6 months...and then some

INTRODUCING....

My almost crawling, "mama" saying, barrel rolling, giggling, playing, green pea eating, dancing 6 MONTH OLD GIRL!!!!

Annabelle Grace is 6 months and counting and GROWING up SO FAST! How did she go from the 6lb baby to a 14+ lb little girl in 6 little months?!?!

This little one is bound to keep me on my toes, she is always moving, always kicking, turning, rolling and playing.  There is never a still moment, which is probably why I am 2 months behind on getting around to any sort of update.  BUT...Today is the day! I have decided to forgo my shower and blog instead (sorry B-dub) but it had to happen!  Every day I think of something new I need/want to share and as the days turn into weeks my girl grows and grows and I fail to document the little and big milestones that are shaping her into who she is becoming.

The last 2 months Annabelle and I have set up sort of a daily routine that works for us...for the most part.    We eat, play, walk, sleep, crawl, read, sleep, play in some sort of that order.  We fill in the blanks with weekly bursts of spontaneity that keep us both entertained, but for the most part we are a pretty predictable duo.   Of course not today, the day I have taken to writing, our usual hour nap has turned into me going upstairs to resoothe and re-lay down 4 times now...going on 5.  

Fast forward 8 hours...I am back determined to finish my update!  Of course as I am typing that we are in a routine, Annabelle decides that today she is only happy sleeping in my arms so of course I oblige.  I held her until she decided she couldn't be held anymore, I love those moments!  My little independent girl, giving in and letting me know today she would like nothing more than a partner, a little help from her best buddy...mom.

So yes, we have a full spirited 6 month old on our hands, who loves anything out of the ordinary, a quick gasp from an unexpected direction, a sudden burst of song, lulu running around the corner, a dance from dad, these things suit her fancy and tickle her funny bone.  So we do them a lot, as in all the time, and we LOVE it!  We have had many confirmed outbursts of "mama" or "mamamamama" or just plain "Mooom" little one knows just who to call when she wants something.  No doubt this has started a firestorm of Dad and her practicing "dada" at any and every moment they are together, which I can't say that I blame B-dub.  I am looking forward to hearing "dada" too.

So now for a few firsts....

In the past 2 months Annabelle has gone to her first movie "Winnie the Pooh" she loved it (aka slept through it, along with Uncle G and B-dub) but all in all I would say it was a hit!  We had our first solo trip to see Aunt Camille, Caris, G and baby CJ, and made it out with only one diaper change/feeding pit stop and a brief period of crying, but I cant blame her for the crying, we were in construction and I felt like crying too.  Grandpa JJ got to babysit Annabelle & Caris, alone, while we had a girls night!  It was really the first time I had left her for any sort of extended time period, my dad convinced me American Idol was no place for a baby so I left her in good hands!  Came back to a happy sleeping girl, way to go JJ!!!

She had her first bite of real food, sweet potatoes, followed by avocados (which are NOT a favorite), green peas, bananas, apples, oatmeal, pears and prunes! She has done great eating, loves pretty much anything, gets hungry and also lets us know when she is full.  I have been making her baby food, which I am really enjoying.  I love so much cooking for my girl!  

She got to meet one of her Great Grandmas, Big Granny aka Grandma Peggy for the first time!  We had already met her other Great Grandma at Easter, so it was about time we got around to meeting Big Granny.  She is a lucky girl to have so many wonderful Grandmothers, I was blessed to share my grandma with her, it was so fun seeing them together.  

We took her to her first graduation ceremony, to see Aunt Jenn graduate from Texas Tech!  Go Jenn!  And on our trip she got her first fever.  Girl was a trooper going to graduation sick, she really did great, other than being a little fussy and needing an extra nap or two she was her usual smiley happy self.  When we were there, B-dub was able to introduce her to his aunts, uncles and cousins who she hadn't met before.  It was so wonderful having her meet even more of her family!

And in a few weeks she will get her FIRST boy cousin!!!  We are all anxiously awaiting baby CJ and so, so ready for him to teach us all about baby boys.  

