52 weeks!!

We went to a birthday party that had a lot of families from our birth class.
This is Scarlett.  It's so cute, because as you can see they're holding hands.
...it's even cuter, because Anna HATES when people hold her hand(s).  So
it was sweet that she didn't object!! :-) Instant bffs?

Crawling toward the camera when I was trying to take the picture.

Hi, Mom!

Boy, am I thirsty.  I can't decide... bottle, or water... maybe both?

We went to the last Christmas program practice at BCA (where I taught).
Anna is posing with Miss Tucker the kindergarten teacher
and great friend!

A shout out to the Uncles!!  They don't get
enough publicity!

Well... 52 weeks ago today, started our very busy few weeks of the Christmas season!  It was going to be a non-stop 72 hours of yuletide fun!  However, our God and our little princess had another plan!  Around 8am my water broke, around 9:30 I was in a doctors' office, around 12:30 we were headed the hospital.  Around 6 I started having constant contractions, and at 7:27pm we had the beautiful baby girl!  It has been much joy and laughter since.  I remember pretty much being in a daze for the next few days (maybe even weeks or months), because I couldn't believe she was here!  But God is good, and now I look back at this past year, and wonder where our time went??  I believe everyone when they tell me, "Enjoy the time, because it goes by fast."  Even in our sleepless nights... this year has gone by so fast!!  I eagerly anticipate the many, many more to come!!  Happy 52 week birthday, Anna girl!!  We love you so, so, so much!  But, more than that, our Father, God, loves you!!   Thank you Jesus for such a precious gift!!

Well, this week was busy.  We had many Christmas festivities, work, and all the while I was trying to clean our house for our joyous celebration this week!  Miraculously and with the help of well... everyone... we got it all done.  I'd like to say a little thank you to our very special Grandma & Grandpa Leeper for keeping our little jewel so I could go home and clean like a mad woman all by myself without interruption.  That was GREAT!!  Thank you!!

I plan to post a whole blog post on her birthday.  We are having a party tomorrow to celebrate her first birthday, and then as most of you know her actual birthday is Sunday!  Soo yay!!  So stay tuned for that one!

Here are the current stats....
We'll start with talking!  Boy is Anna a chatter box!  She tries to say a lot of words, but the ones she can say most clearly are: mama/mom, dada/dad, papa, baby, and baba.  She definitely attempts to say duck, but it comes out "du", and grandpa (but it comes out a 2 syllable word that sounds more like papa.  But she says it every time the same way right after my dad says "grandpa.  So we'll give it to her!)  And some times she says Nana, or Anna.

I don't know how much our little monkey weighs, but we go on the 20th to our 12 month appointment where of course she'll be weighed.  But I do know that she is mostly in 12 month clothes, but we still wear quite a few 6/9 month clothes.  But the pants seem to usually be too short, however the 12 month ones some of them she has a hard time holding up and sometimes are a little too long.  I guess we're in a weird size state at this moment.... but definitely closer to the 12 month than the 6/9.  And we are still in size 3 diapers.

Sleep is going well.  We seem to be in a good groove.  Anna usually takes 1 nap a day, but if she wakes up earlier than normal, or goes swimming a lot of times she'll take two then.  Her 1 nap is usually at least 2-3 hours.  At night, she usually goes to bed between 8:30-9:30.  She'll usually wake up about :12 or 12:30 eat, and then sleep til 8ish.  Although some nights she actually lets me get a little bit of sleep before waking up... But, I don't mind it... sure I'd love for her to sleep through the night completely... but at least I usually get a decent stretch one way or the other.  :-)  And when I think about it, it's a whole heck of a lot better than what it used to be!!  Praise the Lord!!

Food is still sometimes hit or miss.  Although, I do think she is a pretty good eater.  I'm hoping that with the addition of her first birthday to our history, that maybe we can expand our potential food list.  :-)  I'm excited for her to try new things.  Although, right now, cheese, bread, and grilled cheese are at the top of her list.  I am proud of my little girl for always at least trying the stuff I put in front of her.  It makes me smile!



Anna is very mobile now.  She crawls everywhere!  She does a little bit of furniture walking, and doesn't do any walking by herself at all.  I'm not worried though, she'll get there!

Anna is definitely a people person!  Friends have commented a lot about how she is just so smiley, friendly, and likes people!  I am thankful for this.  It makes it so much easier to drop her off at grandparents' houses, and the nursery at church.  I might have a small heart attack each time if she didn't do as well. 

Well, I think that's about it for right now.  I will post plenty of pictures from our birthday bash!!

Happy 52 weeks princess!!