My Valentine gave me this video

Missing my baby

Cody's mom offered to let Annabelle come stay with her for the week. I reluctantly agreed because I needed to go to the DMV and the doctor this week. We met Cindy at a park yesterday morning, but not before I snapped a bunch of pictures. I was taking pictures right up to the last moments before they went their way and I went my mine...with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. I called Cody as I was driving away and told him I had to stay busy this week. I just talked to Annabelle on the phone a little while ago and she doing well. She said "Mama" and "Daddy" and smiled at the phone.


at home before we left


She was getting sleepy in the swing. I loved her little hands holding onto the seat and her feet hanging down.


Grandma was happy to see her. I had already tried to fix her hair twice, but between swinging, park playing and the wind, you can't tell.

Little Cupid

The other day, Kyle asked me when we could *make* a bow and arrow. I thought for a minute and realized that I know nothing about how to make a bow and arrow, and furthermore deemed it an unsafe endeavor all around. So my answer was, "probably never." Then I was looking on pinterest and got the idea to make a non-functioning cupid bow and arrow. He was so excited and helped me find the perfect sticks and tie them together. I love this little cupid. Happy Valentine's Day!

the boys

We took the kids to the Arboretum at the end of December. We found some humongous leaves and I let the boys bury me in them. Then we buried Barrett in them. It was a good day and the weather was actually really nice! We have been having a very mild winter.

the apple doesn't fall far from the tree

Annabelle loves shoes...you can't fault a girl for that! I walked into the room and found this scene. The best part was that when she was finished playing with the shoes, I asked her to put them back in the basket...and SHE DID. . . then she pulled them all back out again. But when she was really finished she put them away again!

Getting ready

Getting ready to go somewhere with a little girl is quite different than trying to get ready with 2 little boys. Remember the Infamous Jiffy Cornbread Mix Incident of 2010? That unforgettable day has made me scared to leave anyone out of sight while taking shower. The boys are a little older, but I still rarely attempt a shower while they are in the house and conscious unless Cody is home. These days I take my shower while the boys are at school. Annabelle hangs out in the bathroom, brushes her teeth, tries on my shoes, gets into the little box of old jewelry I have for her in the cabinet. She stands on a chair next to me and digs in my makeup bag as I put on my makeup. I loved the moment we were having together and snapped a self-timer picture yesterday to capture her sweetness.