Every day I am learning more and more about how to be a mommy, Annabelle is a good teacher :).  She teaches me to love the grocery store, by smiling up at me or giving me a laugh as we wander through the produce isle. She teaches me to love more, laugh more, appreciate the simple things (aka the zipper on her stroller, girl cant get enough of that one), to stop and give thanks for my parents, for all they have done and continue to do.  She teaches me to take my time coming in and going out, taking enough time to stop and stare at the trees and watch their leaves blow in the wind. She teaches me to hug more, smile more, that simple is sometimes so much greater than extravagant, that sometimes the rag and the diaper are just as much fun if not more that the fancy new toy that has just been purchased. She teaches me to count things like the piggys on her toes not the material things we grow so used to counting,  and that to her I am beautiful and no matter the amount of makeup I have on, or if I am dressed up or in sweats, my face is what makes her smile when she wakes up.  Who would have ever thought I could learn such lessons from my baby.  

So to my sleeping 6 month old, you are so loved little one!  We are in awe of every move you make, you  have blessed us all more than I could ever say!!!  We are so glad you are YOU!

Hi! I am 4 months old...

And I don't care who knows it!!

So, I do realize I did miss the 3 month update, its started, I promise, just never completed.  So instead I am combining our 3 month and 4 month update for a combined effort!  We will see how this goes!

Our last 2 months can be summed up in two words, Fingers and Toes!!  Our Annabelle has discovered her 20 new friends and can't get enough.   Luckily I think they are as equally as fond of her as she is them, they spend all day together, playing, grabbing, slobbery and oh so cute!  Truly I can NOT keep her fingers out of her mouth and she can't help but to grab her feet any chance she gets.  I suspect there are a few little teeth involved in this union, but none that are visible to the eye...yet.

We have lots of smiles, lots of laughs, and lots of FUN these days as each day brings some sort of new adventure.  With our Texas summer in full force, Annabelle and I are having to get creative with our daily activities, the stifling heat has pushed our daily walk out of routine and now we go to the mall with lots of other moms and strollers for our morning activity!  Annabelle has loved our "stroller fit" class and refuses to sleep a wink during our morning outing!  She waits until class is completely over, then yawns and falls asleep on our walk to the car!  It is hilarious.

Our April, May and June have been filled with activity after activity, we have made 2 trips to Houston one to Fort Worth, several to Albany/Abilene, complete with one wedding, one bachelorette party, and a graduation party have made our little girl quite the traveling queen.  Truly there have been some big milestones we have been lucky to have our girl be a part of, it is hard to imagine she wasn't always at these big events, but so heartwarming to know at the same time that she will be there from now on.

My best friend Cori was married this May, and our Annabelle was the honorary "Matron of Honor" as my duties increased so did hers, and I must say she handled them quite gracefully.  We whisked her away Mothers Day weekend to Fort Worth so I could have a fun girls night out at Cori's bachelorette party!  She handled her daddy/daughter night like a champ, loving the hotel room, loving her daddy, and playing downtown.  Two weeks later, she was back in party mode, ready for the rehearsal dinner, her first wedding ceremony, dancing, and a late night out.  While I was back and forth for 2 days she stayed relaxed, even helped set up for the big event in the Bjorn in the early morning, snoozing away like nothing phased her.  Not to say we didn't have our meltdown moments, we did....but the girl did fantastic.  Cori was a beautiful bride, I am so glad Annabelle was here to experience her special day!

Here are a few pics of my precious family on Cori's wedding day!

Our adventures continued that very next day, as Bobby and I were set to celebrate his 29th birthday and our second anniversary.  So unbelievable to have our girl there to celebrate such special days in our life.  I cant wait to take her to California and show her where we got married, I know she will fall in love with it just like we did!  We had lots in store for that week, birthday party for daddy, surprise soccer game, Annabelle's first cake baking lesson and our first night out baby-less...What a week!

