Happy 2nd Birthday Piper!

It's hard to believe she's already 2, boy how time flies. When we heard her stirring this morning, Ger and I went in to sing happy birthday to her. We had her tricycle out in the living room waiting on her and she came out and was so excited about her "motorcycle".

When she got to school her teacher, Ms. Pat, and the other kids in her class all sang happy birthday to her and Ms. Pat had a special birthday muffin for Piper for breakfast.

Tonight we had a nice family night in. Piper opened presents and cards that family sent to her, got lots of birthday phone calls and we had chocolate cupcakes for dessert!

Fun in the New Year!

We've been having lots of adventures so far this year.

We had a family day at the local children's museum. Piper had a blast. Her favorite part was the grocery store they had were she got to do her own shopping and got to ring up her own groceries. She had so much fun she ran from exhibit to exhibit singing and giggling. It was a great way to spend a cold winter day.

Boone had some fun of his own smiling and trying to giggle in his stroller as we pushed him through the museum.


The next day we got snow!! Oh what fun we had playing in it. Piper had so much fun it was hard to get her to come inside.




Too much fun in the snow!!

Boone stayed nice and warm inside.

We also went to a class at the zoo. Piper is still talking about the chinchilla she got to pet and the giraffe and cow she saw.

Grammi also came to visit us when Daddy had to go out of town for work. She helped Piper with her first tea party for her dolls. According to Piper the following were the "hot ticket items" on her tea party menu: hotdog with bun and "spicy tea" (tea with mustard in it)-delicious!

Attention Cousin Osten-Ransom Note

Dear Cousin Osten,

I had my mommy take this picture of me just before my nap a couple of days ago. I was crawling around on the floor and found a certain article of clothing that belongs to you that fell behind some furniture from when you were at my house over Christmas. I've decided that I like to wear them very much and overtop my clothes is the look I like best. In fact, I like them so much that I am holding them ransom at my house. Yes, you heard me. What do I want in return you may ask? Well I had so much fun with you over Christmas, that you'll have to come visit my house again if you want them back. Hope to see you soon (and maybe I'll consider giving you your big boy underwear back!)

Love, Piper

Finally...Our Christmas 2008

Ok, so January is almost over, but since we just removed the picture of Santa Claus from over our mantel over the weekend, I figured we weren't too late to still put this up.


Christmas was so much fun this year. Piper is starting to get interested in parts of Christmas. She learned about the nativity this year and learned which piece was baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The wisemen were her favorite and she often carried them around the house with her.


She also learned who "San Claus" is and didn't even cry when getting her picture taken with him. We had to strike a compromise, much like with the Easter Bunny, she got as close as standing in front of him, but had no interest in getting on his lap. She kept telling Ger and I, "No Santa lap", so we complied with her wishes.


She also came up with a list of things she wanted to ask Santa for which included, a baby doll, booties, and books.

We went for a train ride with Santa, and she got to talk with the big guy up close and personal.


It was also fun to decorate in the new house this year, with our little helper Piper.

Fafa, Grammi, Aunt Ria, Uncle Tom, Osten, Marci, Uncle Fran and Teaunee all came to spend Christmas with us this year. Christmas morning was so much fun with four little ones (three milling around and a fourth who slept through much of it). Piper and Osten were both very excited to get to see each other, although this excitement was challenged a bit here and there when it came time to share. Both understand the concept of "my turn", but having to wait for your own turn can sometimes just feel like the end of the world.

We also so a renewed interest in the potty, thanks to cousin Osten being potty-trained and using the potty at our house. Piper enjoyed accompanying him when he went to the potty and then giving it a try herself. And Osten was there to provide guidance and to give her some pointers!

We also got a family picture taken, it's becomming our tradition to do at Christmas every other year. They turned out great. I haven't purchased any yet, but will post when I do.

Santa, my friend, I think you need to burp!

Couldn't pass up posting this one.

In the spirit of documentation...again!

So I thought it might be fun to turn the tables and blog a bit about what things are most commonly said around our house right now by Ger and I, to go along with Piper being on the verge of turning two. Boy how frustrating it must be to be that age, you want to do it all yourself but haven't learned how yet. And sometimes you just want to test the waters to be sure Mommy and Daddy mean what they say. Here goes...



Things heard often in the Hitch household (this is not an exhaustive list, just a few off the top of my head that I know are often heard):



Please take your finger out of your nose.


It is not nice to kick Tucker-Boy (the dog). (The word kick can also be interchanged easily with pull hair, hit, or headbutt)


Come over here and talk with Mommy/Daddy. Do you know why we put you in time-out?


I love you.


I'm proud of you.


You're a big girl.


Yes, we do need to put clothes on before we can go... (whereever we're going).


If you need help, just say, "help please" and Mommy/Daddy will be glad to help you (i.e. just a suggested alternative to melting down into a writhing heap on the floor! Hee, hee.)


It's much too quiet right now, where's Piper?


Please don't touch Boone's head (alternatively this can be interchanged with many other body parts such as, eyes, ears, mouth, etc. basically any facial orifice that a small finger can easily fit into or that a small hand can push on, hit or pull).


We don't put anything in our ears (i.e. corn, crayons, raisins, pens-you get the idea, anything pointed or small that can be shoved in their, when if do undetected, will likely rot in some amount of time!)


Night, night sweet girl. Sweet dreams. See you in the morning.


Where's multi (her favorite of her crochet blankets that she sleeps with)?


I'd love to go on a walk with you. Let's get your coat.


What do you think that is? (This is the response after multiple inquiries made of "What dat?" over and over and over-sometimes it's hard to know exactly what she's asking about or sometimes the question just comes over and over.)

Yes, we have to wash your hair too.

Recent developments at school

Ger went to pick up Piper the other day, and one of her teachers Ms. Amtul asked him if I was nursing Boone. Ger replied yes and followed that up with, why, and she responded that Piper has recently started breastfeeding all the dolls in the classroom!