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.

On the web ...

web
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Annabel isn't much of a costume gal ... unless you think of an orange binky and pink suade boots as a costume. But she does love crafts. We went to Olana - home of Hudson River School painter Frederick Church - on Saturday for its Halloween party. They had a scary little maze ... which she couldn't get out of fast enough ... pumpkin rolling and an arts and crafts tent. We thought she might like to get her face painted, but no. ... she wanted Mama to get her face painted instead.
On Sunday, we walked down to the village park for its Halloween party and parade, which was just a small circle around the ballfield. We think she went as an Austrailian cow girl: She wore mom's old cowboy hat, overalls, a suade coat and her pink uggs. She wasn't much impressed with some of the other costumes, though. Darth Vader was an especially scary sight, but she was happy enough with a cider doughnut and a walk to the toddler park with Ama and Papa.

This is why we can't have nice things ...

This is why we can't have nice things ...
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

I love saying that. ... I just can't help myself. Although, I don't get too attached to THINGS anyway, this is Annabel's first toy that has been destroyed by the resident demolition expert. (To tell you the truth, I am amazed Madeline Dog has shown as much restraint has she has up until now.)
I found the evidence upon arriving home from work and showed the topless pony to Annabel. She looked at it and said "Oh No. Boo, boo."
I explained that Maddy had made a mistake and chewed the horse. Annabel looked at Maddy and then lifted her hands, "OH WELL."
So I am happy to know ittybit doesn't get too attached to things, either.

Kitchen gnome

kitchen gnome
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

There are days when you just can't help but smile, even if you don't want to, you just can't help it. Yesterday was one of those days for me. It was a day that just had one sad piece of news after another. But when you come home to a four-course meal of plastic vegetables, dog hair, Jell-O boxes and spilled "jutz" just waiting for YOU ... how can you not just smile?

The nitty-gritty of the cooking closeness is this: Annabel loves to be where the saute action is, and since she's getting a little too heavy to haul around (even for Daddy) for too long, we've introduced an old stepstool for her preparation pleasure.

Of course, I'd be a little more relaxed about the whole thing if she would stand a little more in the center.

Laundry day

laundry day
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

She is sooo helpful. I had carefully folded each piece of clothing in this basket before she carefully unfolded them (even shaking them out in by way of imatation). It was so interesting to watch, I didn't bother to try and intervene. After a while, Jed and she carried the clothes to her room, and, while she played, I refolded them and put them away ... Two more times.

Now what?

NOW it's time for BED
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Annabel turns 22 months old today. Woo Hoo. To celebrate, last night we gave her a baby doll playset. It includes a 12-inch plastic doll (with cloth body. ... her preference) as well as a diaper bag, magic bottle, sippy cup, jars of food, spoon and fork, a diaper, diaper wipes container, a binkie (with a clip) and a teddy bear for the dolly ... Annabel was like a mother hen. She fed the baby, burped the baby, diapered the baby and then decided ... 'Baby BED!'

Feeding time ...

yogurt facial
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Annabel swears by the restorative and regenerative properties of this ancient cosmetic, the yogurt facial. Sure she's feeding Tigger, her bib friend, but she's still managing to get a healthy serving for herself down, too. You go, girl.

Punkin' preparations

All eyes on daddy ... OK, not exactly. More like: All eyes on daddy's pumpkin. This weekend Annabel had her very first pumpkin carving lesson. And like all good parents, we handed her the knife and let her do some damage. (It was one of those kid-friendly carvers, and yes, she lost the right to handle it once she started pretending she was Arthur Fidler conducting the Boston Pops. It was actually quite a successful endeavor. She helped make a few strands of hair in the back, which make some interesting sqiggly lines on the wall when the pumpkin is lit.

