Older

I guess I should mention, I got older last week.  It kind of snuck up on me, despite the fact that my husband reminded me often (in a good way, I have no problem with my age or adding years to it).  It was a really fun celebration, despite the fact that I wasn't feeling my best.

My dearest took me to dinner, well, the day of my birthday we went out with a friend, and then the next night he took me out to Italian.  Yes, definite déjà vu from last year... right down to the dress (so, I'm predictable, it's my birthday).  I was very spoiled... and I'm okay with it this once.

My mom made my day by calling me the evening the night before so she could be the first to wish me happy birthday (as she she shrewdly observed, facebook reminds everyone, and she wanted to beat them).  She told me my birth story, something I never get tired of hearing.  She spent some extra time waiting for me, and while my family has always claimed I was stubborn, the real secret is that a snow storm was rolling in, so they kept my mom at the hospital rather than sending her home for the night.  I was born right before lunch - I'm continually amazed at my mom's strength and so grateful that she is my mom.

Anyway, my in-law's came down for the weekend, and we took full advantage of the pool in their hotel.  My sweet girl in a polka-dot swimsuit loving the water?  Best birthday gift ever.

The whole weekend was filled with cries of, "Bae-bee!" as Miss Anni cuddled and alternately tossed about her poor little doll.

The celebration was rounded out with some long walks through our local Mall and Ikea, complete with minimal purchases (a couple of small things for Christmas, but not what I could have walked out with had I not considered money).  Really, the weekend was made up of a million tiny little moments where my family and friends let me know I was loved.  I couldn't have asked for any more.

A little craftiness

So, like many, I discovered the fun of pinterest a few months ago.  I am determined to actually use the fun things I find; though, and not just make it another place to dump ideas that will never come to fruition.  We've used a lot of recipes and a couple of crafts... this one was one of my favorites.  You can find full directions here.  My project was even simpler (not that the original is hard), because we bought larger blocks that are sturdy enough to hold pictures by themselves with no weights.  So, honestly, my father-in-law did this project and we watched.  Whenever I send him a project, he always tells me to bring it up to grandpa's woodshop and we can make it happen.  It is such fun!

We made a set for Anni's room and a few more for some other littles in our lives ;).  Don't forget to check out the original post at plumpudding and make your own (she also tells you how to make them magnets)! 

18 Months

At 18 months, this little girl is all personality.  She is a talker.  Half of the time it's toddlerspeak, but filled with inflection and the other half is understandable... which I admit to loving.  She learned to repeat "no, no," occasionally.  Generally you can hear her saying it when she snatches my mouse from the desk.  (Yes, takes the mouse, hands it to Daddy and says, "No, no!")  Sometimes she says it when the dreaded diaper change comes around (wigglier than a little worm this one is) and sometimes she just sings it around the apartment.  She also learned to say "Nonna!" which melts her Nonna's heart everytime.

 

I mentioned she sings, but the dancing is what gets me every time.  She likes a song with a good beat to dance to (although more melodic songs she'll cuddle up to) and spins in circles as she guides with one little arm and pumps with the other.  I could watch her dance all day.  

Oh, but don't worry.  We haven't gotten to the favorite item.  I know I've mentioned it before, but it bears repeating.  Buttons.  She wakes up and asks for them.  Unfortunately, she pronounces it this way, "Butts?  Butts!"  And by unfortunately, I mean adorable and a little embarrassing in public places.  

 This is all well and good, but a girl's got to rest, right?

Right?

Well, no... not really.  I mean she needs it, and by the time night falls she is absolutely exhausted... but naps are few and far between these days and non-existent if we attempt them in the crib.  The crib is a wonderful thing at night, but during the day it must turn into a monster of epic scare factor by how she screams (even if laid in it asleep) when her body touches the mattress.  So, we just go with the flow.  Generally, that means she lies down next to me while I work and drifts off.  Then I pick her up and move her to our bed and we snuggle up for a nap.  Those are the sweet days, where she shifts a little when I lie her down, but then just burrows in and falls asleep with what seems to be relief.  I try to forget about the work I could be doing and watch her rest before succumbing to my ever-present need for sleep.

