2-Year Rundown

Well, 12+ days after our appointment, here's Anna's 2-year stats....

Weight: 30 pounds even.  (She did have her clothes on so she may be a tad under)
Height: 34 inches

In both 50-75% for both categories, looking good!

The entire visit was a disaster, however.  I have been threatening to "quit" our doctor for more than 6 months now and I'm not sure why I haven't. For the 2nd time in a row, we made the first appointment of the day at 9am and for the 2nd time in a row, the doctor doesn't even ARRIVE in the building till 9:45.  She comes in shortly after, doesn't apologize for keeping a scared 2-year-old waiting forever and basically fumbles through the appointment while Anna SCREAMED bloody murder the entire time.  No shots, no nothing- just screaming, wiggling, writhing, misery.

So after this appearance, where she barely said 3 words to me, didn't try to comfort Anna at all, acted like she was afraid of the kid.... I have made the final decision.. We are DONE there.  I got another recommendation for a pediatrician and plan to go make an appointment to meet the doctor. Also, the awful doctor was so far from the new house, there were literally zero redeeming qualities.  I need Anna to have a caring doctor BEFORE any bad winter colds or sicknesses may hit.  I'm so mad I was so lame and never made good on all my idle threats.  I know she is fine, but I feel like a doctor should be a place where you get some guidance and help and feel like your doctor actually likes children and isn't afraid of them.  UGH. Okay, enough complaining.  (Now that it's out there for all to see, I can't turn back and be lazy anymore)

Now, onto the fun stuff...

We took off on Anna's actual birthday to give her a special day and hopefully we'll be able to continue the tradition as she gets older. Her day is very special to us and we wanted to do some things we thought she'd like! We started the morning with a balloon extravaganza outside her door when she woke up, which was a huge hit. We came downstairs to her one big present from us, a tricycle (with cool handle for us to push/steer her with).  She loved it and we went for many rides around the house before we got ready to go out to breakfast.  We took her to the Turning Point restaurant, which is a nice step-up from a diner.  She had fun coloring and looking around at a baby eating next to us.... so much so that she barely touched her fun and delicious pancake platter.  Figures!

The balloons when she woke up

test riding her new wheels

The super cute George birthday shirt we got her

Had her name and age on the front and everything!

Having 1 fancy pancake ;)

We came home to play a bit more and then she had a nap.  When she woke up we headed down to Point Pleasant to the aquarium and she had a blast! She was definitely unsure when we began and didn't know what to make of these big fish and sharks in the tanks and didn't want Doug to let her go, but she warmed up and ran around exploring.  We saw seals and sharks, turtles, all kinds of fish, penguins (and watched them have an early dinner), snakes, octopus, birds and more.  But, just as any 2-yr-old will do, only a short amount of time kept her attention and then she was ready to run off and be done with the aquarium.  We took our cue and headed out and next door to the sweet shop. We picked some treats and walked on the windy and deserted boardwalk for a bit.  Anna really loved her chocolate covered graham cracker and such an unexpected mid-day treat :)

We headed home and Gram and Pop came over with PIZZA for a mini birthday celebration.  Per usual, thinking Anna would love the pizza, she barely ate and just wanted to run around and play.  I'll never figure her out.

She had such a fun day and ended playing with all her balloons, screaming and squealing and running back and forth through the living room. It was hilarious and a perfect ending to a really great day spent together.

BALLOONS ARE AMAZING OMG LOOK AT THESE!!!

That Sunday we had her "birthday party", which was really just for immediate family - Gram and Pop, Grandma and Baba, Uncle Brian and Aunt Kelly.  Auntie Christina was in Seattle and couldn't make it and we missed her greatly!  This year I really wanted to keep it small, as she is only 2 and until she is demanding a theme party with all her little friends, I thought this was the right way to go.  She had a great time. I had to wake her up as she slept soundly over a half hour into her party, and even though I hate doing that - it was snowing "to beat the band" (right Doug), and I knew Brian and Kelly had a long trip home in that weather so I didn't want her to miss her whole party!

balloon party

Aunt Kelly and Uncle Brian with the birthday girl

going to town on some cake!

present time is the best time

wasting no time getting into her new easel

We had snacks, drinks and played with new toys and balloons.  Anna even got dressed and went outside to play in the snow and had a great time on the sled with Daddy.

