Our Family

My One Year Old

Annika will be a year old next week. I can hardly believe it!

She has made this an amazing year for me and her daddy - and I know that it is only going to get better!

Being at home with her full time is so rewarding - I get to see first hand all of the new things she learns and says. Her latest favorite thing to do is stick out her tongue, but just a little bit, and just hang out like that! Its adorable! She is cruising like a champ, crawling, pulling up, walking [with assistance] just plain loves to have fun. She discovered the stairs recently and loves to climb them. Playing peek-a-boo is also a favorite past time of hers. And lets not forget her best friend Abby! She loves giving Abby 'love taps' and our wonderful dog loves receiving them. She is so good with our baby - what a blessing!

Annika is also quite the social butterfly. Loves to wave goodbye at just about anyone, but has to be in the mood for it! Anytime we go out she makes friends instantly. Of course, she loves to talk - even if that means making sounds at the top of her lungs at no one in particular. Sometimes I'll watch her playing and she'll talk to herself as she is discovering a new way to play with an old toy. Those are the best moments - she's in her own little world and I have the privilege of being here to observe.

Annika also is very stubborn and wants things HER way. She lets us know the INSTANT something isn't to her liking. For example, as she climbs our fireplace hearth and I precede to pull her down she'll throw a fit. But I can easily distract her with another toy. I guess you could say that Annika wears her emotions on her sleeve - she cries when she's unhappy, and squeals in delight when she's excited about something.

She is still a good eater and loves to eat with her hands. She's discovering that she can feed herself with a spoon and sometimes even gets the spoon in her mouth. That makes her smile. Learning anything new makes her smile.

We'll be spending her 'birthday' at her great grandma and great grandpa's house in Flat Rock, NC this year. I'm hoping to make some cupcakes for the occasion. This will also be her 1st real christmas and hannukah.

Looking forward to our next year with Annika - it's sure to be another great one!

Happy Holidays!

Family Fun in the Fall

more pictures here...

Something about a b/w picture of your child...

The latest scoop on Annika

I was talking to my MIL this evening and she reminded me that I need to 'write down' all of the things that Annika does as one day I'll forget. So instead of doing it the ol' fashioned way with pen and paper, I'm going to do it electronically. Hopefully this blog will still be around when I want to remember what Annika was doing when...

So here are her latest and greatest hits:

*Miss Chatty - loves to talk and make sounds; is constantly talking to me and Abby and anyone who will listen; occasionally will screech in excitement [especially when eating]. The only discernable words I can tell are MMMAAA, DA DA DA DA, AH, BAA

*has taken to preferring standing over sitting and crawling. Since she cannot yet stand on her own, that means either myself or Abby become targets for pull up assistance. Abby will only tolerate it so much..so that leaves me. I cannot wear v-neck shirts unless I want them to turn into scoop neck!

*4 Teeth are coming in up top. She already has 2 teeth on the bottom and recently I discovered while peering into her mouth that not only does she have her top 2 teeth coming in, she has their dance partners coming in too! Its pretty exciting...teeth really change how a person looks and what they can eat! Of course, I think this also explains the late night wake ups we've been battling the last month or so since her bottom teeth came in.

*Annika LOVES to eat! She hasn't met a food she hasn't like yet. Strike that - she didn't like mashed potatoes at my mom's house last week. But I'm sure that she will overcome her dislike soon as WHO DOESN'T LOVE MASHED POTATOES!!!?? We'll revisit mashed potates at Thanksgiving - which is in oh, about 3 weeks! Also, Annika loves to eat with her HANDS. In fact, I'd go ahead and say that she PREFERS to eat with her hands. Won't hold her own sippy cup though...probably b/c she knows that I'll hold it for her!

*She's a BIG flirt and just a plain ol' people person.

Bottom line - Annika is LOADS of fun and even the tough days are pretty awesome. I am one lucky mama.

My 1st Halloween

Go Dukes!!

Annika ponders the probability of JMU eeking out a win last Saturday against Richmond...its a good thing she had her JMU onsie on 'cause they WON!

We're #1! We're #1!

p.s. onsie courtesy of Kathleen Doshi - a fellow alum

I love it!

I've been on 2 playdates this week and going to another today at the Children's Museum of Richmond, and so far everything is only 15 min away or Less! I love it!

1st Haircut

Bangs anyone?

I just couldn't take it anymore - her hair was always in her face. I can't always keep it up in a clip or put it in a ponytail on top of her head...although that is pretty cute too...

oh, and the local kids haircut place charges $17 for a haircut...can we say NO WAY!?!

Annika at the State Fair

She didn't like the Goats too much...


But we found ways to make her smile


She thought the baby chic was groovy


All in All a fun day!

CLICK ON THE TITLE FOR ALL THE PICTURES FROM THE FAIR

Maybe we should hire a lawn service?

Smokey the Bear

This is why we used to have an electric lawn mower....

What a YEAR!

So...It's been a while...I know...A lot can happen in a year! Especially for us. Add Baby, new job, a new city, and viola - you have one busy family! For those that don't know Oke took a new job in Richmond. We moved in August and arrived here in a our new home on the 25th. Here's a peak...


Oh, and I QUIT my job and am now a SAHM - stay at home mom for those that aren't in the club. Which brings me to what occupies my days [and nights sometimes]

ANNIKA

SHE'S 9 MONTHS OLD TODAY - YIKES.

One Month Old

Here are some photos from Annika's 1st month...

http://picasaweb.google.com/lizasya/AnnikaS1stMonth

Enjoy!

She's Here!

I am pleased to announce the birth of our baby girl, Annika Evelyn!

Annika was born on 12/23/07 at 4:13pm. She weighed in at 7 lbs and 1 oz and 20.5 inches long.

Labor and Delivery was a piece of cake - especially after the epidural!! I was able to get a good night of sleep before my contractions started the morning of the 23rd. Oke was a fantastic coach - he kept things lighthearted and easy. He continues to be a wonderful husband and father each and every day!

As each day passes, we continue to grow more and more as a family. Annika has already gained a pound and continues to flourish. Her big sister, Abby, is a wonderful companion and stays by my and her side during the day while Oke is at work. I couldn't have asked for a better gaurd dog!

The weather this week has been glorious - in the 60's and 70's. Oke, Annika, Abby, and I took advantage of this break from the cold and took our 1st neighborhood walk in our new jogging stroller. Yes, I felt silly 'walking' using the jogger, but maybe one day I will jog!

Thank you to everyone who has sent their well wishes and good thoughts our way - we have a beautiful and healthy baby girl and can't wait for everyone to meet her!