Annie's First Birthday Party

I would say Annie's first birthday was a success.  This momma stressed out about it for weeks but it went down without a hitch.  All of our closest family and friends came to celebrate our sweet angel and it couldn't have been better.

Her theme was Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Do you know how loved you are?


I will let the pictures do the talking.

 

 

 Thank you to everyone who came.  It was so much. I can't wait to plan next years!!

Annalise Faith 12 Months (1 Year)

Oh My!  I cannot believe my sweet girl turned one today!  I am overwhelmed with happiness, joy, pride and so very, very much LOVE for this sweet little angel.  I simply cannot believe how fast the last year has gone by and how much more in love I fall with her everyday.
Words simply cannot express the love of a mother for her child.  This, my sweet girl of mine is my everything (besides her daddy of course).  She fills this mothers heart with so much love.
I never knew I could love someone as much as I love her.  She amazes me every day.

 

As I sit here and type this I cannot type without feeling so blessed.  I have prayed, cried so many tears, and worried countless nights about this sweet child God has given us.  For so many years I never thought I could have a child of my own and now a year later, she is still with me, a smiling, beautiful, happy and wonderful child God has made just for me.  Just for mine and Aaron's pleasure of raising, and loving on.  God is so good.

 

 

My Dearest Annalise,

You are such a joy to be around.  You have by far succeeded my expectations of the love I could feel for another child.  I knew love when your cousins were born, but nothing could have ever prepared me for the love I have for you.  It simply brings tears to my eyes and an ache in my heart how much I care for you sweet girl.  You have made my life complete.  Nothing brings me more happiness than to wake you up after a long night of being away from you and you wrapping your arms around me and giving me the tightest bear hug around my neck.  I love it!!  Daddy and I fight over who wakes you in the morning just because we know that only one of us will be lucky enough to get that sweet hug.  Your grandma Angie and Aunt Jennifer know what that hug is like too.  I cannot express how much we love it!!

You girlie have been the BEST baby this year and I dont say that because I am your mom. I say that because it is true.  You hardly ever cried, unless you were hungry, tired or wet.  Even when you had a double ear infection you never cried. I just knew you weren't your happy self.

Teething has been a breeze until the last few weeks and you are finally cutting those back molars and are a bit fussy but if I give you a tootbrush or wet cloth to chew on you are just fine my dear.

There really is nothing negative I can say about this first year.  I fear that if we have other children they will be totaally oppisite of you dear girl.  You have slept so good from the day you were born.  I can only remember a hand full of times having a long night with you and that was just because you were sick.  Girl loves to sleep like her Mommy and Daddy and let me tell you, that is awesome!!!

You love to eat everything. So far you have not turned down anything.  Ravioli, ground beef, cheese, peas, carrots, beans, bread, tortillas, bananas, mac n cheese, chicken.  Oh wait, we tried peaches the other day, you did not care for those.  But anything else, you eat away without any cares.

You have no interest what so ever to walk right now. I can put you in your walker and you will cry for me to take you out but after a mintue or two you are all over the place in that thing. However, on your own you dont even want to walk if I hold your hands.  You just squat back down or drag your feet.  You are enjoying your freedom of crawling whenever, however, and wherever you can in the house.  Sometimes I will forget you are free and I take my eyes off you for a few seconds and you are gone.  Lately we have found you in the laundry room trying to get your puppies. 

You have such a love for Duke and Lucy but they really could care less about you.  Duke runs away any time you even get within a foots reach of him and Lucy, well.  You torcher that poor puppy.  Pull her hair and smack at her head and I have even caught you taking a bit out of her back.  She just lays theres and takes it but looks at me with those puppy eyes to please help!

You have a love for music like I have never seen in a baby and I really hope that you got that from me. Music is one of my loves in life that I think is just a wonderful gift in this world.  Anytime there is music playing I can tell you are listening intently.  You can even humm pitches back to me when we are in the car.  Baby girl you just might have a gift.