Happy trails

Happy trails to you
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Lori's bathroom rennovation is nearly complete, and so the trips to Elias' house, and the Toy Wonderland that is there, will soon draw to a close. Luckily, I had a chance to document one of her favorite activities there: Horseback riding. I'm hoping that some version of this montage will be Auntie Maureen's Christmas present this year ... Shhhhhh, don't let on you've seen it!

A little too blue ...

blu
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Humor wise, I'm sure this will get me into a little hot water but I just had to write it down for the record. ... Annabel had her first number two in the loo!
We had gone to the farmers' market on this very rainy Saturday and were all frozen to the bone when we got home. So we hustled her off into a warm bath to shake off the cold. After we got her undressed, however, she wanted to sit on the potty. When I asked her if she needed to pee (which she has only done successfully once) she said, "No, poo!" And sure enough, a few minutes later, she was ALL DONE and ready to play in the warm, soapy bubbles.

Good dog, Maggie ... pat head

rank ru, raggy ...
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

It's quite amazing to watch the dogs warm up to the little miss. Annabel is usually very gentle with the animals, however occasionally she can be a little ... shall we say ... trying? Not too long ago, Maggie would never have tolerated being used as a bench, but lately she is willing to let bygones be bygones. Although Madeline still leaves the room at the slightest touch (with big folks, too) I can see the excitement bubble up in my ol' pooch each morning when Annabel starts to stir.

Stainless ...

knob
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Well not Annabel, that's fer sure ... but definitely the wedding we attended in Boothbay Harbor, Maine this weekend was sterling. A beautiful wedding, a beautiful setting and beautiful couple; what more could one ask for? ... Oh, apples. That was high on the list. Luckily, they had 'em!

Sweet treats

snack time
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Today in the grocery store Annabel demanded a $4-per-pound yellow pepper in the produce bins, which we figure was a worthwhile investment in her education of good eating. As soon as she got home, she fished it out of the bag and demanded to get up into her highchair. ... We were barely able to convice her to wash it before she commensed chomping away as if it were an apple. What a sweet treat!

She's legal now ... 21 months old!

The big kids' swing
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Annabel turned the big 2-1 today, and to commemorate the auspicious occasion we took a ride on the big kids' swing. All I did was set her on and she did the rest. In short order she was swinging gently to and fro. It was a good turn, although it was shortlived. As soon as she started playing the "look ma, no hands" game we had to move along to the slide.

Yesterday she spent a few hours at her friend Maya's birthday party. Maya turned two Saturday and had a wonderful birthday party at the Berkshire South Community Center. Annabel took a while warming up to the children and the games ... she directed ME to fingerpaint for her, which was cute. ... "No mommy. BLUE."

Shhh! Dad's working

shhh dad's working
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Let's face it ... She doesn't want us to eat, work or try and get comfortable. It's all about her right now. Trying to sit down with a bowl of ice cream at the end of a rough day is like playing with fire. She immediately hones in on the offending dish and demands it be put "down." Unless, of course, it's a flavor that tickles her fancy. The current flavor fav is vanilla. But she recently found the sour delights of lemon sorbet. After the first scrunch-faced expression of the initial teaspoonful it was 'More, more, more."

Fighting clean

fighting clean
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

I couldn't help but share this picture. Annabel is wearing a vintage dress from her Auntie Sarah's collection as she battles the vacuum cleaner. She actually likes to chase it around the room, following the light and the noise. She's a really getting involved in helping. She loves to help wipe up spills and sweep things into the dustbin. I can't believe how fast she's growing. She asked me tonight to tell her the difference between a bee and a ladybug. She was so cute, bringing my finger to the pictures in her book. Back and forth. Giggling with delight when I showed her each bug.

The last straw ...

Sharing strawberries
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

BERRY. Mmmmm, even good enough for sharing with the farmers at the Farmers' Market. Has it ever been a whirlwind morning! Annabel helped pick out produce at the market, and then came home and helped clean the house for when Tierney comes to babysit when dad and I attend a family wedding this evening. It's going to be so exciting and she doesn't even know it. ... "TeeTee" is her all-time FAVORITE person. I suppose we should start the betting now for when Annabel will be going to sleep tonight. My guess is sometime around seconds after Tierney goes home.


