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!

Camping

Hannah and I joined her good friend B and his dad on Friday for an overnight camping trip at Mineral Wells State Park.  This was the second time we’ve taken Hannah camping, the first was last August.  She did considerably better this time around but we still need some more practice.  We had perfect weather.  All around, it was a great trip.  Here are some pictures:

As soon as we got there, we set up camp:

Then we ate some dinner

and took a short hike before sunset

Then we headed back, changed into our PJ’s , and hit the tent at about 9:00.  Hannah finally went to sleep around 10:30.

She slept pretty hard once she finally got comfortable.  She even slept until almost 8am the next morning.

We had cereal bars for breakfast on Saturday morning

The next morning we took a short hike down by the lake and to Penitentiary Hollow.  Of course we had to stop for a cookie break

Taking a rest with her camping buddy

On the way home, all smiles

Easter Egg Hunt

Some of our friends from the church organized an Easter egg hunt at the Botanic Gardens today.  It was a beautiful spring day.  No wind, no clouds, just sunshine.  We had a little picnic with everyone and then we got down to the serious business of egg hunting. 

Hannah getting ready

Group shot

On the hunt.  We helped her with the first one and then she figured the drill out pretty quickly.

Success

Afterwards, she headed straight back to her spot to count her winnings.

Satisfied egg hunter

Checking out the fountain

Happy Easter everyone!  We pray your hearts would be encouraged as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection!

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.

That time of year

Now that spring is in full swing, we’ve been trying to get out and enjoy the weather more.  Walking, running, bike rides, or just playing in the yard, Hannah enjoys it all.  She especially likes riding in the Burley.  This evening we took a ride down the Trinity Trails to a little waterfall.  Hannah was not overly impressed; instead she kept asking where the ducks were.  We made a special stop later on the river to see the ducks.

We are also gearing up (literally) for camping season.  The other day I snagged this mega-tent from a guy at work for dirt cheap.  It is pretty huge.  I didn’t realize it was so big when I bought it.  The good thing is that if we ever default on our mortgage, we’ll do alright.  Hannah was right in the middle of the action when I did a dry run in the yard.  We have a camping trip scheduled later this month with a friend of mine and his son B (Hannah’s best friend).  Stay tuned for more pics.

When we are not outside enjoying the weather, Hannah enjoys lounging in the house with some relaxing reading or coloring material.  Note that her favorite spot is Nathan’s bouncer.

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.

Generations of Love

After Nathan was born, we were blessed to have a lot of family guests in town. At the top of this list was our grandparents. I love to watch them love on our babies. There’s just something about my grandmother holding my child that makes my heart smile. I look at her face and I know it was probably the same expression she made when holding me for the first time….a big smile and eyes full of love for God’s newest miracle. These moments are precious.

Me-maw

Mama Jo

G.G.

Thank you for all the sweet memories. We look forward to making many more with you and all of our other great-grandparents!