You've already seen photos, but now here's the video. We thought the Easter egg hunt was going to be a total flop for Annalise. Seriously, how was she going to learn how to hunt for eggs and then put them in her basket? See for yourself.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Communication ahoy!
At 15 months, Annalise understands a lot more than we think. We'd like to think it's because Annalise is brilliant, but perhaps it's standard development for a tot her age. A few months ago (around 12 months of age?)we realized she understood words we'd never taught her, and was also able to respond to commands and questions.
I believe our first revelation came when asking her to get the "tractor", a pint-sized plastic toy we'd only called by name a handful of times. Wouldn't you know it, she got right up, walked over to the John Deere look-a-like and brought it back with some nice diesel vrrr vrrr sounds. Well, it was more like a "aabrrrrrraaaaarrrrrrrrrruhhhh uhh rrrrr". Maybe she was replicating a misfire or something. I digress.
Her baby signs started to increase as well. Before, she was always good at flailing her arms wildly to signal "all done" and the occasional "more", but frankly, my daddy eyes questioned the sloppy signs spawning momma's excitement that our baby is 'signing to us'. Well I was wrong. Now, Annalise has since amassed the following signs and enjoys mimicking us like a mirror. Avast! Here ye Annalise's veritable cornucopia of signing repertoire:
More
Please
Thank You
Hat
Sleepy
Where?
All Done
Food
Milk
Cheese
Drink
Banana
Pretty neat huh? Yeah, I was a skeptic about the baby signs, but it really is neat. Her spoken vocabulary is more limited:
Ma ma = Mom
Da da = Dad <----I personally believe this was her first intentional word
Buh-Bye = Buh bye<----She says this the most.
Chee = Cheese
Wheh = where
Dis = This
Ba = Balloon,
Ba = Bottle
Ba = Banana
Ba = Bath
Ba = Antiestablishmentarianism (just kidding)
This doesn't include words or commands she understands, which boggles my mind as to how she learned them. Again, I cite brilliance (mom's side). Often I'll experiment and ask her to go get an object and, more often that not, she knows what I'm talking about. Some examples:
Annalise, where's your big blue fish (stuffed animal)?
Annalise, go get your towel for your bath.
Lets get some pajamas
Sit down, please
Stand up, please
Lets go outside
Time to put your shoes and socks on.
Drink your water
She packs suitcases well, too.
I believe our first revelation came when asking her to get the "tractor", a pint-sized plastic toy we'd only called by name a handful of times. Wouldn't you know it, she got right up, walked over to the John Deere look-a-like and brought it back with some nice diesel vrrr vrrr sounds. Well, it was more like a "aabrrrrrraaaaarrrrrrrrrruhhhh uhh rrrrr". Maybe she was replicating a misfire or something. I digress.
Her baby signs started to increase as well. Before, she was always good at flailing her arms wildly to signal "all done" and the occasional "more", but frankly, my daddy eyes questioned the sloppy signs spawning momma's excitement that our baby is 'signing to us'. Well I was wrong. Now, Annalise has since amassed the following signs and enjoys mimicking us like a mirror. Avast! Here ye Annalise's veritable cornucopia of signing repertoire:
More
Please
Thank You
Hat
Sleepy
Where?
All Done
Food
Milk
Cheese
Drink
Banana
Pretty neat huh? Yeah, I was a skeptic about the baby signs, but it really is neat. Her spoken vocabulary is more limited:
Ma ma = Mom
Da da = Dad <----I personally believe this was her first intentional word
Buh-Bye = Buh bye<----She says this the most.
Chee = Cheese
Wheh = where
Dis = This
Ba = Balloon,
Ba = Bottle
Ba = Banana
Ba = Bath
Ba = Antiestablishmentarianism (just kidding)
This doesn't include words or commands she understands, which boggles my mind as to how she learned them. Again, I cite brilliance (mom's side). Often I'll experiment and ask her to go get an object and, more often that not, she knows what I'm talking about. Some examples:
Annalise, where's your big blue fish (stuffed animal)?
Annalise, go get your towel for your bath.
Lets get some pajamas
Sit down, please
Stand up, please
Lets go outside
Time to put your shoes and socks on.
Drink your water
She packs suitcases well, too.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Happy Easter!
What a great day to be reminded that God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die for you and me, and then to rise up alive and overcome death. Because of this, we can have a hope in Him despite the trials that we encounter and face daily. For Tracy and I, it's also a great reminder of the great miracle that is our Annalise.