At your one year check up you weighe in at a whopping 17 pounds and 4 oz. and were right at 29 inches.  You my girl are still a cute little string bean. You were at the 87th percentile for height and just barley over the 10th percentile for weight still.  The doctor isn't worried though becuase you have followed that line since your first check up. Which I cannot believe because you were 9 pounds 6 oz at birth....my big, not so big baby girl.

You can say a few words mostly "dada, and sit and Shep."  Shep is the doggie at your day care, and if you can imagine mommy and daddy thought you were saying a really bad word the first few times we heard it.  Miss Paula told us that it was her doggies name much to our relief.  I am still waiting for you to say "momma" but so far I dont get much from you.

You are so very bright and I just love to watch you observe and take in your surrounds.  You are quiet and reserved for the most part and play so well by yourself. You absolutely love it when your cousins come over and I just love you and Abby's squeals of delight while you play with each other.  You two will be the best of friends one day I know it.

I cant believe you are one, and I can't wait to celebrate many more with you.  I love you so much sweet girl.  Happy Birthday.

xoxo-

Mommy

 



Annalise Faith: 11 Months

Gee Whiz!  I cannot believe my sweet girl will be ONE in a few short days and I am just now posting her 11 month update...shame on me again!! 
At least I am still TRYING to keep up with this rather than let her updates fall completely on the wayside.

This past month she has truly started transforming from a little baby into a toddler.  She is eating table food 90% of the time with the exception of the baby food to go pouches. Those are a lifesaver for busy families I tell ya.
One day she was starved the grocery store and I knew there was not way she would make it until we go home so I swung by the baby aisle and popped one of those babies in her mouth and we were all good until supper time.  Hey, I paid for it!! Ya, gotta do what ya gotta do sometimes right?

Annie has reached a few more milestones this month
*Mastered-pulling up.  She pulls up on just about anythign and everything, including my leg and then holds onto it until I pick her up.  I have to say I love it when she does this.
*Mobility- Crawling 90% of the time unless we need to lock her up in her high chair, bouncer, or walker (hey, shes into everything)
*Favorite Thing- Her favorite thing is bath time now.  I can put her in the tub anytime we are having a melt down or super fussy and it completely changes her 'tude.  She loves to help me take a bath too, I normally end up soaked by time we are done.
*Playtime- she is playing up a storm.  Her cousins can come over and she is finally able to interact and actually what I consider "play"  it was so much fun to just watch them with each other.
*6 teeth.  Yup, and she has mastered biting- if you put your fingers in her mouth.
*Pigtail- we finally have a long enough "sprout of hair" and we can put it up.  It is so cute!!!
*Weight and height- ill my tiny string bean. Weighed in at 17 lbs 6 oz and 28 inches at her last dr. apt.

Now we'll let the pictures do the talking!!

Annalise 6 Month Update

*** so old I know. But I finally took the time to add the pictures**.
** I will be on track one day right?***

Oh my gosh y'all, I cannot believe that my sweet Annie girl is 6 months.
Seriously where the heck has the time gone!
I feel like I just brought her home and she was this teeny tiny princess I was now responsible for.

Now, she is a growing sweet angel, with one sweet personality that just shines out of her.
She is always so happy.
Smiling.
Laughing.
Talking.
Oh, I love it.

I love watching her grow every day.
There are days I come home from work and I say to her, "Annie girl you grew today, I know it!!"
She will just laugh and coo back at me.
Its so sad how fast she is growning but I love it at the same time.

Is it really possible to love a little person as much as I love her?
I feel like my heart can explode sometimes with the love I feel for this little girl.

She is truly the biggest blessing that I have ever known in my life.
She makes our family complete and I love that feeling.
I love knowing that God gave me her to look after, to care for, to teach and for her to teach me.
For me to learn patience, how to guide her to know Him, and to Love Him.
For us to have a bond that only mothers and daughters have.
For me to know the joy of raising a child (I prayed for, for so long)
For me to know the sadness when she is sick when there is nothing I can do but try my best to make the right decisions and to comfort her to feel better.