Much thanks to grandma Susie for pulling babysitting duty for our anniversary, we left the house not in the best of conditions...and came home to a perfectly sleeping baby :) so, so needed!!!! Our friends Nick & Alise helped make Bobby's birthday extra special and joined and even TREATED us to a wonderful birthday dinner!  They are truly the BEST!! Such special friends, always willing no matter what to drop what they are doing and be there, always making things that much better! ( You will remember they were the first to meet our Annabelle Grace, they braved the ice storm and sat in the hospital praying and holding our hands until 4:30 in the morning, leaving only after they knew we were both safe and sound)  We are so lucky and blessed to have such special friends and family that always surround us with love during all of life's ups and downs.

We were able to celebrate B-dub's birthday in true family style.  Just the 3 of us, it was perfect!  Sunday, we all went to the FC Dallas game, soccer is a favorite pastime of my B-dub and with the pro team literally down the street, I figured it was something Annabelle and I could treat the birthday boy to!  Despite the impending thunderstorm, having a mild panic attack that we were going to get struck by lightning and leaving just in the nick of time before getting doused by a huge rain shower (seriously the SECOND we got in the car the monsoon came) we had such a fun time!  The field was beautiful, our seats were great and our Annabelle was in an extra happy mood!  I think she knew it was a special treat for her daddy and let me tell you this girl will do anything for her DAD!

 Annabelle & Daddy at the Game

That next day was Bobby's actual birthday, we had all sorts of plans up our sleeves for that day, but as plans go, none of them actually panned out as we had hoped.  A huge thunderstorm deterred us from a birthday lunch and an extra busy week kept us from a surprise party with all our friends, but as I mentioned before Alise & Nick came and saved our evening with a wonderful dinner at Cantina Laredo.  Annabelle slept the ENTIRE dinner, truly out of character for our little active one.  We had so much fun celebrating the big 29 with our B-dub.  Earlier that day, we attempted a little cake baking for daddy dub, I truly can say I haven't baked anything in a few years.  With an occasion as special as this, I figured it was time.  A few hours, tears and one nap later, we had a cake...or something like that.  I still cant really figure out what happened to my homemade butter cream icing, it was something verging on strange.  Last minute I decided I should scrape it off and try again, round 2 was better, but the combo of #1 icing plus #2 icing left us with an even stranger taste bud sensation.  Oh well, its the thought that counts...right????  Hopefully at Annabelle's next baking lesson, I will be a little more successful. 

Annabelle & Daddy blowing out the candles, icing #1 pic...

The birthday boy & icing #2

Birthday dinner pic with our sleepy girl

Not intentionally making this the most boring/longest post ever, just afraid if I don't get it all out in one swipe it will remain forever in my "edit post section" never seeing the light of the "new post" title!

BUT...our crazy May continued the day after B-dub's 29 celebration, with our 2nd wedding anniversary.  Which really should get its own post, and may, but if not here is the readers digest version.

Tornadoes...Annabelle and I locked in the closet with every pillow in the house surrounding us...Bobby storm chasing outside...and a very well intentioned meal of sea bass and wine served at 10:00 p.m. Thus was our 2 year in a nutshell.  I didn't quite factor in a newborn, working husband, one family income, and a scatter brain new mommy when I thought it would be ok to plan my wedding one day after my husbands birthday.  Somehow I convinced myself, it would never be an issue, 2 celebrations in 2 days...what could be better!  I romanticized always being on a white sand beach or sipping wine in California during this special week.  However our day at home just being real, a real family, a real husband and wife, with real responsibilities, real setbacks, real nap time, real cries and a really real new understanding of love made this day more special than any beach ever could have.

B-dub and I did finally have a night out by ourselves the next evening, Grandma Susie took double duty and handled a very sad and tired baby, handled my anxiousness about leaving, and handled bedtime so we could enjoy a baby free dinner.  I cant tell you how much we needed just a hour to talk.  

So our May ended with a quick trip to Houston, a stay at Annabelle's favorite cousin's house, and a fun time at the butterfly museum, and before I knew it our 3 month old merged into a 4 month old right before my eyes.

