Sweet 16

From Meredith Jane 16 - 18 Months

I may only be 16 months old, but I already have a "bimmer" toy car! Here I am making sure everything is safe by adjusting my rear view mirrors.

You may think, but she can't be old enough to reach the pedals! Well, at first you were right, but it didn't take long for me to figure out what I had to do. Now I can push the pedals like all of the big girls do.

My Mama says that I won't be able to ride in my car until I understand what a street is (and how to not drive in the street). I wonder how long that will be? What a bummer! ;)

I think instead I'll just sit in my pretty car and look regal.

From Meredith Jane 16 - 18 Months

Merry Christmas!

From Meredith Jane 16 - 18 Months

Yesterday was a great day! Can you guess what happened? My Mama and Daddy say that even though I may have been angry at Santa Claus, by some miracle he didn't put me on the naughty list! That means I got presents from Santa! Maybe next year I won't be so angry at him.

I also got presents from many other people I love! Thank you all very much! I loved to try on my new clothes and play with my new toys.

I hope everyone else had a great Christmas too!

Happy Birthday, Mama!

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

Yesterday was my Mama's birthday. Join me wishing my Mama a Happy Birthday! I love doing things with my Mama. Here I am making a Christmas decoration with her. Really, I'm just pulling apart the cotton, but I like it anyway. (Mama was the one making the decoration...)

I'll leave you with one of my Mama's favorite pictures. It is another one of me investigating the Christmas tree.

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

You took me to see this guy ... again?!

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

I may have fallen for this trick once last year, but I'm much older and wiser now. I know your ways and how you think it would be "cute" to see me sitting in the "jolly old man's" lap. I just don't see it.

How can a man be jolly if he's got a long beard and a big red suit on with white furry stuff all over. I mean, really. This is Texas! It's HOT here! On top of that, I can't even see his mouth. How do I know he has one at all?

Last year I was young and naive. This year I'm just young. Even if I'm sitting on my Mama's lap I'm not going to stand for this silliness. Maybe I'll put up with it if you persist over the years.

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

Daddy, can you take me home now?

Investigating

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

I'm all into finding out how things work. My Daddy says I get that trait from him. Maybe I get it from my Mama? Who knows... but it has to be one of the two ;)

Today I wanted to learn about how the Christmas tree works. I saw my Mama and Daddy putting it up, but I couldn't leave it at that. I need to know how those dangling things stay on there. Did you know they use hooks and strings??

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

I even learned how to put back what I took down. Here I am with some help from my Mama picking up after myself. What a big girl I am!

Taking Over!

MWAAAHHHHAHHHAAA! I have successfully taken over Meredith's blog!! You better be watching out big sis!

Hello there from inside the womb! If you look close I am waving to everyone! I also may be sucking my thumb. Mama says that is a nasty habit but she says that if it keeps me from getting a plug she will take it! I hear (you hear a lot when all you have to do all day is hang out) Mama and Daddy have decided on names for me depending on what i turn out to be.

Boy: Theodore Elial
Girl: Emmaline Ruth

I also have been hearing about what Mama and Daddy are going to be doing about the blog. They may be changing the name to include me or I may be getting my own blog. Stay tuned to find out...

I'm 15 months old!

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

This may come as no surprise to those who can do calendar math, but I'm already 15 moths old (really I'm getting close to 16 months old)!

I went to see my great friend the pediatrician (wow, that's a big word for a 15 month old, don't you think?) the other day. She says that I have some new stats to let you know about. As of November 18, 2008 I was:

• 22 pounds, 13.5 ounces (50th percentile)
• 31 and a half inches (75th percentile)
• 19 inch "massive" cranium (105th percentile.... wait, no, 95th percentile)

My Mama thinks my head is massive. She complains that she can't get all of my shirts over my head. I think it is just the right size. What do you think?

I'd like to remind you that I have more recent pictures of me out at Meredith Jane 13 - 15 Months.

Happy Saint Nicholas Day!

