Checking in

We had Easter pictures taken the same day as Birthday, with Easter falling so early this year we didn't get them back in time but it was still fun to dress up and throw eggs all over the studio.

Here is Annabelle's 1 year pictures we had taken on her birthday, she is such a ham for the camera!

Neighbor Susie gave Annabelle a book for Halloween titled "Do you have a hat?". Every page describes someone in history with their hat, Abe Lincoln, Carmen Miranda, Johnny Appleseed etc, and every page ends with "Do you have a hat?".

Annabelle has decided this week this is her favorite book and now wants to wear a hat at all times. I have to coax it off her for bath time. First thing in the morning she says "Hat" and points to the hall tree where we keep them and on it goes.

She won't keep socks on, but a hat is a must!

Like the Pisces fish she is, Annabelle loves bath time. With the addition of some new bath toys and towels for her birthday, this is our best time of day. She laughs, splashes and swims until her feet and hands are little prunes. She even likes the end where we shower her off after letting the water out.

We are looking forward to summer with bathing suits, matching hats and a pool for the yard.

Annabelle got to ride the train (with Mum) at the mall on her birthday. She was so happy to see "Peep Peep" as she calls Thomas The Tank Engine. It was just a blue train but to her it was Thomas. It was not busy so she got to spend some extra time getting pictures, cruising up & down and then finally kissing the engine (cried and reached for it when I pulled her away from kissing on him).

She decided a few months ago Thomas was the shiznet when we received a book of the month with Thomas's birthday, since then she claps, laughs and yells "Peep Peep" whenever she sees him. Riding the train was her crowning moment, I felt so blessed to witness this happiness with my daughter.

March 18, 2008

Dearest Annabelle,

Happy Birthday! Today marks the only time in history we can both say this has been the best year of our lives, and it has. It has been a lifetime that went by in the blink of an eye. Every day has been wonderful with you.

On your first birthday I have been reminiscing about all your firsts. Your first breath, night at home, smile, bath, laugh, foods, sitting up for the first time, crawling, standing up, saying “Mum, Mum, Mum”. I have been given the privilege of bearing witness to all these firsts, which has been the greatest joy I have ever known.

We have been both teacher and student this year. You taught me I could function on way less sleep than I ever have before, I taught you it’s fun to splash like Shamu in the tub, we taught each other how to breastfeed. I learned when I thought my heart could not get any fuller there is room for more with just one of your smiles. You learned to appreciate books and all they have to offer. Together we learned we cannot get out of the house in 15 minutes, or even really 30, outings take planning!

Everyone says what a happy baby you are, and you are. You rarely cry and when you do it is with good reason, a bumped head, fighting sleep or if someone takes a spoon out of your hand. You love to hold a spoon, preferably one in each hand. Your new thing as of late is when you are upset or being shy (which you are not after a 5 minute warm up period with anybody) you want held and put your head down on my shoulder. I wish we could stay like that forever, heads bowed, arms wrapped around each other allowing me to breathe the sweet scent that is unique to you. I hope you always find comfort in my shoulder, know it is always available to you no matter how big you get.

You have gone from baby to infant in a 1 week period. Last week you still had chubby cheeks and went about your day unaware of your next move. Now with your pretty hair clips and knowledge of your surroundings you put together your puzzle, then play the piano then move over to root through your books to find just the one you want. You have such a look of a little girl now; it fills me with pride as it breaks my heart. You are growing up so fast, I want time to stand still, rewind and fast forward simultaneously. It sounds crazy and is hard to explain but I want it all. And your laugh, you have a real sense of comedic timing. Recently you were talking away saying “Zum Bum”. I said “Who is a Zum Bum?” to which you shouted “Mum!” and then cracked up laughing, so did I. Now that is our new game, I sincerely hope Zum Bum is a term of endearment; I like to think it is.

So Happy First Birthday my sweet, sweet, beautiful girl. I love you with all that I have and I thank you for all the joys you have given me this year.
.
Mum

Annabelle & her Nana are enjoying some spring weather all decked out for St. Patricks Day. Thank you Aunt Jeanne for the fabulous dress!

Now that Annabelle is on the cusp of walking we had her fitted for Stride Rite shoes (size 5 already!). Remember that great feeling you got as a kid when you wore your new shoes out of the store? Annabelle got to do that and took great pride in holding her feet up for everyone that passed us in the grocery store afterward.

Finally! Yesterday was the first time we have been able to put a clip in Annabelle's hair and it would stay. She was so high from everyone at the mall telling her how pretty she was we were able to get some cute pictures before settled down for her afternoon snooze.

Now maybe old ladies will quit calling her a boy whenever I wear blue on her.

Is 1 to young for chores? Annabelle likes to unload the dishwasher so I figure what the heck, she needs to earn her keep.

Actually she is obsessed with the dishwasher. She can be in the next room and hear it open. She then takes off in what can only be described as "quick as the Road Runner" like crawling. We keep the spoons in the front where she can reach, she must grab one for each hand.

I hope she still finds this as much fun when she is 10 as it will be her job then too.

Here is the picture we used for Annabelle's 1st birthday invitation. Originally we had a "wardrobe malfunction" (zipper was down on her jeans) but one of the women in my on-line photo group was kind enough to fix this mishap in photoshop - you can't even tell!

Then I tried to make my own using the picture in Scrapblog, that did not turn out so well either. Finally I called Aunt Stacie in distress and she came to the rescue, cropping a bit and adding the wording at the top, then I ordered photo cards and off they went.

I was very pleased I was able to capture this expression, this is what she does now when you ask "How big is Annabelle?", I do it too, I can't believe my baby is going to be 1!

So 1 year (almost!) seems like the perfect time to start a blog for Annabelle. As hard as I have tried to keep everyone updated on what we are up to, what milestones Annabelle has reached I have fallen short in both my e mail and snail mail correspondence. I plan on updating this at minimum weekly, hopefully more. So stop in when you can, we’ll be here.