Snow Day

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Brown Bear, Brown Bear

Annabelle has an amazing abilty to memorize things fairly quickly. We read this book to her only a couple of time and she was able to recite it back to us. Also in this video she is saying the pledge of allegiance. She learned this at preschool.

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Stars for Sleeping

Since I've gone back to work, Annabelle has had a difficult time sleeping on her own and all through the night. We have tried many different tactics. One new thing that we started that seems to be working is a sticker chart. We started it last Sunday night and she completed her first chart this morning. She filled in 12 of the 21 spaces. As you can see she doesn't like to stick the stickers where they are suppose to go but on Dora and Boots. You can customize your own Chore/Incentive Chart for your child at DLTK's website. The one I created this week looks a little bit different than the one displayed in the picture. I like that each week you can change the things on it. We added No Time Outs this week.

By the way, her incentive when we began was for 5 stars she got to go to Indoor Play Zone. She earned those within the first 3 days. Since then we haven't had to give an incentive. However tonight she wanted a video from the church Library so I told her if she earns 5 stars again we'll come over to the church and pick out a movie.

Tonight was the first night in a week that she went to bed without any crying, complaining or moaning! I think this is really working for us!

Baby Girl

We found out on January 8th that we are expecting another Baby girl!

At the Ultrasound we found out that Gabrielle is a little small, she is measuring around the 50th percentile. Annabelle always measured small and was small when she was born, so I think Gabrielle will be the same way. At first she did not want to cooperate and give us a good shot to see if she was a boy or a girl. The Ultrasound technician said, "This one is going to give me a run for my money!"  I am not sure if that is any indicator of Gabby's personality or not!

(She learned about the Three Little Kittens at Preschool and was one of the Kittens)

 

We were so excited to tell Annabelle. We picked her up at Preschool after the Ultrasound and took her out to Red Lobster, one of her favorite places to eat.

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Happy Early 3rd Birthday

We celebrated Annabelle's Birthday with my family since we were all together for Christmas.

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Happy Hibachi Birthday

On Josh's birthday (12/17) we went to Sakura, a Japanese Hibachi restaurant in Toledo.

The wait was long and the place was packed, but it was definitely worth the wait!

Annabelle showed off her skills with the chopsticks!

And mommy and daddy had a really nice night.

At the end of the night, they sang happy birthday and took a picture of us. Annabelle struck a pose at the last second. She loves having her picture taken!

Josh got a Packers pullover and a Cars cake (Annabelle thought he should have a Cars cake since he is a boy :-).

Happy Birthday, Babe!

Although we've only been married for 4 1/2 years, Josh and I have know each other for 14 years! It is amazing to think that in some ways we've grown up together. We were such good friends in college and spent a lot of years together out of college. I am greatful for all the time we had to get to know each other before we married.

I am thankful to his parents for raising a guy who fears the Lord and desires to serve him with his life. I am thankful for the example they set to him as parents that has made him such a great Dad! I always watched the way he treated and cared for his sister and I knew someday he would be an amazing dad to a little girl!

I am thankful for the challenges we've gone through as a couple. They have drawn us closer together and closer to the Lord. Without the Lord in our lives I know we wouldn't be the same couple we are today. God has been very kind and gracious to us.

I am thankful for another year and I pray the Lord will bless us with many more!

Cute Story: Annabelle told Daddy that because he is a boy he should have a Cars cake, stay tuned to see pictures of his birthday party tonight with Annabelle!

Josh as a child

May 1997, our Freshman year in New York City
(This is one of my all time favorite pictures)