 

 

Annie has hit quit a few milestones this month.
* Her first tooth finally came through about 2 weeks before she was 6 months.
* She can roll both ways now, easily, but still hates, HATES being on her Tummy.
*She is now comfortable sitting with support in her bouncer and her new Jumper-roo.
*She smiles, laughs, talks and says "momamamama" all the time.
*She is so long for her age, in the 97th percentile for height, and only the 16th percentile for her weight. (My tiny string bean)
*She is starting to grab on and hold items in her hands, especially my hair and her bib.
* And oh, the teething. Anything and everything in that girls mouth especially her fingers and her bib, that has now become a permanent staple in her wardrobe.

Annie,
My Sweet girl.
This next month I pray for you to continue to grow big and strong.
I wish for you to keep learning and experiencing the things around you.
To look at, feel and touch things to sharpen your senses and your wonder.
I hope you continue to like your veggies like your momma does and try new foods easily.
I hope you continue to build your muscles in your legs and arms and tummy so that you will be crawling soon.
And most of all I pray that you and your daddy I will continue to cherish these moments together as I know they are slipping between our fingertips so quickly and you will soon be a mobile baby.

I love you angel girl.

Momma

Annalise Faith 10 Months

Oh this sweet angel of mine is giving me a run for my money this month. So many changes so much to remember and talk about!

This month I will say she has develped the most of any stage so far.  She is growing like a little weed. Weighing in at almost 17 pounds now.  Shes just a couple ounces shy.  We are now trying new finger foods. So far she has had ravioli, avacado, bananas, peas, carrots, maccaroni, pizza, bread and anything I can pull off in small pieces during dinner, she has tried.  So far she hasn't turned anything down.  My good little eater!!

Ladies and Gentlemen we officially have a crawler. She is all over the place now.  It took her a good couple weeks to get the notion that she could actually get places besides just scooting around in the living room.  Now I find her crawling to the window seal to pull herself up and look out the window in the living room. She plays with the door stoppers- she loves the noise I guess, so she is always crawling out of my eye sight from the couch.  I think we will be investing in some more baby gates soon!! 

She hasn't learned any more words yet but she sure has the hang of giving anyone and everyone a high five and clapping.  Anytime I say "Yay, Annie!!!" she will clap.  Or is I start signing to her she will clap.  Its so cute.  It seriously melts my heart.  Daddy is super proud that he is the one that taught her how to high five. She also likes to pass objects back and forth.  Aaron will sit with her and hand her a ball or a toy and say "Here ya go!" and she will grab it and then hand it back to him. They can do this for a good 20 mintues before she gets bored and ready for something else.

She isn't too interested in her bouncer or her walker any more.  I will put her in one for some activity now and then but she would much rather be in her high chair playing or eating some star puffs and watching me in the kitchen or just in the living room on the floor playing with the doggies and her toys.

We've had quite the rough month with doctor visits.  She came down with pink eye the labor day weekend and we finally got that under control 2 weeks ago but she still has an ear infection.  This child and her ear infections.  Hopefully after this go round of antibiotics it will go away.  If not her pediatrician has suggested we might see an ENT specialist to see about tubes.  Lord, lets just pray they clear up.

Annalise is seriously such a joy to be around and I love spending every extra second of the day with her.  I went out of town for a long weekend with the girls from work and I was biting at the bit to get home and just snuggle her and cover her in kisses after not seeing her for over 48 hours. Shes such an amazing little person that brings a smile to pretty much anyones face that encounters her.

Now for pictures ( I have been really terrible about taking pictures, I will try better the upcoming months)

 

first time Annie crawled to me on our bed!!

 

finally eating pretty much everything on her own!

 

Enjoying our afternoon walks together!!

 

Bed time Tickle fun.  We do this every night!!

 

More tickle fun with Daddy before bed!

DAY 1 FAIL....

Well instead of going to the gym on my lunch break today like I promised, instead I headed to the local mexican restaurant with a co worker and stuffed my face with chips and salsa.

It was a free lunch.  Does that count??

Fail.

Epic. Fail.

Boo!!

But...ya know what?

