Summer's Here

We hope you had a happy Memorial Day! It's hot outside and it's time for 'timmin!! Anna donned her new 'tain tuit' and we headed over to my parents housefor a little splash in the pool.

Hey Hollywood!

Initially, Anna wanted nothing to do with the water. It was much more fun to play with the cups and dump water out.

She eventually warmed up to stand at the side of the pool and splash herhand in the water....so much for swimming, huh?! I guess we'll take baby steps to the big pool.

Well, what she lacks in water enthusiasm, she sure makes up for in CUTENESS!!

One Word Wednesday.....

Walking!!!!

We're Stilll Here

I'm not sure where the last month has gone..... I know we didn't sleep it away because sleep has been a luxury at our house...... Two ear infections, a 'famiversary week' celebration, 3 trips to the zoo, working on Anna's walking (she's able to walk with holding one hand!), finding some sprintime clothes......I guess we've just been busy!

A quick catch up (a warning- I'm going to brag on my girl!!):

• Anna's crawling every where....and FAST! She has fun crawling backward, crawling 'doughnuts' and shaking one leg when she's dancing. It's super cute!
• She's learning to use a fork and a spoon- such a big girl!
• She talks ALL THE TIME! She tells everyone she sees "Hi!" and will 'Hi' them until they acknowlege her. She'll ask, "How are you?" or tell you to "Have a good day!" More than once, someone has stopped me and said, "I remeber her; that's the talking baby!"
• She loves music and sings "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", "Happy Birthay", and her ABCs. Not bad for a gal who's not yet 2!!
• Anna loves Elmo! I wonder how many mommies have been able to fix supper, clean the house or take a shower just because of Elmo?!
• Anna can count to 10 all by herself! Yes, I have a genius baby!!
• She has taken up to 12 independent steps- walking is still really hard work...short legs just don't get you very far. She can go a pretty 50-100' with one hand held, but walks like she just got off a horse.

So..... here's what you really came to see.......

Working on walking at therapy school

Happy St. Patrick's Day

My little gal looks so big


Happy Spring!.....can you see her new top tooth?

I'm amazed at how fast she is changing and growing. I'm so lucky to get to be her mommie! Hoping you all have a Happy Spring!

A year ago today.....

I held my sweet Anna for the first time! Stayed tuned.....

Snow Day! and a Christmas Re-cap

We've had a ton of snow this winter, more than I can remember in years! Monday, we woke up to a fresh 2-3 inches of the white stuff! In many places, that's not a lot, but in our town, it shuts things down. So with Anna's school closed and my work closed (something that never happens), we enjoyed a snow day! Anna had a momentary smile in the snow before 'melting down'. She wasn't a fan of being in the cold stuff....just not in her DNA, I suppose!

Then we moved indoors for a little painting. Anna used to hate anything wet on her hands....but look at her now! She's enjoying her finger paints!! (Thanks to our OT friends!)

After a nap we headed to my parents' house. Despite the cold, Anna L.O.V.E.D her wagon ride! We did make a brief stop beside a snow man.....her reaction was similar to when I put the pumpkin next to her at Halloween.....she wanted NO PART of it! So we quickly returned to our wagon ride.

My girl loved her snow day!

Christmas Re-cap: You may have noticed that I skipped Christmas..... This year we all shared the gift that kept on giving- the 24 hour stomach bug! Anna shared with me, then both my parents got it. So, needless to say, Christmas was not what we had planned! This year, Anna wanted nothing to do with the Christmas tree, was terrified of Santa and wasn't a bit interested in any of her presents or the paper and ribbon they were wrapped in. I had set pretty low expectation, knowing that Anna wasn't really going to filled with Christmas Cheer! I think we managed to come in under my expectation. Praise God that the birth of Jesus wasn't dependent on the state of our GI tracts or the level of excitement of my 18 month old daughter! We did manage to get a few pictures before and after Christmas......

Anna looked super cute at my work's Christmas party.....I wish you could see the tulle skirt she had on- so yummy!!

Christmas morning!

We hope yall had a very Merry Christmas!

Hi Ninak

Enat:

the word used for 'mother' in Amharic, one of the primary languages in Ethiopia

While I was in Ethiopia, I had the amazing privledge of meeting Anna's birth mom. She is an incredible young woman who very much loved her daughter. Since arriving home, a picture of Anna's 'Enat' has been sitting on her dresser. This week, I took that picture down from the dresser for Anna to look at and hold. I 'introduced' Anna to her Enat, 'who lives in Ethiopia and loves her very much'. Tonight, as we were getting ready for bed, Anna said, "Hi Ninak!" It took me just a second to realize what she was talking about.....the picture of her Enat that was nestled among her things. Oh, my sweet girl, you have left your mommy speechless!

Proud Mommy

Today's local paper ran a sweet article about Anna, adoption, and the amazing care she has received at her therapy school. The article was to raise awareness about the work of the Rehab Center, a United Way Agency, during the local United Way campaign. You can click here to read the story. I'm so proud of my little gal!

Have a great week!