Daddy-Daughter Dance

Little miss Annabel has been looking forward to this event for probably 6 weeks! She has had her dress...just waiting in the closet. She had fancy shoes and tights. The night finally arrived and she was sooo excited. She woke up early from her afternoon nap and declared she was ready to take her bath and get ready for her dance. She was dressed and ready to go about 2 hours early. I can't blame her. I would have probably done the same thing.

Rand arrived with a little mini corsage and gave her a gift which had a matching purse and bracelet for her outfit. She just eats this stuff up. Sounds like they had a blast and she came home with more gifts from the event and am sure her heart is just filled up!

Annabel::2 Years

Time flies! Isn't that how all birthday posts begin? It's said so often it's almost cliche, but man! Where does the time go?! No babies in my house. And none on the way.

If Annabel is indeed my last baby, she is quite the finale! She is full of it! She is the happiest thing. I know I say she is crazy a lot, but I have to say it again. She's crazy!! She is brave and daring. She is loud and adventurous! She climbs on things, still. She's always balancing on ledges and jumping off of things. She will try ANYTHING she sees her older brothers doing. She sings and rocks baby dolls, and always has to bring an armful of them in the car. I looked up the other day and she was peddling a tricycle. Backwards, but still! I will not be surprised if one day this year she just picks up a book and reads it.

I have got to capture her walking on video, because everywhere she goes, she struts. No walking. It's either running or strutting her stuff. It's hilarious!

A couple months ago she decided she just didn't want to wear her diaper anymore. And so she used the toilet instead. It only works if she is naked, but still! :) Diapers are nearly a thing of the past!

She is my earliest potty trainer and my earliest to be done with pacifiers. Pacifiers were by accident, but still! She was really addicted! One day we couldn't find any. She asked. We said, "nope". And she slept without one, no problem. Hasn't looked back.

She eats almost anything and everything. She will eat vegetable soup with quinoa and kale for breakfast because she loves it. She eats spicy food and vegetables. What more could a mother of multiple children ask for? Just eat the food! And she does!

For her birthday we celebrated Lalaloopsy style. She has a Lalaloopsy doll that she loves and watches a Lalaloopsy movie that we found on Netflix. I find it fascinating that she loves girly things. She calls it "Loopy". And anytime Netflix is turned on Annabel will be shouting, "Loopy", which actually sounds more like "Yoopy"!
I made a fun Lalaloopsy cake with a new Lalaloopsy doll I got her, that turned out far better than I expected (cakes can easily go either way). It's been a while since I have been craftily inspired since having a 4th child, starting a business and homeschooling a 3rd and 5th grader. It was fun!

Annabel is a blessing and a joy.

A Moment

A moment I captured while I cooked dinner....and Annabel waited.

Annabel::18 Months

I guess she is closer to 19 months now, but better late than never!

Annabel. She is such a character. In the last 6 months since her birthday her personality has really popped out.

This girl is determined, confident and brave with just a dash of reservation. Much like her oldest brother. It doesn't matter what it is: running around the property, climbing trees, riding bikes....if the big kids are doing it, she is doing it too. I think this all comes at the expense of her talking. She yells instead of using words. They are coming slowly but surely, but honestly, why talk when a simple, primal yell will get you what you want??

She eats like a champ. Likes just about anything. By far my best eater. She sleeps great too! Definitely the thing I hear from anyone who watches her for me is that she is happy, happy, happy.

 

"Oh, what? The boys are climbing these rocks? Well then that's what I'm going to do!"

First Birthday Party

We had a small gathering of family over tonight for Annabel's birthday. She was crabby and difficult all day, most likely because I had a TON to do. Not exactly easy while holding a small child. She was better once we left the house to pick Rand up from work (of course) and then it was too late! She put on her party dress and hammed it up during her party. I have never seen a one year old so into her own presents. She loved the whole thing. From ripping the paper, to peering into bags, to finding new shoes inside. I mean really, girls are SO different from boys! She was IN LOVE with her new shoes. I put them on for her and she marched all over the house like she was just "all that"! She squealed and giggled and swung her feet back and forth and stared at them with delight. Seriously. I have witnesses. Cutest thing ever. I'm afraid she loved every minute of all that attention. (Next birthday coming up will be the opposite of that! ahem, Easton.)

It was a fun, first, girly birthday....for all of us! :)

We started the day off with Annabel-cakes

Annabel::12 Months

We made it!!!! Tomorrow is Annabel's first birthday! I clearly remember nearly everything about this day a year ago. What the weather was like. How I spent my whole day from waking up with contractions, sending Rand to work (it was a Saturday), walking with the boys around the property, my sister coming over, my picture taking friend coming over, Rand taking care of the boys until bedtime, then Rand sleeping on the couch until about midnight when I said it was time to call the midwife....and then the rest of it! This year with her has been hard. Wonderful, but hard. I feel like breathing a sigh of relief that we have crossed over into the "she's over a year old" phase. Just got done teaching her how to sleep through the night, only  nursing her 1.5 times a day, she eats anything and everything, she is happy playing and being played with, she can walk herself (she may not go in the direction we are going yet, but still).

She is so girly, but SO one of the boys. She walks with such determination I wonder what she will do when she grows up! She is confident and unafraid almost all the time. Ready for anything. She is so much fun I can't even imagine not having her!

Happy Birthday, Annabel, lovely girl.

 

wish this one was in focus! This is in the gym at ORLA. In my dream-house, I have a room like this attached!