Annabelle @ 4 Years

• She no longer goes to "school" during the day. As of October 8, she stays home with me :)
• Some of her favorite things to do:
• Paint
• Play with play dough
• Bake
• Color
• Favorite Shows/Movies:
• Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood
• Clifford the Big Red Dog
• SuperWhy?
• Word Girl
• High School Musical 2
• Loves to sing! We listen to Pandora a lot during the day :)
• Loves Gymnastics! She took a class at the Rec Center. We start ballet tomorrow.
• Friends:
• Weston
• Tayler
• Livi
• Kaitlyn
• Moved up to a booster seat on January 15th.
• Has stopped taking naps.
• She is the sweetest big sister! She loves to make Max smile, and loves to hold him.
• Wears size 5T or 5 clothes and size 10 shoe.

Questions for Annabelle:

1. What is you favorite color? Purple
2. What is your favorite toy? Horse
3. What is your favorite fruit? Strawberries
4. What is your favorite TV show? Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood 
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Nuggets 
6. What is your favorite outfit? T-shirt
7. What is your favorite game? Endless ABC's
8. What is you favorite snack? Cheese Crackers (Cheez-its}
9. What is your favorite animal? Tiger
10. What is your favorite song? Anything by The Fresh Beat Band
11. What is your favorite book? Dora
12. Who is your best friend? Kaitlyn
13. What is your favorite cereal? N/A
14. What is you favorite thing to do outside? PLay chalk
15. What is you favorite drink? Chocolate milk
16. What is your favorite Holiday? Easter
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Bunny Bunny
18. What is you favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Biscuts
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Banana
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Annabelle

Annabelle-isms

I always want to remember these little {yet, hilarious!} things Annabelle says!

After Annabelle used the potty, I told her to wash her hands, then...
Me: Annabelle, clean your room.
Annabelle: I can't, I just washed my hands!

Annabelle had her finger in her mouth...
Me: Annabelle, what are you doing?
Annabelle: Scratching my teeth.

After anytime I tell Annabelle no...
Annabelle: Oh come on man! Give me a chance!

Annabelle @ 3.5 years

• Loves Movies/TV
• Wild Kratts
• High School Musical
• Tangled
• The Prince of Egypt 
• Loves to sing...usually songs they sing at church.
• Loves to read books. 
• Loves Food:
• Cereal 
• Chick Fil A nuggets
• Hot Dogs
• Banana
• Strawberries
• Cheese
• ONLY chocolate milk
• Potty trained during the day...still wears a pull up at night.
• Has sweet friends: Weston, Tayler, Livi, America
• Loves to help do any and everything I am doing:
• Cook
• Clean
• Setting the table for dinner, and cleaning up after dinner
• Fold Clothes
• Sleeps in a big girl bed!
• Wears size 4T clothing, and a size 9 shoe.

Annabelle Funnies

• Annabelle has been in a big girl bed for 2 weeks now. She does very well, with the exception of some nights. Last night was an exception. She was fine for awhile {singing, counting, clapping}, but around 9:00 {she got in bed at 8:00} I heard a knocking :) She was at her door, knocking and saying "Knock, Knock! I'm awake!". She also did this during her nap this past Sunday.
• Every Friday, the lady that works the front desk at Annabelle's school has candy for the kids. Annabelle picked out Smarties {or Farties :)}. Collin was teasing her all the way home about wanting some, and Annabelle kept saying "No daddy!". When extended his hand for some, Annabelle said "Daddy! What did I say?!"
• Every night after dinner, we head out for a walk around the neighborhood. This is my favorite time! But getting out of the house if a challenge. After telling Annabelle a couple of times to get her shoes she said "Ok mommy! I just love you!"

Operation: Potty Train

A little update on Annabelle's potty training journey.

Annabelle started strictly wearing BIG girl pants on February 27th. She does still wear pull ups for naptime {at home} and bedtime {More often than not, she wakes up dry}.

She is averaging about an accident a week.
We are thrilled with how well she is doing! She has now started telling us when she needs to go potty, and most times will just do it herself.