Ammended: I was right ... she went to bed about 10 minutes after Tierney left the building.
By the way, the wedding was beautiful ... here's a glimpse.

Swing kids

swing kids
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Last weekend we took a trip up to Vermont for a Labor Day "cook-in" at Great Aunt Denise's house. We stayed overnight and had a great adventure. Annabel also had lots of fun visiting with her cousins, playing with their toys and exploring their "Space ship." They introduced her to a new favorite cartoon -- Power Puff Girls. She especially got a kick out of Emmett, who was just a bundle of giggles and a font of kung fu action. Finn, her other cousin, was a little too fast to be captured in this lens, however. It was like trying to photograph Superhero Flash Gordon. Perhaps the toy camera was better able to capture the action. We'll have to wait for the film to develop.




and here he his; the one, the only, SuperBoy Finn!! as caught in motion by the super-de-dooper toy camera:

Pop goes the weasle

Warhol-esq
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Our daughter is hooked on pop culture -- literally and figuratively. There's her obsession with popscicles: She yells 'POP' at top volume when we confuse the demand with Papa, her other preoccupation. Everytime he leaves a room, whether she had been paying him any attention at all, she scampers after him yelling 'POP' with a ferrocity we seldom ever see otherwise.
Of course we are also marveling at her facination with Barney; Nemo ("MEmo"); Ernie; "baby Ernie" (a smaller verson of her favorite Sesame Street pal); "Elmo," her on-again-off-again old flame; and "Woody," everyone's favorite cowboy from Toy Story.
She's even demanding we sing TMBG's "Bed, Bed, Bed," song every morning and evening in the car.

Smile

smile
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Annabel is so cute and serene in this photograph it's hard to imagine that this same cherubic child can turn on a dime and burst out with a monumental meltdown when things don't go her way. To be more specific: She likes things stacked or in rows (mostly in rows, one item deep and consistently spaced). She is also a stickler for putting things where they belong. If you don't usually wear glasses, she will demand you take them off in her presence. And don't even think about putting that blue Playdough in with the yellow if she's watching. Of course, there are those times when the yellow Playdough HAS to go in with the blue, but that's a whole different can of beans.
Speaking of BEANS. We went to the L.L. variety in Freeport last week while we were in Maine. We didn't purchase anything, but Annabel had a BALL running up and down the aisle of winter coat racks, calling out colors. Greeee ... BLU ... YEL-YO ... RAY ... Mostly she's getting them right.

The big TWO- OH

sand castles 101
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Annabel is 20 months old. In addition to regaling us with three-word sentences and using the word 'no' as if it were the key to the universe, she is still very much a teeter-toddler. Her gait is enchantingly awkward, especially when she tries to run toward or away from something. The event is so cute I can't help but watch instead of shoot. I also need to make a more converted effort to taperecord her speech. It's so cute with its little whistle pitch as it rambles along.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

birthday boy
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

We celebrated Jed's 35th birthday last week in Maine. Don't let the shy girl in the crook of her daddy's arms fool you. She had fun with the cake! It was a whole week of festivities: hanging out with the Cleary clan, catching up with her new cousin Elliott and getting even more familiar with the beach. She even said her first three-word phrase. Mommy NO; Down! We've learned that keeping her from the surf can be a no-no.
She also asked for TMBG's 'Bed, Bed, Bed' by name, started to sing and dance, got to meet a bunch of new people and played the name game with Sarah.

Daddy's girl

parsons beach
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

The dog days of August are upon us, and with the end of summer comes some shuffling of vacations and schedules and such. Lori is away with friends for the week so Annabel is spending a much-anticipated week with daddy. In addition to the usual naps, readings and playthings, Annibel is enjoying visiting mommy at work for lunch, area museums and pretty much every ice cream shop from Albany to Chatham!
She's beginning every day by saying DADDY, YAY!

