Talking to strangers

Once upon a time, Annabelle winked at strangers in passing. Separation anxiety seemed to bring an end to that fun phase. Then, gradually as she began to talk more, she would occasionally offer a "Hi!" or at least stare at them instead of burrowing her head in my shoulder when spoken to by a stranger.

Today she clearly found a catch phrase that fit every single interaction with any adult.

To the chiropractor this morning, the clerk at the store, the shopper who stopped to comment on her dress, the guy at the recycling center who loaded our car... they all got the same puckered face, squinty eyes and then, with a mischievous smile, a very loud, over-articulated, "YOU'RE SOOO SILLY!!!!"

Six inches

I promised myself that I wouldn't cut it. I wanted her to be in Kindergarten with those sweet newborn curls on the end of her long blonde locks. I wanted it to be her decision.

But nightly screams during hair brushing changed my mind. And I was regularly cutting out huge masses of tangles. And last month she cut her own bangs with the scissors. And I finally realized that it was time.

It turned out cuter than I expected. And better yet, she loves it! "CUT MORE!", she said this afternoon.

Before ::

After ::

Three

She plays our new "panio" several times a day, usually to a mixed audience of the stuffed, sewn or animal variety. (Look closely!) She requires sheet music, even though it's often upside down. (Look more closely!) You wouldn't believe how picky she is choosing which song to play... my heart flutters at her love for making music.

We made it

Annabelle turned three years old today. I can't believe it.

She has slept through the night for two nights in a row... and in her own bed too! She woke up this morning, crawled in bed with Dave and I, and when I wished her a Happy Birthday she said with a broad smile, "Me do Big Girl Sleep!" Such a revelation it is when you realize that they DO actually get what you are saying, and know what you want, and understand what to do.


After lots of birthday cuddles and singing in bed for a while, and before heading downstairs for the compulsory apple and toast for breakfast...

Me: Annabelle, how old are you?

Annabelle: Almost FOUR!!

Dream #5293 Come True

She may not be potty trained, but she can embroider!

Coldest Winter in 50 Years

It's the end of April.

It's snowing.

Sigh.

Conversations

After a whirlwind trip up to Portland, an unplanned stay in a hotel, lots of last minute efforts to get our townhouse cleaned up to record, fund and finally sell, we were headed home. Feeling a little worn out and tired, driving down the freeway, Dave reached across and put his hand on my knee...

Dave: How are you?

Me: I'm okay. I'm good. Doing okay.

(silence for about ten seconds)

Annabelle, from the backseat: What about me? What about Princess?

New favorites

Annabelle is somehow old enough (at 2 years and 11 months) to begin to identify her favorite things. She has declared almost daily for a few weeks now that RED is her favorite color. And she asked me for red pants.

So I found these pants for her, but I couldn't resist sewing rickrack all along the bottom hem. Thank god she loved it, because I really loved it. (And matching up my loves with her loves is not all that common during these days of being two years old.)

It wasn't until I took this picture that I realized we have gradually been collecting more and more red clothing for her... mostly at her request. Happy to be wearing her new Spring hat that I knitted up last month, along with her red Christmas shoes, plus her new red pants, well, this picture just makes me laugh! Posing with Dave, she is (very purposely) demonstrating this happiness with red for the camera.

Baby Blanket

Crafted for a friend of mine who had a sweet baby girl a couple weeks ago... a picnic/beach/park blanket for the summer, complete with a bag to carry it in! (Or at least a bag to carry extra baby stuff...)

The Easter Egg Hunt

The eggs were filled with Easter ornaments...


She organized her basket after finding each egg.


Her very own salt shaker.


Long lost friends. They'd been packed up since last June.


A CD holder for all her music.


This is what she did when I asked her to pose for picture with her new ring.


Hanging the ornaments on her Easter tree.

Recovery with Grama and Papa

Early morning fun in Grama and Papa's bed...


Grama showed up with a car load of wrapped presents. It has been Christmas for a week!


Her new spider!


Helping Papa with some plumbing...


"Working" in the bathroom.


"Papa do, papa do...."