Wednesday morning, on the way to school, Annabelle announced that she had to go potty. We were about 10 minutes from school, we were running late, and it was dark. I asked her to hold her tee tee, and as soon as we got to school we would go potty. Well, we got stopped by EVERY STINKING OBSTACLE we could! A slow car, a train, and a school bus...so what should have taken us no more than 10 minutes, turned into 5 minutes {and that's a LONG time when you have to potty :)}. We finally made it to school without an accident and made it to the potty!

So for now, that is where we are. Happily NOT carrying around Pull Ups :)

Random Weekend

• Thursday, I had a regular prenatal appointment. Everything is progressing well. Funny Story: The nurse was trying to get a reading on Max's heartbeat, but the little guy would not stop moving! She would push him down...but he would just kick her and the doppler and move :) It took a good 5 minutes to get a number.
• Friday, I worked at home for a little bit...then I had an appointment for my anatomy ultrasound. I was so excited to see Max! But, he was moving like crazy again! The tech got a few measurements...but told us to come back in 4 weeks for another ultrasound.
• Collin came with me to the ultrasound, and we had a mini lunch date. I love spending one on one time with him!
• Friday night, Collin played a D Now for a local church...and Annabelle and I came as groupies :)
• After the band was done playing, I took Annabelle to Target to pick out an "No-accidents-for-almost-a-week" prize. She picked out a Cinderella doll.
• Saturday, we had breakfast with my parents and after made a trip to the grocery store.
• That afternoon, we attended Livi's 2nd birthday party! It was super cute!
• Because the boys were playing the last night at the D Now, Laurice and I took the kids to Chick Fil A for dinner...and while playing on the playground, Annabelle had an accident :( Thank goodness Laurice was there...because this one was not fun to clean.
• Sunday, was church, lunch at Zaxby's, nap for Annabelle,a walk around the neighborhood for momma, and home group that night.

I am looking forward to NO plans this weekend! Maybe switching Annabelle to a big girl bed!

Annabelle @ 3 Years

• Loves Movies/TV
• The Lion King
• Tangled
• Dora
• Diego
• Wild Kratts
• Curious George
• Clifford: The Big Red Dog
• Loves to sing:
• ABC's
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
• Hokey Pokey
• Songs she makes up :)
• Loves to read books. Usually after I finish a book, she'll say "My turn!" and "read" the book to me.
• Loves Food:
• Cheerios {Sometimes with milk}
• Ravioli
• Chick Fil A nuggets
• Hot Dogs
• Banana
• Strawberries
• Cheese
• ONLY chocolate milk
• Isn't fully potty trained...we're getting there :)
• Loves to play with her friends: Weston, Tayler, Livi....
• Loves to help do any and everything I am doing:
• Cook
• Clean
• Setting the table for dinner, and cleaning up after dinner
• Fold Clothes
• Still sleeps in a crib...we are about to move her a full size bed {once we can paint it and find bedding}
• Wears size 3T pull up, 3T clothing, and a size 8 shoe...although I think she'll move to 4T and a size 9 shoe soon.

Questions for Annabelle:

1. What is you favorite color? Pink
2. What is your favorite toy? Barbie {She just got this for her birthday}
3. What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon
4. What is your favorite TV show? Dora! {Surprise...}
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Nuggets {From Chick Fil A}
6. What is your favorite outfit? Princess Shirt {Not sure where she got this from...she does not have a princess shirt}
7. What is your favorite game? Kick ball 
8. What is you favorite snack? Cheerios
9. What is your favorite animal? Cow
10. What is your favorite song? Guitar {I don't think she understood}
11. What is your favorite book? Dora book {She got it for her birthday, and we have read it every day since then!}
12. Who is your best friend? Ebony {I about died laughing when she said this! Ebony is a girl from school that bit Annabelle on the face a couple of weeks ago}
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cheerios
14. What is you favorite thing to do outside? Play
15. What is you favorite drink? Tea
16. What is your favorite Holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? 2 blankets {Brown blanket and bunny blanket}
18. What is you favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cheerios
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Pizza
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? ::shrugs::

Happy Birthday Annabelle!