After the never ending clean up from Easter brunch, Annalise embarked on her first Easter Egg hunt. Surprisingly, the hunt went well, without the need for parental assistance. She found them and plopped them in the basket all by herself! Has it really been a year since last Easter?
On the move.
Found one!
And another...
"Daddy and Mommy didn't hide these very well did they?!"
"I see more over there!"
"Will it fit in my basket?"
"Yep!"
Guess this egg managed to go undetected.
Spoke too soon.
Playing
"Off to play with my new toys."
What a great day to be reminded that God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die for you and me, and then to rise up alive and overcome death. Because of this, we can have a hope in Him despite the trials that we encounter and face daily. For Tracy and I, it's also a great reminder of the great miracle that is our Annalise.
After the never ending clean up from Easter brunch, Annalise embarked on her first Easter Egg hunt. Surprisingly, the hunt went well, without the need for parental assistance. She found them and plopped them in the basket all by herself! Has it really been a year since last Easter?
On the move.
Found one!
And another...
"Daddy and Mommy didn't hide these very well did they?!"
"I see more over there!"
"Will it fit in my basket?"
"Yep!"
Guess this egg managed to go undetected.
Spoke too soon.
Playing
"Off to play with my new toys."
Monday, March 15, 2010
Behold. Great cuteness.
Annalise has a great affinity to "baboos". Not a misspelling of the animal you find at the zoo, but rather the helium filled, round, floating sphere of goodness you find everywhere. Give her a baboo and watch the fun begin. The other day, Annalise rode on my back to take in the sites and sounds of everything that is Home Depot. While rummaging through washers and screws, I turned to determine why Annalise was giggling and happy sounding. It was at this point did we discover, with balloon strings in her hands, her love for these things. So yank-able, bounce-able, floatable, and colorful. Who wouldn't like to play with a bunch of baboos?! We continued our respective tasks, my rummaging and her baboo merriment, for a number of minutes.
"Babooooo!", she exclaimed. I turned around to look at my beautiful girl play with her baboos only to find her looking up and pointing with glee at the now untethered bunch of baboos floating to the heavens. Oops. To save Home Depot the cost of more balloons, I now stand out of arms reach of baboo strings. Sorry Annalise, no more baboos to play with.
Despite her setback, we do get occasional opportunities where unknowing cashiers and employees find themselves rendered powerless to the sword of cuteness that Annalise wields. "Baboo!!!!", she swings. "Oh my, what a cute little thing. Sweety do you want this balloon? Here ya go.." says another victimized cashier. Another day, another baboo.
Here's Annalise enjoying a display of "jumping for the baboo".
"Babooooo!", she exclaimed. I turned around to look at my beautiful girl play with her baboos only to find her looking up and pointing with glee at the now untethered bunch of baboos floating to the heavens. Oops. To save Home Depot the cost of more balloons, I now stand out of arms reach of baboo strings. Sorry Annalise, no more baboos to play with.
Despite her setback, we do get occasional opportunities where unknowing cashiers and employees find themselves rendered powerless to the sword of cuteness that Annalise wields. "Baboo!!!!", she swings. "Oh my, what a cute little thing. Sweety do you want this balloon? Here ya go.." says another victimized cashier. Another day, another baboo.
Here's Annalise enjoying a display of "jumping for the baboo".
Friday, February 19, 2010
My African Baby
Poor Annalise has been very sick with a high fever due to an ear infection. The sweetie has wanted to be carried constantly. I discovered that she is an African baby at heart because this is her favorite way to be carried. This is a leftover piece of one of my longer wraps that I shortened. I looked at it and thought . . . . hmmm that's about the length needed to carry my baby in the African style on my back. So I watched a couple You Tube videos, and here we are! It's remarkably comfortable, easy, secure, and soothing for her. I love it - I feel so African - and mom says it looks like home. It's also extremely comfortable for my back and will work even as Annalise gets a lot bigger.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Happy Birthday, Annalise!
One year ago right now I had just gone through the worst physical pain of my life. Fortunately, it was followed by joyously holding our precious and beloved Annalise. Today is her first birthday and we are ready to celebrate.
We are celebrating one year of . . .
-changing poopy diapers
-sweet baby kisses
-breastfeeding
-listening to kid's music
-washing bottles
-enduring through extended crying (hers and ours)
-reading children's books
-taking ridiculous numbers of photos
-cuddling Annalise
-walking around with Annalise strapped to our bodies
-bringing stuffed animals to life
and most notably . . .
