The little booger has turned one! So much has happened in the past year that it seems like so long ago that she was born, but in the same right, it seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home and learning how to be parents. She has certainly changed our lives forever and we couldn’t be more happy and excited to be called her parents.

We had a big birthday bash for her at our house. I don’t know where we’d put anymore people (or gifts for that matter)! It was a beautiful fall day with the sun shining all day. We had a good hot meal of hot beef, baked beans and fruit salad. Anna, of course, loved the baked beans and Great Grandma helped her finish up the mandarin orange salad. After lunch, we had her open her mound of gifts. I think she got a little overwhelmed with all people watching her and that we kept taking things away so she could open another one. She really just wanted the first few things (especially her babies). The theme seemed to be “farm” with all kinds of toys and books referring to farms. She loved most of the things, but of course, some things scared her and we got those out of sight. Then came the cake. She was a bit hesitant at first and just picked at the frosting like a good little girl. Hehe. Then I pulled some of the cake away so she could see that there was more to it. She started to get into it. She was wearing/eating the cake along with sharing it, as she does with a lot of her food, with willing recipients. After she seemed to just want to share her cake, we took her upstairs for a chocolate cake bath and down for a well need nap! It was a nice day filled with family and friends. Now what to do with that overflowing pile of dolls, animals and toys….. good thing we’re having another one!

Anna has been kind of letting us know she doesn’t really need a bottle anymore, so we’ve taken her off of that a couple weeks ago. My handy dandy Baby Center website told me she doesn’t need as much of that anymore as she’s getting her nutrients elsewhere, so now we’re on to sippy cups of milk, juice and water. She’s a really good eater (better than Gary and I in some cases) that she’ll eat just about anything we put in front of her. She still doesn’t like broccoli…. She loves hamburger meat, corn, bread, condiments (hehe, ketchup, pasta sauce) and any kind of fruit. She still sleeps through the night, an occassional drama session happens when her pipe gets lost or she can’t find Mr. Frog or Shudder (her ghost). She loves her bath and likes to put all of her foam numbers and letters on the sides of the tub without being prompted! She also loves the naked run from the bathroom to her room. Hehe. She has the cutest little baby butt! She still rather have things in each hand that match, like 2 blocks, 2 dolls, 2 giant pillows or 2 shoes. I don’t know where she got that, but it’s funny how she searches for the two items that go together. She loves being read to and she turns the pages faster than we can read! Good thing we’re starting to memorize some of her books (I’m a little teapot, You’re my little love bug).

She’s starting to find her imagination too. The other day, Gary and I were sitting at the dining room table finishing up dinner. We got her down from her highchair and let her roam. Crumbs usually fall on the foot ledge on her chair and she picks them off and hands them to us (or eats them). I took them from her and put them on the table. She continued to pull crumbs but I looked and there wasn’t anymore left, but she pretended to pick them up and put them on the table. It was so cool to see that!

She’s learning “no” better too or she’ll stand right in front of the thing she knows she’s not supposed to touch with us just giving her a look. It’s not as drama filled as it once was, but let me tell you, when drama does happen, it’s a devistating, ear piercing scream cry. It’s so over the top, we have to laugh. Then she looks at you with these tear filled, squinty eyes saying I’m so sad, pick me up. Hehe.

Her giggle is great! She loves it when daddy attacks her and we tickle her tummy or feet. It’s the best. She’s still saying dada, mama, and what sounds like “what’s that?” on top of the “eh eh eh” when she wants something. So I got a baby signs book out to see if that’ll work for her to express what she wants rather than whine. It might be too late.

Here are some pictures from her birthday. One disc has become corrupt and hopefully we can get the rest off this weekend. Anna’s First Birthday!

Baby #2 is definitely becoming more active and letting me know that the time is getting closer. Speaking of which, we’re figuring out placement and what we’re going to do in the room yet. I know, cutting it a lot closer this time, but it’ll be a little more interactive than just paint on the wall. So everything has to be just so, of course. At least the room is painted! Hopefully this weekend will lend itself for the start of doing that. Otherwise, I’m feeling pretty good. Some days are more tiring than others, but I think I’m doing pretty well. I have my glucose test today. Ugh. I’ll probably have to get my blood tested like last time with everything turning out fine, it’s just a bit of a pain…. literally. Oh well.

