The Little Italian

Being Italian means eating alot of pasta which my Momma loves and so do I. Pasta of any kind is my favorite meal. When I eat spaghetti with red sauce I have to strip down to just a diaper because I get it everywhere. I go straight from my chair at the dinner table....

to a bath full of bubbles. So I can get ready to brush my gums and get ready for bed because it is definitely time to rest my sleepy little head.

a day at the beach

a day at the beach means.......

I get to play in the waves.....

I get to eat all of the fruit, gold fish and sand I want....
And I get to body slam Momma while she lays out in the sun with my sandy butt!
I sure am glad my Daddy documented my day at the beach.

Giddy Up Horsey

Another trip to Grandma's means learning a new song or game. This time she taught me how to get Momma and Daddy to play giddy up horsey.

At home I have a horsey that my Nanny Hanna gave me that does all the work for Momma and Daddy. I love that I get to play giddy up horsey 2 different ways.

Clemson Tigers - Flashback

This weekend while we were riding back from Atlanta my Daddy taught me how to cheer for the Clemson Tigers. As you may remember I am a proud fan of Clemson Football. My Momma said I needed to support the ATU Wonderboys next weekend. My Daddy just laughed.

Fish

Oh the fishes you will see under the sea
Some are big and some are as tiny as can be
Like the yellow and blue fish
My Momma showed me


















The sting rays and the shark
Like to lurk around in the dark
I got to look really close from my Daddy purch

















I even saw the biggest whale
Right next to the tiny snail
As cousin Clarissa held me close by the whale

Helping Around the House

I know it must be hard to do everything around the house and take care of me. So I figured that Momma needed help unloading the dishwasher but since I insisted she had to work around me I quit helping to go play with my toys.

Daddy needed help washing the car but he didn't listen to my advice so I quit helping him.

Momma and Daddy made a unanimous decision that I was not ready to help out around the house which suits me just fine. They think it was their choice but I am really the boss.

A Little Taste

The first time it happened was the last time I visited Grandpa Ray - he was having a popsicle well he let me have a little taste. It was from that moment that I realized what all the hype was about. I tried my hardest to keep getting a little taste from Grandpa Ray. Momma was giving Grandpa Ray evil looks especially since it was so close to my bedtime so he would not let me have anymore. Unfortunately that was the last little taste I would have for a long time. Last week Momma was watering the flowers eating a popsicle and she gave me a little taste. The next day when we were watering the flowers Momma decided since I was such a good helper and managed to stay dry that I could have my very own POPSICLE! It was so good especially on a very HOT Charleston day.

July - what a busy month

It has been along time since I have been able to tell everyone what has been happening in my life over the month of July. The month long celebration started with the 4th of July. My Momma and Daddy took me to see the fireworks at Patriots Point but I decided it was best to go to sleep instead of staying up so late. The loud booms didn't even wake me up.

The next weekend we went to North Carolina to see Pablo (Mr. Paul) and Mrs. Leslie's farm. The farm house was right in the middle of a corn field with some cows. Pablo and my Daddy took me for a ride to get an up close look at the cows and boy were they big. Now my Daddy wants a cow now, so he can talk to Pablo about his cow. I got to pick flowers with Momma when Daddy and Pablo were out exploring the farm country. The weekend was very nice and relaxing since we were in the middle of 'God's Country'.

The next weekend we went to Atlanta to sell our boat, 2 of our puppies and most importantly to see Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Jenna. This weekend I was able to meet my cousin Clarissa for the 1st time. She is going to Georgia Tech in the Fall, hopefully I will get to see more of her when I go to Grandma and Grandpa's. It was the shortest and fastest trip I have ever made to see Grandma and Grandpa. We had to savor every minute of our time.

The week of my birthday was very busy at our house. While we were getting ready for my birthday celebration I took my 1st step. Taking this step must be a big deal because now all Momma and Daddy say now is 'Good Girl' and 'Look atcho walking around'. Momma says this the most I don't really understand what atcho means other than I do that when I sneeze. Daddy says it is because Momma talks funny and runs her words together.

