Hi Mommy!

She escaped from her Pack 'N Play again this afternoon while napping at Grandmama and Granddaddy's house. And, this was after I told her that we don't climb out of the Pack 'N Play, right Annabelle? I didn't think that "talk" would work with her, but I just thought I'd try it. Annabelle is way too independent to listen to me on that one! If they do listen, why not just leave them in a crib until their 20 years old?!?!

So, she escaped, she fussed for a little while, I went to check on her where I had left the door cracked, and I saw that she had escaped and was standing right outside of her Pack 'N Play. I think she spotted me through the crack, but I quickly left and went back up front.

I told Grandmama and Granddaddy to watch that den door because a little pint size two year old would be walking through it momentarily. I peeked through the den door, and I spotted that pint size two year old who said, "Hi Mommy!"

I had to turn away from her to keep from laughing, and then yet again, we had another talk about not climbing out of the Pack 'N Play. This time I gave her the toy train she kept reaching for earlier, and this time, she actually did stay in her Pack 'N Play. Maybe I can leave her in there until she's 20 years old!

Bookshelves for Charity

As I think I've mentioned before, my husband is one of the most unselfish people that I know. I guess we probably make a great team because I feel like I am often the most selfish person I know. Annabelle is really making me work hard on that lovely attribute though.

So, out of the goodness of his heart, hubby volunteered to build bookshelves for the cancer center at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia as part of a charitable initiative through his work.

Honestly, I wasn't too happy with the idea. He didn't ask me. And, as a result, I just knew that our weekends were going to be spent with hubby working in the shed building these bookshelves. It is hard enough dealing with him being gone during the week (for work), much less on the weekend (out in the shed building bookshelves).

I asked him, "Couldn't we just have given enough money for them to buy the bookshelves instead?" He said, "I thought this would give us an opportunity to give this year without hitting us financially."

So, as I mentioned, I was still very irritated, which made for a bad weekend for us because I was so irritated.

He did manage to get the bookshelves built, and for the most part, on his own time when Annabelle was sleeping. I never offered to look at them, but deep down, I really wanted to see what they looked like. He had promised to have them finished and to the office by today. So, I knew he had to load them into the truck this morning. I asked him to take a picture of them so I could see them because I knew he wouldn't if I didn't ask. He said, "You don't really care to see them." But, honestly, I really did want to see them as he always does such great work.

I actually didn't think he took the pictures out of spite, but he did. So, here are a few good shots of his work. They still need a paint or stain job, but I understand that someone else at the office will be handling the painting.

Hubby, thank you for continuing to show your love to others through your kindness. This is definitely one of the reasons I fell in love with you almost 11 years ago! I am sorry for not supporting you like I should have on this project, but you pulled through for everyone as promised, with little time away from me and Annabelle.

I'm just glad you still have all ten fingers! And, for anyone else who doesn't already know that story, I'll have to blog about that one another day!

Home Depot Christmas Tree

We picked out our Christmas tree this morning/early afternoon. As usual, nothing went as I had planned. I left the chicken for the Salsa Chicken and Black Bean Soup sitting on the counter to "thaw" last night. I had intended to put it in the crockpot to cook the chicken overnight after the chicken had somewhat thawed, but I completely forgot. Therefore, I had to run to Sam's this morning to get some more chicken for the soup so that we didn't get sick off of spoiled chicken.

Then, as I was pouring everything into the crockpot for the soup around 10:30 a.m., I doubled the amount of chicken stock, and I didn't realize it until everything had been poured into the soup. That was a big bummer, and I just knew the day had been ruined. I had planned for us to have Salsa Chicken and Black Bean Soup for dinner while we were in the process of decorating the Christmas tree.

So, we finally headed over to the Home Depot near Perimeter Mall, and we arrived closer to 12:00 p.m. only to find a long line, and a slim picking of trees. Just another bummer for the day!

But, as we were picking out our tree, a small Home Depot truck pulled up full of Christmas trees. And, the trees on the truck were the trees we were sorting through. Yippee! That definitely put me in a better mood. Hubby said, "They are 6-7 feet though. Don't we normally get a taller tree?" I looked at the price tag on the 6-7 feet trees and said, "Nope. We always spend the $29.88 for our Christmas tree, so that is the right size." Of course, the price of Christmas trees could have gone up since last year, but I wasn't willing to spend more than the $29.88 plus tax for a Christmas tree that only lasts a few weeks.

