{Anna's First Locks & Shout Out to Daddy!}

Today was a big day for Anna - not only did she get her feet measured for a first time for her first par of "real" shoes at Stride Rite - (Just to make things interesting, her left foot is almost an entire size smaller than her right), but Anna also had her hair (bangs) cut for the first time!  After many (many!) weeks of mommy protesting, Aunt Elizabeth finally convinced me to let her cut her bangs.  I am happy I did, Anna can clearly see so much better and she looks super cute!  Thank Auntie Elizabeth for doing such a great job with a VERY busy Anna!  She looks great!!!

Pre-Cut!

Thanks Auntie Liz - LOVE IT!

Anna and I would also like to give a quick shout out to Bob - we learned late last week that Bob received a promotion at work!!!  YEAH DADDY!!!  He has been working so hard at work and we know he has been putting his all into his job and still comes home as happy as a clam every night and couldn't be more thankful for his dedication to us and his job - good job daddy - we are so proud of you - you deserve it!  Love you!!!!

Love You Daddy!  You're the best!!!

{Anna's First Birthday Bash}

This past Saturday, we celebrated Anna's first birthday in a big way with her first birthday party with friends and family - a big thank you to all who came to help us celebrate and for all the great birthday gifts - Anna has been such a busy little bee this week playing with all of her new toys!  I enjoyed making party decorations and preparing food and Bob cooked burgers and made sloppy joes for all to enjoy - it was a hot day, which provided a perfect opportunity to use the kiddie pool later on after the party had died down.  After our guests had left, we enjoyed playing yard games outside with the Seidel family and neighbors.  Unfortunately, Anna played so hard at her party, she crashed before she could enjoy her birthday cupcake.  After she woke up from her late afternoon nap and had some dinner, Bob and I enjoyed watching her dig in!

It was a great day complete with good company, drinks, good food, a gift opening and lots of little kiddos playing together!  Enjoy some pictures from Anna's big day!!!

Anna's Happy Birthday Banner with many of our favorite pictures from Anna's first year!

Kitchen decorated and ready for the party

Birthday Cupcakes!

Happy Birthday Anna!

I honestly had no idea this pinwheel would provide as much entertainment as it did - Anna LOVES it!

Playing with friend Ava

Birthday girls!  Grandma S with Anna and cousin Izzy - 6 days apart!

Too much birthday party fun!

{12 Month Update}

It's official, Anna Rae is 12 months old!  I think it is safe to say both Bob and I feel like the last year just flashed before eyes in one blink  I cannot believe a year ago we brought home a 7 lb little bundle of joy and now she has grown into such a big little girl already who toddles around and babbles words we sometimes can and sometimes cannot make out:).  So, at 12 months old (two weeks late), Anna...

...Weighs 19 lbs, 14 oz, and is 29 1/2 inches tall...

...Still has 8 teeth and loves to flash that cute smile and show off those chubby cheeks!

...is WALKING EVERYWHERE!  Anna took her first wobbly steps a month or so ago and has taken off ever since.  She certainly now toddles around more than she crawls (we like to call her our drunken little sailor)....and is VERY proud of herself!

...Is a really good sleeper!  Anna takes two 2 hour naps a day and sleeps typically from 8:30 - 7 or 8 the next morning.

...Loves to eat cheese - other favorites include mandarin oranges, cantaloupe, watermelon, blueberries, and cottage cheese.  Anna absolutely loves her fruit, which I am sure has something to do with the fact that it is summer and so easy to give her.  She also like broccoli and noodles and LOVES to drink water from her sippy cup.  I have tried to add a splash of Motts for Tots apple juice, but she doesn't really dig it.  And absolutely does not want to drink milk out of a cup...we might be in trouble folks!

...A few of her favorite tricks are to shake her head "no", wave bye-bye, and give high fives....

...Knows where her toes are and that "shoes" go on "toes"

...Loves to have her hair blow dried after a bath!

...Loves to put toys in things and take things out of bags...

...Desperately needs her bangs cut, but mommy isn't quite ready yet!

...Loves to play with her books, but won't sit still long enough for us to read to her!

...Is absolutely lovable, playful, silly, happy go lucky, and busy!  She has brought so much love and joy to our family in the past 12 months, We absolutely love our little Anna Banana to pieces!  Love and kisses sweetie!

Sweet Anna Rae - 1 month old

Anna 11 months later - I am officially done taking the rocking chair/teddy bear picture - we all out absolutely refuse to sit still long enough! 