Then for the biggest celebration in July was my 1st birthday. For my birthday celebration I had alot of visitors like: Grandma and Grandpa, Nanny Hanna, Paran Uncle Justin and Aunt Michelle, Aunt Sandra, Aunt Cindy, Aunt Jenna, Kalee Jo and Olivia all came to my birthday party. The most fun that I had was when I got to eat my cake. After my cake I had to go take a bath because I was covered from head to toe in icing from my cake. I am glad I got to have all of that sugar because now Momma hasn't let me have more taste of sugar since my cake. After we had cake I got to open my presents. I really let Momma and Daddy open the presents because I was not really interested until they were out of the boxes so I could play with them. Some of my favorite presents top play with are the caterpillar that I can pull around, my monkeys that jump in the bed, my Winnie the Pooh riding toy that I can rock back and forth, the Zebra that I am supposed to ride but I just dance with him right now because I am too small, my book about Zaccheaus, and my CD's. These are just a few of my toys that I love to play with of course it changes daily.

I am so thankful that everyone took time out of there busy month of July to come to my birthday celebration. I know it is hard to take time to go for a visit to family after this busy month not to mention how tiring traveling can be needless to say I am ready for August.

Aunt Sandra and Uncle David - Celebrate 25 years

This past weekend, I got to go on a trip with my Momma to New Orleans. We went to NOLA because my Aunt Sandra and Uncle David had a surprise 25th Wedding Anniversary Party. My Nanny Hanna and her sister Kalee Jo arranged the party. My job was to help Aunt Sandra stay occupied on Friday so that she did not find out that Aunt Christilynn and Aunt Pam were in town to suprise her too. This was a really big task for me - we had to go take Kalee Jo to tennis, get a pedicure and manicure, go swimming, have lunch, visit Mimi (Hanna and Kalee Jo's grandma) and I had to take a nap for the big party. Aunt Sandra and Uncle David were suprised that we kept it a secret the whole time. At the party I finally got to meet Mrs. Pat, she was one of my Granny (Momma's Momma) Marie's best friends. When I was sleeping she told my Momma that it was too cold for me not to have a blanket covering me up. Mrs. Pat took one of the table cloths off of the table to cover me up and keep me warm. When she was covering me the table cloth she said 'That is how your Granny would do it."

Happy Fathers Day

Father's Day started out extra special for Daddy. He got to sleep in late. While Daddy was asleep Momma and I made pancakes and bacon for him, just like he requested. After we were finished making the pancakes and bacon, we snuck in the bedroom and steam rolled Daddy to wake him up. That was alot of fun! Not only was it Daddy's first Fathers Day it was also my first taste of pancakes.

After breakfast we just hung out because that is what Daddy wanted to do. It is a good thing that Momma and Daddy picked up all of the wine on Saturday because I was really wanting a glass of wine. Even though they flipped over the wine box I can still clang the bottles and make music.

The best parts of the day was when I read Daddy the card I got him because I had his undivided attention. It was just like when he reads me stories only I was the one reading and he pays more attention than I do. We had alot of fun playing together today and giving each other love.

Boating in Charleston

We decided that we should take a boat trip around the Charleston Harbour. The only thing was it was way to choppy because high tide was coming in. I told Daddy he should go to one of the creeks instead. I really wanted a smoother ride so I could take a nap.

Daddy loves playing the drums on my belly even on the boat.

I saw a dolphin and I am trying to get Momma and Daddy to look too. There were alot of dolphins out on this day. Maybe when I grow up I will get to go swimming with them.

I am the head skipper of this boat even if I am not the driver.

Memorial Day

For Memorial Day I had a few visitors: Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Jenna and Aunt Michelle all came to Charleston to see me. We had a lot of fun we went to the Spoletto Festival downtown and to Magnolia Gardens. Here a few pictures from their visit.

Grandma and Lamb Chop

My Grandma is the BEST! Every time she comes to visit she makes sure that she tells me hello and gives me all the hugs and kisses before Daddy and Momma. We always have so much fun playing and talking. She gave me the coolest Lamp Chop puppet I have ever seen. It actually talks. Each time I get to play with it I smile because it reminds me of how much fun I had with Grandma.

