Never Underestimate the Speed of a Two-Year-Old...

"I just need to find some cheap play shirts," I said to myself as I pushed the cart into the toddler section. I looked at Annessa - the popcorn from "Resturante de Targete" was working. She was munching happily in the big bin of the cart. I turned to find her size "I better get a 3-T" I thought comparing the shirt to the 2-T. "Man she is getting big."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a leg swing over the edge of the cart. "What the...." I turned to look - "You've GOT to be KIDDING me!" My monkey - oops - I mean my daughter had successfully climbed out of the shopping cart and was now bolting to the home goods section.

Not wanting to make a scene (after all, I saw someone from work there as I was walking in), I did a fast-paced walk, trying to catch up to her. "Oh no - she's headed towards the vase isle! Screw it!" My legs sprinted down the isle, unable to keep up with this speed demon. Thank God she ran past the glass and was headed toward the comforters. Bam! She threw her body into a "bed in a bag" set. She looked up at me a laughed.

"Mama, fun!"

"Yeah - a blast...."

25 Random Things About Annessa

She...

1. has a thing for animals
2. loves bubble baths (already!)
3. locked herself in my truck today
4. reads herself to sleep
5. loves mama and daddy's "big bed"
6. says "hi" to anyone she sees
7. loves fruit
8. climbs on EVERYTHING
9. would swing all day
10. wants to go outside the minute she wakes up
11. chases Gus around the house
12. has a new-found love of chocolate milk
13. knows all of her letters and sounds (I am particularlly proud of this!)
14. has a tough time pronouncing the hard /c/ sound
15. loves diggers and dump trucks
16. giggles when she plays hide 'n seek
17. lists off all the people she knows when she prays at night
18. loves to dance - especially when mama and daddy dance with her
19. is trying to break the world record for "the most times anyone can say 'I want' in a day"
20. sleeps with 3 blankets, as many stuffed animals as possible, a few bath toys and two bins of books
21. knows what the "golden arches" mean...french fries
22. has a carefree spirit
23. is not afraid to take risks
24. has the prettiest brown eyes I've ever seen
25. is the best thing that has ever happened to us

A Child's Voice

Annessa and Aunt Jenni at Jen and Dan's wedding (This picture has nothing to do with the post, but I thought it was darn cute, so what the heck!)

So when does a baby's voice turn into a child's voice? Somehow, my babbling little baby now has the voice of a little kid. Today I came home from school and heard, "Hi, Mama!" in this cute, sweet, soft voice. I have to say that it melted my heart. I should have listened to my friend, Kathy (who is always right!), when she said I should tape record or video tape her babbling. At the time, it seemed like she would babble forever - putting strings of sounds together, her little voice going up and down as Rich and I said silly things like "No way!" "Gus did that?" "Then what happened..."



Now, she is suddenly making sense. Like she can actually communicate. When did this happen?? Part of me misses my baby, but an even bigger part of me loves hearing her say, "Hi, Mama!" when I open the door (maybe I should tape record that....).

Farewell Summer

(Up north with the girls)

Goodbye:
Mornings at the park
Tuesday visits with "La-La" (great-grandma)
Sunscreen
Trips with friends up north
Swimming, swimming, and more swimming
Fort-building on rainy days
Bumming at Target
Afternoons on the swing set

Hello to:
Jumping in piles of leaves
Fall nature walks
Dressing up for Halloween
Apple picking
Monster cookies
New memories....New milestones.....New possibilities...

(Memorial Park)

Beautiful Snippets of Life

I was laying in the grass, looking at the clouds that were heavy with rain when I felt her snuggle next to me. "Mama, clouds. Rain."

"You're right - it's gonna rain. Do you see how gray the clouds are?" She laid still just long enough for me to look over at her and know that there is nothing in the world I would rather be doing than this.

(And then there was a hitting episode, which resulted in a timeout, which resulted in this sad face. Back to reality.)

"She cracks me up!"

So I take Annessa to Bay Beach today and we meet my friend Raessa there (who, by the way, is pregnant with her 3rd baby) and her 2 boys. Let me say right off the bat that Raessa's boys are angels....saints....they actually stay put when you set them places! I think Annessa is an angel too - just a different type of angel. Anyway, it was a great day full of "Annessa-isms." This bit of conversation sums it all up:

Raessa: She cracks me up!
Me: Yeah, try living with her...

Annessa, if you ever read this please know that mommy and daddy love you to pieces. We could not ask for a better daughter than you. Just go easy on us as a teenager...Please?

"Mom, I love this horse! Do you think I can make it go faster?"

"I love this yellow bug!"

Ayden: What is she doing?

Big

She was peeking up at me with her big brown eyes. Dimples flashing, even bouncing a little as she knelt on the kitchen stool - elbows on the counter - chin in her hands.

As I waited for my mom to answer the phone, I looked across the counter at my daughter. Really looked. I saw her long legs. When did they get so long? Her hands - weren't they miniature yesterday?

Waiting for my mom to answer the phone, I felt a strange, three-generational pull. I found myself fast forwarding to the day when SHE would be the one waiting for ME to answer the phone.

Will we have the kind of friendship my mom and I have? Will she have a little girl looking up at her - watching her every move? I hope so because nothing is more fulfilling than nurturing the relationship between a mother and her child.