Today our sweet girl turns 3! I can't believe it!!

She is the sweetest, sassiest, most caring little girl we could ask for...and we are so thankful for her!

Eating her fav...chips and cheese :)

Mommy Moment

Every now and then, Annabelle will say something and it just melts me.

A fav is when she'll randomly say "Mommy, I just love you so much!"

But last night really got me....we were just laying in our bed, watching Clifford before bedtime. She rolled toward me, took and patted my hand, and said "Mommy, we're best friends!"

Love my sweet girl!

Annabelle's 3rd Birthday Party & The Circus

Annabelle Birthday party weekend was JAM PACKED!

Friday, I ran errands to wrap up Annabelle's birthday party. We were going to have her party at a park, but there was a 100% chance of rain in the afternoon...so we moved it to our church. So I had to buy tablecloths, a pinata, etc. We met Collin's mom, step dad, grandparents, uncle, and aunt for dinner that night. We were so excited to see them! After dinner we visited for a little bit at my mother-in-law's house.

Saturday, I woke Annabelle up nice and early :) I wanted her to take an early nap before her party. Collin's dad came over for a bit, and after Annabelle went down for her nap my parent's came to bring her to her party. Collin and I set up the preschool room, and then it was party time!

I think everyone had a good time, the kids played and played :)





She got so shy :)

After we cleaned up our mess, we headed to the circus!

This was Annabelle's first time to go, and we had the best time!

My parents were so sweet to treat us! We had really good seats, and before the show we got to go down on the floor for some fun.

Annabelle wasn't really feeling it, so after she got her tattoo we headed back to our seats.
After getting settled with cotton candy, popcorn, and drinks...we were ready for the show! She started getting sleepy right before intermission, so we went down and got a snow cone {more sugar}, and she finished out the show sitting in her seat watching the lions and elephants.

Sunday, after church I had lunch with Sarah and Laurice. It was such a treat! {Collin took Annabelle to lunch with some friends, then home for a 3 hour nap!}. After my lunch, we headed to a shower for a friend from high school.
As soon as I got home Annabelle was waking up, and we unpacked her presents. We had home group that night, and after everyone left...we crashed!

We had family over for dinner on her birthday, pizza and cake :)

Loved celebrating our sweet girl!

Operation: Potty Train...has begun!!

A little history:
Annabelle is VERY interested in all things potty. She loves to sit on the potty, wipe, flush, and wash hands. She had A LOT of "Good Try's". I would always tell her that if put her tee tee or poo poo in the potty, she would get a prize. I'm not sure how long this went on, but it was a good while.

I never wanted to force her into potty training. Because Annabelle is the kind of child that will do things in her own time, and if I pushed it, we would start to get frustrated and nothing would happen. Remember when I tried to take her paci away?
She only stopped using her paci when SHE was ready, she only stopped taking the bottle because SHE was ready, she only stopped nursing because SHE was ready. And all those things came in a timely manner. I knew she wouldn't always take a bottle, or she wouldn't always want to nurse, etc.
And I always knew that she would tee tee in the potty when she was good and ready.

Day 1: 10/12/11
While Annabelle was running around naked {after her bath}, and she stopped and said "I tee tee", and encouraged her {like I always have} to go sit on the potty. She did and finished tee teeing!
We made the BIGGEST deal out of it! We were clapping, high five-ing, hugging, telling her how proud we were, we called Grammy and Pappy, we called Nana and Pawpaw.
And to finish off our celebration, Annabelle got an M&M. You may not think of that as a good prize, but Annabelle was beside herself getting 1 M&M. So much so, she wanted to go potty again. She succeeded, and got another M&M.

She probably went potty 3 times before we left the house for Bible Study. We stopped at Chick Fil A and got her an ice cream cone {Just as a "We are so proud" prize}.
We got to Bible study, and all of our friends saw my tweet {Huge night at the Ray house...potty training has officially begun!}, and they made a big deal out of it as well. Annabelle was so excited!
She ended up using the potty a couple more time that night {I did have to remind her}.

Looks like I'm going to buy a pack of training pants, and maybe even some panties for our BIG GIRL!