Annabelle was all excited to pick out our Christmas tree until we walked back into the fenced area with the Christmas trees. Then she said, "Bis mas bee hurts me."

Translation: Christmas tree hurts me.

So, the below picture caught the moment perfectly. She wanted nothing to do with the Christmas trees at first. She would not let go of my leg, and at first, she did not want to even touch any of the Christmas trees. Just look at her face in this picture. She was not going to take her eye off of that Christmas tree that "hurts me."

Here is hubby holding the "perfect" tree wearing the same gloves that he uses every year when we go tree hunting at Home Depot. We have picked out our Christmas tree from Home Depot every year since we got married. I NEVER had a real Christmas tree growing up, so I have been adamant about always getting a real tree. I think my last Christmas at home my parents and I attempted to find a real Christmas tree from Home Depot, but it was very late in the game, just a few days before Christmas, and it had been raining, so there were very few Christmas trees left, and the ones left were soaked. However, next year, we may start the tradition of cutting down our own Christmas tree!

And here she is again, not letting go of her Mommy's leg, even for the picture. Honestly, she is holding my leg in that picture, and somehow, I managed to take her picture with the Christmas tree in the background.

Okay, so Christmas trees aren't so scary.

We figured that the sound of the chain saw was actually scaring her, but she warmed up to the Christmas trees after awhile, but yet, not as much as she did last year. Last year, she was running, or should I say toddling, all over the place among the Christmas trees.

It didn't take us long to decide on the "perfect" Christmas tree. It was actually the first Christmas tree that hubby cut open. And, it was one of the newer Christmas trees, which by the way, was cut on Tuesday, so it was fresh, and the needles weren't falling off all over the place.

Hubby said, "I think this is the shortest Christmas tree we have ever had." I don't agree with him of course. I'll have to pull some pictures out from last year to prove him wrong. Of course, knowing him, he'll still think it is shorter, even if I have pictures to prove otherwise.

And, at last, here is Annabelle standing in hubby's truck, actually excited about the Christmas tree again.

Ups!

Translation: Whoops!

Annabelle has learned a new word from her Grandmama. At first, I didn't know who had taught her this new found word, but Grandmama said, "I think she got it from me."

If she drops something, she'll say "Ups!" I kept telling her it is "Oops!" and not "Ups!" That was until I overhead Grandmama say "Whoops!"

Now that I realize what she is actually trying to say, it is really sort of cute!

Pack N Play Escapee Again

Yet again Annabelle climbed out of her Pack N Play, but this time, her Mommy was not home.

Grandmama and Granddaddy were babysitting her at their house. Apparently, Grandmama went back to the bedroom to check on her. When she opened the door to the bedroom, Annabelle greeted her at the door. Annabelle was trying to open the door herself.

Annabelle claimed that she needed to "tee tee potty." But, per Grandmama, she didn't go tee tee or poo poo in the potty.

She's a mess!

Lonely

As I mentioned in my last post, this is our first night apart ever. "Our" meaning Annabelle and Mommy. And, honestly, it probably doesn't even count as I was still there for her bedtime routine, and unless she wakes up during the night, I will probably have already left for my meeting tomorrow morning before she even opens her beautiful blue eyes.

Of course, I had hoped for an earlier evening. Annabelle down by 8:30 p.m. at the latest, and Mommy home by 9:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m. at the very latest. I should have known better! I left Annabelle in her Pack-n-Play around 9:00 p.m. the first time. Around 9:15 p.m., I went back to check on Annabelle because she was still fussing, and it sounded as if she had dropped her Teddy Bear or paci. She smelled like she was trying to get a poopie. Sure enough! She sat on the potty for what seemed like 20 minutes, but in actuality, it was probably only 10 minutes. And, she got the worst smelling poopie ever. It literally made me want to gag.

Then, we started the entire bedtime routine all over again, with the exception of the two bedtime stories and the addition of singing Jesus Loves Me and Hush Little Baby for the fourteenth time. In all honesty, I don't know or think I sang those songs fourteen times, but it sure did feel like it. I finally refused to sing any more, and I left her crying, which soon turned into a whimper, and finally turned into silence at 9:58 p.m.

