September both flew by and seemed like it was never going to end. I have a whole new respect for what my parents went through when Hurricane Alicia hit Houston in 1983. Back then it was "Oooh! Look all the golf carts are in the bottom of an empty pool!" and "how did that get there?" and "let's play with our Star Wars figures in this big pile of dirt!"
Now that I am grown up (that's what people keep saying anyway), it is no fun at all. Fences to rebuild, trees to chop, our sprinkler system was ruined -- so was the ice maker on our refrigerator. We lost all of our beautiful landscaping and flowers and bushes and four trees. We have a leaky roof. Our power was out for more than two weeks. Yet, we definitely ARE the lucky ones.
I did a heavy-duty closet clean out on Wednesday, being absolutely brutal. I eventually got two boxes worth of stuff together to donate to Hurricane Ike victims. (Andy did the same.)
I am somewhat miffed that Galveston and parts of Houston are suffering so much, yet they (we) are all forgotten. God, when Katrina devastated New Orleans it was wall-to-wall Katrina for a month and a half. And I know how much attention the media gave the story -- I worked day after day on it. For Ike it was hey! look! And move along. It pisses me off.
In other news, we moved back into our house Sunday. It was so great to be home. We still have so much work to do, but it is nice to be back in my own house. With control of my own thermostat! Oh baby, is it ever! :-)
Annaebelle is going to Gymboree twice a week and swim lessons. It's my goal to get her out and interested in new things. Meet kids her own age. I am fun and all, but I am sure she appreciates playing with other toddlers.
Here are a few pictures from September. We've got Annabelle in there among many Hurricane Ike pictures. And don't forget our family photo albums and don't forget to comment! We want to hear from you!
Well, it's been a long-quick week if that makes sense. Looking back it seems like forever ago that it was Monday, yet it feels like it was just yesterday. I accomplished quite a bit this week. Annabelle really liked Gymboree. She was very good at most of the activities that the kids were supposed to do, but she seemed kind of overwhelmed by the other children. You see, Annabelle has really only been with me, her Daddy and her grandparents her entire life. She doesn't know any other kids except Gigi and Carlo's little Gavin -- and he is a bitty baby. So seeing a bunch of kids her age was rather overwhelming for her, I think.
She ran around and squealed and really enjoyed the whole experience. It actually made me want to cry. Seeing what an amazing person she is becoming. And how she problem solves. And how she is so determined to do it all by herself.
From a battling-depression point of view, I am glad I got out and just did it. I tried really hard not to let myself go through those negative thought patterns that always want to come up when I am with strangers. (e.g. "Are they looking at me?" "Do they think I am stupid? Ugly? Fat? Whatever?") I just thought to myself: "You are Annabelle's mom and she loves you." That made a huge difference.
All of that probably sounds really lame, but so be it. I can't control what you think of me. I used to think I could. I am slowly (oh-so-very-slowly) coming to the realization that I can only control what I think of me. Whether I want you to or not, you will make a judgement of me. And nothing I can do is going to stop you. So why worry about it. Right?
Anyway, that's it from here. Big weekend. Gavin gets baptized! Yay!
Sometimes being a stay-at-home mom is really mentally taxing. Sometimes the hours seem to crawl by. Other times they fly by with alarming quickness. This has been one of those weeks. Annabelle has done something new everyday this week. Maybe two or three new things.
Her comprehension of the spoken language is remarkable. Though she hasn't spoken all that many words, she understands many words and phrases. She can point to a cat, a dog, a duck, and, yes, a toucan (!). She can understand simple commands. She knows who mommy and daddy and nana and mimi and poppy and papaw are. She knows who Miss Gigi is. She even knows who kitty Sarah is.
She loves to point. She loves to read. She loves to dance. She is an amazing little girl.
Annabelle has recently learned how to pucker her lips as if in a kiss. Before she goes to be she will make the little lip smacking noise after I kiss her. It melts my icy heart. I love her to little tiny pieces.
Annabelle and I were playing downstairs this morning. I was multitasking, you know making lunch, putting the dishes away and playing with AEB. Anyway, I was making some noodles on the stove when Annabelle stood up in the middle of the living room and toddled all the way over to me and gave me a big hug around my leg. I couldn't believe it.
She is also learning to use a spoon and a fork. It is a messy business.
My ex-best friend forever, Marian Hossa, had the game winning/series clenching OT goal today for the Penguins (versus the New York Rangers). I miss him! He's been a monster this playoff season. All true Thrasher fans die just a little bit every time he scores a goal for another team.
It has been too long since my last post. So much has happened in our life, especially when it comes to Annabelle. She is walking now! Each day she gains more confidence and takes a few more steps. Each day she shows a new wrinkle in her personality. She is amazing, wonderful and precious.
Geneen is amazing as well. She is such a wonderful mother to Annabelle. Annabelle loves her so much, as do I.
Annabelle has learned lots of new words. She knows what many, many words mean, but she doesn't yet speak them. Balloons. Cat. Mommy and Daddy (which she does say). Nana. Mimi. Charles (!). Hand. Popsicle. Pool. Just to name a few.
I have also added to our family's personal lexicon.
There is the ever popular: Grumpasaurus (aka Grumpasaur). The fearsome Grumpasaurus Rex. The soon-to-be-outdated Trendasaurus. The oft-used (and fun to say) Fussasaurus. And, who could forget the Tryantasaurus (as in, "my boss is a tyrant-a-saurus"). See what great things I am doing for the English language?
I've noticed lately that Annabelle is becoming a bit camera shy. I am not sure why that is. Maybe it's a natural thing. Now that she's getting older and recognizes things she gets scared more easily. Whatever the reason, her smile, while ever present, is increasingly difficult to capture on film.
A big Happy Birthday to the most precious baby in the world: Our daughter, Annabelle Elizabeth. She turns one today. I've spent the past hour or so reflecting on the year gone by and the many changes it has brought.
It's hard when your life changes overnight. You check into the hospital one person, you check out another. Forever changed in society's eyes, for you are now this person called "mother."
But I know I can speak for Andy when I say we wouldn't have it any other way. So to Annabelle...
It's impossible to describe the love we feel for you. You bring laughter and smiles. You bring light and joy. Your face is that of an angel. And to see you is to be assured that, yes, there is a God because nothing so precious -- so perfect -- could be anything but divine.
Annabelle, day one, hour one.
Annabelle, almost a year old (and she's already perfected her BlackBerry technique!).
Baby Winter, or "Gavin Charles" as he is now known, came into the world on February 12. Gigi and Carlo are thrilled and have since taken their newborn bundle of joy home from the hospital. Congrats to our good friends! Much love.
Time continues to fly by. Annabelle is fast approaching her first birthday. We are amazed at how everyday brings changes and new accomplishments. She has two teeth. She can eat many different non-baby foods. She is standing and on the cusp of walking. She babbles and smiles and claps. She's just the most amazing thing ever.
Today I was doing a little cleaning while Annabelle played nearby. We were watching the news when all of a sudden I heard the TiVo's trademark beep. Annabelle was changing the channel. So what number did she push? That's right: 36. She wanted her CNBC Power Lunch. She apparently also wanted to watch it later because she pressed the "Record" button too. And gave it two thumbs up. She's my daughter, but we have very different tastes in programming.