{Big Thank You to Uncle Mike & Aunt Michele!}

Tonight we recieved a box at our door from Uncle Mike and Aunt Michele - Along with a savings bond, they sent Anna a book called The Witches that takes place on Lake Winnepesaukee, the lake where Michele and Mike keep their boat and...drumroll please....ELMO STICKERS!!!!  By far Anna's favorite part of the gift!  Thank you Michele, Mike, and Buster!  We are sad you will not be able to celebrate with us this weekend, but appreciate you thinking of Anna!  Love and Hugs!!!

{The Big "1"}

Anna turned one year old this past Friday and Bob and I could not wait to celebrate with her!  We were both fortunate to be off of work for her big day, so we planned to spend the day as a family and then top the day off with dinner at Happy Joe's at night.  Going to Happy Joe's for your birthday has always been a big deal in my family and so I was thrilled to share the tradition with Anna.  We started off the day by waking Anna up with some birthday balloons.  After breakfast, a trip to the grocery store to pick out her birthday cake, and some playing, Anna went down for a nap.  After a marathon 3 hour nap we woke Anna up, had a quick lunch and headed out to the NEW Zoo.  Anna had a blast feeding the goats and alpacas in the petting zoo area and enjoyed playing on the swings and going on the Merry Go Round...which has always proved to be a favorite of Anna's!  After the zoo we drove straight to Happy Joe's where Anna enjoyed riding the Merry Go Round there, her first taste of taco pizza, and her first birthday sundae!  We were thrilled to share the night with grandmas and grandpas, my grandmother, and Becky and her two girls, Abby and Izzy.  After dinner we all headed back to our house where Anna opened some birthday presents and had some cake.  Anna certainly didn't waste any time getting down and dirty with the cake - she went right for it!  Overall, we had a wonderful day with Anna and are looking forward to her first birthday party next weekend!!! 

I will let the pictures share our big day!

Anna with her birthday balloons!

At the zoo with daddy!

Watching the lions bask in the sun!

Love the swing!

Feeding the giraffes

Excited to be at Happy Joes with Grandma Lois!

Birthday sundae!  Loved the cone, hated the ice cream...

Riding on her new rocker from Bob and I - Lulu the Ladybug!

Mmm....cake!

Playing with cousins Isabelle and Abby

{What I Didn't Know a Year Ago}

Hard to believe that a year ago tomorrow Anna came into our lives...It's hard to imagine life without her.  And as I reflect back on the past year, I realize I am really a lot smarter today than I was one year. 

For example, a year ago, I did not know...

...the words to the "Abby's Flying Fairy School" song on Sesame Street...I do now!

...how to open and close our stroller, I can now do it one handed while holding Anna with the other...

...how much little sleep Bob and I really can function on!

...that babies can eat table food without teeth!  Seriously, who knew?

...what the green (or blue depending) line was for on newborn diapers...or that it really is important to fluff the ruffles! 

...just how loyal our dogs are...on the most sleepless nights, they are always up by our side....making sure all is OK.

...just how good of a team Bob and I really do make:)


...amongst a million other things we have learned this past year...just how truly amazing being a parent is.  Anna gives me the courage, energy, and motivation to be the best possible mother, wife, and friend possible.  I whole heartedly believe she brings out the best in Bob and I and we are so blessed to have this little ray of sunshine as a part of our lives. 

Love & Kisses Annas!  xoxoxo

{Best Fourth of July Weekend Ever!}

This past holiday weekend was absolutely fantastic.  We had such beautiful weather all weekend long, which allowed us to finally get outside and enjoy some fun in the sun, as well as get a lot done around the house that was WAY over due!  Our weekend was busy - we started Saturday at the botanical gardens where our good friend Kelly graciously took some pictures of Anna for us.   I haven't seen them all yet, but she has been sending me sneak peeks this week and I already love them!  Big thanks to Kelly for sharing her time and talent with us!

After the botanical gardens, Bob and I took Anna to the wildlife sanctuary and then home for a quick nap.  After Anna woke up, we packed up, grabbed our favorite spot at Voyager Park in De Pere and had a picnic.  Overall, it was a great family fun day!  Sunday Bob and I worked our little tails off (I finally cleaned windows!!!) and did other stuff around the house.  That night we had our good friends Dave and Jo over for a little Mexican fiesta...after some tasty food, we headed outside where we watched 3 rather large firework shows - so fun and thank you neighbors!!!  We completed our weekend Monday with some more time outside with Anna, ran errands, stopped in at my parents and then went up to my dad's office to watch the Fire Over the Fox fireworks downtown.  I was shocked that Anna managed to stay awake to see them, but she did....and fell asleep right before the best part - the finale! 

Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Fourth of July weekend!



All Dressed Up & Ready for Fun!



Hanging with Daddy at Titletown



Snacks!

Beautiful View



Waiting for Fireworks