Breastfeeding 101

The other day we told Hannah to feed her babies. This is what she did:

That’s how we roll…

Hannah’s 1st Haircut

It’s hard to believe that I waited two years to get my little girl's haircut but it’s true. I finally decided that the stringy strands of hair had to go.
We talked about getting a haircut for a long time before we went because I was really afraid she would freak out and it would be a huge ordeal. She was a little skeptical at first and wanted to sit in my lap, but overall, she did great! She only slapped  at the lady once or twice…ooops.
Before

After

Look at those cute  curls!

Hannah’s Ice Cream Party

When I found these invitations on clearance at Hobby Lobby back in January, it was a no brainer that Hannah was going to have an ice-cream party for her 2nd birthday. I mean, what’s better that ice-cream and swimming for a summer birthday?

I had lots of fun planning for this party. I won’t claim any of the ideas for myself though… I got most of them from the internet. I also had lots of help from my sister-in-law. She designed the text for the invitations, cup-cake toppers, and labels. Thanks Candace!! (If anyone is interested, her company is called Pearl Box Prints and she does a great job)!!

Here is the Ice-Cream Bar. We had all sorts of yummy toppings!

I also made a cake and fun ice-cream cone cupcakes for the kids. I really just loaded them all up with sugar and sent them home…your welcome parents!

However, we did have a little bit of fruit and cheese and crackers for our healthy guests.

And a party wouldn’t be a party without a birthday banner right?

For the favors I made these ice-cream cone shaped crayons. I found the idea here. 

I put them in little baggies and printed off a personalized coloring sheet from the Twisty Noodle that read, “Hannah’s Ice Cream Shop.” 

Now, on to more important things…the birthday girl!  She had such a great time running around playing with everyone.

She loved it when everyone sang to her. She had been singing happy birthday to herself pretty much all week, so she knew the song well. I was so glad she cooperated and wore her birthday hat. I found that idea here.

We tried to get a family shot, but Hannah was focused on the cake (Nathan is in the sling).

She was pretty much focused on eating as much sugar as possible the rest of the party. Every time I saw her she had a mouthful of cupcake or cake or ice-cream. Here are a few examples….

And it wouldn’t be a party without Aunt Anne!!

Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate our little girl! We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family that come alongside us in life to help make such wonderful memories.

Hannah's Dance Party

As many of you can attest to, Hannah loves to dance.  Here are some clips of her favorite moves.

Hannah “Mae-Mae” Hubley- 2 year update

Prepare for a long post. It’s been a while since I’ve done an update!

May 4th, 2010

May 4th, 2011

Wow, another year gone. Just like that. I know it goes by fast, but that was too fast. After Nathan was born, I looked up one day and saw that my sweet baby girl wasn’t a baby anymore. You are now officially a toddler. I got an email the other day from the church saying you are about to be “promoted” to the preschool wing! It’s too much for this mamma to handle. But handle it I must. It’s worth noting, however, that you’ll always be my baby girl.

We can already tell at two years old that you are very….let’s call it strategic (I wonder who you get this from). For example, one night you wanted to get something off the counter and we told you clearly that you could not have it. At the sound of “no" you started one of your fits. Arms were flailing, feet were stomping and then came the rolling around on the floor. Then, all of a sudden…you stopped…just as quick as you started. It was very obvious that you just had an idea. You got up and ran out of the room. Your Dad and I looked at each other not knowing what just happened. Then, you pranced back in with a huge smile on your face carrying a stool. You were so proud of yourself! You figured it out…or so you thought. You were still too short to reach what you wanted even with the stool.

You also love working puzzles. You sit for long periods of time on the floor taking pieces out and then putting them back again. Once you have done several puzzles one at a time over and over, you move on to something a bit more challenging. You take out all the pieces to four or five puzzles, mix them all together and then work on putting them in the right place. You get in the zone. Can you say one. track. mind?

You also go around counting everything. Except we can’t get you to start with “one.” You start counting at five and end at ten (most of the time you skip seven). Good try though.

We spend most of our time outside these days. You have fun with your water table, sand box, picnic table, and most of all playing with Broady. I should actually call it yelling at Broady. You walk out the door shouting “No, no Broady!” and pretty much keep that up until we go inside. You just started telling him “back, back” and you make a hand motion like you are pushing him back. It’s really funny (you also do this to us when you are pooping and want us to leave the room…you like your privacy).

You are still 100% a daddy’s girl.

When he comes home from work at lunch or in the evenings, you can be heard yelling, “Daddy home, Daddy home!” This is your favorite part of the day. You enjoy bike rides with him in the Burley and running errands with him on the weekends. You absolutely love riding in his truck. In the mornings when you wake up, you always call out for “Mae-Mae’s Daddy.” By the way…everything and everyone belong to someone (and usually that someone is Mae-Mae). This is the dreaded “mine” syndrome that I think or at least I hope most two year olds go through. One morning I said “I’m Mae-Mae’s Mommy.” You looked at me and then at Nathan and said, “No. Nate’s Mommy. Mae-Mae’s Daddy.” Don’t worry. I know you love me.

You also love your brother. You love giving him hugs (ie squeezing him very tightly),  singing him songs (ie screaming very loudly), and reading him books (ie commanding that he “watch”). This is usually his face when he hears or see’s you enter the room.