. . . one year of never (never defined as not even once) sleeping more than 6 consecutive uninterrupted hours (not her - me!)
We can only hope to be as blessed in her second year.
We are celebrating one year of . . .
-changing poopy diapers
-sweet baby kisses
-breastfeeding
-listening to kid's music
-washing bottles
-enduring through extended crying (hers and ours)
-reading children's books
-taking ridiculous numbers of photos
-cuddling Annalise
-walking around with Annalise strapped to our bodies
-bringing stuffed animals to life
and most notably . . .
. . . one year of never (never defined as not even once) sleeping more than 6 consecutive uninterrupted hours (not her - me!)
We can only hope to be as blessed in her second year.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Annalise's first christmas
Annalise's first Christmas was one we spent making many special memories.
December began with her first experience of rain (yes, we live in San Diego and her first experience with rain was at almost a year old). She loved helping me hold the umbrella handle.
We went to Home Depot and chose Annalise's first Christmas tree - not too bushy, not too skimpy. After we brought it home, Annalise enjoyed staring at it in wonder - a giant tree in the middle of our house! Decorating it was fun, but there are a startling number of ornaments that, although structurally and asthetically attractive to babies, are not actually built to be baby resistant. We loved explaining to Annalise the meaning of Christmas and some of the ornaments we hang to celebrate Jesus. Perhaps next year she'll understand a little more.
We enjoyed our tree all week. Then we were horrified to discover that it was dying (a trifle prematurely). Who knew that Home Depot had a Christmas tree return policy? Here we are choosing our second, and much more robust, Christmas tree.
We enjoyed an early Christmas with my parents. Annalise discovered how to pull gifts out of gift bags. I fell in love with her Christmas dress - can she wear it again next year?
We also did our own "Christmas morning" at home on Dec. 23rd before we left for San Jose. Annalise's gift was a cozy coupe we found on Craigslist, and she loves it! Notice how the bottom 1/2 of our tree lacks ornaments. That's because throughout December Annalise would walk over to the tree, pull off an ornament, and I'd hang it higher above where she could reach. The end result - a half-decorated tree.
We spent Christmas in San Jose with our family there. The visit was unfortunately punctuated with doctor visits for both Annalise and I who had been sick for a ridiculously long length of time and started getting worse (ear infections and sinus infections can do that). Dave also managed to contract some other type of flu, and we successfully contaminated all of our family - our extra special Christmas gift to them.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone! We are praying that this year we will give more of our lives and selves to the wonderful God we love and serve.
December began with her first experience of rain (yes, we live in San Diego and her first experience with rain was at almost a year old). She loved helping me hold the umbrella handle.
We went to Home Depot and chose Annalise's first Christmas tree - not too bushy, not too skimpy. After we brought it home, Annalise enjoyed staring at it in wonder - a giant tree in the middle of our house! Decorating it was fun, but there are a startling number of ornaments that, although structurally and asthetically attractive to babies, are not actually built to be baby resistant. We loved explaining to Annalise the meaning of Christmas and some of the ornaments we hang to celebrate Jesus. Perhaps next year she'll understand a little more.
We enjoyed our tree all week. Then we were horrified to discover that it was dying (a trifle prematurely). Who knew that Home Depot had a Christmas tree return policy? Here we are choosing our second, and much more robust, Christmas tree.
We enjoyed an early Christmas with my parents. Annalise discovered how to pull gifts out of gift bags. I fell in love with her Christmas dress - can she wear it again next year?
We also did our own "Christmas morning" at home on Dec. 23rd before we left for San Jose. Annalise's gift was a cozy coupe we found on Craigslist, and she loves it! Notice how the bottom 1/2 of our tree lacks ornaments. That's because throughout December Annalise would walk over to the tree, pull off an ornament, and I'd hang it higher above where she could reach. The end result - a half-decorated tree.
We spent Christmas in San Jose with our family there. The visit was unfortunately punctuated with doctor visits for both Annalise and I who had been sick for a ridiculously long length of time and started getting worse (ear infections and sinus infections can do that). Dave also managed to contract some other type of flu, and we successfully contaminated all of our family - our extra special Christmas gift to them.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone! We are praying that this year we will give more of our lives and selves to the wonderful God we love and serve.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)