Overall, I'd say 2nd birthday extravaganza week went off without a hitch!!
Bring it on year 3!

Year Two

To Anna on your second birthday,

I would be remiss if I didn't try to capture all the wonderful, exciting, scary, fun and sometimes trying moments of your second year of life. It has been a wild ride, for sure, and one that I am so happy to be on with you! Over the last year you have really grown up (obviously) and have become more and more fun every day.  I really started to feel like "hey I've got this" (the mantra really is 'fake it till you make it' for a reason) and I think you started figuring out that you could talk to us and get what you want without throwing enormous fits.  All in all, we've all been learning like crazy this year!

One small, tiny year ago...

I'm such a good mom to take you to grocery store on your first birthday, no?

In your second year of life:

You really started eating and loving "solid foods". You consistently have loved avocado, blueberries, cheese, and cookies (duh).  You ate things like cold pizza with spinach, chicken cutlet sandwich, tortellini with butter, hummus and pita chips, pickles (seriously kid...), frozen peas, scrambled eggs with spinach and cheese, fruits of all kinds.  You still will not touch mac and cheese or pasta with red sauce. You love bread. You love sharing your food. You love sweets of all kinds and this year you tried ice cream for the first time, love at first sight (bite). You have really gotten good at using a fork and spoon with minimal mess.  You sit in your highchair but also really love sitting at the table with mommy and daddy.

You can walk, run, jump, climb, squat, gallop and fall (and get back up) like a pro. 

It took you a while to walk in hard soled shoes, you literally would stand still in the shoe and throw an enormous fit. Miss Sandy put your shoes on and let you freak out and just like that, you got over it and never looked back.

You took a trip with us to the Poconos to ring in the new year with some friends.  You were getting teeth and didn't sleep. It wasn't the most fun trip I've ever had. 

You spent your first full weekend away from Mommy while I went to visit Aunt Lisa in Virginia. You did great and I'm sure you missed me but you were on best behavior while I was gone.

You started talking in earnest, pointing out things in your every day life like "cheese" and "Brooks" (your boyfriend/enemy at daycare), and became proficient in animal sounds.

You became utterly obsessed with Toy Story.  We watched 1, 2, and 3 on repeat for months. 

You got your first stomach virus and threw up for a few hours one night (it always happens at night, doesn't it?!)  It was terrifying and disgusting and we were both covered in puke but we survived. Also not fun.

You started taking a consistent 2+ hour nap every day which was a God-send. 

You absolutely HATED bath time and rinsing your hair.  A scream-fest every single night.

It took you a LONG time to say Mommy.................(15 months!)

Spent two different weekends with both sets of grandparents while Mommy & Daddy went to Boston to visit friends and to a wedding in LBI.  You were a perfect angel and they loved having you!

You had all your "one year molars" by 16 months.   Those were also fun.

You took your first plane ride! We all went to Florida with Daddy for a work conference. You were pretty good on the plane (both ways) even though Mommy & Daddy were super nervous.  You went to the beach for the first time and were very wary.  Mommy got a bad sunburn and that ended up being okay cause you didn't want anything to do with the pool anyway.  Vacations with babies aren't really vacations. Don't let anyone fool you into thinking that.

Then, you suddenly started loving baths.  You never, ever cease to surprise me.

