24 Months

Where do I begin? The last 24 months have been absolutely the most amazing of mine & Shane's life. Hannah Claire has brought so much joy to our lives. You hear people say they don't know what they did before kids. We understand now. She keeps us on our toes and we love every second of it! I do believe we have the smartest, sweetest, most beautiful little girl in the world living in our home (I'm not biased at all!). Here are some of Hannah Claire's favorite things :

*Couch time (this is suppose to be Mommy & Daddy's time together while HC plays, but she has somehow made it her time)

*Dinner & bedtime prayers

*Bubbles (outside and bathtub)

*Shoes (hers & Mommy's)

*Doggies (specifically Allie & Junior)

*Friends (Reece, Addie, Haley, Jackson, Preslee, Allie)

*Babydolls

*Chicken, pretzels, sup (of anything Daddy has) & any fruit you give the kid

*Mickey & Minnie, Tigger & Pooh, Elmo & Ernie (we have to sleep in the Ernie diapers, I'm not really sure why but she loves him!!!)

*Singing "bitzy" or Itsy Bitsy Spider, Jesus Loves Me & Sweet Caroline

*Sitting on the potty & talking about it but not actually using it

*Fireworks (HC is obsessed with fireworks. She has talked about them since New Years)

Hannah Claire is so sweet and loving. She has the best little personality and huge sense of humor. She loves to laugh and to make others laugh. She is a huge ham and will grin and show out any chance she gets. We are really blessed that she is such a good girl. She will test us at times but for the most part she obeys most of the time. She loves to be around people (which is a must for this family). We are so thankful that God chose us to be her parents and we pray everyday that we are raising her in a way that is pleasing to Him. Happy 2nd Birthday sweet Hannah Claire!

2 Years Old

Wow, has it already been two years since Hannah Claire joined our family and forever changed us. That would be a resounding yes! The past two years have been absolutely amazing. From the sleepless nights to the "woove you" it just doesn't get much better than being a parent. And being a parent to the sweetest kid ever. We really do have lots of fun together and enjoy spending time together. I pray she will always want to hang out with Mommy & Daddy.

Hannah Claire's actual birthday was on Mother's Day this year so we decided to celebrate on Saturday. For some reason I thought it was be a great idea to decorate cupcakes myself for the big day. Keep in mind I have absolutely no experience at this at all. I asked for advice from my super mom friend Rachel. She did a Curious George cake for her son Noah's first birthday and Elmo for his second birthday. She gave me excellent advice and I gave the cupcakes a trial run the weekend before so I would know if I needed to purchase any. They turned out pretty well (if I do say so myself). HC was fascinated by what I was doing. I look forward to the days we will do stuff like this together.

I did realize that cake decorating will probably never be my career 1) I'm not that good and 2) I have carpal tunnel in my right hand since pregnancy. That really is not great when you are doing the same thing for a couple of hours. It was all worth it for this precious angel!

We had lots of family coming from out of town for the big party. Most of the out of towners showed up early so they could spend some time with the birthday girl. Nana brought a gift that was going to part of the festivities so HC got to open it early.

We also did our Mother's Day celebration for our two moms before the party got started. We are so blessed to have two very loving mothers. We love you both very much!

Along the way HC opened another gift and loves to play with her My Little Pony. (Sidebar: It is so funny to me that all of the things that were so popular when I was little are popular again; Care Bares, Strawberry Shortcake, Cabbage Patch Kids, My Little Pony. I love it!) HC has found a very special home for her My Little Pony. He now lives in our pantry. I'm not sure why but she will play with him and then put him back in the pantry. Hey, whatever works.

We got everything ready and HC wanted to play with one of the balloons. Sadly she lost it outside. She kept a close eye on it though first with Pawpaw John (her great-grandfather).

Then with her Pawpaw. I think this left a mark because this weekend we were at a party and HC held on tightly to her balloon so it wouldn't go anywhere. Our girl learns fast!

The party table.

Has anyone ever told you how hard it is to get a 2 year old to stand still for a picture while there is a whole house full of people there for a party.