Annabelle @ 2.5 Years

Today Annabelle is 2.5 years old! I can hardly believe she'll be 3 soon!

Here is what Annabelle is up to:

• She is VERY interested in the potty. She loves to go through the motions of going to the potty, but we have yet to witness her use the potty. I've heard she will do it every now and then at school...but, I've got some M&M's just waiting on her :)
• Talks in complete sentences. She communicates very well with us. Makes life a little bit easier. She does still talk a little be a Jibber Jabber, and most of the time we have to translate for her...but she gets her point across :)
• Loves to sing! And she knows the words to most kid songs:
• Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
• Row, Row, Row Your Boat
• ABC's
• Jesus Loves Me
• Any song from Dora :)
• Love to eat! Some of her Favs:
• Chicken, Hot Dogs, Chick Fil A nuggets
• Broccoli, Corn
• Strawberries, Watermelon, Applesauce
• Baked/Mashed Potatoes, Yellow Rice
• Cheese, Yogurt, Chocolate Milk
• Mexican, Chick Fil A
• Loves to baby anybody/anything that will let her. Weston, Gracie, Lotion Bottles...
• Just learned how to open doors...time to do some Toddler-Proofing.
• Is very possessive over her things. Toys, Food, Mommy, Daddy. We're working on sharing :)
• Sleeps like a champ!
• Bedtime: 8p-7:30ish (6:15 on weekdays)
• Naps: Usually down between 12 and 2, and sleeps for 2 hours.
• Wears size 4 diaper, wears 2T clothing, and a size 8 shoe.

Memory

Just when I think Annabelle forgets about something...her memory proves me wrong!

• MONTHS and MONTHS ago, a little boy at school bit Annabelle (like, he bit her so hard it left a mark). She STILL talks about it to this day! No really, she mentioned it again this morning :)
• We have a rule, no standing in chairs :), and when Annabelle broke this rule the first time (which was a while ago) she got a spanking. Now if she starts to stand up in a chair, she'll say "No stand Annabelle, Wanna a spankin?"
• Whenever we pass Chick Fil A, she'll say "I want nuggets! Nuggets! Nuggets! Nuggets!"
• Also, when at Chick Fil A we always return the toy for ice cream. And if Annabelle sees the toy, she won't eat her food. Therefore I have to hide it. Well, we kept one toy and when she saw it she said "I want Ice Cream!"

Operation: No Paci...Take 2

We have been Paci Free for a whole month!!
Although Annabelle has asked for a Paci, she doesn't really seem to miss it!

Not sure why she did better the second time, but we'll take it!

Here's a look back at our Operation: No Paci Journey

Next up:
Operation: Potty Train...

Operation: No Paci...Take 2

Day 3: 3/14/11
She did so good this day! She asked for it, but quickly forgot about it! Went to bed fussing, but not for her paci.

Day 4: 3/15/11
No mention of the P word! She went to bed fussing, not for her paci, but because she wanted to watch the Backyardigans. :)

Day 5: 3/16/11 thru Day 7: 3/18/11
Pretty sure she has forgotten about it! I declare this house Paci Free...Paci's have been thrown away!!

Day 8: 3/19/11
Annabelle asked about her paci this morning. No turning back...I will NOT buy anymore paci's!

 

Opeation: No Paci...Take 2?

I think (HOPE!) we are on the road to getting rid of the paci...again.
Annabelle has almost forgotten about her paci. She has not asked for it, whined for it, she's gone to bed without it, she hasn't even talked about it!

The last time she had her paci was Saturday morning.
Day 1: 3/12/11
We had plans to go to The Yellow River Game Ranch, she did not ask for it once!
That night we got home at her bedtime and she REALLY needed a bath, but it was not without a protest. I was really surprised she did not ask for her paci. She went to bed without a fuss.

Day 2: 3/13/11
Didn't ask for at all today! Even napped and went to bed without it!

Birthday's and Gala's and Shower's...oh my!

What a weekend! Let's begin with Annabelle's birthday!

