Catching Up before the New Year!

Much has happened over the last 6 months.  I've been busy with work and starting my own  coffee business.  I will catch everyone up by starting with Clover's birthday in September.  She turned two!  She loved having her own birthday party and loved that her family was there with us to celebrate.  She had a Dr Seuss theme and instead of a cake, I made cupcakes. 

We took her actual birthday off of work and took Clover to the Early Works Museum.  She was excited to meet the Talking Tree for story time.  When we finally got to meet him, she was scared, but didnt want to leave.  After Clover's birthday in September, I had my 42nd birthday the next week.  She wanted it to be her birthday again.  I just wanted to sleep. 

So, in October we started telling Clover about Halloween.  We wanted her to understand what it was all about and we found books and videos to show her.  I did not want to push it on her, so I asked her if she was interested in going trick or treating.  She quickly nodded her head and told me yes.  Racking my brain about which costume to get, I asked her what she wanted to be for Halloween.  I thought she would say a cow or a duck..maybe Dora.  She told me she wanted to be the Talking Tree.  I thought about it for a second and was so relieved she picked out something so orginal.  I got to work on her costume and had it done just in time to go trunk or treating.

The funniest thing that happened was when Clover went up to the first car and said, "Trick or Treat".  A woman placed a few pieces of candy in her jack-o-lantern and Clover looked down in it and then looked up at the lady and said, "Thanks, lady!".



About a week after Halloween, Clover and I went down to Sanibel Island. My parents also went and they took their car separate from us.  We traveled together and stopped at a hotel for the night somewhere in Florida.  Clover loved being in a hotel and she loved that Grandma and Grandpa was there too.  She kept asking me to leave our room so we could go see them in their room.  We left the next morning and continued on to our destination.  When we got to the condo, Clover loved the freedom she had to run around.  It was not childproofed by any means, but she had lots of space to run inside and a lanai to sit or play and just look out onto the beach.  We were gone for a week and she was so happy the whole trip. 

I made these pants for Clover, but didnt have time to do a top.



When we were driving out of Sanibel, Clover looked out the window and said, "NO!".  I asked her what was wrong.  She told me she wanted to stay at the beach.  I told her that I did too. 

After we got back, it was time to celebrate daddy's birthday.  Clover still wanted it to be her birthday, but she was happy it was his birthday.  

As Christmas neared, we did the same as we did with Halloween.  We read Christmas books and watched lots of shows about Christmas...and Santa Claus.  She loves the book "A Night Before Christmas" and can recite many of the lines.  She went to see Santa at the mall and was thrilled.  She didnt know for sure what to say to him, so she just started spouting out random words, "Santa, chimney, cookies, reindeer, presents!".   She enjoyed finding her presents on Christmas morning and she loved spending time with all of the Wheatley's and King's.  She loves her family very much.

So what will the new year bring for little Autumn Clover?  In April, she will have a little sister!



Good Fun in Guntersville Over the Weekend.

We had a nice time this weekend in Guntersville.  It was Ava's (Clover's big cousin) 8th Birthday!  It was almost 100 degrees outside and we did some swimming too cool off.  Clover got to see most of her Wheatley's.  MeMe and PaPa came and so did Johnny's cousin Dana (we decided Clover will call her Aunt Dana) and her husband Michael also came out.  Mike and Angel did a great job putting on a great party. 

Easter Weekend

Hunting Eggs at Grandma's

I have been bad about posting for holidays this year. I will follow up soon with a post of various pictures taken so far since Christmas.  I do have a few I would like to share from 2011 Easter Weekend.

Most Beautiful Baby 2011

We spent Saturday in Guntersville with Johnny's family.  We attended the annual Egg Hunt and Clover won first place for "Most Beautiful Baby".  Her second year to win.  We spent the rest of the day in Gunterville and had a great time with Johnny's family.



Hanging Out and Grandma and Grandpa's after dinner.



Talkative

Clover has been talking up a storm.  This morning, after Johnny passed her she pointed to him and said, "That's my daddy".  Then she pointed to me and said, "momma".  I said, "Yes...That is daddy, I am mommy and you are our little baby Clover and we love you very much.".  She said, "I'm happy.". 

It can be very surprising to see what words she has picked up here and there.  Johnny handed her a small piece of granola to taste.  She looked at it and felt it.  Then she said, "rock".  She also knows she can "rock" in a rocking chair.  When I turned out her light tonight she said, "dark". 

Last week I was putting on her shoes and she said, "tight".  We took her to buy a new pair and I was embarrassed when the sales lady measured her foot and it was 3 sizes bigger than her shoes. 

Last night she seemed to be hiding under her table.  I asked her if she was pooping and she nodding her head yes.  I asked her if she wanted to go to the potty and she said yes.  We went in the bathroom, but it was too late.   I told her that she should let us know when she needs to potty and we could help her.  Then I told her to tell her teacher when she needed to potty and the teacher would help her then.  Today, I got a note from her teacher saying that Clover asked to go to the potty and they tried, but was not successful. I guess Clover was listening to me and did what I asked.  The teacher seemed excited for Clover and is going to work with her during the day. 

Clover on Christmas Morning...2010

Sorry for the late post.  Clover had a wonderful Christmas morning and here are the pictures of her discovering her toys that snowy morning.  Many of the pictures where captures taken from video.



Clover finds a set of keys in her new purse.



Santa gave Clover a new phone and left her a message on it.

Can you hear me now?



Before Clover saw what Santa brought for her.



Toys under the stockings.

Clover was a natural the first time she picked up the drum sticks.

Peeking inside to see what else might in there.



Looking at the lights.



Clover just starting to discover her toys.  She loves her laptop.



Clover checking out her new keyboard.



Testing out the keys.

It makes cat sounds...Clover is making the sign for cat.

Yummy..a BANANA.

Clover was not happy when she realized it was not edible.

new laptop

Clover loves her Dr Suess books.

Clover instantly knew to sing into the microphone.

Clover loves looking at the lights.



...and touching them.



Yay, a REAL BANANA!