Anna got her own umbrella.

Of course mine is still more fun.

As you can see, visiting Santa did not go well this year.  In fact, it was even worse than last  year!  She wouldn't even sit by herself.  It all turned out OK though when she got her reindeer hat when she was done.

Anna turned two!!  a while ago.

This year we celebrated her birthday with Kyle's parents since we were there for Thanksgiving.  I guess our Thanksgivings from now on will include apple pie, pumpkin pie, and birthday cake!

Anna celebrated with a trip to Rockford's Discovery Center Museum, lunch, a visit to the fire station, cake, and presents.  I highly recommend the museum.  There was a lot for toddlers to do.  Here are some pictures: 

   

It is hard to believe that Anna is two already.  Sure, I miss my roly-poly baby sometimes, but it is nice to watch her be more independent, have her own opinions, and try to do stuff on her own.  I love having a real conversation with my daughter.  I also like it when she says stuff like, "I like your sweater Mommy."

See more pictures from the day here.

So this went well...


For the record, Dylan, on the giraffe, wasn't having it either.

How could you do that to me?

5 Things I'm Loving about Anna Right Now

1. Her hugs.  They don't come often but when they do, they are fantastic.  She puts her whole body into that squeeze.
2. Her independence.  She still sticks to our sides most hours of each day but every now and then she does little things by herself.  For example, when we get to day care the first thing we do is wash her hands.  Then, she picks up the step-stool and carries it over to the drinking fountain.  She climbs up and gets herself a drink, and if I get anywhere near her, she points in the other direction and says, "Move!  Move!".
3. She loves her cousin.  She asks for Adelaide every morning and afternoon at day care, and waits for Adelaide to arrive after our Sunday runs.  Adelaide puts the biggest smile on Anna's face.  I hope, someday, Anna can return the favor.
4. She is still eating her fruits and vegatables (and desserts) pretty well.
5. She actually sat and watched Elmo for 15 whole minutes!

 

So, I think Anna is making me fat.

Well, there a lot of reasons why I am gaining weight right now, but let's concentrate on the ones I can blame Anna for.  Now that she is eating, it is tough to know what to order her when we go out to eat.  If she can eat some of what I order, then I share, no big deal.  If she cannot eat, or will not eat, what I order than I usually order her something off the kid's menu.  Then, she eats maybe four bites, and I end up eating the rest.  This is my problem-  not only do I eat my dinner, but I end up eating hers too.  (I also had to eat the rest of her birthday cake last weekend too.)

So, what do I do?
- Do not eat her food (nope, cannot do it, I am way too cheap to see that food go to waste)
- Bring it home (sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't)
- I could order something small and just plan on eating the rest of her meal too (this would work, but then I would be stuck eating chicken nuggets or spaghetti for every meal - boo)
- Not go out to eat (hmmm...)

I think it will be easier when she gets older and actually eats an entire kids meal.  I remember my Dad always eating everything we didn't but Kyle can't eat most of the stuff Anna wants to.

OK, I am off to do 25 jumping jacks every time I think about the sandwich and grilled cheese (and birthday cake) I ate the other day for lunch.

Anna talks a lot and knows a lot of words.  She has even managed to learn how to get her way using only a few words.  Our conversations go mostly like this:

Anna:  Nack!  Nack!
Me/Kyle:  Do you want a snack?
Anna:  OK.

Anna:  OUTsiiide.  OUTsiiide.  OUTsiiide.
Me/Kyle:  Do you want to go outside?
Anna:  OK.

I love how she turns it around and makes it seem like going outside was actually our idea. We should probably just stop asking but sometimes we have trouble figuring out what she's saying and her "OK" is the only indication we go it right.   Sometimes she just skips that step though.

Anna:  OUTsiiide, pleeeeze, OK.
Me/Kyle:  

Thoughts Lately

• Anna is talking up a storm.  She knows so many new words now and is working on combining words into phrases.  She also tries to copy everything I say.  I still have a hard time understanding her though.  She will repeat the same word over and over but I have no idea what she is saying.  Hopefully I will get better at decoding her.
• Anna's day care teacher told me that she is finally starting to play more with the other kids (hooray!).  She also said she is getting a bit bossy (hooray!  finally, a trait she picked up from her mom).
• I still cannot handle anything sad and this Oklahoma tornado is the perfect example.  I have been avoiding the news and Facebook.  I know avoiding it is probably not the best solution, but I am not sure what else to do.  It just makes me so, so sad.  I think about the Oklahoma kids and families and pets, and how it could easily have been my kid, my family, and my pets.  It just becomes too much to think about.  I hope these feelings fade over time.  I was happy to hear that I am not the only one who cannot handle sad things though.
• I need to learn perspective.  We have a trip to the beach coming up this weekend and after checking the weather, I realized that it is only supposed to be about 65 degrees.  Boo!  I broke down.  No wading in the ocean, no playing in the kiddy pool (the only reason why we booked our hotel), no bathing suit pictures (Anna's not me)...  Then I realized that I was being ridiculous.  I should feel lucky because we can afford to go to the beach at all.  I should feel excited that we get to see someplace new.  I should be grateful because we can still play in the sand and eat greasy french fries and run on the boardwalk to make up for the french fries.  Perspective?  I am working on it.  Setting my expectations too high?  I am working on that too.
• I have totally failed at working out these past two weeks.  Must get back to it.
• Kyle is out of town this week, so I am extra talkative today.

Anna has posing down:

 

Actually, she was just following what Kyle was doing the entire time.  So, go ahead and scroll through the pictures again and imagine Kyle posing the same way.

Anna and her Bear

Just recently Anna has started to become really attached to things.  In the past week she has grown attached to a baby doll at day care (but only the 'chubby one') and at home she has decided she needs to wear a bib, at all times. 

Right now, she is attached to one of her teddy bears.  She carries it around everywhere, she makes it wear a diaper, and she puts it to bed at night by placing it on a pillow, covering it with a blanket, and patting it on the back.  She also puts Kyle and I to bed that way. If only she would let us all sleep!

Since it is now summer in DC (I am not complaining by the way), we decided to play outside today after work.

I've got water, in a glass,

and I can pour it into another glass.

Duh, I'm awesome.

This is hard work.

Break time.

Don't touch my water, Dad.

Maybe I should have used some of that water to calm my hair down,

instead of giving it all to the dog.

Phew, this is still hard.

I'm outta here.

Maybe.

This is a good look, right?

Life Lately

Last week turned into a bit of spring break in the Rossiter household.  I was off from school and Anna came down with a nasty virus, so I was off from work a bit too.  It was not exactly like spring breaks in the past, filled with sun and fun, but at least it was some time off.  

Anna caught a virus that looked like strep throat and had a fever for 7 days!  Poor girl.  Kyle and I took turns staying home with her and there was a lot of this:

Once the Motrin finally kicked in, there was a lot of this:

Not a whole lot of playing and laughing, but there were a lot of baths.

This is one of the few times I wish I were a stay-at-home mama.  It is tough being at work thinking I should really be at home.  Then, at home, I feel guilty I am not at work. 

She finally started to act more like herself on Saturday, so we managed to get out of the house, which was much needed.  Now, if only we could get some sun to go along with the fun.