All by herself. :)

Thanks mama! All your hard work paid off.

At 4 months....

At 17 months...reading on her own.

The other morning mommy came into a quiet living room and found her little tot reading peacefully on her chair. How cute!

Nap Time Etude by Annalise

Some kids teeth just don't grow in...

Odd number of teeth, but still adorable!

Easter Egg Hunt

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.

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.

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."

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".