Happy First Birthday Annabelle!!

Annabelle had a great first birthday! We started it off with a few presents. She was mostly excited about the balloon and that was it. She had no idea how to open presents, so the kids helped her. She loved checking out her toys once they were open.

She got a little ball bit, a ride on toy, a Care Bear stuffed animals, and a Fisher Price carousel toy. She also got an outfit or two and a raincoat... since it has been such a rainy winter!

After presents she got to have a donut hole cake and blow out the candle!

She was a BIG fan of the donut holes!

After church we got more time to play with the ball pit and we snagged a few photos in her dress.

I made a birthday cake for the party plus a baby cake that Annabelle could eat all by herself.

After Annabelle had a nap, we waited for our cousins to come! When they arrived we got the party started and ate cake.

Annabelle tried to touch the flame... of course.

She really didn't want to wait for the candle to be blown! She dove right into the cake and made a mess!

Afterwards it was bath time and time to change into cozy pjs! Annabelle seemed to have a fabulous day and was so adorable!

Happy Birthday to our cute Annabelle!

Annabelle at 6 months

We sure love Annabelle.

Here's a little update on her at 6 months. 

Annabelle...
Planks
Crawls
Sucks on everything (especially knees, pants, chins, paper, and toes)
Smiles at everyone (Especially if they are wearing sunglasses)
Is very calm, happy, peaceful but she has pipes and if she is tired, hungry, or in the car, she will let you hear it.

Here are her 6 month stats:

Height 26.5 inches (76%) - a little high in my opinion... I think she is shorter than this
Weight 15 lbs 15 oz (47%)
43 cm (16.93") (73%)

Annabelle also sits up for quite awhile without falling, and likes to be held in a standing position. She also LOVES to be carried and has a little bit of FOMO. Likes to see what is going on everywhere.

She finally likes the water too (though didn't really like it during our entire Hawaii trip)

She loves playing with all of the big kid's toys and loves Sophie the Giraffe (that we lost in Oahu). She got an elephant teether toy that she is also obsessed with.

She has tried shave ice and sweet potatoes. She kind of likes sweet potatoes. She loved it the first time and the second and third time she's felt lukewarm about food. Shave ice was way too cold her her.

She has been given a bottle a few times and refuses to drink it... and just spits all the milk out.

Annabelle schedule wise goes to bed somewhere between 8:30-10:00pm and sleeps in until 7am sometimes (sometimes wakes up randomly at 3am or 5am if she's having a growth spurt). After she eats at 7am she will sometimes go back to sleep until 10am! Sometimes I do too (while the big kids watch TV).

During our Hawaii trip she was an awesome sleeper in Maui and maybe woke up once a night. In Oahu she woke up every 1-2-3 hours for the entire week. I felt like a zombie in the mornings, but then Diet Coke and shave ice perked me up!

During the day if we are home Annabelle spends her time crawling around, hanging out in her exersaucer, and sitting playing toys. If we are out she loves my Sollybaby wrap (thanks Jaicy!) or the Baby Bjorn. She loves to face forward and see what is going on. 

She hates the car and her car seat and has been known to scream for a full hour drive (or longer) versus just going to sleep when she is overtired! It gives me such a headache and I feel so bad for her. She plays with her toys for a little bit and then she is DONE.

Annabelle loves Ryan, Catie, and Andrew. They are really good at snapping her out of a bad mood and almost always happy to oblige if I need someone to keep her happy while I shower or run to get something.

Annabelle usually naps from 7 or 8 until 10am (it will be so sad when school starts and this no longer can happen). If we have to be out early, she'll usually snag a nap between 10-11:30 and then will do an afternoon nap from like 1-3 or 2-4 or 3-5 and then that's about it. Occasionally she'll sneak in a cat nap somewhere while we are driving or out adventuring, but sometimes she won't. She is pretty easy going as long as you don't try and force her to take a nap while we are out. She likes to be in charge of when she sleeps... so will stay awake for as long as you try and put her to sleep... and then once you stop trying she will just zonk out.

I am obsessed with cuddling this girl. In the past I would get annoyed if kids needed to be carried too much, but not any more. I will hug and carry this cute girl anytime/anywhere. The night time wake ups sometimes don't even bother me either because I feel like they are fleeting. The quote "the days are long but the years are short" is constantly in my head. I am very aware of how fast this time is going with this darling girl and I know I will miss it, so I am trying to treasure it! 