And then, we decided to turn all our worlds around and put our house on the market!  We had to put away most of your toys and clean up meticulously every day. We had to clear out when people wanted to come see the house. Thankfully, we got lucky and had an offer set in stone after about 10 days on the market, which meant no more constant interruptions and clean up.  The frantic search began to find a new house for us, and again, we thankfully found one!  The home buying and selling process is a real bummer and one that I have sworn I will never, ever do again.  We basically spent the summer packing, cleaning out and preparing to move.... all while Daddy had a HUGE presentation and conference to attend in Las Vegas.  It was certainly not the best timing, but you were such a good girl and we all survived.  It was definitely hard to say goodbye to the house we brought you home to, but we all look forward to all the multitude of new memories in the new house. After just a couple days in the new house, you settled in and got used to your new room and went back to sleeping "normally" (normal for Anna.)

Speaking of sleeping, you definitely had your ups & downs throughout the year. I swear we've "sleep trained" you more than 15 times. It is never fun to finally determine (after a night or 2 of middle of the night playtime) that we need to just let you figure it out (read: scream it out), but it always works.  Night One: screaming bloody murder for over an hour. Wake up happy.  Night Two: screaming, less intensely, about 40 mins. Wake up happy. Night Three:  whimper, wake up happy.  Why are we always so dumb?  (Don't answer that.)

You went on your first bike riding adventure with Mommy and Daddy.  We got you a cool bike seat and helmet (which you didn't even mind!) and off we went.  We rode to a nearby park and you had a blast. It was the first thing I was really excited for you to do that you actually loved just as much. A success!

You have a special need for routine, which I guess is both a blessing and a curse.  You don't like to be off your schedule or routine and so we try to stick to it.  Naptime at home requires reading of books in your quiet room. You like at least 2 pacifiers at bedtime, one in mouth and one to hold. We thankfully have broken you of any pacifiers during the day and do not look forward to the day of breaking the nighttime habit. Bedtime is bath, lotion, pjs, books (the same ones for weeks!), a hug and kiss and out for the night.  Some nights you want to cry when I leave, and will let out a whimper but I have to just leave.  Believe me, I always want to turn around and give you one last hug - but I know in the coming year you'll learn to use every stalling tactic in the book. 

You are obsessed with buckles. You've been trying to figure them out for months and anything that has a buckle MUST BE YOURS. 

One day you kind of just "got over" Toy Story and in a fit of panic one night I turned to Netflix to see if there was anything you might like.  There was a Curious George movie and I gave it a shot and you were enthralled. That was all it took. We found the series of George shows on Netflix and you are hooked.  At night we like to watch 1 episode to wind-down before bed.  You will hand me the remote and say "watch George?" and say "night night George" at the end. Daddy was just as George obsessed as you are, so it's cute to watch you both in a zone when it comes on. 

You went to your first zoo with Auntie Christina in Brooklyn to the Prospect Park Zoo. You were absolutely over the moon about it and would have run for days and days looking at everything, but unfortunately your "schedule" got in the way and we ended up with a huge meltdown.  Regardless it was so fun seeing you go crazy over all the animals. It really is one of the things that makes you most happy! Dogs, especially, are THE BEST. (I'd say: Mommy/Daddy, food, animals)

You had croup this year (terrible barking cough and unable to breathe). Had to have steroids to feel better and luckily bounced back very quickly in order to enjoy Halloween. You didn't really "get it" this year, but dutifully walked door to door grabbing candy from whoever would give you any.  (Also a fun memory: having a few M&Ms too close to bed lead to a 10pm pass-out time for you. FUN for the whole family! Oh and you walked into a neighbors house and let her dogs out while you went to look around. Weirdo!)

Then, just after you had recovered from croup, you had another injury!  You somehow twisted your elbow one night playing with Daddy and it turns out you had something called "nursemaids elbow" (which is basically a dislocated elbow). I had to take you to have it "put back in" and although it sounds terrible, you cried for 1 minute and then were totally over it.  Scary couple days when we thought you broke your arm!