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

Today is Saint Nicholas day. When I woke up, I found a pomegranate and tangerines in a sack on the fireplace mantle. I also found a couple of small toys. How great is this? Now I get two Christmases! :D

Today my Grandma Kat and Patoo came down to visit for an early Christmas. So not only did I get my Saint Nicholas day presents, I also got to open some real Christmas presents! My Grandma Kat and Patoo really love me! I got all kinds of great toys -- even a tricycle. Boy, do I love that tricycle already.

We spent the afternoon and evening downtown at a playground in Hemisfair Park and on the Riverwalk. It was a nice day and we even got to see the beautiful Christmas lights. The picture on this post is at the playground. I was having a blast in a swing. Can you tell that I was happy? See my new pictures in Meredith Jane 13 - 15 Months to see some more pictures -- my Mama and Daddy say I can be really cute sometimes!

I hope you had a nice Saint Nicholas day too!

You are how old???

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

That's awfully old! I can't imagine how old that is... I'm not even 16 months old yet!

No matter how old, Happy Birthday Daddy! You look like a monkey, and smell like one too!

Just kidding... you only look like a monkey ;)

I love my Daddy, even if his age frightens me some!

Shoes To Fill

I LOVE SHOES! They make me VERY happy! I normally go after my shoes and am still working on actually getting them on. Mama's shoes though are MUCH easier to get on! Here is me walking around in her shoes. They may be easier to get on but they sure are hard to walk in.

Mama thinks I am strange because I can pick a pair of shoes out of a pile of shoes almost every time, but what good would be one shoe if it did not match the other?!?

Well I am off to find more shoes to try on!

Frosty says Happy Holidays too!

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

Fosty the Icicle says Happy Holidays too. You may not be able to tell from this picture, but Frosty's hat is actually a long icicle. How cool is that?

For those of you who are eagerly anticipating another post with a picture of me... just wait. :) I won't disappoint.

Happy Holidays!

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

Christmas may still be 25 more "sleeps" away, but here in Texas we already have Christmas set up! For proof, here's one of my own ornaments. My Daddy was having some fun with his camera taking this picture. Do you like it? I sure do! (but I'm partial to my Daddy)

My Grandma Stavenger says that this Christmas should be fun, but wasn't last year fun too?? She says now that I have a better idea of what is going on, it should be more memorable. I sure think Mama and Daddy will remember it after I tear into all of those boxes! :D

But don't forget the true meaning behind Christmas -- we may be giving gifts to each other, but it is only in memory of the gift of Christ!

Do princesses stop to smell the flowers?

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

It's move-in day into my new room! And guess what I get to ponder every time I'm in the room?

Do princesses stop to smell the flowers?

I guess they would if there were any flowers? Those don't come out often here in Texas. Maybe I'll be able to answer the question better in the spring.

My Mama and Daddy are going to move the crib and some of my toys. Maybe even the dresser? We'll have to see.

Here's a picture of my new mural. Should only be a little more than 5 months until my little brother or sister is here!

Sending everyone kisses on Black Friday!

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

I'm a day late to send out kisses for Thanksgiving, but my Mama and Daddy say that some people think today is just as much of a holiday as yesterday, so I guess I can't be too late!

I'm not too sure why it is "Black" Friday? It is somewhat gray outside (it may even rain!), but why black? At least the Friday part makes sense.

I'm sorry for not getting this post out yesterday in time for Thanksgiving. Our cable company friends felt that yesterday was a good day to turn off the Internet. So I didn't have a way to make a post. To make up for it, I'll send you twice as many kisses!

XOXOXOXO

While I was out

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

Yesterday my Daddy pulled a fast one on me.

My Mama and I went up to Grandma Kat's to bake some cookies. For some reason my Daddy didn't go, but now I know the reason.

My Mama and Daddy keep saying that I'm going to be moving into the front room soon, to make way for little "cashew." The thing is, I wasn't too fond of the gray color. Neither was my Mama. She wanted sky blue with one wall painted as a flower mural.

Well, my Daddy got started while we were out! Can you see the blue color? He says that he'll paint the green soon for the ground in the mural. Then my Mama can come back in and stencil in the flowers.

How much fun is that?

It's a Swiffer, and I helped!

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

I love to sweep. Whenever someone takes out the broom to sweep the kitchen floor, I let them know that I want to sweep too!

