Elmo LIVE!!!

As part of Anna Claire's Christmas present, I bought her tickets to see Elmo LIVE at the NOKIA theatre in Grand Prairie. Although she already loved Elmo and all of the Sesame Street gang, I have been reading her many books with the characters and recording Sesame Street episodes to get her really excited. I told her all along that we were going to see Elmo LIVE and she says, "Yes! Eh-mo WIVE!".

I am not brave enough to take her on my own just yet, or torture my family with more kids music, so I asked my dearest friend in the world, whom Anna Claire adores, to go with us! Becca agreed of course she would go! :) I am so glad she did! With a foyer full of gift stands, concessions, screaming children, $10 balloons, and a running, crazy excited Anna Claire, I needed help! Anna Claire was bouncing off the walls, not really knowing what "Eh-mo WIVE!" meant, until...the characters were on the stage and the singing and dancing began! She was loving every moment of it! Except to eat popcorn, crawl on Becca, dancing, clapping, and trying to take the ladies drink behind us, she sat the whole time! She also said "Grover WIVE, Big Bert and Ernie WIVE, Mommy WIVE, Becca WIVE, Anna Cwaire WIVE" as well! She had a BLAST and we owe a big thanks to Becca.

Our cousin Saylor's 3rd birthday party was right before Elmo LIVE, so we got to celebrate with her first. What a day! Happy Birthday Saylor!

My Child Loves the Outdoors!

Anyone who knows me well knows that I can't stand to be hot and well, while I love God's beauty in nature, I am not for being out in the midst of it much. :) However, I am changing my mind though through Anna Claire's love for it. She loves the park, the sky, the trees, "skicks", well you get my drift! There have been several gorgeous days lately and I have taken her to the park several of them. My mom also tries to take her outside as often as possible. She loves this one particular tree in our front yard and likes to be a "bird" and sit in her tree and say "ta-weet, ta-weet". She decided that while she was outside playing "Dah-wee" should "sweep" in the "weaves". My favorite outside moment in the last few days however is when I saw my bossy self in her face. We went to the "big park" a great public park close to our house and a boy named Brandon was not obeying his mother. His mother yelled "Brandon!" and then Anna Claire yelled even louder "Brandon!" then she yelled at the mother "No yeh-wing!" I was embarrassed, but of course had to laugh a little inside. All of this to say, I am sure we will enjoy many more days outside in God's beauty and I hope you are able to enjoy it too!

Sweetest Valentine

I know...it has been almost 2 weeks since my last Blog...too long! But instead of making excuses, here are a few blogs that have been in my head for a while. Valentines Day has always been fun for me..."prizes" from my parents, flowers, chocolates, cards from past relationships, but none compared to my sweetest Valentine these last two years...Anna Claire. She has started within the last week answering "I wub you, Mommy." instead of just "Wub you" when you tell her that you love her. It melts me every time. We hope you all had a great Valentines Day!

"Ste-wah" My Best Friend

Stella is my parents' dog and has ALWAYS amused Anna Claire. She has laughed and smiled at her scruffy face from day one! She loves her now more than ever and even calls her "best-fwiend" (so cute!), but I am unsure if it is really love or the fact that Anna Claire can get away with murder where she's concerned?! She "pats" her very hard and pulls her fur and legs and Stella just sits there with an occasional lick, but NEVER barks or growls or bites. She is so even tempered with Anna Claire, which is funny because if you have ever met Stella, you know that she is truly a crazy dog! HA! Anna Claire loves bossing Stella and tonight was one of my favorite lines I have heard come out of her mouth thus far..."Ste-wah! Stop wickin' your weg!" (stop licking your leg) :) I swear I saw Stella roll her eyes! HA!

"Goo-Goo, Gaa-Gaa's"

Anna Claire loves her "baf" time! She loves to splash, swim and honestly dive, in that small space! We can't stop her because she became fearless this past Summer in the pool. :) She loves to wash Dora's hair and put her in time out and discuss the events of the day with her, but above all else she loves the "Goo-Goo, Gaa-Gaa's"! What is that? Well they are Dora's baby twin brother and sister. We have a story that talks about the babies and they say "Goo-Goo, Gaa-Gaa" and Anna Claire finds them hilarious...so they became known as the "baby bruh-ders" or "goo-goo, gaa-gaas". Tonight they were in time out for biting...wonder what tomorrow will be!?!?

The True Meaning of "Blessed"

You know you've heard them "Well BLESS her heart", "That was such a BLESSING", etc. All the sayings that incorporate a form of a word we often take for granted...BLESSED. I have been one of those people to take many blessings for granted, until I have a few moments to look back and reflect and notice the many that God has given me. The largest blessings I receive are the obvious things to most people: my health, my child, my job, etc. Those are all indeed blessings, but if you look a little deeper into my everyday life you will see two people that are my true meaning of being and feeling "Blessed". These two sacrifice, by choice, daily, to help Anna Claire and I. They are my amazing parents, or "Nana and Pop" if you are asking Anna Claire. Did you know that my Dad switched his work schedule to go in late on Tuesdays and Thursdays so that he can take Anna Claire to Children's Day Out? Did you also know that the "princess" doesn't have to wake up until she pleases on the other days and Nana gets her ready and takes her to the babysitter and Mommy goes to work with a peace of mind that she is given the best care possible? They will watch her, play with her, change her, feed her, anytime they can - just to help me out. These are just a few examples of how they give of themselves at every turn, just trying to make Anna Claire and I feel loved and supported - And we do, every day! Now obviously there will be a time in the future that Anna Claire and I will venture out and live on our own again, but until then I will not let a day go by that I take the support we have for granted. I want them to know just how "Blessed" we truly feel!

"You kiddin me?"

My conversation with Anna Claire while she was in the bath tub last night... "Anna Claire sit on your bottom so Mommy can wash your hair please." "No Mommy!" "Anna Claire, I am not asking, sit down." "No Mommy. You kiddin'me? Asking!" I tried so hard not to laugh! Where did she learn that "you kiddin' me" line?! Kids truly do say the craziest things!