Winnie the Pooh Helping Songs

This is the title of a book that I found at a church consignment sale that Annabelle has loved ever since I brought it home and cleaned it up for her. It has little round buttons on the side with pictures of Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Rabbit and Roo. As you flip through the book, one of each of the five pictures appears at the top of each page on the left hand side of the book. If you press the same button on the right side of the book that matches the picture at the top of each page on the left side of the book, a song plays that corresponds with the words and picture on the page. I know you all probably know what I am talking about now. They are really popular books among the kids these days.

So, I've been trying for awhile to get Annabelle to make the correlation between the buttons so that if she sees Pooh at the top of the page, then she should push the Pooh button on the right side of the book.

Well, this morning we were playing with the book, and she figured it out! She pushed the correct button for every single page. And, we even read the book over again (several times), and she pushed the correct buttons again.

I was so excited to see her finally make this correlation! It was so funny to me though because she acted like she's been pressing the correct button forever.

Will the climbing ever end?

The climbing is really driving me bonkers! Annabelle is constantly climbing into or onto something. Now that she knows how to climb up onto dining room chairs, she loves to show off her new trick for everyone she meets. And, this new trick is always tried at new houses as well (such as Granddaddy's and Grandmama's house and Nonnie's house).

You would think no big deal, right? Well, we tell her every time to "sit down on your bottom Annabelle" and "be careful." And, she is normally pretty good about doing so. That is until she thinks I am not looking. And, then, up she goes, to a standing position with a silly grin on her face as if she has accomplished something very big. And, naturally, after I tell her that is a "no no," she wants to do it that much more.

She started attempting to climb one of the bookshelves attached to our entertainment center long before she ever succeeded at climbing up onto the dining room chairs, but so far, she hasn't climbed past the first shelf. I am sure that will change, and I am going to have to be on my toes.

Towards the end of January, I noticed her lifting her leg up in the morning when I've gone in to get her up as if she is trying to learn to climb out of the crib. Does anyone know how early a toddler can actually succeed at climbing out of the crib?

And, this evening, I turned the light on in the oven so that she could watch our dinner of Chicken Cordon Bleu and Gorton's Fish Sticks cook. I've done this plenty of times before, and I've stood close by to make sure she did not attempt to open the oven. And, she hasn't. Well, tonight that changed! She decided to stand on the storage drawer directly under the oven while she held onto the oven handle. This obviously made me a nervous wreck for a couple of reasons:

1. The floors in the kitchen are slate, so if she takes a tumble, her head is going to give more than the floor ever will.

2. She was holding onto the handle of a very hot oven. The handle itself was not hot, but, if the door had opened, she very probably would have burnt her little self.

She was even able to reach the buttons to turn on the oven. I think it is time to lock the keypad. I am just wondering if my oven has a lock installed on the oven itself to lock the oven door. If not, I think we may be heading off to Babies 'R' Us this week to find out if there is any childproof invention to lock a heated oven.

So, is this normal for a child to climb this much at 15 months going on 16 months? I guess it is, but this is far worst in my eyes than walking! Walking is a breeze compared to climbing. I guess that is why the Lord allows them to learn to walk before they learn to climb...because the parents need these baby steps more than the babies do.

Let's "Go" or "Go" Potty

Apparently, these two sayings have the same meaning for Annabelle. She apparently only understands the word she wants to at the time.

Last night (Friday night), after Annabelle's Daddy had gotten home for the evening (and week), I mentioned to him something about Annabelle and her need to "Go Potty."

After these words were spoken, Annabelle walked over to me (where I was lying on the couch) and grabbed my hand and started pulling on it for me to follow her. Since I wasn't feeling well, I tried to stall and distract her, but that didn't work, so I was forced to remove myself from the couch and follow her lead. Her Daddy said, "It looks like she wants you to go outside." I said, "No, she doesn't ever grab my hand to lead me outside."

Well, I was wrong. That little girl heard the words "Go" and she was ready to "Go" somewhere. If you ask me, she has a good bit of her MamaGordon in her! My MamaGordon was always ready to "Go" anywhere we would take her.