This morning it was my Mama. She said that I am messy -- something about how I shouldn't turn over my cup of Honey Bunches of Oats cereal. I'm not worried though. I got to sweep again!

Yesterday it was my aunt Katie. But I didn't get to sweep! We were over and my grandma's and they spilled something on the floor. Aunt Katie was sweeping it up, but there wasn't a Swiffer for me? Doesn't everyone keep one of those around for us kids?

Let's go down the sliiiiiiiiiiiiiiide!

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

I may be at the top of the slide in this picture, but that doesn't mean that is where I stayed for long! :)

I love my slide. And when I say love, I mean LOOOOVE my slide! :D

It is outside now. :( My Mama and Daddy didn't think it was very good living room furniture. So now whenever my Mama or Daddy take me outside, where do you think I go?

To the backyard, of course! Because that is where my slide is!!

Meredith, where's the light?

I don't quite understand my parent's obsession with making me perform tricks. The latest one is having me point out where the light in the room is. Here's a picture of me doing just that. If I can type in a blog, why would they not expect me to be able to point out where a simple light is? How silly...

My Mama also likes asking me what is barking outside. Since our neighbor dogs often bark, I like to say "dog". I'm so smart! I can point things out and say what they are!

I think I ate too many Kix!

They may be "kid tested and mother approved", but I guess you can have too many! I'm also eating Honey Nut Cheerios. Can you see those in the picture too? My Daddy even fed me one of his Frosted Mini Wheats, but only because I signed "more, please."

Oh, by the way, I'm also eating in the big girl's chair! Can you tell how much older I look? My Mama got me this great booster chair for me to use. She says that in a short while my little sibling will have to sit in my old high chair. I should do a post, "I'm going to be a big sister and I'm going to teach the baby how to sit in a high chair!" The baby has to learn from someone, and it might as well be me since I'm the resident expert in the house!

Thanks for stopping by! I have some more Kix to eat now...

Two are better than one!

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

My Mama used to put my hair up in one pony tail. Do you remember that picture?

Daddy thought that it looked funny. Well, here's a new hairdo -- two! (what a great rhymer I am)

Now my Daddy thinks it looks more normal. He says it will look even better once my hair gets longer. Since I figured out in an earlier post that I'm getting older by the minute and I may be old enough tomorrow to carve a pumpkin ... maybe that means tomorrow my hair will be long enough too?

Hmm... what I can get myself into now?? Hehehehe

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, laaaaa!

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

Ahem...

Ok, now that I'm warmed up.

A, B, C, D...

A, B, C...

A

A

A, B

A

A, B, C, D...

Hey, why are you complaining? I like pressing the button a lot on my great alphabet refrigerator magnet!

Boo!

Are you scared yet?

I'm not... I don't even know what I'm supposed to be scared about?

The other day my Mama made me dress up like a spotted dog. Why would I need to dress up like a dog when we have Gilligan for doing just that? (being a dog) Oh well...

Tonight my Mama and Daddy carved a pumpkin to make a jack-o'-lantern. I guess that makes this a picture of the jack-o'-lantern. I like to think of it as the man in the pumpkin. Or maybe the woman in the pumpkin?

Anywho, I didn't really get much say in what the jack-o'-lantern was going to look like. Something about how I wasn't big enough. But how big will I need to be? My Daddy said I was definitely not big enough to cut out the holes.

I'm getting bigger by the minute. Maybe I'll be big enough tomorrow?

I once found a tree this big!!!

So big, that my Mama and I could stand inside of it! No really, INSIDE of the tree? How crazy mad is that?

Last weekend we went outside again. My Daddy says it is called camping. I just call it a fun time. Outside is the best. Who needs a roof over your head when it hardly ever rains? Besides, my Mama and Daddy have this great fabric roof they call a tent. (On a side note, they sure have a lot of names for things...)

While we were camping, we found this tree that you could actually walk into. I was riding with my Mama when Daddy decided that it would be a fun place to take a picture. Don't we look cute?

A Big Girl Potty!

Meredith and I have been working with her on using a big girl potty! Some days are good days and we get to the potty more then we do not. On other days, well lets just say that we are glad that the training pants absorb most of what comes out. We are working on the sign for potty but for now Meredith just goes and gets the potty. She used to wait to go but has forgotten and goes then gets the potty. For a 14 months old I will take it as long as we are "getting it" most of the time.