Gary and I are doing well. Trying to find time to fit all of our grand plans in each night and weeknd. Time certainly does fly! We have the basement roughed in, so now on to heating and cooling, electric and a massage go through of our stuff. On top of all our side work we have from websites to wedding invites, we’re definitely busy people! But we’re managing.

I’ll try to post some pictures up of our rooms that I’ve been talking about for weeks and other things. Try, being the key word.

Have a lovely rest of the week!

Love,
GCA

The little toddler has been toddling herself into and onto everything these days. In one night, she managed to whack her head 3 times! I’d rather not go into detail on how she did such things so that we won’t look like horrible, unsupervising parents, but lets just say it involved a plastic storage bin, a futon and a rocking chair. Man, did I feel horrible! But she managed. Then Saturday brought a trip to the pumpkin patch. Well this year, we actually just picked one out from the picked ones as she doesn’t care too much yet about all this stuff. But in the time we were there, she carried around 2 heavy gourds and proceeded to walk too fast down a concrete path and do a summersault resulting in her first scrap on her little head. Her new (and yet another) nickname is Crash needless to say.

She still only has 4 teeth that I’m able to see fully. She’s not too cooperative to let me feel around in there, but I’m sure more are on their way as she’s drooling all the time. Anyway, I had her in my arms and she was bouncing her face on my shoulder. She then figures out that it’s a little soft and she bites me! I was in shock. I should have known it would happen as she bites everything! I firmly told her not to do that, but we’ll see how long it is between the next incident.

I thought after the summer was over, things would slow down a bit, but it’s simply not true. Every once of the weekend is planned to get as much done around the house or with Anna as humanly possible. We’re in the midst of planning Anna’s birthday party this weekend, cleaning out the basement of things we don’t need, donations, cardboard, etc, and also pushing all of our belongings together so that our basement can get framed up this weekend as well. We’re losing our guest bedroom to the new baby, so we’re getting the room in the basement set up for that now. With all that, finishing up odds and ends around the house, regular house work, making sure Anna doesn’t hurt herself and preparing for another busy weekend. I wish I could see the light at the end, but I don’t think so. This may be life for awhile, but in reality, I love it. I love experiencing new things with Anna, I love doing things to our house to make it ours, I wouldn’t trade any of it for anything. I may get exhausted and can’t believe how much there is to do being a homeowner and parents, but it’s awesome to have all these things surround me.

Saturday night, Gary, Alex, Sheila, Anna and I walked the Light the Night walk. It was really cool to be a part of such an amazing event and be amongst people who share such similar but different stories. We walked around downtown and let me tell you I was done by the end of the walk. Carrying around a little extra weight did me in. Either way, we raised about $400 and hope to do a lot more next year!

Baby #2 and I are doing well, just slowing down and getting bigger. This ones a mover when it’s awake, all over, not just in a couple spots like Anna was. I’ve had to purchase another pair of maternity pants as fall is upon us and I didn’t have too many warm clothes with Anna. I’m still feeling good otherwise, just feeling like a big pregnant woman. Gary’s been talking to the baby like he did with Anna and is showing her how to do it. She just laughs. She’s in for a surprise when this baby comes, but I think she’ll be good with it. She’s been listening a lot more when we say no, so we’ll see. I feel bad for this baby as I don’t have dozens of posts about the pregnancy to fill up their first year book, but in the same right, it’s a good thing that there’s a lot less drama with this one. I’m sure he/she will understand and let Anna know. According to Baby Center, the baby is almost 2 pounds and about 14 inches long (as long as an english hothouse cucumber).

Otherwise, we’re doing well, just busy. Sidework is continuous and on going with new projects every couple weeks it seems. I’m working on redoing the Children’s Ministries logos at church. I’m excited to be apart of the growing process this ministry is having and to get more involved with the kids aspect of church. I still owe you pictures of our redone bathrooms and soon the baby’s room. I’ll get there. Work is going well for both of us, keeping busy there. We’re excited to have family and friends over this weekend to celebrate Anna’s birthday. It’s been a great year with her and are looking forward to so many more!

I’ll post again soon, I almost promise. In the meantime, here are some links of pictures to enjoy!

Anna’s 11th Month
Baby Tidd #2
Out & About

Love,
Gary, Christie and Crash