We attempted the Birthday Girl Hat again this year. The strings were too short so we just tried to get a picture. It went much better than last year. You can see that here.

HC was focused on the candles.

Nana brought punching balloons. The party goers loved them.

Hannah Claire gets the opening gifts thing but the sweet thing wants to stop and play with each gift. She did proceed to stop, sit and look through the entire book Mawmaw & Pawpaw gave her. Who cares that all these people are here, I want to look at my book.

HC even took time open her cards.

Some Miller loving before the Scottsboro group had to head back north. (Aunt Janet, HC, Mawmaw & Pawpaw)

After the gifts were opened a few of the kids played in the splash pad Nana had gotten HC. It was a huge hit!

Head first and still fun! Aunt Lorie was worried but HC was not worried at all.

Hannah Claire and her good buddy Addie having fun in the sun!

She would dive in or jump in and splash.

It was not super warm that day and the water was cold. HC got out and did her shiver dance.

I just love this picture. How often do you get a 2,3 & 4 year old stop and smile for a picture.

The Florence group was getting ready to head out so we got a quick group shot. (Aunt Lorie, Pawpaw John, Granny Sue, HC, Nana & Mommy)

Thank you to everyone who made Hannah Claire's second birthday so very special.

You Go Big Girl!

On Saturday, April 17th Hannah Claire and I hung out at the house while Daddy went to Tuscaloosa for A-Day. After a very long nap I asked HC if she needed to go pee-pee in the potty. She said yes, so we gave it a whirl. She always wants to get some toilet paper and I tell her only when she goes tee-tee in the potty. She sat on the potty for a few minutes and then asked for some t.p. again. I peeked in the bowl & guess what I found. That's right! Tee-Tee!!! We saved it and showed Daddy since he was almost home.

Modest

Very proud of herself!

(Sorry for the picture of HC's handy work but the blog is how we document life so you get the good, the bad and the tee-tee.)

I let her run around without clothes because that is the ultimate reward for her. I was hoping it would motivate her to do this all the time. Well, she went tee-tee again on Monday morning and the poo-poo that night. She was a little sad the next morning when she went looking in her potty and nothing was there. I guess she thought I would leave it to admire. I think that the number 2 experience may have scared her a little because she has had zero interest in the potty since. Daddy did talk her into trying again this past Thursday morning. She went poo-poo but on the floor in the bathroom. It was right beside the potty so we are working on it. Hopefully we can start making some serious progress soon!

Cruisin

So Hannah Claire got this awesome VW Bug Powerwheel for Christmas. She thought it was super cool to sit in. That was it. Once you pushed the gas pedal she would get scared and jump out. It has sit in our basement for months. We would talk about it and even open the door and get in and out on a fairly regular basis but never wanted it on. Well, about two weeks ago she decided it was time and she was off.

Now she has mastered pushing the pedal but not quite the looking where she is headed or steering the wheel.

"I think I'm suppose to be over there."

Loving life in the fast lane.

"Eat my dust!"

HC was so proud of herself once we got the Bug parked. Notice the piece of sidewalk chalk "color" in her hand, she had to have it the whole time she was driving. It rode beside her in the driver's seat.

23 Months

23 months! I can't believe it! We do watch Seinfield some evenings but I didn't think HC was really paying attention. I guess she was. Eat your heart out George Costanza!

Our little monkey finally settled down for her some-what serious red chair picture.

"This little piggy cried wee, wee, wee all the way home."

Daddy got his tickles in too.

Hannah Claire is very active and really changing everyday. She repeats everything we say. One of her new skills is saying her prayers. "Thank you, Loooord, fooud, day, amen" (Thank you Lord for this food and this day amen.) It is about the sweetest thing ever. We are so blessed to get to be Hannah Claire's parents and see her grow and learn everyday!

Look At That Grin!

I can't help but be in total love with this silly, sweet little angel!

Shoe Shine

Some mornings Daddy does a quick polish on his shoes before he leaves. Hannah Claire saw this one morning and thought her shoes (I mean socks) needed a quick spiff-up.