Pumpkin Patch

I went the other day with my Grandma Kat and Mama to this place they called a pumpkin patch. It was GREAT! There were all these balls with handles on them...I tried really hard to pick most of them up but they were not filled with air. Mama says we will carve out pumpkin at the end of the month and I can see what is inside it. She also says that we will make pumpkin seeds. We already know that I like them because Mama and Daddy gave me these granola bars that have LOTS of seeds and nuts in then and I can eat a whole one by myself! Anyway. I wanted to share a few pictures with you. The first one is of me and Grandma Kat talking about a pumpkin. Mama thought that she would bring what I am going to be for Halloween with us too. So she got a few of me as a dog. I am too cute!

I DID IT!!

I hiked all by myself! Mama and Daddy just brought me back from this LONG trip with them most of it was GREAT! I LOVED the camping part and even liked being put in the Mei Tei or backpack BUT the best part was when I could hike all by myself! Mama let me Hike 0.3 miles pretty much in all sand! I had a BLAST!! I rolled in it and belly flopped and still came up smiling. Oh yeah and the arch that we hiked to was pretty neat too. It was called sand dune arch. Here is a picture of me hiking by myself. If you see other of me holding onto Mama's hand ignore them...I did it all on my own.

No, Meredith, that isn't how you carry a baby

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

So it looks like we have some work to do...

Meredith is all ready to be a big sister, but I think it may be more of a surprise to her once it actually happens. That and she likes to carry around her doll by its legs...

Look -- I can be a big sister!

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

And this is me carrying my new little brother or sister.

At least this is me practicing. My Daddy thinks that I may not be big enough to carry my new little sibling, but we'll have to see about that. I just need to get some practice in. He says something about how the real baby will be much heavier than my doll.

I think, why would the make dolls look like babies but not be as heavy as they really are? He answered, "Well, dear, they don't have them make messes of their diapers, either..."

I've been under the weather....

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

And no, I'm not talking about Hurricane Ike! ;) But luckily it looks like Ike is heading east of us.

The good news is that I'm starting to feel better again. I'm eating more and I'm becoming a little less cranky -- you know how it feels to be sick, now add on top of that not being able to communicate well!

Anyway, hopefully I'll get in the mood again to put up some more posts. Or maybe I could convince my Mama or Daddy to do that for me?

Happy Grandparents Day!

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

Here's a shout out to the bestest Grandparents a baby could have! Word on the street is that yesterday was Grandparents Day! Why do they just have one day for grandparents? They should have a whole year!! If you don't believe that yesterday was Grandparents Day, just check it out for yourself, http://www.grandparents-day.com/.

So I'm a day late, but I'm not a dollar short (my grandparents like giving me presents)! I guess next year my Mama and Daddy just better be more aware of what is happening around them -- who could expect a one year old like me to remember such a thing?

I'm going to be a Daddy again, and I want Meredith to teach the baby how to ...

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

Love Mama and Daddy.

Mollie does an awesome job taking care of Meredith every day. Meredith and Mollie have grown together and have a wonderful mother-daughter bond. I only hope that Meredith can help the same happen with the new baby.

I also hope that Meredith can help teach the new baby how to be as cute and lovable as she is. A new baby will certainly add a lot more responsibility and work to our days, but what more wonderful a thing than to bring another beautiful life into the world!

For some reason (I haven't figured it out quite yet), Mollie really likes the face Meredith is making in this picture. She is definitely cute, though!

I'm going to be a big sister, and I'm going to teach the baby how to ...

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

Use a remote like my Mama and Daddy.

This one I have here doesn't seem to do much. I don't quite know why my Mama and Daddy won't let me use the one they always have ... they always seem to take it away from me when I get it. Then they do this thing ... a switcharoo ... and all of a sudden I'm holding this one that doesn't do anything.

I know! I'll teach the new baby how to not fall for the ol' switcharoo trick!

I'm going to be a big sister, and I'm going to teach the baby how to ...

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

Put toys into a bucket.

