You've got mail!

Earlier this week Anabelle was on Skype with Grandma Sue and Grandpa Ken, when they showed her a stuffed puppy and said she would be getting it soon in the mail. The next morning Anabelle woke up and right away told me she was ready to get her puppy in the mail. We talked about how it might take a couple of days. Well today was the day, and she was very excited!

Sometimes Anabelle is the funniest person I know

This morning after returning from driving Daddy to the train, Anabelle requested that I leave the back door open so she could see the sun. Since we have a glass storm door, I obliged. She stood looking at the sun for a while and then proclaimed, "the sun needs sunglasses!" Away she ran, downstairs to her dress-up bin, grabbed her sunglasses and ran back upstairs to the door. Where she continued to hold up the glasses yelling, "Here sun, take your glasses! Sun, here are some sunglasses for you! Sun! Take sunglasses!!!" Seeing that she was becoming very exasperated, I tried to explain that while it was nice to give the sun glasses, the sun had no arms and so therefore could not actually take the sunglasses.

She stood and thought for a minute, and then ran downstairs again. When she returned she had Mr. Potato Head's arms in her hands, held them up and yelled, "Here sun! Arms, take arms!"

All I could do was laugh, she is such a smart little girl, and I just love the way her mind works sometimes!

Winter in Chicago has been very mild so far this year, and while snow currently covers the ground, it was just last week that temps were in the 50s. Knowing that soon we wouldn't be getting outside as much (partly because of the cold weather to come and partly because there will be a new little baby) I decided we should take advantage of the warmer weather. So we took a trip to the Morton Arboretum to walk around. I posted about the Arboretum back in the Fall, and I can still say I really like this place. I am glad that we got a membership. I am looking forward to the Spring when Anabelle, baby Charlotte and I can take walks there and enjoy the gardens. For early January, it was pretty crowded last week with lots of other like-minded parents wanting to let their little ones run off some energy. It was a beautiful day!

Stopping to take a break and eat a snack.

My Mom, Anabelle, and I have been doing lots of shopping around here lately. As Anabelle is getting bigger, she is requiring some new things; step stools to reach all of the bathroom sinks and toilets, and a new potty seat. We aren't going into full potty training mode yet, I think we'll wait till after the baby arrives to really get into it. However, Anabelle has shown a little interest, so I thought I better have some supplies on hand so that she can test them out. So far it has been a fair amount of trying with no success, but she is enjoying the process and for now that's enough.

Showing off her new potty seat.

We also found an adorable outfit for Charlotte to wear home from the hospital. It was challenging to find something that would be warm enough, but was still sweet. It's hard to tell but this one is velour, which I think is a little warmer than a regular knit. And even though I love all the polar fleece animal themed outfits that they have out there, I really like something simple and sweet for a coming home outfit. This one is perfect, thank you to my Mom who got it for Charlotte!

I am still working on finishing both Anabelle's room and Charlotte's room, and while I have made some progress-like sewing Anabelle's curtains, selecting fabric for some projects, and finding things like a crib skirt and hamper - I still have some projects to complete. I hate to show you any pictures until it's the finished product-sorry you'll have to wait.

For Anabelle's room I still need to:

*finish a pennant banner I am sewing

*upholster her box-spring

*hang some artwork, shelves, and a mirror

For Charlotte's room I still need to:

*sew some curtains

*hang artwork

I am hoping to have this all done in the next week or two, but we'll see how it goes... life always seems to get in the way :)

We have also started pulling some things out of storage; like the car seat, bassinet, and lots of newborn baby clothes, diapers, burp clothes, etc. Anabelle has been a great helper, and I try to include her in all of the preparations. She is starting to understand a little more that very soon, there will be a new baby in our lives. We try to have lots of conversations about what a baby is like and what they can and can't do, and how Mommy and Daddy will take care of Charlotte. A lot of people ask me if Anabelle understands that she'll be a big sister? I find that question interesting. Yes, she can tell you she'll be a big sister, and that there is a baby inside of Mommy and that soon that baby will be coming home. But really? No. You are asking me if a 2 year old understands the magic, mystery, and miracle of creating, growing, and giving birth to a human life? Geez, sometimes I don't even understand it!