Tomorrow is a new day and I will try again.

Enough said.

Don't Judge!

31- Lifes Just Begun

Life certainly has thrown me some curve balls this last year in turning 30, Life has also been beautiful and life has shown me some tears.
I am now a Mommy to a Beautiful baby girl.
I had a miscarriage in Early July and then another at the end of August.
I have suffered depression on going back to work and leaving Annie and then depression again in losing not only one baby but two.
And I am still struggling to feel "OK" in my new skin as a mom. (stretch marks and all)

As I am wrapping up the final months in my thirtieth year I really want to start focusing on a better me.
My New Motto- "31- Life's Just Begun".
I want to feel better, look better and be a better version of me.
Not only for myself but for my family.
I know they say looks aren't everything but sometimes it does really get to you.
Your clothes feel tight.
You have a little roll the bulges out over the top of your pants.
Nothing fits right.
Nothing looks right.
I sit in my closet looking at all these clothes I just wish would fit right again.

Its those types of things that make me insecure.
Maybe not for everyone, but for me yes.

As you know, I started taking Plexus about 6 months ago.
I love the product.
I feel like I have more energy.
I can actually cook and clean and play with Annie in the evenings now.
I can focus at work and on other tasks at hand.
And, yes, I have lost weight 14 pounds to be exact.

But....

I still feel that I need to do MORE!
I really need to get my butt back to the gym.

So as a promise I am making to myself I am going to get back to it.

In 16 short weeks I will be 31. 
THIRTY-ONE!!!
Yikes that sounds kinda crazy right?
Well, I want to be feeling better about my body image by then.
I want to feel better about what I am doing with my time and with my health by then.
I want to read more and watch less TV.
Work out more, and not spend so much time on Pinterest. (My guilty pleasure)
Spend more time on the floor playing w/ my daughter and less time doing dishes and cleaning.



I want to start on this now while she is young so I can get back into a rhythm of having a healthy lifestyle all the while taking care of her and Aaron.
I want to do it now, so that when she is 5 and 6 she is not seeing how awful I feel about my body.
I am her mom, she looks up to me and I know that this could potentially reek havoc on a young girls mind.


Now is the time. 
Now is the Place.


If you'd like to follow along I'd love to have you join me for the ride.

I'll be posting more details about what is up my sleeves!!

Until then....

Annalise Faith 9 months

This month has flown by like crazy....I just feel like time wil not slow down. I know I have seriously probably said that the last few posts but it is so true. Every day I am so amazed by how much Annalise is gowing and interacting so much more. I feel at his point I need to take daily pictures or write every little thing down as this first is just slipping through my skinny finger tips.  I dont want this baby time to end. 

I love that she is growing and learning but sometime especially at night when she just wants to play peek a boo or keeps lifting her head up off my shoulders I miss those sweet baby moments where she would just lay in my arms and look up at me with her big blue eyes in wonder.  Wondering what on earth everything is so curious ...her little baby angelic face.

Now when I look at her I see this sweet little girl just dying for us to teach her and for her to learn her own way in the world....slow down baby girl.

 

All smiles....all of the time!!!

This month she has started to really come into her own.  She can feed herself her little rice cereal pick ups and rarely has trouble chewng them up and swallowing.  I can sit her down to eat her pickups while I cook dinner at night and look over and she is just content waiting for me to hand her some more. 
She has really learned to play and occupy herself on her own. She still rarely fusses. She is such a GOOD baby. I mean really y'all she never cries.  The only time she does is because she is hungry or wet.  Her hungry cry is just so funny too because its more like she's hollaring at me to get her a ba ba sooner!!  She eats 2 full baby foods at every sitting and is still eating between 4-5 bottles every day.... my big eater.  Oh and she loves anything.  No complaints on any food yet.  Chicken and Apples and Prunes so far are her favorite.

 

sweet potatoes be gone!!!

 

 

All done...I want some more cereal lady!!

