Writing

So, a big part of my life is spent teaching kids how to write. Teaching them to write with authority and voice, style, and skill. Teaching them that their words matter. You can imagine my excitement when Annessa "wrote" her first words last night.

As a matter of fact, I don't know which I was more excited about: Annessa's first SPOKEN word or her first WRITTEN word.

Here's how it went down:

A: Mama, I write (takes the marker that is laying on the counter and grips it with her fingers)
Me: Okay, what are you going to write? A story?
A: fabet (alphabet) A....B....C... (making distinct lines for each letter)
Me: holding my breath
A: Mama....Daddy....(making more lines)
Me: Wow, that is so smart of you! You're writing letters and words. Should we write some more? How about Gus?
A: I all done (drops the marker and trots off to her toy box)

Quiet

(Pictures from Little Farmer)

It's funny how much life changes after you are a parent. It's not like life was boring or unfulfilling before. I loved life. Just Rich and I, hanging out, going out to dinner (having a few drinks at the bar before our meal, cuz what the heck? We got all night...). Reading a great book on a Saturday. Spending extra time at work, not because I had to, but because I wanted to. In fact, I remember being so happy that a tiny part of me was afraid to become a mom. I wondered if I was too selfish to hack it.

I'm thinking about life before motherhood tonight only because I am home alone. No husband. No kid. Just me. Just me and the Quiet. I realize now that Rich and I can still have a few glasses of wine (now it's just after our carry-out dinner) I can still read whenever I want (our favorite characters are Dora and Boots). And now I make use of every minute at work so I can hurry home to my little girl.

I think God has me all alone for a reason this weekend. Sure, I got my hair done, I'll grocery shop in peace tomorrow, and I'll spend a night out with the girls, but I can hear Him whispering in my ear. I know when they come back on Sunday, the toys will resume their normal positions on my carpet, the news will be switched to cartoons, and I will have to hide the Halloween candy I've been munching on unless I want a sugar-high toddler/monster on my hands. I will miss the quiet. But I will love the noise more.

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Last night Rich brought Annessa into bed with us. She had been sound asleep in her room and he scooped her out of her bed and carefully laid down our sleeping girl. I snuggled close and could smell the fresh scent of baby lotion. Her little foot fit perfectly in my hand. Her soft snores filled my ears as I thought about how everything that really mattered in my life was in this bed.

(Little did I know that an hour later, Rich put her back into her own bed. Apparently, she was kicking and twisting and MOVING and kicking and MOVING so much that Rich couldn't stand it anymore. Ahh....the dreamy benefits of being a sound sleeper...)

Dear Annessa

Dear Annessa,

There is nothing I love more than being your mom. Nothing. I wish I could explain to you how happy you make me. You put everything into perspective - work, family, every little stress seems so little when I am focused on you.

Tonight we read Olivia in bed - you had the little Olivia finger puppet and I had the mama one. You laughed and giggled as we made our fingers dance to the rhythm of the words. I knew right then that this was the best part of my day. I looked at you extra hard, listened extra hard. Trying to bottle the memory in my mind.

The beauty of being a mom is in the little things - reading to you, seeing you make a new friend, listening to you rattle off the people you know in your prayers...These are the moments I live for. The moments I treasure. Thank you for giving my life depth.

I love you.
Mama

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)