Planes, Terrains, and Automobiles

It's official...Adalyn is the new Spongebaby Biggirlpants. Every day her nergin (noggin to the layperson) is soaking in new information like a sponge, and her pants get just a little bit big-girl pantier. So what's going on behind the scenes?

• Everything gets a "hi!" This leads to such silly phrases such as "hi, shoe" and "hi, poot" (even poots need to be welcomed into the world). And Adalyn's "hi, cat" has morphed into "hi, kihee!" (kitty), which I believe is the off-brand version of a certain cute, pink, commercialized kitteh...
• Ah, "beyey buh" (belly buttons). Adalyn has discovered how awesome they are and hunts down any belly buttons in a 10 foot radius.
• Along with belly buttons, Adalyn can name everything on her head and knows where her hands, toes, and feet are.
•  "Uh oh" is heard often whenever Adalyn drops a toy or herself.
• Adalyn's first molars are breaking through, and we've had a few visits from Grumpers Pantsen, Adalyn's grouchy, grumpy twin. Yay.
• Adalyn can seat herself in her chair, thank you very much. AND she can sort of feed herself and Mommy with a spoon...with her left hand! Dun dun DUUUUUN! Will she be a leftie like Mommom? Find out in 1-3 years!
• Adalyn now says her name "Aaaay" while patting her chest. Then she pats Mommy's chest and says "mama."
• After every sip of water, Adalyn sits back and gives a refreshing "aaaaaaaaaaah."
• Adalyn likes to Hat the Baby with pants, blankets, socks, actual hats...whatever's laying on the floor. And after every good hatting, Adalyn wanders over to the mirror to check herself out, and many giggles and squeals follow. Sometimes the hat stays on...sometimes it's ripped off.

And the one thing that makes it all worth it...

• Adalyn says "luh you" (love you) and places Mommy's hand on her cheek. Sometimes the lovefest ends in cuddles, a big hug, and a closed-mouth kiss. Mommy's heart melts every single time.

Mommy, Daddy, and Adalyn pack up to visit Vivienne for her 1-year birthday! And that means...Adalyn's FIRST airplane ride! Well...on the outside that is. She was quite the world-weary traveler by the time she was born, visiting both coasts and making many trips down to Houston as Mommy's little mascot. Adalyn had lots of fun in the airport and on the plane, sleeping only when it was inconvenient for Mommy, of course.

Uh oh, Adalyn makes a break for it.

After a 2-1 vote, it was decided that Adalyn needed a chaperone in the airport.

Daddy, the Baby Wrangler

After a fun plane ride of opening/closing the airplane window, opening/closing trays, greeting people, and nonstop eating, Adalyn is reunited with her cousin, Vivienne!

Vivienne holds the elephant steady as Adalyn loads it up for some crazy fun.

Double the hugs, double the fun

Whoever wins this round gets the first hug from Nana.

Gus distracts Adalyn while Vivienne tries to take out her competition.

Adalyn taunts Gus with the ball. That'll teach him!

After some indoor fun, we all head outdoors to romp around in the grassy terrain and gaze at the cows. But it's all fun and games until someone brings out the food. Behold! The Great Cracker Caper!

"Tra la la la la...I have a delicious cracker...om nom nom."

Meanwhile, Mommy and Adalyn play around in the grass. All is calm.

Uh oh, Adalyn's radar picks up some food in the nearby vicinity.

"Mwahahahahaha, I now have your delicious cracker!" "Hey! Come back with my cracker!"

Adalyn fires up her defensive lasers. "PEW PEW PEW!"

Adalyn taunts her victim by taking a big bite out of her trophy cracker.

Vivienne sneaks up on her attacker...WILL SHE RECLAIM HER CRACKER?!?!

NO! All is lost as Adalyn declares herself the Cracker Winner!

After the Great Cracker Caper shenanigans, it's time to watch the cows (on the moooooove, haha).

The cracker only made Adalyn hunger for more crunchy morsels.

All is forgiven as Vivienne gives Adalyn a huge baby hug. Awwwwwww...

Adalyn and Vivienne have been playing together so much, that it's time to kick back, have some refreshments, and relax.

Adalyn and Vivienne go out in style wearing matching shoes.

