5-12-12

Man, oh, man - how time is flying!!  Anna Claire is growing by leaps and bounds and learning SO much every day it seems!  I feel like I'm losing my "baby" and getting a toddler!  She's the busiest little person I've ever known - into everything and ready to learn about everything she comes into contact with!

This past weekend Mom came over to visit ("Nana") and we had a great time together.  I don't think that there is anyone in the WORLD more precious to her than our little Anna Claire!  They are two peas in a pod when they are together.  Andy was swimming with Anna Claire (her favorite pastime right now) and when Nana came in, she immediately wanted out and RAN straight up to her!!  Of course, Nana didn't hesitate to pick her up - sopping wet naked body and all!!

This weekend Andy's grandparents came to visit.  We've cooked like crazy and it's been fun lounging around with them.  Papa is 74, but just recently he has started to really play the "old card" and act like he can't do anything except sleep and watch TV.  We think he's being a bit obstinate.  :)

Anna Claire really has taken to MaMa Betty though.  I know that they both probably are exhausted by her exuberance, but they do well with her.  Especially MaMa.  She's sweet to Anna Claire and I don't think she wanted to leave her today.  :(

So many funny little things that she is doing -

She will accidentally trip or fall down (not hurting herself), then fake cry to MaMa to get sympathy (her Daddy and I know when she's playacting and when she's really hurt! haha!) ....then she will go back to the same spot and reenact the event over again!

Counting off before something exciting happens....before she jumps off something, expects to get tickled, etc.  Her counting sounds like this usually, "Two, oh, fee!"....but this weekend it's been more like "Two, ohhhhhhhh.......TWO!"  Adorable!

She loved MaMa and Papa's air mattress and wouldn't stay off it!  Jumping on it every time she could get away with it!

She's beginning the early signs of potty training, which I'm a bit scared of, frankly.  She will immediately pat her diaper when she has gone and wants it changed.  With Andy, she will even lay herself down on the ground and throw her legs in the air!!  Not telling us beforehand yet though....not sure how all this will work!

Phillip Hunter calls her "Miss Bethel" because she is so sociable with everyone and LOVES the attention she gets every time we are there....especially on Wednesday nights at the family meal!  She eats and then she's ready to get down and run around and say hello to everyone.  Some of her very favorite people are Phillip and Janet Hunter, Cathy Massey, McKenzie Woodham, Kevin Brannon, and Sue McNeal - although she isn't picky - she'll smile at anyone who will talk to her!  She's DEFINITELY the "church baby!"

She's starting to fight sleep.  She'll be exhausted, but when I pick her up to carry her to bed she will just WAIL until I lay her down.  Then she's done.  Immediately.  Still sleeping all night, going to bed between nine and ten and sleeping until around 7:30-8:30.  Great sleeper.  One 3 hour-ish nap around 1:30 or so.

She's saying more words and DEFINITELY communicating more, even without "real" words.  She's saying "side" for outside or patting on the door, she calls Brobee (from Yo Gabba Gabba) "BroBo", she says "ah" for again (for when her Netflix show goes off....I try to encourage her to say "again" but she probably figures that "ah" works perfectly well, why bother!)  When she wants something, and you repeat it to clarify with her she will "dance" (go from one foot to another really fast) or do a high pitched giggle to let you know that, yes, that's what she wants.  VERY communicative, even if she isn't speaking a great deal yet.

She has noticed the moon, although she isn't saying moon yet.

She points to show you everything!

She expects to shower with Andy every time he takes one and if she's not allowed to, then it BREAKS. HER. HEART.

Yo Gabba Gabba and Sesame Street are still her favorite shows.

She's getting hurt a lot more often now that she is so active.  Hate to see it, but I know it's a fact of life when she's this busy! Cut her foot yesterday and it bled like crazy.  :(  Two weeks ago, I took her a small brunch at church and she fell and busted her lip, then another child bit her and busted her BOTTOM lip, then she got into Ants that night at the ballfield, and then another slightly younger child threw a softball at her and hit her in the mouth where both lips were busted....all in ONE DAY!!!

She's absolutely beautiful though.  Sweet soft face - and I so love to rub along her hair and jawline when she's relaxing next to me watching Yo Gabba Gabba or Sesame Street.  Her hair is fine and straight like her Daddy's - not a touch of my unruly waves.  I think that her forehand/eyes/brows/bridge of her nose look like her Daddy, but I think she has the bottom half of my face.  Unsure about the nose. She's short legged, but so are both of her parents!  She's very long-waisted, and that has to be from Andy.  Her hands look like mine, and the shape of her feet is definitely Thacker, although I'm not positive about her toes.....they look a bit different than mine...

She could not bring us more joy.  We love her more than words can describe.  I absolutely dread the days that she thinks I'm infringing on her, or that I'm not cool enough for her, or that I don't love her if I don't let her have her way.  I pray constantly that God himself will work in her heart, even beginning now, to give her a great love for Him and that we will have wisdom in parenting.  It's an overwhelming task - to be responsible for her little life.  All I want - more than success in school, or talents or career, or even a husband and family is that she love Jesus wholeheartedly and sell out to His will for her life.  Everything else will fall into place.  But how do you cultivate that love?  Nurture that self-discipline to seek Him first?  I know in my heart that it must be modeled, but I just hope that it's enough.  You see good parents with wayward children, and I cannot imagine the heartbreak those parents must daily experience.  God protect us - protect our sweet daughter!  Truly, our precious gift from the Lord!  (James 1:7)

Oh and she can say "bravo!" and clap!! Hasn't figured out exactly when it is appropriate....sometimes she breaks out after a person sneezes!! Haha!!!