Christmas in Shelbyville 2009

Cal's aunts and Granny Jessica gave Caroline a recordable version of The Night Before Christmas with each one reading a page or two. Caroline loves hearing it over and over. She'll probably have it memorized by next Christmas.

Caroline definitely enjoyed playing with Rocky. He was very patient and gentle with her.

She kept hugging him again and again, and he mostly stood there and let her do it.

Aunt Diane gave Caroline a pram. For the first few days, we had to take it everywhere we went - good thing we have an SUV.

After the festivities, Caroline helped vacuum the rug.

For some reason, she would not move from this spot. She would reach out as far as she could - that one strip was very clean!

Christmas Eve 2009

On Christmas Eve, Caroline received the traditional Christmas pajamas.

When Cal asked her to hold them up so he could take a picture, this is what she did.

We decided to be a little more specific for the second one.

Caroline wanted to leave cookies for Santa on her plate with a glass of milk and a Nemo napkin.

These are presents Caroline put under the tree for some of our family. They are sorted by wrapping paper and in a straight line - I can't imagine where she gets that!! Ha, Ha!!!

Baking: Christmas 2009

The Sunday before Christmas we decided to knock out almost all of our baking. This was the first year Caroline really participated, and she had so much fun making sugar cookies. She helped roll out the dough...

cut out cookies...

and make fingerprints in the cookies as she smashed them into the cookie sheet. Unfortunately, I can't say there were no cookies harmed in the making of this blog entry.

Earlier that day we went to the mall to use a coupon that was about to expire. Caroline and I went to Gymboree while daddy tried on shoes. She had been wanting an umbrella for months, and we FINALLY found a good one!!! As soon as we got home, she opened it up and started carrying it around (and no we're not superstitious). As you can see, she didn't even waste time taking off her coat.

After a couple of mintues of picture taking, she decided she wanted to take daddy's picture with the umbrella. I only helped keep the camera steady and Cal actually made it in the picture!

Caroline & The Fatboy

When my mother-in-law's best friend found out that Caroline loves motorcycles, her husband offered to let Caroline come "test drive" his yellow Harley Fatboy! We knew Caroline would be so excited, and she was. At first, she wouldn't sit on it alone - I think she was afraid she was going to slide off.

Then, she decided she wanted to have it all to herself.

She got a little more adventurous the longer she sat on it. Look - no feet!

Caroline finally decided to share, and we got this priceless family photo.

After she was done with the Harley (primarily because she was cold), she enjoyed bouncing endlessly on the rebounder. . .

. . . and dancing . . .

. . . sometimes, in unconventional ways.

After warming up, it was time for round #2!

I love my Harley!!

Visit to the Art Museum

I decided to take Caroline to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, because they had a free admission day on Wednesday. When we arrived, I took her to the gallery to look at the art work (just to see what she would think). After about 2 minutes, she said, "I want to go to the art museum," so I took her to the kid's area. It's an interactive area, so she began by using colored pencils to create her masterpiece.

Then, she painted for the first time in her life which she really enjoyed. When it was time to leave, she didn't want to go. I guess there will probably be a return trip in our future.

1st Haircut

Caroline had her 1st haircut on Saturday. We wanted to have her 2-year pictures taken before we cut her hair. As you can see, it was really long. She had 4 inches cut off at the longest point.

Caroline had been getting pretend haircuts for months, so she would be prepared for the real thing. It really paid off, because she sat still the entire time.

I think she enjoyed having her hair cut, because she smiled most of the time.

She looks so grown up now, and the cut is really adorable.

Decorating: Christmas 2009

While we were decorating for Christmas, I was going to hang the stockings on the fireplace, but Caroline decided she had to have them. When I handed them to her, she immediately sat down, took off her crocs and put the stockings on.

She tried to walk in them, but they were a little too slippery.


Flashback: Christmas 2007. This was the first time Caroline put on a stocking! She did not attempt to walk on this occasion -- she's become such a daredevil at age 2! In many ways, it seems like yesterday that we were bringing her home. We can't believe how much she's changed.