It was getting cold, and frankly, I just wasn't in the mood for going outside since I wasn't feeling all that well. But, I remembered that just earlier in the day I had told Annabelle that "maybe your Daddy will take you outside to play on the slide when he gets home." Who knows if she actually remembers me telling her that, but she definitely refreshed my memory when she pulled me towards the front door. So, I felt pretty guilty, and I told my husband of the promise I had partially made (on his behalf).

My husband said that he would take her out for just a little while so she could see that it was dark and cold outside. So, we bundled her up in her coat, and we put her shoes on her feet, and she went outside with her Daddy to play for a little while. Apparently, according to her Daddy, she walked to the slide and she slid down the slide once, and then she was ready to go back inside the house as she walked right back towards the stairs and house dragging her Daddy in tow by his hand. I guess that was all she needed.

I am picturing her now pulling him behind her to go back inside. How sweet is that?

Raggedy Andy

Nonnie has a Raggedy Andy at her house that Annabelle's Great Granny (her Daddy's Granny) made. She found the Raggedy Andy on our last visit to see Nonnie on Friday, January 25th.

While she was playing with the Raggedy Andy (on January 25th), I told her, "That is Raggedy Andy." She immediately, without skipping a beat, walked from the far end of the bedroom to the entrance to the bedroom to find her Daddy in the bathroom to give him the Raggedy Andy.

She connected the name "Andy" with her Daddy. Annabelle's Daddy is named Andy as well. So, since I had said "Andy" when I told her it was "Raggedy Andy," she decided that she would take the Raggedy Andy to him.

That just goes to show you why parents start referring to one another as "Mommy" and "Daddy."

I have been calling my husband "Daddy" or "Dad" when I speak with Annabelle, but I am still guilty of referring to him as "Andy" when I am having a one on one conversation with him. She has obviously picked up on the fact that "Andy" is also her "Daddy."

Dinner with Nonnie

We visited Nonnie this evening for dinner at her house. She cooked spaghetti, and it was very tasty. We also enjoyed a salad, garlic toast and Rocky Road ice cream for dessert.

Annabelle was a grump when we first arrived. She had done fine almost all the way to Nonnie's house until we stopped at the Kroger just a few miles from Nonnie's house to pick up some garlic toast and ice cream to go with dinner. I jumped out of the car to run in to grab the groceries, and I forgot to tell Annabelle goodbye and that I would be back. Apparently, that is what set her off for the rest of the evening. Hubby calls me while I am in the grocery story with Annabelle screaming in the background. He is wondering, "Are you almost done?" As soon as I make it back to the car, she stops screaming, but her little eyes and face are red from all of the crying she had done. My poor baby! I felt so bad for her.

And, then, she cried all the way to Nonnie's house from Kroger. I think she was just letting me know that she wasn't happy that I had left her.

She did not settle down again until she had some avocado in front of her for dinner. I guess she was hungry? I'm still not sure as she had just eaten her late lunch at 2:00 p.m., and we sat her down for dinner around 5:30 p.m. Could she have possibly been hungry? I started wondering if maybe her ears had started hurting from this nasty cold.

So, she gladly ate most of the avocado, but she wanted nothing to do with the spaghetti, and she seemed quite offended that I would even place any on her plate. She immediately picked it up with a look of complete disgust and handed it to me to get it off of her tray. So, then, I gave her some salad with ranch dressing, and she ate most of that. And, she gummed a third of a banana which she never completely finished. Then, the tears began to flow again. So, being the wonderful Mommy that I am, I offered her Rocky Road ice cream. Life was good for Annabelle again! And, she wanted more. She even ate another helping later in the evening around 7:45 p.m. when the rest of us decided that it was time for our own helping of ice cream.

And, once I get off my butt, I'll share the cutest pictures of Annabelle holding out her hands to take the plate of ice cream from her Daddy. When did she learn that and from whom? It was precious! My picture does not even do it justice.

