night night!

We've had some sunny days - so we've been out and about a lot.  Here anna is walking to the library.  I was really brave to take her without the stroller.  Should have known better - I carried her 80% of the way.  sometimes it's better to turn around - even if you are already 20% into the trip.

We usually go to the library "toddler time" every tuesday and thursday.  Just because I'm getting antsy to get out of the house while I still can - we've also added musical mondays at the local toy store to our weekly outings.  Anna likes it better than story time.  I think  its because the lady who leads it is really energetic.  Below is just a random picture of anna.  It's hard to take her pic because she never holds still lately.  Busy busy busy!  But look how cute she is.  Her hair is getting long and is still somewhat blonde.  She's just the cutest thing i've ever seen.

This movie is for gma and gpa buhler.  She's playing with the zoo she got for christmas.  At the end of the movie she puts the animals night night.  Usually when she does this she hunts down blankets and gives them kisses too.  She must have been in a hurry today.  She loves her toys!

lately I've started a new schedule for her.   Now that she's older its interesting to me to look back and see how my days used to go - so i think im going to keep blogging this.  At 18 months Anna's day goes something like this:

7 - wake up (soon as she gets up she says mooooommiiiieeeee - its going to be rough when i want to sleep in after baby #2)
8-10 eat bfast say bye to dad get ready  (we used to run during this time, but my 30# belly+milk ready boobs make even walking more than a mile unbearable anymore)
10-11:30 ish out and about  (story time, playgroup, music time)
11:30-12 lunch
12-1:30 nap (lately she only sleeps until 12:30, but I make her stay in there the whole time and sometimes she plays, sometimes she cries)
1:30-2 movie -  i like to have an extra half hour of reading or computer time before I'm on anna time
2:30-3 help with chores/play with mom (we mop, fold laundry, work in the yard on sunny days, organize closets)
3-3:30 - play alone in room (yup i shut her in there and she plays alone - now happily - it used to be the end of the world for a half hour, now she just hangs out, usually doesn't even play with toys, just lays on her bed and talks to herself)
3:30-4:30 - out and about - we like to visit friends at around this time - her favorite place to go is DOEY'S house (across the street - they've trained her to expect a cookie everytime she goes though - which is okay by me)
4:30-5 - play with mom (usually reading books or browsing sesame street online on the nook)
5-5:30 - movie while mom starts dinner (favorite lately is barney)
5:30-6 help mom with dinner and eat
7 - bed

It's a pretty chill life.  I'm so grateful I can stay home with anna.  I think baby #2 ought to fit just fine in here - im just hoping I can get her to nap during anna's down times...........

snow days!

God gave us You!

Happy 18 months anna!  We do love you!  YOu  are quiet the imitator - as seen above reading a cookbook and grocery shopping........

This week at the library I randomly grabbed a book off the library shelf, it's called God Gave Us You.
Its about where babies come from - featuring polar bears.  It's quiet cheesy and sort of weird - but being pregnant and a bit of cry baby anyways it made me tear up while I was reading it to Anna.

There is a page that shows the really prego polar bear praying (yes again very cheesy - but hey) and it says "Every night, I prayed for you, my special child.  I prayed that your bones would be straight and your heart would be strong.  But most of all, I prayed that someday you would love God."  "I love God," little cub said proudly.  "I know," said mama. "I do too."

We did pray every night that anna would be healthy, but also that we would be able to teach her to love god and that we would be able to teach her that she is a precious child of God.  We still pray for help in teaching her to be christ-like every night and every morning.

I think God is answering our prayers.  Although she can't say it with words, I'm pretty sure our little Cherub loves God.  She has a picture from nursery she colored of Jesus on the fridge, she points to it and says Jesus.  She goes over to it several times a day - unlike the other things on the fridge though, she hasn't (yet) taken it down and destroyed it - she just points and smiles.  We have a picture of the temple in the kitchen.  Today I asked her what it was and she said "tempo."  We have a book of family pictures she looooves to look at multiple times a day and it has pictures of the temple in it.  If I ask her where's the temple, she can find it!  I sing I am a Child of God and I love to see the temple to her.  She loves to hear them (even from my voice yikes!) and says "MOw-dA?"  which means more of that....

Beyond things we've taught her, I'm beginning to see that Anna is a very loving little girl by nature.  She loves her friends - although she is still a toddler with toddler issues (ex not sharing and basically ignoring her friends presence sometimes) - she is always excited to see them and always wants to give hugs (even if it's dangerous - as it is when she hugs zachie, they end up falling and one of them always cries).  She loves to take care of things - like babies and stuffed animals.  She even makes them sign please and thank you when she feeds them pretend food.  She loves to help too, she's always getting a rag and wiping things down or getting the broom out to sweep the floor.  I'm just loving watching the person she is becoming.

It's amazing to me that God trusts us enough to watch over and teach his children.  I mean, Rich and I try to be good people, but it's hard to always do what is right.  I just hope we can continue to teach anna to Love God and to teach her to show that love to others.  At 18 months she's learning a lot of things - at least 5 or so new words every day and several new skills as well.  She can even use a fork to eat (although it's pretty sketchy business without a bib)!  But, as fun as it is to watch her learn all those mad baby skills, I don't think there is anything more important for her to learn than to love God and she that love with others.

 tomorrow it's my goal to take some 18 month pictures - we might try to take her out to dinner for her birthday too....

i was reading the ensign while anna was in the bath.  She can't handle me reading without her - so i had to show her the pics and tell her about what i was reading.  there was a picture of the vision of the tree of life.  i told anna there were some good people who ate the fruit and some naughty people who laughed and scorned at everyone else.  I said are you good or naughty anna?  she said naughty.  then she continued to say naughty matter-of-factly while shaking her head yes until she went to bed.........silly girl.  she actually is pretty naughty lately - pulling everything out of everywhere and transporting it to the nether regions of the house via stroller - but mostly she's a goody.

Last week we went to OMSI with Avrie, to Zachies for the afternoon while i visited the OB, and to a childrens museum with JJ in Salem.  It was a busy week.  Anna really loves her friends though, she loves little people.  Too bad we cant say the same for adults.  This weekend we went to my cousins wedding reception - she freaked out at everyone that talked to her.  Funny girl, maybe someday we'll be able to take her places.......

I've been preparing a lesson for relief society on nutrition.  It's going to have food samples and everything.  I have a hard time teaching nutrition to people I know....it's too personal a thing for me to be telling people what to do.  So I'm going to focus on teaching how to add vegetables.  Everyone can do more of that.  I'm sure people will be thinking - yeah right, I'm supposed to get my kid to eat that?  But eh whatever - take it or leave it.