You love giving hugs and kisses, you rub our faces and tell us "S'OKAY!" and then push our face down, say "sleep" and put a blanket over us.  You like to give us sweet kisses to wake us up or lay down next to us and pretend snore as well.

And just recently, really in the last week, you have began talking up a storm. You repeat almost everything you hear and are less shy about trying new words (although you still like to whisper words sometimes when you first say them).   It's amazing to see you just "get it" and put little phrases together. You understand now when we tell you the oven is hot or the wood stove is hot, and proudly announce it over and over again. This past weekend Daddy was working in the basement and you yelled down the stairs "DADDY WHERE ARE YOU?!"  It sounds so silly to be so proud of these things, but you really are growing up right before my eyes! It's amazing and wonderful.

xooxoxoxoxox

I feel like I could go on and on and on about you, and I guess I technically have.  The past year you have grown SO much I didn't want to leave anything out on this virtual baby book. You are sweet and determined, fiesty and funny, frustrated and adventurous, smart and fearless. We are constantly amazed by you and what you learn, do and say and I can only imagine that year #3 is going to blow us away!

Happy 2nd birthday to my favorite, favorite munchkin on earth!

As you can now say, "I'M TWO!!!!!!!!"

I feel like this picture accurately sums you up. Happy, cute and always on the go..

Ahh... well I couldn't let this year go by without trying one more time.  Victorious!

mac and cheese, no protest, lots of bites. I WIN! (for now.)

A wild 22/23 month update!

For the past week I have been crafting a blog post in my head and then by the end of the night when I have time to do it, I just want to veg out and do nothing. I have good intentions but not always good follow-through!

Since I've written last, we celebrated Anna's 2nd Halloween (and this year it was actually ON Halloween and we got to go trick-or-treating!)

But first, let's back it up.
The weekend before Halloween we were out and about doing errands, everything was normal.  Sunday night Anna woke up around 9:30 coughing and gasping for air. It was the worst sound I had ever heard, so SAD. We immediately rushed in and tried to comfort her, went into the bathroom with the shower on for steam but it didn't seem to be doing anything.  After some googling, it sounded like Anna had croup - and one of the suggestions was to take her outside into the cool night air.  We all bundled up and out we went to sit for about 20 mins.  That helped a bit and I tried to settle into the guest room with her to possibly fall asleep.  Even though she felt like crap, she still loved laying in bed with me and immediately thought it was playtime. YAY. Took her forever to calm down and we finally moved into our bed since she's more used to that and sure enough, she fell asleep. A rough night for sure.  I knew something was wrong as she wheezed and had so much trouble breathing all night.  I called the doctor and we got in first thing Monday. Diagnosis confirmed and a 5-day dose of steroids were given. They seemed to help her immediately and within a day I saw a drastic improvement.  She was even able to sleep through the night Monday and was in much better spirits Tuesday - I decided to stay home and give her a bit more TLC.  All in all, we survived and thankfully Halloween was not a bust.  By Thursday she was as good as new!

first time in the car on the cart at the grocery store.  A big hit

my sick pumpkin snuggling me

Momma TLC

Costume for daycare (reused from Sonja's princess party!)

CHEEESE!  The official cow costume

Posing with Daddy

pinching my cheeks. (painful but cute)

Family pic

Out looking for candy!

We got a new treat from Gram which is a huge hit.
Daddy hates cleaning up letters constantly

THEN, Doug and Anna are playing one night after dinner and I'm doing dishes and suddenly Anna runs in and is hysterically crying, holding her arm saying "my boo boo, my boo boo" and won't move it. Neither of us know what to do and Doug didn't even know she had hurt it until she just ran away crying.  She wouldn't let us touch it and was being really weird. We gave her Advil and she went to bed okay, but as soon as it wore off she was up screaming. YAY. That was a LONG night.  I knew something was up and made a doctor's appointment with a pediatric orthopedist and sure enough, she had "nursemaid's elbow".  That is basically a dislocated elbow! FUN!  So he did a bit of examining and then I had to hold her while he popped her elbow back in place. It made a big pop sound, she wailed for about 30 seconds and then was fine.  It was awful, but I was so glad it wasn't broken!  My mom thankfully had off that day, so Anna went back to her house so I could go back to work and take care of things before leaving for vacation.  Took a good nap and was acting just like herself in no time.