You love, love, love princesses or as you like to call them… “angels.” When I heard I was having a little girl, I always said you wouldn’t have all that “princess stuff” but I was so wrong. You love to play dress-up and dance all around the house.

It is amazing how God made little girls to love this stuff even at such an early age. We tell you often what a pretty girl  you are. You put on your necklace, your bracelets, grab your purse, put your baby in your stroller and say, “bye-bye mommy.” I laugh every time but also hold back tears because I can just picture you loading up your car, turning to say good-bye and heading off to college. I know…I know…give me a break. Your only two. But for the record,  I’m seriously going to need medication the day you start Kindergarten (your momma doesn’t deal well with change.)

Your two favorite songs are (1) “Angel Dance” (the song from Sleeping Beauty… “I know you. I walked with you once upon a dream…).  We sing this ALL DAY LONG! Gone are the days when I listened to the radio in the car. You tell me, “off please” when I turn it on (at least your polite).  But that’s ok. I LOVE singing to you. You are the best audience because you always ask for more and you never get tired of listening to me.   And (2) you love the “Aggie song” (The Aggie War Hymn)! Your dad has been singing this song to you since you were born and now you love it. You even sway and whoop at the end! When we finish singing you say, “more saw off.” Now, don’t judge. Some might call it brainwashing at such a young age, but we like to think we are simply helping you make a great decision about your collegiate future.

When we pray throughout the day (and especially at night) you like to add your own blessings at the end. You always want to bless all your grandparents (one by one), Dr. Murphy, your pediatrician,  any boo-boo’s that you have and you end by being thankful for your eyes and nose. This lists changes from day to day, but these are pretty much constants.

Hannah you are so fun and you teach me more about myself everyday. You can make me laugh, dance, sing, cry, and want to pull my hair out all in the same day (let’s be real…your two). We love you so much and this is still our prayer for you, sweet girl…

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…”

                                             Colossians 1:9-10

 

Happy 2nd Birthday Sweet Princess!

Sweet Sounds

During the season of Lent, I have been reading this little devotional book to help focus my heart and mind on the incredible truths of Easter. This week’s readings are entitled “Sin and Death.” After reading one morning, the old hymn Jesus Paid it All came to mind. I started singing it while doing some chores around the house. Soon, I noticed Hannah was following right behind me and singing her own version of the song. I stopped to listen…

“Jee-hus paid ALL!”

How sweet to hear my little girl sing such piercing words. I pray one day she will grasp this truth for herself and know how much he loves her.

Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe.

Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow.

Green Crackers

Like most children, Hannah sometimes has a hard time eating her veggies. She went through a phase where she loved green beans, and then all of a sudden…she wouldn’t eat them AT ALL. So the other night at dinner, we had some sort of chicken with green beans and she was avoiding them like the plague.

Then my genius hubby says, “Hannah, why don’t you taste your green crackers?” She looked puzzled and looked down at her plate. “Oh yeah,” I said. “These green crackers are so good!”

She took one cautious bite, then devoured the rest of them. So, now we refer to green beans as “green crackers.”

We’re not really lying right? They are green.

Stickers

Hannah has been going through a phase where her FAVORITE thing to do is "stickers." I'm not sure what got it started but it's a really big deal around here lately. She wakes up saying, "stit-ters...stit-ters" and goes straight to her table. It's kind of nice because it is about the only thing that will keep her in the same spot for more than five minutes!

We still have to help her get the stickers off of the sheet but then she puts them in her notebook by herself. Here are some pictures of her enjoying her favorite pastime and a couple of shots of her handiwork.





As you can see, we go through a lot of "stit-ters" around here. So if any of you have any of these jewels lying around your house and you don't think you'll ever use them....send them our way! I promise we will put them to good use!

Stylin'

Hannah and I were staying warm and stylin' yesterday in our track suit and Uggs. There is something I love about dressing like my daughter....sorry Hannah.

Bubble Wrap

You know it is going to be a good day when you get a package with an excessive amount of bubble wrap ;)

Gig 'em Aggies!

Here's to a few more wins this season...WHOOP!

Mother's Day Out

In September (I told you I was playing blog catch up), Scott and I decided to start Hannah in a Mother's Day Out program at a local church one day a week. Hannah loves it...I love it...therefore, Scott loves it....it's a win-win-win for sure!

I just had to share these pictures of her getting ready on her first day. She woke up on the wrong side of the crib and nothing was going right. I wanted to get some cute pictures of her with her back pack, but this is what I got...

She wanted nothing to do with it. She did, however, really like her lunch box!

Now she gets really excited about "school" and loves going to play with all her new friends. Her teachers are precious and did I mention....I get some time off! It might sound selfish, but I said it. I don't take it back. I like it!

Fall is here!

We are so glad fall and the cooler weather has finally arrived.  Here is a "seasonal" shot of Hannah to commemorate the occasion.  Enjoy!

Miss Priss

Sometimes, somehow, Jennifer still says she thinks our daughter resembles her. Unfortunately, I don't agree.

Water Hose Fun

Ok, I know I'm late on this, but I'm trying to play blog catch-up. I have a list of things in my head I want to post, but haven't gotten to them yet. Be patient. They will come.

Here are some pictures of Hannah back in the heat of the summer. She found some relief in the evenings by getting to play in the water hose. On one such occasion, Scott was bathing Broady in the yard and Hannah decided to take over. She was a mess, but had such a great time.