Little Peanut

We went to the doctor to have Annabelle weighed... It was the cutest thing. We all feel like she's grown so much and is getting so heavy but the nurse thought otherwise...When I put Annabelle on the scale she said, "Oh what a teenyweeny little peanut!" Not to worry though Annabelle isn't too teenyweeny she's growing at a good rate. When you start out so small you can only do so much! She clocked in at a massive 10 pounds 3 ounces and is measuring 23 and 1/2 inches long. Very good progress! It's a little over a pound each month as well as an inch each month! I have included a picture of Annabelle after our first family walk. She is in a 3 to 6 month little coat which, she of course is swimming in. A big floppy coat had nothing on the rare, beautiful spring day we were able to enjoy. We had a lot of fun. I am also posting a video of Annabelle telling me about her day. I had just gotten her home from the babysitter and was going to put her down for a nap when she began telling me the greatest story. I couldn't resist capturing it. You can hear Mommy sniffling in the background. I get a little emotional after being away all day. Especially when I'm greeted by the sweetest little tale I'd heard in quite a while.

Spring Break is Here!

We are on Spring Break this week and I couldn't be happier. It is following a very BIG Easter weekend of traveling. On Good Friday, we traveled to Mimzey and Dano's house at the lake and visited with Great Grams and Aunt Kathy. It was a lot of fun and very relaxing. I love for Annabelle to get out and see other faces besides mine and Nick's. She really enjoyed the attention. She is smiling so much and cooing! Saturday morning Dano, Mimzey and Mommy were treated to a very long story. Annabelle was talking away! Saturday afternoon we drove to Springfield and stayed with Nana and Ted. Nana had the calming touch. Annabelle would just sit in her lap and look around, completely content. There is a pic of Nana reading Annabelle a story. Sunday was our busiest day. We met Grandpa Newman, Yaya, Great Grandma Patti, Great Grandpa Ken, Uncle Sean, Cousin Kailyn, Uncle Levi, Aunt Jenni, and Cousin Maci in Urbana for Easter brunch. It was quite a corner! All of those folks and three babies under one year of age. It was a lot of fun to watch the babies check each other out. They will have so much fun as they grow being so close in age. One year, six months and three months! After brunch, we drove to Kenton to Great Gram's house. There we got to visit: Mimzey, Aunt Kathy, Cousin Trisha, Cousin Tim, Cousin Maria, Uncle Bill and Aunt Patti. Annabelle soaked up all the attention -loving every minute! There is a picture of she and Maria playing on the floor. Maria even got to change a diaper (babysitter in training!) By the time we got home Sunday night at around 8pm we were pooped! It was a wonderful weekend but I'm sure glad to have this week to rest before heading back to work on Monday. Hope everyone one had as blessed an Easter Weekend as we did! XOXOXOO

10 Weeks Old

Another Week Down...

I'm feeling better about being a working mom. Keep in mind as I say this... We had a snow day on Monday which made it easier. Annabelle got into a schedule only getting up once in the night and then snoozing until 5:30 which worked out perfect because I could feed her once more before taking her to the sitter. Annabelle is doing very well at the sitter's. Erika and Mark have two children. A son in second grade and a daughter who has just started half day kindergarten. They both seem to enjoy Annabelle being at their house. They have both gotten to hold her, feed her and play with her. They are ready with stories for me as soon as I walk in the door at 4pm. This week is another four day week and then begins spring break!!!! Annabelle will be three months old that Friday during spring break! I can't believe it! Nick and I have had so much fun with her. Her little personality is starting to come through. She is smiling a TON and really reacts to the people she knows well. We've learned her cries... A few weeks ago when we'd go running into her room because she cried a bit during a nap we've now learned that she'll just fuss a bit sometimes throughout her naps and then she'll fall back asleep. Kinda crying in her sleep. Very funny. She's as active as ever. When she's laying on her back she's moving all of those little limbs around kicking and swinging those arms about. When she's on a tummy pillow she is now pushing herself with her legs and feet up and over the pillow. Strong little pumpkin!!! I have included some photos from the past week. She has a few St. Patrick's Day outfits so we decided to start wearing them today and finish them on Monday! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We Did It!

We made it through the first week of Mommy back at work. The weekend before I went back to school I think I probably cried each and every time I stopped moving and started thinking about what Monday was to bring. As you can imagine sleep didn't come easy Sunday night. But, no matter how much I willed Monday morning to stay away it came just the same and I had to say good-bye for the day. It was very hard BUT as everyone told me...it did get easier with each passing day. I would hold back the tears on the way to school and each time someone asked me if it was hard to leave her at home... I stayed busy and then like magic it was 3:00 and I was preparing my class to leave for home. The drive home from work, when you know there is a sweet little baby awaiting, is such a fun time. I am just so excited to walk in the door and see my little pumpkin. I can only say through this experience that I am so glad to have chosen teaching as my profession! I have spring break in one week and four days and then after that I work for 8 more weeks and then I have summer break!!!! It really is the mother's profession. I would also like to say bravo to all of the stay at home moms reading...YOUR JOB IS SO HARD! My first day back, during guided reading, I looked around my classroom. I had three students working hard with me and the rest of my class was working silently at their desks. I thought to myself, "wow, this is like a mini vacation!" Teaching is far easier than being a stay at home mom. Still knowing this I think if I could I'd love to be the stay at home mommy. I had one, and let me tell you it is so wonderful. Hopefully in a few years I'll be able to do just that.
I am including some pictures of Miss Annabelle on her Daddy's birthday. Yes, Nick turned the big 28! We had such a fun relaxing day at home. Annabelle got all dressed up for the occasion and I must say was the cutest little baby. We of course had a photo shoot in her little dress. The other photos are from the same weekend. She was having so much fun sitting in her car seat and staring at the fan in the living room. Mr. Fan, as I like to call him, is one of Annabelle's best friends. She lights up at the sight of him...and when you turn him on... Watch out! We're talking hours of entertainment (a ceiling fan!!!! Who knew it was so easy and inexpensive!) Hope everyone in Ohio is staying cozy today during this blizzard (I wish I were kidding but there is actually a blizzard happening outside right now...) Those of you down south...please send us up some sunny nice weather!