Quite honestly, it doesn't have to be a bucket. And whatever you're putting in there doesn't even have to fit.

I've been known to put my favorite blankie my Mama knit me into my toy car walker. It doesn't fit, but I don't let that stop me. Who cares if it hangs out and drags on the floor? I put it in there, and I'm proud of it!

I'm going to be a big sister, and I'm going to teach the baby how to ...

From Meredith Jane 13-15 Months

Drink through a straw.

I don't like bottles. I don't really like sippy cups. I sort of like my Mama or Daddy helping me drink like a big girl. But what do I really like?

Doing everything myself -- with a straw. It doesn't matter what the drink is, as long as there is a straw in it. I'm going to do my best be be sure the new baby is the same way!

I'm going to be a big sister, and I'm going to teach the baby how to ...

Sleep like a baby!

I don't sleep much anymore (at least I don't like naps much), but I used to sleep. At least I think I did... it is kind of hard to remember. I seem to be in a permanent daze; always tired...

Whoa, sorry, almost fell asleep. We can't let that happen!

I'm going to be a big sister, and I'm going to teach the baby how to ...

Be the cutest, most serious baby in the world!

Well, I can't say I'm always serious. Sometimes I'm crabby (don't tell Mama I told you that...). But most of the time I'm happy. And darned cute. Here's a picture to prove it!

On second thought... Maybe I'll teach the baby how to be the second most cutest baby in the world. I certainly wouldn't want to give up my title!

I'm going to be a big sister, and I'm going to teach the baby how to ...

Play with the dog's toys!

I really love playing with Gilligan's (a.k.a, "ga ga" and sometimes "ga ga ga") toys. Especially when that means Gilli comes to play with me! Here I am trying to get that silly boy to come over to me. Doesn't he know yet that I'm calling him? I mean really, what's it take to train a dog around here?

I'm going to be a big sister, and I'm going to teach the baby how to ...

Walk around the house -- with plastic keys in your mouth!

I don't like walking around just by myself. Maybe it is a self confidence thing ... maybe I just don't like being alone. Who knows? Anyway, I love walking around while holding on to something. In this case, it is my set of toy keys. At other times it is a big ball -- who would want to do the same thing all of the time?

I'm going to be a big sister, and I'm going to teach the baby how to ...

Read books to the puppies!

I still don't technically know how to read, but I have a feeling the baby won't know the difference. If I'm already one year old and can't read I think I have a head start on the baby. It will come with time, don't worry!

I'm going to be a big sister, and I'm going to teach the baby how to ...

Eat with a spoon!

Hopefully by then I'll be able to do a better job, since I'll be older and wiser. I wouldn't want to look silly with all kinds of food strewn across my face. Hey, it will be okay. My Mama says I have until late April or early May to perfect eating with a spoon!

I'm going to be a big sister, and I'm going to teach the baby how to ...

Suck on a pacifier.

But my Mama and Daddy say that I won't be able to suck on the baby's pacifier, especially if it is attached to the baby. I guess this doll won't work well as an example then. I'll have to find my real pacifiers. Now where did I leave one? I know it is around here somewhere...

A Little Help Please!!

Grandma Stavenger made me this GREAT hat and i want to take it off to get a better look BUT for some reason i JUST can't seem to get it off. Can you help me?!?

I'm a big girl now!

For any of you that had doubts about me getting bigger by the moment, here's the latest stats from the pediatrician:

Height: 30 inches (75 percentile)
Weight: 21 lbs and 2 oz (50 percentile)
Head: 18.5 inches (95 percentile)

The doctor said that I "look wonderful in all aspects."

I just thought I'd let you know that I'm 2 and 1/2 feet tall already! Oh, and I sorta like eating cupcakes. ;)

The Cake

I hear the most important part of events is the cake!! I made Meredith's cake and with some fiascoes it all got worked out! It only took 4 boxes of cake mix some tears and Timothy coming home and taking charge for it all to work out! Gilligan says thanks for the cake!

Meredith was glad to finally have a piece of cake after watching Mama spend most of the day before "playing" with it. She ate more then I thought she would. (two bites!)
The pictures are of me decorating the cake, the cake and Meredith eating some(playing).