"Adalyn's taken the lead on blue! Vivienne tries to catch up on yellow!" The crowd goes wild!

The crowd gives a collective EEWWWWW as Adalyn and Vivienne switch cups.

Adalyn takes a ride in the "cah" (car in Adalyn's Boston accent) as Mommy and Vivienne give it the gas.

Adalyn makes a pit stop for a refuel.

Uh oh, looks like the pit stop included a driver change!

Adalyn tries out Vivienne's new baby-sized chair. And approves.

Adalyn's never had pretend tea before...it's delicious!

It's time for Vivienne's ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY BASH! The cake is made, the presents are wrapped, but is Adalyn ready to go?

The Babycake is dressed up as her alter ego, La Cake-a.

Adalyn enjoys the party...and the food. OM NOM NOM!

Oh my goodness...who gets a cow cake? So cute!

Nana helps Vivienne prepare for her first birthday BLOWOUT!

Vivienne gave such a fine performance that the candle was the last one to know that it was out.

Hmmmm, I'm seeing a theme here...Vivienne's dressed up like the cow cake...could Adalyn be dressed up as the strawberry cake?

Adalyn demolishes her cake and starts in on the crumbs.

Add these happy, bewildered parents to the "How Did the Last Year Go By So Fast?" list.

This is what two proud Daddies look like.

The party continued back home, where Adalyn learned how to ride a horsie.

Bleh! Baby tongue!

Aunt Patricia and Adalyn pose for the camera. Vivienne, on the other hand, is still recovering from her party.

TADA! Adalyn's first horsie ride!

Adalyn wasn't prepared for the giddy up!

Adalyn puts on her bow and cape to become SUPER CUTE!

The festivities have ended, and Mommy, Daddy, and Adalyn head back home. Adalyn had so much fun though that she slept during the whole plane ride! But just because the party's over, doesn't mean the fun has to end. Mommy and Daddy have tickets for the Mythbusters Tour!

Mommy and Daddy had so much fun at the Behind the Mythbusters Tour! Mommy was <this> close to getting called up on stage!

Peeper breaks in all of the Mythbusters t-shirts Mommy brought home.

Adalyn has her back pack and a phone. She's ready for the world!

Adalyn's ready to take on the world!

Bonus kitteh pics:

Peeper and Ninja wait in line as Michael cleans out the litter box...patiently of course.

The Tale of the Christmas Hatting

It's finally 2012, and Adalyn's been a whole ONE year old for quite some time now. What has she learned so far?

Well, let's see:
1) Adalyn "gih!" (gives) random objects to Daddy and Mommy. And then sometimes takes it away at the last second with a giggle and a smile...where did she learn this cheekiness from?
2) If Adalyn's not giving something to you, then she's "fwee!" (throwing) it somewhere for the cats to play with. Sometimes she even follows them around with one of their cat toys trying to play with them.
3) Adalyn gives hugs away for free, especially at daycare. It's no wonder everyone is absolutely in love with her. Even stuffed animals and shoes get hugs - she is an equal opportunity hugger.
4) Adalyn loves baths so much that being "gakay" (naked) is a blast! Sometimes when we're in the middle of outfits she asks "gakay?" but most of the time it's "gakay!" Ah, Adalyn now knows the freedom that comes with no pants...
5) Adalyn blows kisses to people as we wave bye-bye. It's really almost too much cute to take!
6) Adalyn can get in and out of her car like a little tiny person ready to go to work. All she needs now is a tie and a briefcase. Oh, and a packed lunch.
7) It's true. Adalyn steals hats, then puts them on her head and sports them proudly.
8) Adalyn knows what sounds dogs, cats, birds, and lions make. And when Mommy goes "ROAR!" Adalyn goes "roar!".
9) Adalyn has learned that "chee" (cheese) is the best thing since sliced bread. And she will eat it...and eat some more...and if you're not gonna finish that, she'll just take a few bites NOM NOM NOM...
10) Adalyn has learned that the "moo" (moon) is awesome. And if it's awesome, you have to say it over and over and over again and point at it so that everyone else knows how awesome it is.
11) Adalyn likes to walk around in her "shoo" (shoes) and "sah" (socks) and show them off to people.
12) Adalyn runs away and wants us to come up behind her and scare her, causing her to giggle and jump. And then she does it again...and again...
13) Adalyn LOVES "booh" (books), and is learning to read. She flips through the book like a sophisticated person and talks about the story she thinks she's reading.