She played happily for awhile after her dinner and ice cream. My dreams of a frilly girl are no longer as she played with Nonnie's Little Tykes kitchen until she found the "boy toys" placed in the toy basket right next to the kitchen. Who needs a teaset when you've got "boy toys?" Oh my! I guess she is going to take after her mother, climbing trees and digging for worms. I just hope that she also likes to dress up in frilly dresses like I once liked to do (when I was much younger). Of course, I still like to dress up, but not in "frilly" anything.

She found the stairs at Nonnie's house again. She loves those stairs! I am so thankful that we live in a ranch house. Otherwise, the baby gates would have already been installed a long time ago.

Have I mentioned how very nosy my child is? She ventures into every room she can access, and she somehow always finds the same things to play with every time at Nonnie's house that are "No No's." For example, Nonnie has a little glass jarred candle in her bedroom, and Annabelle loves to hold it and walk around with it. All would normally be fine with that if the floors in Nonnie's kitchen and sunroom were not tile. We just worry about my sweet baby falling with the glass jarred candle in her hands and cutting herself. We don't want to run to the emergency room any sooner than we have to. Since we all know that Annabelle is already following in her Daddy's footsteps, that day will come soon enough, unfortunately!

I also noticed that Nonnie put away (out of toddler's hands reach) a glass jar that normally sits on the hearth. Annabelle has always been drawn to this glass jar for some reason, so that was smart thinking on Nonnie's part. Thank you Nonnie!

Annabelle rocked Nonnie's teddy bear (from when Nonnie was a baby) in Nonnie's rocking chair (from when Nonnie was a little girl). She also rocked a little in the rocking chair that was her own Daddy's, but she seems to like her Nonnie's rocking chair a little more. So, since Nonnie has been offering for awhile, we decided it was finally time to bring the little rocking chair home. Also, we're hoping that the little rocking chair will distract Annabelle from climbing into the dining room chairs every day, all day long! Wishful thinking I presume. If she is going to fall from a chair, I'd much rather her fall from the little rocking chair instead of the dining room chairs.

There is a story behind Nonnie's rocking chair, but I cannot remember the details exactly. I believe that Nonnie's Daddy bought it for her from a store in town and he walked it home all the way from town. I am sure that is probably not very accurate as the story sounded much better when Nonnie actually told it. Nonnie, if you are reading my blog now, please post a comment with the details. You can post as "Anonymous" if you don't want to set up an account.

I pulled out the Fisher Price Family Farm that Annabelle's Daddy used to play with when he was a little boy. I had the same set as well. She really enjoyed playing with it. Nonnie offered to send it home with her, but I told Nonnie that we needed to keep special toys at her house so Annabelle would have those fond memories of playing with those vintage toys that her Daddy once played with as well. I remember playing with a train/circus set that my MamaGordon (my Mother's mom) kept at her house. I wonder what ever happened to that little train/circus set. I sure wish I could get my hands on it now!

And, Nonnie got a new dog named Murphy, so now Nonnie has two dogs (Murphy and Buddy). They are both West highland Terriers. Murphy loved Annabelle, and he just licked her little face and hands. Nonnie tried to stop Murphy, and she was going to put Murphy outside, but I told her that Murphy was fine as long as Annabelle didn't pull on him. I just didn't want Annabelle to encourage any biting from Murphy. But, as long as Murphy and Buddy are happy and content with Annabelle, I think she should learn to adjust to dogs (and pets).

Annabelle got fussy again while she was enjoying her last batch of ice cream for the evening (around 8:00 - 8:15 p.m.). And, yes, I do feed my child sweets right before bed. We'll see how this evening goes, but as long as she doesn't respond negatively to the sweets, she can have them. So far, so good!

Nonnie finally got Annabelle calmed down around 8:40 p.m., and Annabelle decided she wanted to play again. So, she ventured into the playroom to rock in another rocking chair that Nonnie's Cousin, Mike, gave her when her first grandchild was born back in 2003. I don't know if the other grandkids have enjoyed the rocking chair, but Annabelle loved it! She loves to rock herself!

So, we finally left around 9:00 p.m. We had a wonderful evening with Nonnie, and I hope we'll get more invites from Nonnie to come visit for dinner (and maybe even to spend the night). Of course, based on Annabelle's track record for the evening, this may have been the last invite!

