Libby Takes Over!

Hey Everyone – this is Libby writing! It’s been 362 days since my last post, so I thought I’d reintroduce myself and let Mommy do more important things – like prepare my first birthday party! Can you believe it? It’s been quite a year! In fact I can positively say that this has been the best year of my life! All the places I’ve been, all the people I’ve seen, all of the drawers and cabinets I’ve opened – it’s been quite a journey.

It all started 12 months ago in a sleepy little burg called Cartersville, GA. After spending several months living in what were becoming increasingly cramped quarters, I was finally allowed out into the world. Apparently it took Mommy a long time to realize that all of my pokes and kicks were an indication of my desire to get out, but thankfully she finally got the hint. I must say that the doctors and nurses in the hospital treated me pretty well. I’m still not sure what all the looks of terror are about when people find out I was born in Cartersville. Apparently there are these enchanted lands called ‘Northside’ and ‘Piedmont’ where other babies are born. I cannot even find Northside, Ga. or Piedmont, Ga. on the map, but maybe one day I’ll get to visit them too!

After spending 2 ½ days in Cartersville, my family moved to Marietta, Ga. Sometimes Daddy calls it ‘East Cobb’, but since I can’t find the town of East Cobb, Ga. on the map either I think he might be making it up. Mommy says it wouldn’t be the first time Daddy made something up, but I haven’t known him as long as Mommy has to know for sure. On the drive into Marietta, it didn’t seem too different from Cartersville except that there were many more Publixes to choose from. I wasn’t sure if I should get too settled in since we might be leaving soon like we left our home in Cartersville. My dog, Commissioner, who I’ll talk more about later, told me many stories of how Mommy and Daddy were always leaving the house, sometimes for days on end it seemed, but they usually came back. Dogness was right. Sometimes Daddy leaves, sometimes Mommy, sometimes both – but they always make sure there’s someone else there to help me take care of Commissioner! Sometimes we all leave and visit other peoples’ houses like Gigi’s, Marmena’s, and a guy they call Trader Joe’s, but most nights I get to sleep in my own crib, which is nice!

Speaking of Commissioner, when we arrived in Marietta I met a four-legged creature, called a dog, with a name too long for me to pronounce at the time (I’m much more advanced now). She turned out to be the best thing to ever happen to anyone ever! I didn’t get to interact much with her early on because I was generally wrapped up like a deli sub in cloths and blankets, but since then we’ve become best friends who do everything together. We’ve gone for walks, played in the baby pool, shared toys, shared food, shared pillows, blankets and dog beds, exchanged kisses, and even ridden in a wagon together! And the laughter, my goodness, the laughter! We’ve shared many a hearty laugh together, although it seems that I’m the only one who knows when Commissioner is telling a joke or making a funny expression. Mommy and Daddy have asked me what’s so funny, but it’s just as well that they don’t understand my language yet – the humor would surely get lost in the translation anyway!

Earlier this year Mommy tried to rank my favorite people and things for me. I decided it was time to do an updated list. However, I’ve come to learn that people are lot more sensitive these days, so as not to offend I will limit this list to non-human things. So, from the home office in Missoula, Montana, here’s tonight’s Top 10 list: Top 10 Libby Gordon Favorite Objects:

#10  The dog food and water bowls – Especially when full!

#9  My aquarium -  Not a real one, but it’s the next best thing!

#8  The dishwasher – A long-time favorite!

#7  Jewelry - Especially attached to someone’s ear or neck!

#6  The artwork in my room – and making whoever’s holding me get me really close to inspect it!

#5  Everything TV-related – Not what’s actually on TV, but all the accessories including the DVD player, the remote, the Wii, and the DVD cabinets!

#4  Drawers – Don’t care what’s in them, I can’t stop opening them!

#3  Stackable things– As long as someone does the stacking so I can do the knocking over!

#2  My blanket – So soft for a sweet baby face!

And the # 1 Libby Gordon Favorite Object is…Commissioner Gordon, of course!

Although nothing could compare with my times spent with Commissioner, the rest of my year generally has been pretty good. Here are some highlights:

January – A big highlight of January, besides being born of course, was learning to crawl. Mommy would put her hand behind my feet, and I’d push with all my might to move a couple inches. It was hard work, and it caused me to need several naps everyday! Some of my naps even took place in Mommy & Daddy’s room, but thankfully by the end of the month I was in my own – it’s hard to sleep with Daddy snoring like that!

February – During the month of February, I got to experience my first snow! Mommy and Daddy made it sound like snow in Georgia was a big deal, but since then I’ve already had a White Christmas so they might both be making things up this time. I also had my first play date with ‘cousin’ Ryan, slept through the night for the time, and got baptized, visited Mommy and Daddy’s offices for the first time, and spent a couple days at Marmena and Granddaddy Al Hodge’s house, so February was a busy and great month!

