On safari

on safari
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Annabel has been more vocal lately. She is trying to say people's names and asking for things she wants. She calls her friend Elias (at Lori's house) "Lia." She is also speaking into the phone a little more frequently. Still her words are sparse and she reverts to pointing as grunting when she's tired.
Lately she's even been asking to go to bed when it's time, she even takes her flouride drops without much fuss.

The creeping crud

impetigo
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

In doctors' circles it's better known as impetigo, an infection of the skin caused by either staff or strep bacteria. We're still waiting for the results of a culture to see which one she has. In the meantime she's been on antibiotics for a few days and is S-L-O-W-L-Y regaining her vim and viggor. For the past several days the pustules on her face have increased and her energy decreased. A high fever after the erruptions was a tip off, according to the doctors.

Holy Toast

holytoast
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

I couldn't help putting these two photographs together as diptychs, (beginning yet another obsession). She had lined up her animal cracker pieces on Jed's new couch, pushing them into the down cusions as if willing them to stay. Later, she found her reflection in mirror quite appealing and spent a little time in front of it watching koalas and camels disappear. Earlier she had played keep-away from herself with the new soccer ball Jed gave her.

Today, though, she isn't feeling well. She's been struggling with a cold for several days and lately it seems to be getting the better of her. She's lethargic today, wanting to just lie around watching Elmo and her other Seasame Street friends. I hope she will feel better tomorrow, otherwise we are off to the doctor to make sure its not bacterial.

Girl with curls

curls diptych
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Annabel hair has gotten enough length in the back to show the beginnings of some curls. Of course it could be just the results of her twirling the hair on the back of her head when she is anxious.

Today she was feeling a bit punky because of a head cold, poor thing. The sniffles didn't stop her from visiting the Canada geese with papa or rearranging her diaper station.

This picture doesn't show you that she's selecting one diaper at a time, looking it closely (both sides) to discern whether it's an Ernie diaper or one of the other members of the Seasame Street gang. But it does convey how intent she is on source separating. She keeps all the Ernies and tosses all the rest.

Maybe, baby

first i was alone ....
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Doesn't she look like a hairless Elvis? It's not nice to make fun, I know, but I just couldn't help posting this picture and telling you all that Annabel is making full use of her hips when dancing to her favorite tunes. Why, just this morning, she was b-boppin' in her carseat to the oh-so-fabulous sounds of They Might Be Giants. She just adores the cautionary song, "Don't Cross The Street (In the middle, in the middle, in the middle of the block.)"

Happy Mother's Day

mom's favorite
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

And for the second year, we've attempted to take pictures of our little family on this day. Here is mom's favorite result. We've added a little Annabel animation. We actually celebrated Mother's Day Saturday at Fanny's Italian restaurant in Latham. We went out with grandma, grandpa and aunt Maureen. Annabel had a great time.

mom's photoshopped family portrait
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Just like mommy

just like mommy
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

If you were a little munchkin and someone broke out the super-dooper bottle of bubbles, what would you do? Annabel, taking a cue from her snap-happy mom, whipped out her $1 Goodwill camera and started shooting.

Defiance

defiance
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Annabel has a mind of her own and she knows how to use it. She defiantly jams her little hand down my shirt as she nurses or drinks from a bottle. It's a habit she tries to duplicate with her father, too. It must her version of a security blanket.

She also seems to say no when she means no and yes when she means yes. She lights up at the prospect of going outside and even puts on her own sunhat (and leaves it on) when told it's a condition of her release into the world.

Last night after sitting up for an hour past her bedtime because of an upset tummy, she started digging her fists into her eyes. When I asked her if she wanted to go to bed, she looked at me with relief and said, "ayah."
So off we went to bed, she asked for Elmo and hugged him tight as I kissed her little head goodnight.

Friendship

best friends redux
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Annabel is getting to be quite the hugger and kisser. It has taken a little time, but she is starting to show public displays of affection more readily these days. Her friend Maya, pictured with her today at our baby yoga class, loves to give and get kisses. The girls were also playing together more instead of their usual "parallel play."

From this day forward

from this day forward
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

It's time. The front-facing seat. I don't believe she's acheived the weight of 20 pounds yet, but at 16 months we think she's ready. A graduation from looking back at where we've been to gazing into the future. She looks suspicious, I know, but its probably just the novelty of a new direction.