Cowboy Boots

Every southern girl needs a pair of cowboy boots, right? Or, should I just say Annabelle has her Daddy wrapped around her little finger and she is only 15 months old!

Annabelle's Daddy left this past Sunday for Nashville, Tennessee. He had a job in Tennessee, so he left his girls behind to hold the fort down at home.

On Thursday evening around 4:00 p.m., Annabelle's Daddy called to find out what time I was planning to put Annabelle down for the evening. He had one stop he wanted to make before heading home, and if there was a good chance she'd already be in bed by the time he would have gotten home (without making the stop), then he wanted to stop.

His words were "I know you are going to think I am being silly, but I feel bad because I haven't gotten Annabelle anything." What?!?! You feel bad because you haven't gotten Annabelle anything. What about me? I have been left to deal with a "sweet" 15 month old all week, and you feel bad because you haven't gotten "Annabelle" anything. I might add that she came down with another cold on Wednesday, and I as well caught the same crud on Thursday. So, we have both been rather miserable and cranky since Wednesday and Thursday.

By the way, I am only kidding about wondering why he didn't plan to bring me anything. He knows I'm frugal and I would prefer a dollar saved than a dollar spent, and I know that he adores that little girl. Of course, I did tell him "That is fine if you want to stop, but Annabelle really isn't going to know the difference. And, if you buy her something every time you go out of town, she is going to be one spoiled rotten little girl."

So, he stopped on the way, and he bought her the cutest little cowboy boots that he had apparently already been eyeing all week. He called me to confirm the size, so I told him to get a size 5. Of course, I mentioned I didn't know how long she'd be able to wear them since she's wearing a size 4 1/2 right now. And, according to the lady at Stride Rite back in November, at Annabelle's age, they typically outgrow shoes every 3 months.

He was so proud of those little boots. He told me that every time he looked at the box in the back seat on the way home, he would just smile. Too sweet! He said he was smiling because he was picturing her wearing those little boots.

By the time he made it home, she had been in bed a long time, so he didn't get to see his little girl last night. And, then, he had to leave this morning at 5:30 a.m. to go on another business trip to Columbia, South Carolina. Fortunately, it was only a day trip for a lunch meeting, so he made it back home around 5:45 p.m. this evening.

He asked Annabelle when he got home if Mommy had shown her the boots he had gotten her. I did not as I thought I would let him surprise her. So, he pulled the boots out of the box, and she was so very excited! Very excited with the packaging that is! She let him put the boots on her, and she played with the paper balls that had been tucked inside of the boots.

Once she had the boots on, he held her arms while she stood on the bed (because he put the boots on her while she layed on our bed), and she started bouncing from one foot to the other as if she were trying to walk. She wasn't really walking in the boots, so "bouncing" is the best word I can really use to describe her actions. It was very precious though.

The boots actually are a little big, but she seemed to walk alright in them, so it looks like she'll be able to wear these boots for awhile.

Tasmanian Devil Band Aid

This evening while I was getting Annabelle dressed for bed, she picked up one of her old, used band aids from the pediatrician's office. Yes, I know, oooohhh gross! I should have thrown it away a long time ago, but I think I saved it for the interim so that I could scan it for that digital scrapbooking page I am planning to do one day.

So, anyhow, she picks up the band aid right after I had changed her diaper but before I had her changed into her pajamas. Immediately, she takes that band aid, and she tries to apply it back on to her little leg, in almost the exact same spot as it had been after her last visit to see the pediatrician.

Interesting enough, the pediatrician told me at her 15 month old checkup that 15 month olds can remember visiting the doctor (just from their last 12 month old checkup). I was reluctant to believe him because Annabelle seemed to have no fear or worries while we were sitting in the office waiting to be called back to see him, and she was perfectly content sitting in the doctor's office too (after we had been called back).

Based on this little episode with the Tasmanian Devil Band Aid, I think we may have a meltdown the next time we go to the pediatrician for her 18 month old checkup.