March – The month of March was all about growing up – too fast, according to Mommy! I rolled over from my back to tummy for the first time, but then I couldn’t roll back over and I’d get stuck.  It was very frustrating for a little baby with a lot to accomplish! I also started recognizing things a lot more, like Mommy’s hair and Commissioner’s fur!

April – One of the highlights of April was going to the Steeplechase. For those who don’t know, the Steeplechase is a daylong competition at a racetrack to see who can wear the best hat. Of course I think my hat was the best, but we didn’t stick around long enough to find out if I won because of all the storms. But before we left, Granddaddy Al Hodge and Marmena sure had a lot of people they wanted me to meet. And I did get to see some horsies run by, which was fun and a neat diversion from the hat contest.

May – What a big month May was! Mommy and Daddy took me down to Savannah to see Mema and Boobus and Mema Mabel, which was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, neither Mommy nor Daddy understood my non-stop crying on the long car ride there and back that maybe I didn’t want to be cooped up the whole time. Someday they’ll figure me out! Also in May it was warm enough to break out my baby pool! I love some good splashing! It’s a lot like a bath tub, but for some reason you have to take a bath when you get done. I also went to some place called ‘the Mountains’, but all I could see was a big lake and a lot of eating and drinking going on – I must have missed the mountains!

June – In June I discovered the best food – sweet potatoes! I suggested to Mommy that she blend some up, on account that I didn’t have teeth yet, and that worked out perfectly! Mommy and I think sweet potatoes are delicious, but I’m not sure what Daddy thinks. I think I heard him mutter something like ‘blick blick’ under his breath one time, but I don’t know what that means. Also in June I went to the big person’s pool for the first time! It was a bit overwhelming, with all the people and also the light reflecting off the water (and my less-than-tan parents), but I eventually got to used it. I can’t wait until the pool opens next summer!

July – July was a blast. Daddy got a whole week off from work, so we got to hang out together a lot! Mostly I showed him how quickly a baby can crawl to things she’s not supposed to (at least according to adults – what do they know?), like the toilet, the waste baskets, the electrical outlets, and everything that has buttons to press. In July I also got to ride in my first parade. There were flags and banners and signs and stickers and lots of fun stuff. There were SO many people there just to see me – it was quite flattering!

August – This month was all about my first trip to the beach! If you haven’t been, you need to go! The water washes right up to your feet, then goes away, and then comes back again! You can go crawling out into the waves with reckless abandon…but I recommend having someone there to pick you up when the water gets TOO deep. Another great thing about going to beach is all the great food, like sand, shells, sticks – a limitless supply! But the best thing about the beach is that all my favorite people are there, including Mommy, Daddy, Gigi, Papa, Marmena, Granddaddy Al Hodge and Commissioner!

September – September in the South is the start of football season. I can see the attraction of playing it – I mean who doesn’t like chasing a ball outside on a green field? Commissioner and I practice all the time in the house. However I don’t understand watching it on TV yet, and I certainly don’t have 3 hours at a time to watch a game – I mean a girl’s got too much to do! September also saw playdates with my friends Ryan and Ty. Daddy says there are too many boys in my life, but I think I can handle myself pretty well!

October – In October Mommy and Daddy took me to a pumpkin patch. There were SO MANY pumpkins! Some were huge and some were me-sized and Commissioner-sized. There were also giant hay bales and a wagon to help me carry our pumpkins! At the end of October there’s this day they call Halloween, when all the children and dogs get dressed up in costumes. Commissioner was a banana – too funny! I’m not sure how realistic my bunny rabbit costume was – I don’t think I looked anything like Peter or Benjamin. But Mommy said I must be the cutest bunny ever, so I had that going for me!

November – In November I got my first ear and sinus infections, which was really sad. Well, not for me, more for Mommy. I still had my cheerful and spunky personality! It did seem like I was getting my nose wiped a lot, the downside of which was that it slowed me down from playing! The highlight of the month was celebrating my first Thanksgiving. I got to see a lot of family and eat a big Thanksgiving meal, with sweet potatoes of course! Mommy and Daddy said they were most thankful for me, and hearing that will make a baby feel good!

December – In December I got to celebrate my first Christmas! During Christmas there’s all sorts of lights and bells and music and decorations – everything a baby loves! On Christmas Eve, Mommy and Daddy let me stay up late so I could go to the traditional service. I really enjoyed all the singing and music – especially Mommy playing the handbells! On Christmas Day, I came downstairs and Santa had left me a bunch of presents – my favorites were my wagon, my telephone, and my brand new pink sippy-cup! Then my grandparents came over and I got a bunch more stuff – it was pretty overwhelming! We all had Christmas dinner together and got to enjoy a ‘White Christmas,’ which Daddy says isn’t very common, even though I’ve already had one and there was a movie running non-stop on TV about one.  Daddy and Papa even built me a snowman!

Well, that pretty much catches you up to where things are today. Well, except maybe for the fact that I’m now walking! I’m only taking a few steps at a time, but pretty soon I’m gonna be running all over the place! Look out world, here comes Elizabeth Virginia Gordon, and Year Two is going to be twice as fun!