Museum day

magnifiedsquarecircle
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

We took a trip to the state museum yesterday, and it was pretty clear that Annabel had a wonderful time. She had great fun looking through the magnifying glass at the moth collection and making friends at a dinosaur puzzle in the kids' room. The best part happened in the Fleet room, where there was an exhibit of modern masters such as Oldenburg and Man Ray. Security asked us to turn off cell phones and check our cameras while we were inside the small gallery, but Annabel broke the silence anyway as soon as she saw the taxidermied portion of a Marisol sculpture and yelled "DOG!"

Multi-tasking

toothbrush II
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Bathtime is still a bit of a prickly proposition. She's never thrilled about getting undressed and into the tub. She screams and kicks and carries on as if we were trying to drown her each time. Of course as soon as she's settled, she has a wonderful time playing with her toys and getting us all soaked. It seems strange that she remembers that she likes bananas, teacups and Seasame Street, but doesn't recall how much fun she has splashing in the bath.

A world of pretend

Playground
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

We're really getting the hang of "prentend" now, dad gum it. This morning Brianna (Lori's daughter) made pancakes and gave Annabel four silver-dollar-sized cakes on a plastic plate. Since we were in the porch playroom (and no sticky, oohey-gooey substances are allowed in there) she had to forego the syrup. After systematically jamming three of the pancakes in her mouth and chewing them up with glee, she realized what she was missing. So away she went to her pretend kitchen (a playbench filled to bursting with all manner of plastic toy utensils) fished out a bottle and pretended to put syrup on the last remaining cake. Yum.

In the pink

Feeling better
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

As you can see, little miss Annabel is back in the pink. She's such a resiliant little being. And we are HAPPY to report her tiny temper is back. Of course, she was howling at me the other day when I wouldn't give her a second ice cream cone, and thus for the first time I got to see her new molar peeking out from her gum. Today, in the car ride home, she and I played a game. I asked her what sound a cow makes, and she said moo; I ask her what sound a dog makes, and she said wooo (the f was silent); what sound does a cat make, meow; what sound does a chicken make, bok; and her favorite: what sound does an owl make, WHO WHO!

Sweet sixteen ...

Little imp
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Months, that is. Annabel turned 16 months old today. A remarkable age -- she is learning all kinds of things including the importance of sharing and how to make a burrito. (Well trying different foods is important, no?) The lastest for our little gormand is eating ice cream from a cone. She likes the independence of it but she's not a fan of the cone as a food item. If she gets any gummy cone bits in her mouth she fishes them out and feeds them to the dog.

Back to work

back to work
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Annabel was feeling better as soon as she got home, but was still weak and unsteady for several days. She is slowly getting back to her old self. We enjoyed several walks over the course of the weekend, wherein the expedition was solely "cat hunting." Today she has returned to her cherished place in Lori's house with great enthusiasm. What is most remarkable to me is her return to language. In the hospital she just stopped talking. Aside from the occasional "Elmo" and "Ernie," there wasn't much she was intersested in saying. Now she's back to using all her words and then some ... her favorite question is "what sound does a cow make?" Her answer is brilliant: "Moo."

Spoke too soon

little girl
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

5 April 2005 -- Annabel had to go to the hospital Tuesday to be tested for diabetes. She awoke early in the morning and began vomiting right away. The vomiting continuing throughout the day and we took her to the doctor at mid-morning. Her doctor tested her urine for a kidney infection just to rule it out but found glucose instead. So the whole hospital process began. ER, admitting, testing, prodding poking, worrying and finally ... RELIEF. The good news is that Annabel is fine and slowly getting over a nasty intestinal virus that made her dehydrated and sent her blood glucose on a rollercoster ride. The bad news is she had to spend four days in the hospital getting stuck with needles and other forms of western medicine voodoo in the meantime.

As fast as her little legs ...

starting to run
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Little miss ittybit is feeling much, much better. She was in such a good mood today, reading her books, playing with her dolls and demanding "hot" milk (and sending it back when the temperature was merely tepid). We also played a joke on daddy, hiding in the closet when he came to look for us. Fun, fun, fun.

Easter jacket

Easter Jacket
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

3 April, 2005 -- Annabel had a nice visit with grandma Linda this weekend. She had to be a little incognito because she's been getting over her first really nasty cold and cough. Some firsts we could all live without.

A new day

The time has come for graduation. Annabel has nearly outgrown her space at http://annabelcleary.tripod.com and will be moving into a bigger room here at blogspot. We still plan to post pictures and a diary of thoughts and observations of our lives as she grows into childhood and beyond. We welcome you to our extended family and hope you will post your thoughts here, as well.