Another first today. Annabel actually talked to me on the phone. (She usually says NO and pushes the phone away whenever someone tries to hand it to her for a chat.) She said hi, and proceeded to listen as I spoke to her. When I asked her if she and daddy were having fun she said Daddy, mama, and babbled a little bit. She then answered yes and no questions, and crossed her heart (according to Jed) to say she loved me.

Sharp and sly

ama's house, kennebunk
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

The musical expression of Annabel's lexicon expansion over the last few DAYS can be summed up in ONE WORD, and is explained quite nicely in our favorite They Might Be Giants song:

"No plus no equals no, all roads lead to no, no, no. Fingers pointing, eyebrows low, mouth in the shape of the letter O. Red means stop, do not go ... NO, NO, NO."

Although every question is now answered in NOs, it is apparent that she has a much wider vocabulary and some very strong desires. She knows what she wants and will sometimes lose herself and actually regress to saying 'Aya' when she really wants something such as ice cream or broccoli. (Two great tastes that apparently taste great together).

She also has a delightful impish look that says she's trying to play tricks on us. She still loves 'sneaking up on momma. She's still sparing with the public displays of affection: there aren't many hugs and kisses for mom and dad, but there are plenty of tender moments for Elmo, Ernie and Lambie. She is also fond enough of the dogs to call them by name (it sounds like MAY for both Maddy and Maggie) and give them brief hugs and pets while she sighs a little sigh of affection.

Beach bums

kennebunk beach
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

I've been remiss in keeping up with all of Annabel's doings of late, but, as you can see, we've been lolling on the beachs of Kennebunk for the past week. Annabel has loved the ocean and delights in making her careful way into the surf. She holds our hands, and asks to be picked up and put down with the rhythm and grace of a yo-yo. Best of all was seeing Ama every morning. Ama, Yay! was her morning mantra as soon as she heard the floorboards creak overhead.

Vintage

cool jazz
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Ama broke out this little frock last week. It's a dress she bought for $18 from the Peerless store in Troy, N.Y. nearly four decades ago. She estimates that the cost in today's prices would be about $140. Annabel seemed to think it was worth tooting her horn about.
It's strange how a little dress made of cotton and ribbon can make your heart all aflutter. When Annabel was first born, we had dressed her in the footed zips and other things Jed's mother had saved. It was sweet that she was wearing some of the same things that her father had worn, especially when there were photographs of old to prove the connection. I had been feeling a little sad that my mother had turned most of our best dresses into ornaments for the church Christmas bazaars. The proceeds may have gone to a good cause, but I was sad that none of my hand-me-downs would proceed. I can't tell you how nice it was to see this pale blue dress make its way into the fold.

Gotta boo-boo?

Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Annabel is getting quite a charge out of getting her boo-boos fixed with kisses and Band-aids. After falling off the picnic table and the playground and landing on her little face (no obvious cuts or bruises) I kissed the top of her head only to be told with various 'NO, no, nos,' that I had gotten the wrong place. She didn't give up until I kissed the ACTUAL injury site: her cheek. When we got home she also wanted a Band-aid after watching Jed affix one to his own thumb (I won't elaborate on that boo-boo). Since she wasn't actually marked from her misstep at the playground I tried to put the colorful Seasame Street bandage on her knee where she could see it ... 'NO NO NO NO NO.
Pointing to her cheek.
This doesn't keep her from pretending, though. She was happy to help me with my non-existent boo-boo, too.

Bottoms up

bottoms up
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

What a big girl she is! This morning she even drank juice from a real glass. It was a small, thick-bottomed water glass -- pinched perhaps from a Canadian hotel many moons ago -- and accomplished under careful observation, but she sucked down the orange juice, replaced the glass on the table and wiped her mouth with a napkin like a pro.