Those are the good days.  Other days, well, sometimes we're all a little cranky.  I can't lie to you, dear friends.  I miss the brief time where she took regular naps.  But on those cranky days, all is well when Daddy gets home.  As soon as she hears the front door opening, she runs headlong to the door, yelling in her sweet little voice, "Da-eee, Da-eeee!"  Today I feared her little heart was broken when the UPS man came to the door a few hours before Daddy came home, she was sure it was him.  

And that's where we are... watching her grow and change into a little girl with definite preferences, things to say and castles to build.

Sometimes I'm afraid to blink, because I might miss her learning something new.  

I'm okay with it, though.  I'm working on parenting her just as she is, just who she is. 

Because this is the fun age.  Every age is the fun age.

She makes sure of that.

All Hallows Eve

In the light of full disclosure, here's my truth about Halloween this year: I just wasn't all that into it.  Don't get me wrong, I'm into just about any holiday and it's promise to shake things up a little, but I just wasn't feeling it this year.  We didn't plan on trick-or-treating because our little really isn't old enough and given her fear of strangers, knocking on the door of a bunch of them probably isn't the best parental decision we could make.  Unfortunately, we also didn't get any sweet littles knocking on our door for the chocolate that now mostly resides in my tummy.  I understand that: apartment complexes can be a little sketchy, despite our cute little "Trick-or-Treaters Welcome" sign (maybe that made us even more sketchy?).  Luckily, I had a sweet little girl dressed up in doctor scrubs running around yelling the word "Doctor!" to make the day festive.  We even took a little walk, taking about half an hour to travel a couple of blocks as Miss Anni waved frantically at her shadow, sorted leaves and rocks and often turned and ran in the opposite direction we were going.  What made the walk even better was that it ended at a friend's house, where we loved on her sweet little and ate lunch.  The walk back consisted of me carrying a very tired little girl.  So, really, this isn't much of a Halloween post as much as a random conglomeration of words and a cute video.  You can skip the words, just watch the cute video :).

I've got friends... (and Anni has a costume)

Once upon a time I was in college (above), and I had lovely friends.  I still have lovely friends, but we're pretty scattered now.  Luckily, sometimes one of those friends (right) needs a break and decides to take a spontaneous trip to Colorado.  I couldn't be happier about that decision!

 

We spent a lot of time talking about dreams, and our pasts and our futures.  Oh, and putting my hair into a faux-hawk... maybe...

Then, because it was a beautiful fall day, we attempted a hike... after stopping at the overlook by my husband's office... because it is awesome!

And by attempted a hike, I mean... I failed at finding a place to park by a trail... so as our time was dwindling until we needed to head down the mountain, we pulled up by a hill in the mountains and just hung out for a few minutes.   

Yep, just hanging out on the hill.  Anni loved it!  She had just woken up from a nap (after destroying an entire cereal bar in her seat... it still hasn't recovered) and reveled in the many small things to be sorted and examined. 

It was a good fall moment :).

Then we went on to visit our sweet friend Jill.  Amanda and Jill were roommates in college (at a different time than when Amanda and I were roomies).  

Then, while we watched all of these sweet little ones trick-or-treat and eat chili (alas, my yummy chicken chili did not win anything), the snow started...

See my sweet little doctor (St. Gianna) in the front row?  She loved holding her little doctor bag - it was a lot of fun.  Since her grandpa's a doctor, we think he'll enjoy this year's costume :).  There were some amazing costumes at the All Saint's Day party... I think John the Baptist wins for most creative (far right).  They were all so adorable!

But, back to that snow.  It snowed all night and through the next day.  

 
I had some hopes that Amanda's plane would be delayed, giving me more time to convince her to move here.  Unfortunately... no such luck.  We did make it through the snow to stare a little more at the mountains and go thrift storing (in which she bought Anni an adorable dress and I found a little kiddo chair for $7... score!).  It's a good life.  We miss you already Amanda!