Thank goodness! By 10:30 p.m., I arrived home to an empty house with toys scattered everywhere, but yet, something was missing and still is missing. Honestly, it is too quiet! I'm thinking I should turn on Annabelle's noise maker and CD player just to break the silence and convince myself into thinking that my daughter is still only a few steps away if she wakes up screaming and needs me during the night.

If you read my blog from earlier today, you'll learn that Annabelle was all too anxious to leave Mommy to go and spend the night with Grandmama and Granddaddy, or so it seemed. This evening, I told Annabelle that I would see her tomorrow evening as Mommy had to go to work tomorrow. As we were battling the bedtime routine, Annabelle said, "No Mommy go bye bye." I honestly think she understood that I would be leaving her, and I think she stayed awake as long as possible just to make sure that I didn't leave her this evening.

So, right now, my heart is breaking as a part of me is missing.

I called Grandmama after I arrived back home safe and sound, and she put the phone up to the baby monitor so I could hear Annabelle. Annabelle was making that sweet little sound that she used to make as a baby. We always joked that Annabelle was singing when she was an infant. Of course, I think in all honesty, Annabelle was just snoring this evening.

For Grandmama and Granddaddy's sake, let's hope for a restful night for everyone! Of course, I know hoping for a happy and delightful child first thing in the morning is a far stretch for this child, so I won't push it! Annabelle is NOT a morning person at all!


Dear Annabelle,

I miss you dearly already, and I've only been gone for an hour and a half. You probably won't even realize I'm really away until you wake up in the morning to find Grandmama at your bedside. I hope you'll be sweet to your Grandmama and Granddaddy tomorrow, but I hope you'll miss me just enough where you'll ask about me all day long, just enough to annoy Grandmama and Granddaddy just a tiny bit.

After I arrived back home this evening without you by my side, one of the first things I noticed was your toys scattered all over the living room. Your Fisher Price school bus was sitting on the dining room table where you had left it this morning during breakfast. Actually, you got up from breakfast specifically to get your bus, and when you brought it back to the table, I took it away from you and set it on the table because I've told you many times that we don't get up during breakfast, lunch or dinner, and we don't play with toys at the table.

Your Smart Snack cookies are scattered on the recliner. As we were preparing to walk out the door this morning to head to Grandmama and Granddaddy's house, you decided that you wanted to play with your Smart Snack cookies. Apparently, I needed some cookies for the road as you stashed four of five of them into my purse. I pulled all but one out and stuck them back into the Smart Snack cookie jar on the recliner before we left this morning. Some cookies were still left scattered on the recliner.

I didn't realize I still had one cookie in my purse until after we had arrived at Grandmama and Granddaddy's house. I think I'll keep that cookie in my purse tomorrow so I'll think about you every time I open my purse. Of course, I won't need any help in that department as I'm sure I'll probably be thinking about you all day anyway.

Although some days I long for a few hours all to myself, I miss you dearly now that you aren't by my side. We are like two peas in a pod. However, I know one day you are going to grow up and leave my side, all too soon.

I love you, baby girl, forever and always! And, you'll always be my baby girl!

Love,

Mommy

Mommy Go Bye Bye

"Mommy Go Bye Bye, Go See Ganmama Gandaddy."

Those are the words I heard this morning during breakfast after I mentioned to Annabelle that she was going to go and spend the night with Grandmama and Granddaddy this evening. I don't recall mentioning to her that I wouldn't be there when she woke up the next morning, but she obviously decided that she didn't need me there.

Also, before the breakfast conversation, and as soon as Annabelle woke up, she said, "Go see Ganmama Gandaddy." I had told Annabelle last night that we were going to go and see Grandmama and Granddaddy in the morning, so I guess she didn't forget what I had told her. She's a smart girl!

This will be the first night ever that I will leave her overnight by herself without her Mommy (or Daddy). Of course, I'll be getting her down for the night, so I don't think it really counts (unless, of course, she decides to wake up in the middle of the night).

Also, worthy of mention, last Wednesday before Thanksgiving, as Grandmama and Granddaddy were leaving, Annabelle said, "Mommy go bye bye, Ganmama Gandaddy stay." She apparently wanted me to leave, but she wanted her Grandmama and Granddaddy to stay for the evening.

I'm afraid my baby is growing up, and it makes me a little sad (and happy)!