I love this age! Babies are so easily amused and so quick to change moods and return to happy attitudes. I love that Annabelle isn't moody yet either. She just LOVES us and smiles and smiles when we pick her up and feed her. 

If you want a little comparison... here are the other kiddos at 6 months 

Andrew at 6 months

Caitlin at 6 months

Ryan at 6 months (somehow his 6 month post got skipped-whoops!... but here is Ryan at 5 months and Ryan at 7 months)

Annabelle at 4 months

Today Catie declared that Annabelle is her favorite person in the whole family. I think everyone else would agree. She is such a smiley happy little one. She is also determined and will not sit by and be ignored. She has an amazing set of lungs and can sense when you are sitting down and too comfortable. She likes to be up checking things out and doesn't want to miss a thing. She finally started sleeping again most nights too! All of her dark hair is now gone and she's turning into a little blue eyed blondie just like the rest of our kiddos. So glad she's ours!

At four months here are a few details about Annabelle:

• She weighs 13 lb 14 oz (48%)
• She is 24 inches (36%)
• She wears between 0-3 and 3-6 months clothes
• She wears size 2 diaper
• She goes to bed around 9pm and gets up around 7 or 8am (sometimes she wakes up once before then, sometimes she doesn't)
• She takes three naps during the day if we are home (9-11, 1-3, and 5-6) although it is rare we are actually home and it is rare we don't have a pick-up during one or two of those times, so she usually naps (or doesn't nap) on the go and doesn't get nearly enough sleep! 
• She hates her car seat and usually cries when we are in the car. Lately though we've gone on 30 minute drives and she's stayed awake and happy the whole time and we've been surprised... so maybe she's moving out of that stage soon!
• She nurses every 2-3 hours during the day
• She rolls front to back and back to front and can do two rolls in a row
• She coos and just started giggling.
• She is very smiley and especially loves talking to Catie.
• All of the big kids fight over who gets to talk to her, hold her, and play with her.
• She loves sucking everything- especially my skirts, shoulder, blankets, and her fingers!

Some favorite photos of Annabelle from the last week or so:

Happy 4 months to this little sweetheart!

Annabelle at 2 months

Annabelle is 10 lbs 14 ounces (47%), 22 inches (37%), and her head circumference is 38cm (51%)

She is our smallest 2 month old yet! Andrew was 13 lbs by now and Catie & Ryan were both more than 12 lbs.

Take a look back...
Andrew 2 months
Caitlin 2 months (doctor's appointment)
Ryan 2 months

Annabelle smiles, has strong neck control, visually tracks us, has a great set of lungs, and sleeps between 6-7 hours in a row at night. One night she slept 9.5 hours. Crazy! Hopefully that trend continues to help keep me sane! She also still eats almost every 2 hours (for an hour)... if not more often! She loves to be held and cuddled.

She wears size 1 or 2 diapers, size newborn and/or 0-3 month old clothes. She sleeps in my closet in the rock n' play. She hates the car and/or her carseat. She loves to be up looking around.

Here is my blog post on how we are keeping sane with a newborn and three other crazy kids.

Annabelle was blessed over the weekend and celebrated her 2 month birthday a few days early with a lot of family! We sure love her!

Annabelle's Blessing

Annabelle was blessed today at church by her dad! 

So grateful that Grandma Julie, Grandpa Kim, Grandma Shari, and the Caffees were able to come from Utah for her special day today and Andrew's baptism yesterday.

The Smiths, Thomanders, and Heymans drove in from around the Bay and Uncle Allen and cousin Leah flew from Baltimore to be at the baptism yesterday and blessing today. The Heymans are 4/4 in attending all of our baby blessings! How cool to have them so close by.

Annabelle's middle name is Elise, after her Aunt Elise... so we had to snag a picture of them together!

This little sweetheart was so peaceful and calm during her blessing and was wide awake. We sure love her!

After the blessing we had a yummy brunch back at our house with family. We ate blueberry muffins, coffee cake, yogurt parfaits, delicious crockpot breakfast casserole, and leftover treats from last night. The kiddos also made rainbow fruit loop necklaces for awhile. It was so fun!

We spent the rainy day chatting and eating and enjoying time together! I am so grateful for everyone that was able to sacrifice time to make it to celebrate with us this weekend!

Take a look back to...

Andrew's blessing
Caitlin's blessing
Ryan's blessing