Swimming Slump

I got her this turtle pool/sandbox/play area last summer when she couldn't even sit up! I actually got it for a great deal, $4.99! I watched it all summer long come down in price, until finally they were running out to them. We've had it up in our room just filled with the balls for her to go in and play with, but when I filled it up with water today she wasn't so sure about this!

(If you click on the pictures it will enlarge them) Not sure what to do, she eventually picked up the balls from the pool and just kept throwing them back in. I kept asking her if she wanted to go in or get her feet wet, and would adamantly say, "NO". She did NOT want to go in.
In fact she did want to go in somewhere, but it was not the pool! Hopefully, we'll do better next time! I should mention she is in her new swimsuit Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunty Em got her! Thanks, it fits and looks great on her!

Pouting to Partying

Well, I know this is what 3 posts in 3 days....can you tell I am on Summer vacation officially! I know you grandparents and aunts will be happy! :-)

The Pouting -watch the video to find out why

The Party-We went to Jenna's Graduation party tonight. Here Annabelle is all dressed up in an outfit Aunt Shannon bought her.

Ga, Ga, Granny

Everytime we talk to Granny on the phone she sings, "I'm going to the Mansion" to Annabelle. Annabelle loves it and participates by saying, "YES" in the song. Today we got it on video. Granny wants people to know that she is sick and that is why her voice sounds funny.

Then when I asked Annabelle to say, Granny she kept signing it, so I thought I would try to get that on video, but when I was video taping she actually said, "Ga ga!"

Caring Cindy

Today was Annabelle's last day of daycare until August. Miss Cindy has been outstanding in her care for Annabelle. We are so greatful for her and feel so at ease knowing Annabelle is in such loving arms. We had many days when Annabelle didn't want to leave all of the kids and so I know she will miss that interaction this summer. I plan on joining our local playgroup so we can meet and play with new kids. Thanks Miss Cindy for a great year!

This is Annabelle on her first day of daycare back in SeptemberHere she is today 9 months later!

Mommy Massage

Well, as I said in the Montly Milestone post, Annabelle has been giving back rather than just taking. Just like she now likes to chase Dad, Annabelle is now giving me massages! I have always given Annabelle little baby massages, and lately she has wanted to give them to me. It is so cute! She has such a hard time actually squeezing out the lotion, but once I help her she will rub it away with her hands!

Weekend with the Wilsons

We visited Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunty Em this past weekend. We were there only one full day, but we took complete advantage of it. We spent most of the day outside. We had lunch outside, played Big Golf and croquet, walked around, and relaxed in the HOT sun. At night we went putt-putt golfing and had a nice dinner at home.

Grandma and Annabelle on their walk together Josh and Annabelle playing

Grandpa and Annabelle Playing

(no doubt where Josh gets it from)
Aunty Em and Annabelle sun bathing
Here is a Smilebox with more pictures and some videos.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Monthly Milestones

Annabelle is 17 Months today! Here are somethings she did in her 16th month!

This month would be marked by her increasing vocabulary and understanding. She is very talkative...hmmmm....where oh where can she get that from?

1. New Signs: up, Grandma, Grandpa

2. New Words: up, nice, fries, juice, hello, black, red, big, bird, tweet-tweet, hide (we started playing Hide and Go Seek)

3. New Foods: M & Ms, Chocolate cake, pancakes, chicken nuggets

4. First skinned knee on Monday, May 5th...she tripped over a crack in the sidewalk. She got right back up and only shed a few tears!

5. This one is a bit funny...she's become very private when it is time to do #2. I think we might be ready to potty train soon.

6. She can go down steps the right way if she is holding onto a railing. We don't have one at the house, but there is one in the church parking lot that she practices with on our walks.

7. She put her first two words together! We were at Wal-mart picking out a new toothbursh and I held up Big Bird and Elmo to see which one she wanted and she said, "BIG BIRD!" I didn't even know she knew who Big Bird was, but we figured she must watch him at daycare because it was quite obvious she knew him!

8. She is continuing to put more words together. The other day she said, "More Ma". It is hard to resist when she says that...but it wasn't food she wanted more of, it was tickles!

9. She has started to really play. For instance, if Daddy is chasing her, she will then turn around and chase him. Up until this month she just wanted to be chased.

10. She is showing interest in household chores. She likes to try and flush the toilet, throw away things in the trash and here she is wanting to put on the dish gloves to wash dishes!







Here she is just talking away....