weekend things

Today I am sore. Last night the hubs and I went and played tennis at the high school across the street. It was fun, yet a bit challenging. Neither of us knew just how bad I was. HA. I mean, I have the gist of it all, just hit the ball over the net but inside the boundary lines. Well, I can't back hand it without it flying across the whole court, I can't hit the really fast ones, I suck at predicting where the ball is going to land so I'm not very quick and getting to where I need to be-basically I don't know how to play very well. But it was fun nonetheless. I really enjoyed it and I think he did to. I'm sure with practice I'll get better. And I hope with practice I won't be in this much pain. My legs hurt, arms, feet, lower stomach, back. It all hurts. I feel like an old woman right now-not that I know what an old woman feels like-but if I did I'm sure this is how it is.

Our little monkey is doing all new sorts of things these days. She has a new laugh. This, to me, is funny. She even has a new cry-a more "older" sounding cry. She climbed onto our bed yesterday for the first time. That was a nice surprise. She was just running around the house doing her thing and the next thing I know she's sitting beside me. We weren't sleeping, I think we had all just gotten up from a nap and we were still laying down. But really, I think the new laugh is the funniest thing she's been doing. I can't even explain it. She laughs and then at the end of her laugh she takes in a breath that has a squeal to it. It's so funny! Oh and yesterday we were watching Funniest Home Videos or something while we were eating dinner and she was actually laughing. It was SO CUTE! Sean and I would just look at each other and crack up. She definitely has her own little personality.
I put a stool under her window so she can stand on it and look out. Well yesterday my husband was like, "Come here!" while he was running to the baby's room. So I go in there and she was standing on her stool looking out at some deer. He was running in there to show her but she had already spotted them. Ah, she melts my heart.

Yesterday morning at church AK got to play drums with her Uncle Kevin when the service was over. Now, we all know she got a kick out of that...and so did he! We also presented him with his birthday present yesterday morning. Anna-Kate finger painted him a picture and I got an 8x10 black frame with a creme matte. I wrapped sage green ribbon around the edges of the matte and then put the art work in. It looked really cute and I'm super mad at myself that I didn't get a picture of it! But I will, soon, hopefully. This is the "card" we gave him.

I knew he would love this seeing that he adores his niece, is into artsy things (although I'm not sure he's THAT into artsy things made by an 18 month old-but BECAUSE it was his niece he totally loved it) and he really needs to get decorating on his bachelor pad. So, it covered all areas. So yeah, I was really excited to give it to him because I feel it was a brilliant idea. Haha. He liked it and the world moved on-I could've used a little more excitement. HAHAHA!

P.S. I took the drummer picture with my cell phone so it's very poor quality. Sean says I dropped the ball on not having my camera with me because this pic could've served as some great gifts. HAHA. ....oh well.

flashback

I just had some flashback moments as I scrolled through the pictures of my new little baby. I can't believe she's already a year and a half old. Right now she sits in the other room on her great granny's lap sharing icecream. Wow, time truly does fly by.

We're in Waco today. My MIL has been saying how much AK is looking more like my mother, from the nose down, than me! I guess I don't take offense to that because I look just like my mom from the nose down and as a mom, I want my child to look like me. So, that makes me happy.

Lets do a little comparing...
Me and my mom

And boobug

Yeah, I definitely think she carries some of my mom's features. She still has her Daddy's (and other granny's) eyes though and that's a-okay. :)

Happy early Easter

I know it's not Easter yet but I couldn't wait to share this picture...I'll just post it again closer to Easter, why not?!
Isn't my little doodle bug something sweet! I tried to get an "Easter" picture a couple of days ago but she was definitely not cooperating. It is so hard to get a good picture these days, one with her smiling. As soon as she sees my camera she gets up and takes off to her tunnel and jumps in. Little stinker. Seriously, she does, and then she laughs at me while she's in her tunnel. I don't know where she gets her little quirky personality. HAHA. She's still a cutie though, that's for sure. She's been amazing me these days. I can't believe she's already a year and a half. A year and a half year old with a BIG personality. Even though I personally think she's a genius, she still doesn't seem too interested in speaking the english language just yet. She's saying the basics: momma, dadda, nonna (we're not sure who or what that is yet), nanna (for banana), ball, oon (balloon), boo (book), bath, nack (snack), ah du (all done), mimi (milk), belbuh (belly button), bye bye, pease (please)....and I'm sure I'm forgetting some but that's all I can think of right now. For some reason I'm pressuring myself to think she should be saying way more. I guess she'll say what she wants to say when she says it.

