Almost 2

I don't even know where to begin with this post. Hayden amazes me every day with all he is learning. He is literally a little sponge, soaking up all kinds of knowledge. He's a whiz at puzzles and loves to read books. He recognizes Hop on Pop ("Pop! Pop!") and Good Night Moon ("Night night moon!") and Sandra Boyton's Going to Bed Book ("Night night!". He loves to play in his farm and make animal noises. He's starting to say 2 word phrases, but not that many. He says, "Hi Daddy" and "Bye Daddy" and "No no Daddy." He only started saying "Hi Momma" today.

Hayden is also very kind. If he thinks you're upset he'll come and lay his head on you to comfort you. He did this a lot as I cried my way through Toy Story 3. Pathetic, really. He offers to share (most of the time) and has never met a stranger (which is also a little scary). Today he was convinced his stuffed puppy had a "boo boo" on his foot and proceeded to kiss the boo boo every five minutes. Very cute. All of these qualities he clearly inherited from Clark.

Hayden is done with the high chair and sits at his own table and chairs to eat all his meals. He drinks out of a cup with no lid at snack times. Unfortunately he has not repeated his 2 pees in the potty trick since New Years. He has sat on the potty but refuses to do anything on it. Oh well.

Clark and I think we have "Our Kid is Obviously Beautiful and Perfect" Syndrome*. We're trying not to be those people, but this little face makes it hard.

*Obviously this syndrome forces the parent to act like know it alls who think their child can do no wrong and all other children pale in comparison. The Syndrome causes the parents to forget that said perfect child spent a record 5 minutes on the Time Out Stool for hitting Mommy and biting Daddy and refusing to say he was sorry. In fact when asked if he was sorry the child responded, "NO! NO! NO!" over and over again. Also the Syndrome makes the parents forget that as part of their angel's astonishing development, the child is also learning how to ignore anything Mommy says. Please pray that this condition goes away quickly and Clark and Kelly return to their normal, sane, jaded selves.

Hey 2011!

Happy New Year! In 2010, Hayden mastered walking, talking and even peed in the potty twice! He gained new friends Liam Horn, Nevis Cacciotti, Patrick Yocum, Hudson Blow and Jack Lyssy. Hayden continued to amaze us with how quickly he grew up before our eyes and how smart, handsome and dashing he turned out (obviously). Of course, in 2010 we had some dark spots, like when Hayden decided to guzzle some Tylenol in an act of toddler rebellion and earned his first trip to the emergency room.

In 2011 we look forward to our newest friend, Zoe Ferguson's arrival. Here's hoping she debuts today...or at least by the 4th! Hayden also looks forward to more pee pees in the potty, because his Mom and Dad get SO excited when he does it. Maybe 2011 will mean the Meadors will be diaper free??? Here's hoping! Mommy also turns 30 this year...uh, boo.

Of course, before we officially give 2010 dueces, we must document Christmas Part Deux at Grammy and Pop's. As to be expected, Hayden got more toys than is normal.

Aunt Katy and Uncle Win gave Hayden is very own grill. Hayden loves to grill hot dogs!

Hayden's life was pretty empty without an Elmo doll. Thank God Grammy and Pop pulled through and got him one.

Hayden also got a Toy Story personal bounce house. Here Daddy is putting on an elaborate puppet show. Those puppets were mine when I was little. The bounce house was a HUGE hit. In fact, Hayden is currently lying down in the bounce house as I type this.

On the 29th, Clark and I met up with Jason and Kassidy for the Texas Bowl where Baylor took on Illinois. The weather was HORRIBLE. Rained all day, so no tailgating for us.

We were soaked by the time we walked into the game!

Jason and Kass were still excited though.

We look so hopeful here.

RGIII is praying that his O-Line doesn't play like a bunch of little girls. God chose not to answer that prayer.

So much hope, so much promise. Unfortunately during Baylor's first possession there was an interception that the Bears could never recover from and we lost. Bad. I don't even want to talk about it anymore. Stupid Illinois. At least we have Basketball, right? Oh wait. Stupid Baylor.

Anyway.

Today we celebrate one of Hayden's best girls -- Anna James! She turned 1 yesterday and Hayden is going to wear his fancy boots to her party today. Yay!