How fast it flies...my sleeping baby on my chest, just as I suspected now prefers wiggles to snuggles, wont sit still long enough for me to smell her hair, and is ok with hanging out  ROLLING (did I mention she now ROLLS) on the floor with her toys rather than in my arms singing to sleep.  I knew the moments of us together at night would pass, I just don't think I could have ever grasped how quickly they would leave.  As weepy as I get about my little wee one, I am ever overjoyed at the growth, personality and spirit my baby one has begun to write on my new memories.  Every day brings a new fun discovery a new burst of energy and a new facet to my little precious girl.  So as month 4 ever so suddenly chases down month 5 I am once again, reminding myself how fast these days fly, and striving to remember every ounce of these days together.

So with that I will leave you with a real time glimpse into how our days look now...slobbery, expression filled, and independent....

Happy 4 months little one.

P.S. Any votes on if we can consider this teething?!?

Love to laugh :)

I am working on my 3 month post...which is a good thing, since in about 2 weeks my baby Annabelle will be 4 whole months!  BUT, in lieu of that update, I had to share this!

One of my favorite characteristics to date has begun to emerge in my little one!  I have been seeing signs of "pre-laughter" for quite some time now, but they have been snuffed out by the urge to cough instead of producing a gleeful noise.

Bring on week 14....I should have known my little daddy's girl would wait for week 12, 14, 22, 24  (or any other week ending with a 2 or a 4) to grace us with her joyful sound.  Those two and their numbers....

(In case you have missed previous numerical posts, B-dub loves 2, 4 and any variation, Annabelle was born on 2-2-2011, at 4:22, and come home on 4-4 etc.  My husband takes this to a greater extreme than I would like to admit, so I will spare you any more)

ANYway....we finally had laughter liftoff!  Granted, this girl is no easy sell on a full fledge laugh (B-dub says she gets this from her momma) BUT when she does it does not get any better!!  To see her face light up with glee, her head bob and when you are lucky an excited shriek all combined warms my heart to a degree I did not know possible.

Only provoked when her parents are in the mist of making complete fools of themselves (she is starting early) Annabelle does not disappoint in showing her delight.

The first little laugh was brought on my me, jumping up and down, with a sort of a shock and awe factor she found amusing.  I of course, was near passing out when it was all said and done, as it was the most physical activity I have had in a year, but nonetheless the light headed, dizzy feeling was well worth it to see my girls first giggles.

Then...a few nights later, we shot the video above.  Granted, it is just a short exert of what we were experiencing first-hand, but I think it does her giggle justice.  This bout of hilarity was nonetheless given to her daddy (who will be embarrassed by me actually typing this, but hey in the name of documentation all is fair game, right?).  Annabelle found great amusement in the fact that her daddy was wiggling, twisting, jumping, and turning about all while making a great and I must say life-like TOOT noise!

Annabelle, we can NOT wait to see all the things that bring you joy in this world.  We love our laughing girl!!

Confessions of a "stay at home" mom

SO, ya, I did it!  I took the plunge and quit my job!  I am still kind of in shock.  When my 12 weeks came up, it was a no brainer...I just could not leave my little one.  What also helped was my non-profit salary and 2 hr commute every day, both combined just didn't justify the cost of childcare.  So my life as a stay at home mom began....

To be honest I have never worked so hard in my life and never loved anything so much! However, I have quickly figured out that even though I cant think of how anything else could ever be squeezed into my day, I am nonetheless a bit unproductive... Hence my confessions....

I would like to say this will become a series on the good ole blog, but seeing as one of my confessions is not blogging - I wouldn't hold my breath. :)


I confess...

On Mondays Annabelle and I stay in bed until 11.  Dont judge it works for us!  We usually have very busy weekends, so Monday our "recover" days are spent snuggling and re-bonding with each other.  I must admit they are my favorite days.

I have only been to the grocery store once by myself since giving birth.  WHO do you ask has been doing the shopping, my precious B-dub, along with everything else...see confessions to come.