So, let me just say this really fast, my husband told me the other day that he actually wanted another kiddo. I almost fell over when he said it....and then he clarified by saying now isn't the time but that he did want one. Hotdogit. I guess that's one step closer. I find myself so confused on the whole birth control issue. I'm not on birth control but we obviously take precautions, most of the time. We have some family members (a couple) who felt convicted about even being careful, so they use NO precautions. She made the statement that it'll happen when it happens and that they didn't feel comfortable playing God. Wow. Very trusting right there. Part of me wishes we lived by that but part of me is thankful not to be popping out kids left and right. By the way, they only have two so obviously God is in control and knows what they can handle and afford at this time. I'm so torn. Plus, I'm not the only one who can make this decision for my family.

Another side note, I thought of another little girl name that I love, Malauni. It's Hawaiian. Let me know what you think. Not that I need a name but I just like thinking of the prosects.

Well, I must go, the hubs called and said the kid is screaming her head off, in her bed. She hasn't slept all day. I think she's finally cutting her bottom molars. Poor thing.

words AND pictures

Today we went on a little family picnic. It was so fun. We ate lunch and then went on a nature walk. Anna-Kate loves to be outside. LOVES it! She also loves rocks. Weird, I know, but she does. She doesn't like for her hands to be dirty though so loving the outdoors (and rocks) makes this a little difficult sometimes. She also loves when Mommy puts her crib mattress on the floor in her room for her to climb and walk on. I learned this one day when I was changing her sheet and she knocked it over on the floor and started playing on it. THEN, she went right to sleep (at bedtime). It was nice. It totally wears her out. So, the other evening I carried her mattress to the living room while we watched American Idol (she also LOVES AI). I find that it's actually good exercise for her little body because she walks to one end, steps off and then steps back on and walks to the other end and repeats the whole thing. That's a high little step for someone who's only 29 inches tall. HAHAHA!

........The other day when we took her to the park there were a bunch of little teams having soccer practice. I had to chase my little kiddo off the fields atleast a handful of times. She loved seeing the kids running around kicking a ball. I think she might be a soccer player. Haha. We've been doing a lot of outdoorsy things with her lately. It's really important to me for her to be active. I definitely don't want her to be a couch potato. Although, we do watch our share of TV, I want there to be a balance and I think we're finding it.--That's one of the things I love about living here, there are parks EVERYWHERE, literally, bunches and bunches of fun parks-And there are always people out doing things-it motivates me.

Here are some pictures of the past few days:

^^^the mattress relays^^^

^^^she found this unoccupied soccer ball^^^

^^^I came in to find my kiddo like this!!!^^^

^^^her "whatever mom" look^^^

schlotzsky's parking lot getting wireless

I'm here for a quick update, as I am sitting in my car, toes freezing and the night passing me by. My child is at home sleeping and my husband is playing xbox. Perfect time for an update, eh?

Anyways, I took Anna-Kate for her 18 month check up on Friday. She's doing well: 22.9 lbs-24%, 29 5/8 inches tall (short)-measley 5% and 18 1/16 head circ-26%. Her pediatrician said he was going to fax her growth to her Austin pediatric cardiologist because he (ped. cardio.) told him (trician) to be sure to watch her growth...and he's (trician) wondering why her height is taking such a huge hit in the growth area. I told him that she has two great grandmothers that were 4'9 and 4'11....it's total genetics. He just wants to be cautious and send them anyways. My heart is telling me all is good though. She eats like a champ and has no developmental delays. She's amazing and smart...in my opinion. And plus, last time we saw her ped. cardio. at 12 months he said he didn't want to see her again until 24 months and that would probably be her last visit to him. So, I'm not worried.

Other than that, nothing much is going on. I think I'm going to start potty training soon. I started the day after she pottied in the potty for the first time but I only made it through the morning before I gave up. Hahaha! I'm not sure if she's ready or not. She is showing a couple of signs-squatting and grabbing her diaper when she's about to go or going and "exploring" the area when being changed-but I'm not sure if she really gets it. I think the one time she went was just chance. Maybe I'll wait until she's closer to two...or seems more interested. Any potty training tips????

Well, I really need to go. My toes are close to numb and my bladder is quite full. Until next time, Happy Easter. Hahaha. Just kidding-bye.