 

Shes all over the floor now.  She basically rolls from one end of the carpet in the living room to the other.  Aaron and I have realized we cannot leave her unwatched any longer on the floor for very long becuase she will find anything and put it in her mouth.

trying to get her to go after her ball

 

 

 

eh....it aint worth it mom....

Really mom... that is soooo far away!!



We had our 9 month check up and she is doing excellent.  Vocabualary wise she is blowing those other babies out of the water.... she knows both Momma, Dada and Baba...she knows the difference too!  Motor skills are on que....but we need to star working on letting her pull up on her own so more.  I am guilty of picking her up or grabbing her arms if she is struggling. I really need to make a conscious effort to let her do it herself even if she fusses a little bit.

 

As far as crawling we are not there yet but she tries. She gets on all fours and just rocks back an fourth... I am just waiting for the day she decides to take off. 

She weighed in as her usually string bean self 16.6 lbs and 28 3/4 " long.  She is so long and tiny and absolutely perfect.

This month she also went swimming for the first time (shame on me I know... no pictures)  She loved it after about 10 minutes it took to get used to the large crowd and the feel of the water.

 

The pricked her finger to check to see if she was anemic.... nom nom nom...yummy bandaids!

 

 

Momma that hurt...

 

 All smiles again

Oh and how she loves her daddy!  She will sit on the couch and just play wih his face for a very long time. She loves to grab on his nose and his ears and especially pull at his hair.  She just loves him sooo much I can tell.

As far as mommy time.  I so love rushing home to my sweet princess every day.  On my way home sometimes Aaron will put me on speaker phone if she is fussing and I will sing to her for a bit and he says she always smiles or gets a big excited grin just knowing it is me.  (i love that)

Night time is becoming more and more special to me.  I feel like as a baby I didn't hold her enough for fear that she would be too clingy and now all I want to do is hold her before bed.  After our bath and pjs, we get a book and read for a bit and then I just lay there rocking her.  Singing her sweet songs and breathing in her sweet smell.  Oh Annie girl... you seriously melt your momma's heart.

 

Mommy and Annie snuggles

I can't believe you will be 1 year old in less than 3 months.  Your momma is planning you a beautiful first birthday party...I know you will love!!

Happy 9 months sweet girl!

Annalise Faith- 7 month update

Seriously like is my clock just running on fast speed these days.  Feels like I just took her 6 month pictures and now she is 7 months and sitting up all on her own.

This month has been a big month for us. She is sitting up really well on her own and we took our first vacation as a family.  Plane ride and all. She got to visit and meet most of our family from New York for the first time too.  (that will be yet another post once I get the time)

This month Annie girl has truly turned into a  little girl.

She is wanting to eat more food. 
Trying out new things- Miss Independent over here.
She is sitting up and trying to grab and play with more toys.
She is being more receptive to mommy and daddy while we are talking to her.
She loves to play and laugh with her cousins.

Its just crazy to see her grow and change from day to day. 
I am loving every minute of it but sometimes I feel like it is just going by way too fast.
Add work into the mix, trying to have a life, and spend time with the hubby and family and before you know it I'm going to be balling my eyes out because she is heading to kindergarten.
Wait!
Stop!
Don't. Even. Go. There!!

Ha!

I am truly loving this little girl and being her mommy though. 
We finally made the time to take some family pictures and I will have those posted soon, but for now, your enjoyment.

I give you...Annalise... 7 months old.

 

Selfie with momma!

 

I just wanna pull her hair!!

 

Finally sitting up and playing my piano!!!

 

I love sitting on the couch on my own without help!!! (this also the first dress I bough Annie, I bought it the day we found out she was a girl...so glad she is finally in it!!)

 

 

Popeye!!

 

MMMMM.... sweet potatoes or peas....

 

I got this mom....

 

Big girl in the grass for only the second time.  (moms not a fan of bugs)

(this is in Aunt Diane's yard in New York)

 

First Vacation to Niagra Falls with Mommy and Danny

 

Cheesing for the camera while looking at the Falls!

My first selfie in the airport, while delayed!!

 

 

So content all of the time....

My not so big but not so little baby anymore!!