Winter is finally here!

We finally got some snow today! After nap, Anabelle and I bundled up and headed outside to play. She is much better at walking in the snow this year, last year she slipped and fell a lot. I asked her to try and make a snow angel and told her lay dawn in the snow. She took this opportunity to lay down face first, I guess I should have modeled it for her. She wasn't a happy camper after that. Maybe we'll work on snow angels tomorrow?

uh-oh

Christmas pictures

Some of you may know that I like to take a lot of pictures, but what you may not know is that apparently it is genetic. In an effort to get the best pictures from Christmas I asked my Mom, Dad and brother if they would share their pics with me also. Well, what I ended up with was a total of 645 pictures between the 4 of us! (Maybe it's an illness?) While it is nice to have that many, (and sometimes necessary to get a good photo of Anabelle) it can be a daunting process to look through ALL of those pictures to sort out the best. Nevertheless, I have done it and here they are for your viewing pleasure :)

We had a fantastic Christmas that spanned days and felt like we were continually eating and opening presents. Anabelle was truly spoiled by our very generous friends and family!

Christmas Eve we hosted John's Dad -Mike, stepmom -Pat, and siblings Abby, Zac, and Joe- along with Joe's girlfriend Kari. We also had my Dad -Mike, Mom -Candis, brother Mikey and his wife Stephanie. It was a full house, and we had a lot of fun!

Anabelle passing out a gift to Uncle Joe.

Opening presents with Aunt Steph and Uncle Mike.

Anabelle is much better at opening presents this year.

Ooh, The Night Before Christmas.

Christmas morning Anabelle was up by 7:30, and ready to see what Santa had brought. My Mom and Dad were already there, they had come over to watch Anabelle open her gifts and Michael and Steph joined us later for breakfast.

Here she is first coming down the stairs.

Santa brought her a "handy dandy notebook" from her favorite show, Blues Clues.

Before opening gifts, Anabelle decided she needed some energy so she had a snack - banana bread.

And took a break to play with her train from the night before.

Then it was time to get down to business, Santa left clues around the house about one of Anabelle's gifts. Here is a paw print clue on her zoo.

Hey another clue on this present!

Look it's Blue!

Anabelle is obsessed with slippers, Grandma Sue and Grandpa Ken sent her some fun new ones.

You can't tell from the pictures, but the mouth on the crocodile opens and closes as she walks!

Look Mom, a bell from Grandma and Grandpa Smith!

Auntie Tish sent Anabelle some new blocks!

Checking out her new book shelf for her bedroom.

Wow an easel with a chalkboard, dry-erase board and paper for painting!

Aunt Marena and Uncle Adam sent a stroller to take all of her babies and stuffed animals for walks.

Testing out the chalk board.

Building legos with Uncle Mike.

She caught on pretty quickly and built this huge house, with some help from Grandpa.

Thanks Dad for cooking a delicious breakfast!

Relaxing on the couch after a fun morning!

After breakfast and some playing, it was time to take a nap. When we were all rested, we headed over to Michael and Stephanie's for some more gifts and a wonderful dinner.

Mikey and Steph had a HUGE tree!

Auntie Steph and Uncle Mike got Anabelle a cupcake making set and an apron, she loves it!

They also gave her a doll crib and high chair for her babies.

Baby Charlotte got her first gift- some matching pj's with her big sis Anabelle!

Sporting our new matching aprons (love that smile on Miss Belle's face!).

Sitting on Grandpa's lap.

Sneaking crackers before dinner.

Yum! Christmas dinner!

Can't forget dessert.

Whew! Are you still with me? Congratulations! You made it though all the pictures :) Hope you all had a Merry Christmas too!