I have nice sweats, and every day sweats, and thats about it.

I have not lost all my baby weight.  Who knows when/if that day will come.

I cant figure out how to do more than one chore a day, seriously you would think I am home all day, why couldn't I at least clean the house...maybe see confession #1 ;)

I hold my baby when she naps, I know, spare me the lecture.  Its what I do.  I figure one day, she will be at college napping on her own, so I am enjoying my time with her.

Some days I cant remember if I brushed my teeth.

I still have thank you cards to write, not that I am not thankful. I am so thankful, I just haven't sat down and actually done it.

I have only cooked dinner 3 times since having AB, and once B-dub couldn't even eat it, it was so bad.

I let AB watch the real housewives of...(fill in the blank) I am addicted, hopefully it wont sink in to her too much.

I have never loved my husband more than I do now.  He is the perfect dad I always knew he would be, he just loves Annabelle so much, she is a lucky girl!

AB still sleeps in our room, and I sort of tear up to think that wont always be.  There is just something about having my family all together at night that brings peace to my heart

I love the paci and so does AB :)

I thought labor hurt, I have heard so many people say, you know it wasn't so bad...I beg to differ, but I would do it again in a heartbeat...

I check facebook way more than any one person should, but what else do you do when you nurse 8 times a day?

I like that I am the only one that can rock Annabelle to sleep.

I call the Dr for EVERYTHING...or make Bobby call.

I stare at Annabelle when she sleeps, I cant believe she is actually mine.

I will do anything to get a smile out of her, including but not limited to dancing around in my pj's clucking like a chicken, because she thinks its funny

I take drives to sonic on any given day just to get out of the house

Get nostalgic thinking about all the things Annabelle has already grown out of

Have a new appreciation for my mother

LOVE being Annabelle's mommy, love who she is and love that she acts and looks like her daddy

Love that I have no idea what I am doing most of the time, but love that Annabelle loves me anyway.

Happy Birthday Cousin Caris

April 20th!!!  What a day!  Today we celebrate the birth of our favorite and only cousin!  Caris Elizabeth is 2 today and Annabelle and I could not be more excited!

We love our cousin & niece and love how much she has taken to "her baby Elbow" (Caris first attempt trying to say Annabelle).  Growing up with 2 sisters, I know how much fun it is to experience life with another girl in the family, we are so happy Caris is filling that big sister void for Annabelle, like her mommy did for me :)  There is nothing like having a older, cooler girl to play with, test the waters on, and try and copy as much as possible!  Caris, with the little girl you are shaping up to be, I am waiting in wonder at what Annabelle will learn from you!

Will she love your love for the purple hue? Copy your barnyard animal faces?  Love you zest for chores? Inherit your love for anything that resembles a book?  Want to at every waking moment watch Toy Story or Mary Poppins?  Or simply just admire your movie star locks of hair?

Caris & Annabelle's first meeting, AB was in my belly :)

Caris kissing baby Annabelle's toes 

The Cousins meet

The snowman Caris built for Annabelle the day we came home from the hospital

Our girls

Even more of our girls

Whatever your little union has in store for us, no doubt we are all in for a treat!  So cheers to you BIG GIRL CARIS!!!  We are so excited to celebrate your birthday with you and so excited that yours is the first Birthday Party our Annabelle will get to experience!  I couldn't imagine anything better :)

Love,

Auntie TJ & baby Annabelle

Now Annabelles Personal Success....

Also known as NAPS.....

Really I am speaking (or typing) out of turn a little here, but in a slightly failed attempt at an abbreviation for Naps....I am going to chalk our last 2 days as a success and speak into existence their permanence in our life.