Long Day

What a long day it was on Monday. Momma and Daddy were up all night with Abbi and her new puppies. While I was at Mrs. Emily's house, they were hoping to get a nap but they had to go to the Vet and take Momma to the liver doctor. Each night after my dinner I like to eat cheerios before my milk. I realized I was just as tired as Momma and Daddy when I was having my milk, even though I got to sleep all night. I didn't even get a chance to finish my milk before I was fast asleep. I could hear Momma laughing when she discovered I had fallen asleep. I was dreaming about playing with my 6 new puppies, so I kept on sleeping.

Swinging Away Mothers Day

Since it was my Momma's first Mother's Day I decided to make it extra special by wearing a dress Momma made for me. She told me when she was dressing me that she really just wanted to enjoy time with me and Daddy and relax since we have been busy getting ready for Abbi to have her puppies. While we were getting everything ready for Abbi I found where my swing has been hiding. I wanted to try it out again, but I was not as impressed with it as I used to be. That is until I discovered I can grab the bar and hold on to make it stop. After a close call of trying to make it flip over Momma told me that I could not swing any more. I then decided that we should go to the park to celebrate the day. I haven't been to the park yet so I was most excited about this adventure. When we got to the park there were so many things to do some of my favorites were swinging and sliding with Daddy. The swing at the park was much more fun than my swing at home because I can go higher and faster.

Now if I can just convince Momma and Daddy that I need to go to the park everyday!

1st Family Vacation to California

I have now officially traveled across country. I took the longest plane ride that anyone my age should be allowed to take from the east coast to the west coast. The plane trip was fun but 5 hours which is too long for me. I simply wanted to crawl around. We all got to go to California because my Daddy had a conference for work. Momma and me had to find something to do when he was in his meetings so we did what girls do best - we shopped. We shopped in La Jolla Village right on the Pacific Ocean. Here is a view from my stroller.

When Daddy was done with his conference we took a trip to San Diego Zoo. Here I am having fun with Momma looking at the turtles and riding on Daddy's shoulders. My Daddy's shoulders were a nice break from being in the stroller.

Since the conference was over we went to Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar and Long Beach. These are some places where movie stars live. So to get prepared when at night in the hotel I would read magazines in case I got to see someone famous. Those who are famous sure will do anything to get in a magazine.

We got to drive up Hwy 1 also known as Pacific Hwy. It was so much fun. We even got to spend time with my Momma's best friend Val and her Uncle Billy. I call her Auntie Val, she has a niece that is really close to my age, maybe some day me and her niece Rebecca can leave our parents at home and go to California to visit Auntie Val.

The most fun I had was playing in the sand at the beach in Laguna Beach. It was fun to feel the different texture all over my skin.

California was great fun. I am glad that my Daddy had a conference so me and Momma could go on vacation with him.

Cajun Festival

I finally had my first experience with crawfish. We went to the cajun festival in Charleston last month and my Momma and Daddy ate crawfish. I got to play with one since I am too young to eat them. I had fun pulling on them. It is a good thing this one was boiled because he could have pinched me with his pincher's. My Daddy gave me some tastes of the shrimp ettoufee and jambalaya, only of the rice because my palate is not ready for spicy cooking just yet.

Daddy's Hat

I love wearing my Daddy's hat.

Boating Baby

Boating season is officially open at the Hoglund House. I had my very first boat ride this past weekend. My Daddy took me to Morris Island. He was really excited when my Momma put my Clemson bathing suit on from Grandma. He said "That's my girl!" At Morris Island I got to put my feet in the Atlantic Ocean for the very first time! The water was really chilly but I was having fun splashing my feet as I was walking in the water with my Daddy. While we were at Morris Island I learning about drinking. Drinking my bottle, not beer, on the boat is the same as drinking at home except you have to lay under a make shift tent to protect you from the sun. This also applies to taking a nap. Even though we were out on the boat I had to take a nap. I tried my hardest to stay up as long as I could but sometimes I don't always win the fight.