Speaking of books, it's time to tell the tale of the Christmas hatting. It all began on a crisp, winter night. Mommy, Daddy, and Adalyn went to Old Town to visit the most ginormous Christmas tree that anyone has ever seen!

This is a ginormous Christmas tree, each branch composed of smaller Christmas trees. It's like the Voltron of the Christmas world.

Mommy and Adalyn bask in the warm Christmas tree glow.

Adalyn was SO excited by the Christmas tree, that she started getting ready for Christmas and the arrival of Santa Claus!

SQUEEEEEEEEEEAK! (Maybe this is a reindeer call??)

"Dear Santa, I want floofy pajamas, and a living room fort, and all the cheese I can eat, and...."

Adalyn composed her letter to Santa, slobbered on the envelope, stuck the stamp somewhere where Mommy will never find it, then toddled off. Though little did she know, it was time for the Christmas hatting.

Nana is the first to Hat the Baby Christmas style.

Adalyn also Hats the Baby...uh, wait a second...

Ha HA! Adalyn DeHats the Baby with flair and style.

Adalyn steals the hat from Daddy, and Hats herself again! She looks better in that hat than Daddy did anyway.

Adalyn tries to sneak by Daddy, hoping he doesn't notice her hat.

Uh oh, looks like Daddy noticed and rightfully claimed his hat. But it looks like it fits a little funny now...

With our heads all hatted, Mommy, Daddy, and Adalyn knew that it wasn't long before Santa would arrive just in time for Christmas. And boy! Santa sure made an entrance for Adalyn!!

Hmmm, what could this be? A new tradition where Santa takes one of Adalyn's toys and wraps it? Haha, that would be silly! Surely Santa wouldn't do anything like that, right?? Heheheheheheheh....

Somewhere in this picture is a Christmas tree.

Adalyn gets all decked out in the Christmas spirit for her first Christmas wrapping paper frenzy.

"Mom! When are we going to open presents???"

And we're off with the first Christmas present!

Adalyn examines the Cute Overlord...er...Overload calendar.

Peeper is appointed Christmas kitteh to watch over the festivities and keep everyone in line.

The presents were shredded, and the Christmas kitteh left her post, but no one told Adalyn about the SECOND Christmas hatting! OH NOES!

Daddy sports a hat as he unwraps a present...but will he KEEP IT?

Adalyn's been hatted! By one of her own Christmas bows! The traitor!

This picture captured Adalyn's awesome lecture on how to properly Hat the Baby for Christmas. Sadly, no one understood it.

After the second Christmas Hatting, Adalyn's head yearned for freedom. And Adalyn yearned to play with her new presents.

Oh goodness! Adalyn hugs a tiny version of herself.

Adalyn supervises the construction of her awesome new wheels.

What was leftover from all of the Christmas loot. Looks like Adalyn made out like a bandit!

Tada! Adalyn shows off her shiny, new wheels!

Uh oh...Adalyn looks like she's up to no good.

Someone's piggies are going WHEE WHEE WHEE all over the place.

Adalyn teases Grandpa by asking to be held, then coyly turning away at the last second.

Adalyn's never had her own car before, so she decides to test it out on the open road to see how it handles.

Adalyn knows that where she's going, she doesn't need seatbelts or airbags.

"I'mphve goph mah sfhoes im ma mouf!"

Sweet! Now Adalyn has a hand free to drive the car.

BEEP! BEEP! Out of my way people unless you want your toes runded over!

Adalyn had a great Christmas Day, but was a little sad to see that Santa skipped over her requests for a lifetime supply of cheese and a fort. Little did Adalyn know what Santa had in store for her later that week.

A fort in the living room! AWESOME! Thanks Daddy and Santa!

Adalyn is so excited she hugs the fort.

What's inside the fort??

Adalyn gets a bigger peek into the depths of the living room fort.

Adalyn and Daddy have a blast inside the fort where no Mommies are allowed!

Bonus kitteh pics:

There was a time they didn't have to stuff themselves into the cat tree...that time is not today.