Sweet Nineteen

Annabel is nineteen months old today! She is doing all the things a baby her age would be doing: She is starting to say more words and even adding small phrases, she is enjoying running away from us as we chase her, and she is THRILLED with being able to hold things in one hand and manipulate them with the other.

She is so smart it's frighening. Tonight we let her watch Mosters Inc. for a little while before bedtime but I couldn't find the clicker. As I was walking around the living room like a chicken with my head cut off, Annabel calmly found the remote control, held it up and said Ma. Mam. Mama ... MA! until I finally looked up at her an noticed what she was trying to show me.
She giggled like mad.

Sleeping beauty

sleeping beauty
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Just to give you a sneek peek ... This is Annabel at 12 a.m. on the morning she turns 19 months old. It always amazes me how she moves herself all around (and through) her crib and doesn't wake up.
She is just such a wonderful and fun little bean to watch, even when she's sleeping.

Muwaaa aa aa aa!

Muwaaa aa aa aa!
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Simple pleasures are often the best. Art Omi's annual open day was today and Annabel got a chance to do a little bit of artwork of her own at the breakfast table. The centerpieces were Styrofoam heads and two Sharpies on the table. The idea was to draw your own designs on the form. Annable chose the stipple effect. It was grand as you can tell from the expression on her little face.

The wanderer

Pool gate
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

She gets really busy after her big nap of the day and wants to see and do just about everything. Today we went to Tierney's pool party (I was a chaperone) and Annabel had a wonderful time walking around the deck and in and out of the gate. She also enjoyed playing with ice cubes sitting in her new little chair at her new little table. When Tierney took her in swimming, well, she was just over the moon.
Annabel is starting to venture forth just a little bit. She's knows we're watching and she's ready for the chase. After she had climbed the little grass hill outside the gate she turned around and came back, walking faster than she had planned she put on the brakes and said: "WHOA!"

The scrutinizer

baby scrutinizer
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Annabel is such an intense little girl these days. She's just advancing leaps and bounds in so many aspects. She's starting to say 'please' automatically when she wants something, and her memory amazes me. Today she remembered that Lori put a flap from Elmo's alphabet book in her pocket for safekeeping once it was torn off from constant use. She motioned to her own hip when Lori asked her where it might be. "That's right, I put it in my pocket," marveled Lori, who then took another moment to think about what had just taken place: "Oh, I must have washed it by now," she laughed.
Annabel seemed fine with the remedy. They're going to tape a piece of paper over the opening and mark it with a Z.
Also new this week: Annabel seems to be changing from her usual two- to three-hour morning nap into some form of an afternoon nap. It's been kind of gradual, and she's teething again so it might not be a permanent shift. We'll have to see how it goes.
I also noticed a new freckle. This one appeared a couple of days ago on her face near her left ear with a series of scratches she must have given herself in her sleep. I thought that's what this mark was too until today when I looked at it more closely. Definitely a freckle.
She got her first freckle (on her right thigh) when she was only about 8 months old. And recently I noticed another freckle on her left thigh as well.

All in the family

at the same age
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

For a group project on Flickr, there has been a few of these montages put together of parents and kids at relatively the same ages. This one is mine. I'd be interest to hear what similarities you may find.
I think she's definitely a "daddy's girl."

Extra, extra: Read all about it

hmmmm
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

We traveled to Concord, Mass. on Sunday to spend Indepence Day with Jed's family. Although patriotism was the broad theme the real party was for great grandmother Peg's birthday and the Millers' 70th anniversary. We had a leisurely cruise up and down the river on a pontoon boat while its skipper and a crew member took turns offering us various chicken, pasta and fruit dishes. How wonderful is that? The only bad part was the life jacket (also known as a Mae West we are told) that Annabel was compelled to wear much to her displeasure.
Annabel even celebrated a few firsts of her own -- she started saying her name ... sounds like "Ahbell."