a book. It is so adorable. She is a sponge. She constantly moves, looks, touches, hugs, kisses. Her 1st trick-or-treat was more fun than I ever could have imagined. She bravely faced the ghouls and goblins with a smile on her face. She loved being the center of attention while people filled her little bucket with candy. I think it was probably the best Halloween I have ever had.

Fabulous Autumn Weather

Our Weekend was terrific. We didn't do anything major, but we did make it over to the open space/ponds around the corner from our house. We took the wagon and loaded up the baby and took a long nature walk. Hannah enjoyed exploring and finding rocks and leaves. She loves to watch the prairie dogs and Canadian geese. It was impossible to keep her in the wagon. Needless to say, she slept like a log. We love to get out of the house and take in the beautiful fall weather. It won't be long before the cold winter winds force us to be inside, so we try to take advantage of every opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors.

I've been busy!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, but life with a one-year old is hectic. I blink my eyes and the whole day has gone by and all I have done is read books and play hide-&-seek. We did manage to find time to have some family pictures made. The pressure from the grandparents was starting to make us feel guilty so we finally did it. Hannah also had her 12-month wellness exam. She is a very healthy little girl. She weighs 21lbs-14oz and she is 34 inches tall. She is a very tall kid. Poor thing will have the same problems I do...big feet and pants that are too short. She had 4 vaccinations and she took them better than I did. I know most parents think their children are "gifted," and we are no different. Some of the things she does and says amazes us, but she is right where she is supposed to be developmentally. The doc said she talks a little more and walks a little better than most 12-month old babies, so that's enough for me to believe we may have the next Oprah or Eleanor Roosevelt on our hands. But, happy and healthy are good enough.

Oh the energy a one year old has!

I am so jealous. Hannah is so full of energy. She can now officially "run." Why I was in a such a hurry for her to walk is beyond me. She is now running, and climbing, and wearing me out! She really enjoys being outside. There are so many things for her to discover, and so many things for me discover in her mouth. She is having a blast discovering her new world. I however, am exhausted!

Just when I've had enough....

Hannah really pushed all my buttons today. It was too cold to play outside today and she was bored and decided to be a big pain in my butt. She has a stubborn streak a mile wide. I don't know where she gets that from? Just when I had had enough and my patience was gone, I took her to her room for our nightime ritual of a story and song in the rocking chair. She reached her hand up to my face, took her pacifier out of her mouth, and babbled what sounded to me like "I love you mommy." All of the days frustration melted away and I felt my heart swell with love. I am so amazed at the kind of love I have for her, It is so unlike anything I have ever felt before. She is my angel. I can't remember life before her and I can't imagine life without her.

NO HANNAH!!!

Our typical Tuesday is nothing out of the ordinary. We do the same things at the same time we did them on Monday. We have breakfast, play, nap, lunch, nap, etc. However, today is a unique day. Hannah is aggressively pursuing her need to express her Independence. My baby is growing a mind of her own. She is learning my least favorite word...NO! Thank God for the person who invented the baby gate. What a genius!

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Oh my! My sister sent me this picture of me and my mom at the state fair when I was about the same age as Hannah. I didn't seem to enjoy my first pony ride as much as she did.

THE HARVEST FESTIVAL

Today we visited our local Dairy. They were hosting their annual Fall Festival. Hannah got to experience her first pony ride and enjoyed feeding the farm animals at the petting zoo. It was a cold fall day so we didn't stay for too long, but we had a ball!

Sunday is Special

I love Sunday. It is a day that is devoted to spending time together as a family. We eat a big country breakfast, drink lattes, and read the paper together. We leave our pajamas on until well after ten. Then we reluctantly get dressed and make our plans for the day. If the weather is nice we love to go to the dog park or the local hiking trails while TIVO records the early football game for us. If the weather is cold...like today, we play games and read books with Hannah until her naptime. We always find that the day is gone way to quickly, so we try to make the most of every second.

Gimme a break...PLEASE!

Oh My God! That is all I can say. Now, I am not one to complain about a loss when it was a really good game. But, we lost to Texas. I could blame it on the officials because there were some questionable, even bad calls. I could blame it on the weather, but it was a beautiful day. I could blame it on the fact that my lucky sweatshirt was in the laundry. But what it boils down to is this: both teams played great, but Texas was a little better today. I emphasize the word "today." I am just sick about the fact that Texas fans (and they always seem to multiply when they win) will not shut up about this game for 364 long hard days. Oh yeah, let's go ahead and gift-wrap the heisman trophy for "Good ol' Colt." They have been dying to give it to him all year anyway. Am I bitter? Yes! I could barely make myself eat that entire bag of chocolate covered cashews.

Boomer Sooner!

Tomorrow is the highly anticipated event of the Oklahoma Sooner football season. It is the Red River Rivalry. The biggest smack talking opportunity of the year. We HATE Texas. We hate their puke orange uniforms. We hate their fight song...which by the way is a rip-off of "I've been working on the railroad." How unoriginal can you be? We hate the way all the sports commentaters worship their "golden boy," Colt McCoy. We simply hate anything Texas, and that includes the Big hats and the big attitudes. There is nothing left to say except...HORNS DOWN!

I covet naptime!

Naptime is a chance for me to actually take a shower. The kind of shower where you use all the hot water. To shave my legs without brushing my teeth at the same time is a rare gift. A gift that I have learned to appreciate. Now, I am not the type of Mom who requires complete silence during the daily naps, but I do have a system worked out with Donnie and the neighbors. If there is a pink hair scrunchie on the doorknob, DON'T YOU DARE KNOCK ON THE DOOR! The door knocking makes the dogs bark and just like that, naptime is over. As much as I love naptime, after about and hour I begin to anxiously listen to the baby monitor. Wanting her to wake up so we can play together. Saturdays during football season is tough for us. We almost always have to TIVO the game because as most people know it is impossible for us to not scream and yell while our beloved Sooners are playing. Tomorrow th Oklahoma/Texas game starts ironically at the same time as Hannah's morning nap. Oh my, the Football Gods are cruel sometimes.

Welcome to my blog

I have decided to begin blogging. Who would have thought that me, someone who didn't even know what a blog was 6 months ago, would start her own blog! I sometimes offend people with my blunt attitude and inability to sugar-coat things, so please try not to take me too literally.

My world has changed so much in the past year. I have a beautiful daughter now. I am somebody's mother. That still catches me off-guard every now and then. Hannah has changed me.

I have to admit, I have always been a little selfish. I love attention, specifically being the center of attention. I am a bit of a ham. I love my own jokes. I laugh at my own jokes. I am the funniest person I know. Do you get where I am going with this? I tend to be a little self-absorbed.

Hannah has made my world feel so complete. I have loved many people in my life, but my needs were always the most important. Until she came into my life. Now don't misunderstand me. I love my Husband very much. But, I am a human and it is the tendency of humans to look out for themselves. To love themselves first. We are all this way. It is what has kept our species going.

I had never experienced the kind of love a Mother has for her child. An unconditional love that knows no bounds. That is, until I first gazed at my daughter. It is amazing. It is overpowering. It is a feeling I will never forget.

So I guess this first blog entry is a way for me to thank Hannah for making me into the type of person who can put other's needs before my own. Maybe my words are going to be misunderstood by some, but I don't mind. Every mother who reads this will understand completely.