So big

babydear
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Friday was the big 2-3 ... just a month away from her "happy two party." Her latest thing to say is "how about ..." Typically she uses it to see if we're game for TV. When we say no to Elmo, she goes through her list. "How about Wha Pooh? How about Bad Cat (Cinderella) How about big dog (Clifford)." It's a good game for now, she's still laughing when we say "NO." It's anyone's guess how long that will last.
Annabel had a grand time at mom and dad's art opening Saturday. She was particularly happy with the nibbles ... broccoli, grapes, peppers and carrots ... what could be better?

Big and little

the little slide
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

She's getting so big that she's attempting to do the 'big' slide at the playground all by herself. I have to confide, however, that she got all the way to the top by herself and sat down on the platform but couldn't bring herself to shove off alone. I stood right behind her ready to let her go it alone. She sat there for what seemed like an inordinate amount of time before she asked me to go down the chute with her. Her exact words were "Mama, here" as she pointed to the spot behind her. Away we went.

Teeeeeeth

Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

That's what she said last night as we started our evening decent into the madness ... the few minutes between wake and sleep where fighting the inevitable is the war at hand.
As soon as I intoned the bedtime song ... the tears in her eyes caught themselves from falling when she realized we'd forgotten an integral component of the nighttime ritual ... Brushing of the teeth. Gaining her another three minutes of awake-time bliss.

Righty? or a Lefty?

righty? lefty?
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

That is the question on minds these days ... will she be a southpaw? My personal opinion is that she leans a little more to the right with respect to writing and coloring. Although the same is not true when it comes to games that require a solid kick; she tends to lead with her left in this arena.
Some other amazing things we've noticed: Annabel can count to fifteen (with some help) and in addition to knowing most of the colors (she's not quite sure about burnt sienna yet ... it's tricky to distinquish it from burnt umber) she recognizes the letter A and knows it stands for Annabel and apple.

Sleep-over party

peekabo nana and bear
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Annabel had her two best girls all weekend long! "Nana" (Brianna) and "Teetee" (Tierney) spent the weekend with us while their parents were jetsetting around Marblehead. We played games (like put the baby and the bear in a pillow case and sneak up on mommy) as well as run-around-the-movie theater once the novelty of going to her first movie (Chicken Little) wore off in 1/2 hour.
All-in-all, a good time was had by most ... Jed, who was suffering with a cold and missed the movies, did not have much fun.

The Hallowasn't

maze
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Just in case you were wondering how Halloween went ... it didn't. Annabel got to Ama and Papa's house just in time to see a tiny tot of a skeleton come to the door. That was it! A scared and traumatized boo retreated to the furthest corner of the kitchen, shaking and crying and refusing to go anywhere near the livingroom. Suffice it to say it was an early night.
She has been back to Ama and Papa's house, though, and while she insisted the door be closed to make sure no bad people got in, she was happy to play in the livingroom.