Annessa is the most friendly person I know. Today we were in line at our church's "Streets of Bethlehem," and she struck up a conversation with another little girl who was about 2 years older than Annessa:
Annessa: Hi girl!
Girl: Hi?
Annessa: I got seven (showing her the gold coins we were given to pay "Cesar."
Girl: No, you have two.
Annessa: I have seven.
Girl: (being very patient) No. You have 2 coins. I have six.
Annessa: Here Girl (giving her coins to the girl). I go see Jesus. You go see Jesus, Girl?
Girl: Yep - you can keep your coins. I have enough.
It is so fascinating to me to watch her have "conversations" with other people. To think that she can actually communicate with people is so amazing to me. Wasn't it just yesterday that she was saying her first word?
And, p.s., how cool is it that these too little girls were so unselfish - Annessa wanting to share her gold coins, and the little girl realizing she had enough. It's the little things that remind us what Christams is all about.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Waiting
Can there be joy while you're waiting?
Rich and I have been trying to have another baby for some time now. It is turning out to be more difficult than the first time (and the first time wasn't a walk in the park). In fact, we were just told that the next step is to do an IUI. The lining of my uterus is low, very low. They are telling me that the egg is probably getting fertilized each month, but either is unable to implant, or it implants, and then miscarries (all the while I think I'm getting a late "visit" from "Aunt Flow"). For a person who believes that live happens at the time of conception, that was tough news to swallow.
Long story short, we need to take this month "off" - no drugs, no shots, no ultrasounds, no nothing. Just wait. Wait to try again, wait to pee on a stick (or ten), wait to see if there is one line or two....wait. Do I even know how to step back into the "normal" world right now when I am so used to going through these "mini-grieving" cycles each month?
Yesterday I was so disappointed - it starts to become a quest in a way. And I was told by the powers-that-be that my body needed a rest. My head was screaming no, but in my heart, I knew it was for the best.
So, now I will wait. But while I wait, I will be focusing on the two people I love most in this world - Rich and Annessa. How can I be sad during my baby's first Christams (okay, so it's technically her third Christmas, but this one she actually knows what Santa says and she knows about baby Jesus). How can I be sad when this is the month that marks the Biggest Gift I have ever received? How can I be sad when Rich is so excited to give me the present we swore we we not doing this year?
No, saddness is out - joy is in. And someday, I will look back on this and it will all make sense.
Rich and I have been trying to have another baby for some time now. It is turning out to be more difficult than the first time (and the first time wasn't a walk in the park). In fact, we were just told that the next step is to do an IUI. The lining of my uterus is low, very low. They are telling me that the egg is probably getting fertilized each month, but either is unable to implant, or it implants, and then miscarries (all the while I think I'm getting a late "visit" from "Aunt Flow"). For a person who believes that live happens at the time of conception, that was tough news to swallow.
Long story short, we need to take this month "off" - no drugs, no shots, no ultrasounds, no nothing. Just wait. Wait to try again, wait to pee on a stick (or ten), wait to see if there is one line or two....wait. Do I even know how to step back into the "normal" world right now when I am so used to going through these "mini-grieving" cycles each month?
Yesterday I was so disappointed - it starts to become a quest in a way. And I was told by the powers-that-be that my body needed a rest. My head was screaming no, but in my heart, I knew it was for the best.
So, now I will wait. But while I wait, I will be focusing on the two people I love most in this world - Rich and Annessa. How can I be sad during my baby's first Christams (okay, so it's technically her third Christmas, but this one she actually knows what Santa says and she knows about baby Jesus). How can I be sad when this is the month that marks the Biggest Gift I have ever received? How can I be sad when Rich is so excited to give me the present we swore we we not doing this year?
No, saddness is out - joy is in. And someday, I will look back on this and it will all make sense.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
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)
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)
Friday, November 6, 2009
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.
*****************************************************
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...)
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
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
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
Sunday, September 20, 2009
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...."
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...."
Saturday, September 12, 2009
25 Random Things About Annessa
She...
- has a thing for animals
- loves bubble baths (already!)
- locked herself in my truck today
- reads herself to sleep
- loves mama and daddy's "big bed"
- says "hi" to anyone she sees
- loves fruit
- climbs on EVERYTHING
- would swing all day
- wants to go outside the minute she wakes up
- chases Gus around the house
- has a new-found love of chocolate milk
- knows all of her letters and sounds (I am particularlly proud of this!)
- has a tough time pronouncing the hard /c/ sound
- loves diggers and dump trucks
- giggles when she plays hide 'n seek
- lists off all the people she knows when she prays at night
- loves to dance - especially when mama and daddy dance with her
- is trying to break the world record for "the most times anyone can say 'I want' in a day"
- sleeps with 3 blankets, as many stuffed animals as possible, a few bath toys and two bins of books
- knows what the "golden arches" mean...french fries
- has a carefree spirit
- is not afraid to take risks
- has the prettiest brown eyes I've ever seen
- is the best thing that has ever happened to us
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