Truly Annabelle deserves all the credit for this one, if it were up to me, I would hold her and rock her every moment of every day, but apparently that is not good for either of us, or so everyone tells me :)

At week 10, I am finally trying our hand at the self soothed naps.  No, I am still not letting her sit there and cry, in fact I crouch down below her bassinet and put my hand on her until she falls asleep, but either way she is soothing and technically laying by herself...so there you have it, my definition of self soothing.  BUT, so DOES it!  She for the past two days, at 2 different nap times, has put herself to sleep!  Unbelievable!  Truly Annabelle's Personal Success, because her mommy does not get the credit for this one.  If she wasn't capable or gave me the slightest sense she was uncomfortable, I would no doubt swoop in and start my favorite pastime of rocking.  But no, my girl is already showing me she is growing up and telling me, "hey mom, let me see if I can do this" and by golly...she does!  Way to go AB!  So there she sleeps, ever so peacefully in her little Target bassinet, that she prefers to any other fancy item I have gotten for her to sleep in, dreaming and listening to her personal favorite remix of Nora Jones, Coldplay Rockabye, and Amos Lee.

This is her happy place...

Sleep tight little girl!

Two Whole Months

Annabelle today you are 10 weeks old!!!  Unbelievable.  You are growing in body and spirit every day.  Each day you greet us with a HUGE toothless smile and instantly all tiredness leaves my body and I am up....ready to start the day with my girl.

I would say to sum up your second month, it would be friends and family.  You have been the social butterfly this month, with all your visits to see your family and all your friends.  You already love so much, I love getting to share your love with everyone.

One week before you two month birthday we took you on your second road trip!  What an adventurer you have become.  We headed West to see all your family, you got to see the ranchita, Albany and Abilene for the very first time.  We went you your very first track meet, you, daddy and grandpa JJ got to play in the "man cave" and you got to breathe the nice fresh country air!  You loved the country!  The very first night you were there you slept 7 hours!!!  A record!  We let you experience all that Albany had to  offer, we took you on a driving tour where you saw all of mommy's houses she had growing up, you walked downtown, went shopping a little, got a cherry lime aid at the drug store, took a nap outside and went star gazing. What a weekend!

On our way back home your daddy took you to see his home for the first time!  You got to see your Nana and Poppy and meet your uncle Sonny and Aunt Erlene!  You had so much fun being the center of attention :)

The very next weekend was our very first night away from Daddy, he went to San Antonio and we went to Albany.  Your grandma Susie came down to help us with the drive.  You slept the whole way there....
We got all ready for a BIG party when we finally made it to Albany.  We were celebrating mommy's friend Cori and here upcoming wedding!   It was your very first party, and you were quite the hit!  You got to wear a fancy pink dress and stay up way past your bedtime to meet all your Albany friends.  Your cousin Caris and Auntie Millie came too!  You had so much fun laughing at Caris, you think she is hilarious.  You got to play with your aunties all weekend, you love your family so much!

The next weekend you had LOTS of new friends over at your house for a little BBQ.  Daddy cooked burgers and our house was full of lots of little friends & lots of big friends.  No doubt you will have plenty of playmates....so many babies.  You got to meet everyone for the first time, we had a blast getting to show you off.  Charlie, Heather and Carter even flew in all the way from Tennessee to meet you!  You loved getting to watch Carter crawl around everywhere...I have no doubt you will be crawling before we know it!

Some of your favorite activities month 2 have been, shopping, driving in the car, smiling, laughing, you still love kicking your legs, you love your walks, love the moby, love your book time at night, and love when you daddy is home on the weekends.

You had to get 2 very big shots this month, and you did EXCELLENT!!!  You only cried for a second then were asleep in mommys arms before we knew it!  You weighed 10 lbs 1 ounce and were 22 amd 1/2 inches long! The dr. called you a smiley girl, and I have to agree.  You are my smiley girl.  You also grabbed your toes for the first time right before we headed to the Dr. for your 2 month check-up!  I think it was on accident, but it was very cute!

We have lots of fun friends to play with now, and lots of friends baking away ready to play with you soon!  It is such an exciting time to see all of our friends get to experience the joy of their babies like we get to experience every day with you!

Cant wait to see what month 3 of your little life holds for you....

Here are a few pics from our monthly photo shoot!!  You have grown so much!