When we celebrate a birthday...we celebrate for a week! Annabelle was no different! She had her Party Saturday with all her cute little friends, then we had a cookout Saturday night with her secondary Aunts and Uncles, Wednesday night we had a family dinner at our house!

First things first! We woke Annabelle singing "Happy Birthday!", she thought it was the best thing! And all morning she would say "Hap-pe Birf day to ME!". We played for a bit, then headed to school. She took cupcakes to share with her friends. I had to work for a couple of hours, then picked her up and we had ice cream at Chick Fil A. When we got home she wanted to take baby for a walk, so we walked down our street pushing her baby in her stroller :)

We had a house full Wednesday night, and had the best time!!

Last week, I had to work all 5 days...the horror! Because we were getting ready for our Awards Gala that was being held Saturday night. Everything went perfect and we didn't get home till after 11.

Sunday, was Abi's shower! It was the cutest shower ever! She got lots of good stuff!

On the way home from the shower (6:00 pm), Annabelle fell asleep...she was so tired!! I finally got her to eat some dinner, then she got a bath, and went to bed!

Thankfully, I had Monday off...so I cleaned, did laundry, picked up my parents dog (they're on the way up to Washington...my grandfather passed away last week), and cooked dinner while trying to avoid the tornadoes.

Another busy weekend coming up! Livi's first birthday party and Saga and Stacie are getting married!!

Annabelle @ 24 months

• Talking:
• Makes 3 word sentences:
• I wolve you (I love you)
• I hold you
• Come here mommy (or daddy)
• I have sippy
• Still loves of jibber jabber that we don't understand :)
• Dancing! Holy cow this girl LOVES to dance! She keeps beat very good too!
• Wears size 4 diaper, wears mostly 24 month clothing, and some 2T, and a size 6 shoe.
  

Happy Birthday Annabelle!

Today, our sweet baby turns 2! I wish I could just freeze time and not let her get older!

This past year has been so much fun! Annabelle has become a little girl, and not so much a toddler. She has learned to communicate with us, become more independent, and developed her our little (ok...maybe not so little!) personality.

I think back to when we found out we were pregnant, and thinking our lives were over...but I realize now, our lives were just beginning. At night, after Annabelle has gone to bed, I replay the day and think how blessed my life is. I'm not sure if our lives would be as exciting and full without our sweet girl.
Don't get me wrong, parenting is difficult! There are some days when I'm not sure how much longer I can deal with the tantrums, or I lose my temper...but, most days I can't get enough of that little girl. And hearing "I wlove you mommy"...there are no words to describe what that does to my soul!

Happy Birthday Annabelle!

Love,

Daddy and Mommy

Birthday Party!

It was the party that almost wasn't.
Annabelle woke up Thursday around 10:30 pm vomiting. And we didn't get any sleep till around 3 Friday morning. Praise the Lord Annabelle was feeling a bit better Friday and wasn't sick anymore, but was exhausted (and so were Collin and I)! My plan for Friday was to run all my errands while Annabelle was in school, but she and I stayed inside and slept, and I did a little bit of cleaning. Once Collin got home I left to get last minute things for the party.

Saturday morning Collin's dad came over to give Annabelle her gift, and they played for a bit before he had to go. Annabelle went down for an early nap and Collin and I left to go set up, while my parents stayed with Annabelle.
The party was a blast! The kids loved to room and the activities. After food, zebra cakes, and presents...the party planners brought out the mat and the kiddos were doing flips, rolls, and hops. Then the trampoline was pulled out, then the tunnel, and finally the parachute. After that we danced and played freeze dance.
And before everyone left, the kids got tattoos...my child got 2 sleeves :)
That night we had a cookout with friends...and ended with a camp fire in the back yard!
Annabelle was so tired, about 7:30 she asked to go night night :)

Sunday, was church, then we picked up some lunch and headed to Mom and Dad's for Allen and Whitney's birthday Low County Boil...yum! It was a beautiful to be outside!

I have a super duper busy week at work and I'm looking forward to having a family dinner on Wednesday on Annabelle's birthday! And throwing a shower for Abi on Sunday!

Enjoy pictures from the party!