It's always something, huh??

Wearing our bunnies proudly

Wearing her ACE Hat, representin for Baba while Mommy paints!

She's been wanting to sit at the table with us while we eat our dinner (lately we've been lucky to have Doug working from home so we have the option to eat dinner before we put Anna down to bed... a LUXURY!)  She sits and has a snack while we eat. I figured it might be time to try out a booster seat and sure enough, it's a hit.  She'll still sit in her highchair but she really likes the new seat, and of course all of its buckles.

This past week Doug and I took off for our "stay-cation", where we planned to work on the house and do some fun things while we sent Anna to daycare.  It's impossible to get work done in a 2-hour span, during which you have to be quiet as to not interrupt the only 2-hour span you have during the entire day.  So we figured it was for the best!  To start our stay-cation off right, we went to an early dinner at a nearby restaurant on Sunday and Anna ate grilled cheese like a big girl.  She also drew on the "tablecloth" (brown paper meant for drawing, etc) and at the very end ran around exploring a bit.  It's a very family-friendly casual place and since we ate early it was fairly empty and no big deal.

Hmmm, I like this thing.

We had a chilly morning with SNOW! I couldn't believe it.  Daddy wanted to try for pigtails with this sweet outfit and we had success!

TOO CUTE

After doing a few things on Monday and Tuesday, I got to work in Anna's room on Wednesday. I knew it was going to be a huge undertaking and I was right.  My hands are not what they used to be (not sure when they were good, but I'm sure at some point they were)... And a full day of painting really did me in.

Just getting started.

Playtime at night was nice, we were all so relaxed and it was so good to just hang out, make dinner and not worry about work or chores around the house.  We should do this more often!!!

hangin with Daddy!

Thursday I had to give the room a full second coat, the yellow we picked just couldn't get it done in one coat.  Doug had to do the second coat with the roller - I had to wave the white flag!

We absolutely love her room and can't wait to get more decorating done in there.  We've hung a few things and have more to put up, but it's a great start.  I hope she really likes it too (so far there has been no reaction haha)

We did get out to a few restaurants and had a really nice meal for Jersey Shore restaurant week at Fromagerie. We both loved it and it was so nice to try a fancy/expensive place without the huge cost (they were offering lunch specials for 15.13 and dinner options for 30.13)  A great deal!
 

Anna's new thing - plugging her ears when Daddy was talking! haha

A few more shots of our last weekend all together:

Out for a walk, looking fabulous

Had to get out halfway through and walk and collect leaves.
Ended up being very fun and thankfully didn't result in a fight or tantrum!

We had our Sea Bright friends over for brunch on Sunday and when Anna woke up from her nap, there were 8 relative strangers making noise in her house.  Took her a while to get adjusted.

This was how she woke up.

Then later the guys went out to throw a football around (How American of them) and Anna got right in the middle, squealing with delight when they would throw the ball.  They even humored her a bit and let her catch and throw it a few times.

Then, she suckered Jess and Billy into a game of Ring Around the Rosie - all while watching THEM fall down, and standing and laughing

Trying on Todd's shoes

A little snuggling with Daddy before bed

So that's about that. We are trying to get back into "normal" today. Feels weird for Doug to be gone and I know that I am missing him (and not the only one!)  Anna did say about 10x "Daddy sleeping?" this morning, wondering where he was (Sorry Doug, made me sad too!)  Need to eat better, etc etc etc. That's always how you should feel after a vacation, right? I guess we did it right!

Can't wait for Thanksgiving... I wonder how our little turkey will handle it this year!