What Did She Say?

We've all been there. Some kid is talking mile a minute, and all you can do is look at their parents helplessly, praying that they can translate. I may never speak another language in my life, but I do speak "Anna". lol.

Here are some new ones to add to the Anna-English Dictionary:

1. I Git-chu! - "I'm gonna get you!" Most frequently heard with hands cocked and ready in the tickle position.
2. Oppy Oppy Oppy - "Open this now!" And no, the fact that an object is not capable of being opened does not save it from this request.
3. Ply-eee - "I would like to play tea party"
4. Jews - "Any kind of drink" Milk, Juice, Water, Capri Sun. Even Daddy's beer on occasion. You name it, she calls it "jews".
5. Lellow - "Crayons" Which I guess isn't way off since yellow is a color, and crayons are sometimes called "colors".
6. Peas - "Please" Typically accompanied by her version of the sign for please as well.
7. Tain-Chu - "Thank You" Cute when prompted, but heart-melting when spontaneous.
8. Owwww - "You're doing something I don't like" Not to be confused with "You're hurting me". No pain needs to be involved to elicit an "Owwwww". Things that frequently get this response are diaper changes, hair brushing, and leaving a playground.
9. Pusssch - "Push" Usually referring to the doorbell as we're coming or going.
10. Ah-Sai - "Outside" Bring me there. Now. Preferably with some bubbles.

Dewberry Farm 2008

Guess who's hiding in the Pumpkin Patch at Dewberry Farm...

Check out more pictures from our trip to Dewberry Farm this past Sunday on Anna's Shutterfly Site:

http://AnnaGraceFernandez.Shutterfly.com

Password: angel

Baby Mozart?

This was after dinner at Maw Maw & Paw Paw's house recently...

For the record, we took her clothes off so she wouldn't ruin them when she ate. So for those of you who were asking yourselves - yes, there is a good reason my child is playing the piano in nothing but her diaper and her shoes. lol.

Daycare Terror

Anna has been bitten several times, not only at one, but at both daycares she has been to in all of her almost 19 months. Every time she has gotten bitten, I hated that she had to endure it, but I was at the same time so thankful that she at least wasn't the one doing the biting.

Today, when I picked Anna up from daycare, I discovered that Anna apparently decided that it's much more fun biting than being bitten. And it was over a chair. The chair they sit in to color. Because apparently it's a good idea to only let two toddlers color at a time while the others play elsewhere. Then when the ousted toddler comes back to find someone else in THEIR chair (because let's face it - everything is MINE!), chaos ensues. Good plan.

So much for being thankful. My child is now the "biter" in the class. At least she didn't break the skin! Here's hoping that Mommy doesn't have to sign any more incident reports...

My Boo-tiful Birthday Surprise

Alternate Title: Congratulations, you're OLD!

My wonderful husband and parents threw me a surprise party for my 30th birthday this past Saturday. It was Halloween-themed because it's October and well, I've always loved Halloween and the fall, ever since I was a child.

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not huge on surprises. Because I'm a planner, and it's really hard to plan on something that you don't even know about. But I think that was the point. And after I got over the initial shock, I was really grateful.

My mom handled most of the details, and in true Schober fashion, she went over the top (in a good way, of course!) There was a jumper for the kids, a snow cone machine (because yes, it is still hot in Houston in October), bobbing for apples, a HUGE cake, lots of balloons, fun decorations and some really great treat bags.

I got to see lots of friends and family that I don't get to see as often as I would like, so that was probably the best treat of all. So thanks to everyone who came and to everyone that worked so hard to surprise me. It was a great cushion to the blow of turning OLD, and it's not something I will forget anytime soon!

Mommy's Night Out

What happens when Mommy and Maw Maw go to the "So You Think You Can Dance" Tour for the evening and leave Anna with her daddy?

Enough said!

First LSU Tailgate 2008

The LSU vs. Mississippi State game on Saturday, September 27 was Anna's first LSU tailgate of the season. We met up with our good friends Matt & Michele and their 2-year old son Ryan and had a great little visit under the gorgeous oak trees on LSU's campus. Anna even took her first swig of beer when no one was looking - I caught her just as she brought the bottle down from her lips and let out a big "Ahhhhhhh!" I'll be waiting to receive my "Mother of the Year" award anytime now. Waiting. Still waiting. . .

Ryan giving Anna a sweet kiss

The Gang: Daddy, Mommy, Anna, Matt, Ryan & Michele

Michele and Anna

Hey, they DO look alike!

We didn't stay for the game, but we did watch it on TV later, and LSU won. This was really good for Mommy since she was taunting her Miss State Alum neighbor with the chant, "Tiger Bait! Tiger Bait!" as we pulled out of the driveway the day before to head to Louisiana.

Geaux Tigers!

Au Revoir, Bon Voyage & All That Good Stuff

Like a lot of things in my life, this blog post is long overdue, but what can I say? I do what I can when I can. . .

Back at the end of August, "Aunt Katie" left us to go to school for a year at the Université Pierre-Mendès-France in the middle the French Alps. The only thing that exceeded our excitement for her was our sadness in saying good-bye for so long!

She flew out of Houston, so we went to bid her a respectable farewell. Here is a picture of Anna & Aunt Katie before she headed to her gate:

It's only been about a month and a half, but we miss you so much already, Katie! We hope you're having a blast, and we can't wait to see you for Christmas! (But only if you promise not to brag too much about skiiing in the French Alps!)

The Wheels are Turning. . .

Normally, when I pick Anna up from daycare, she's smiling. And happy. And playing. And she runs up to the door to greet me. And as we leave, we pass the infant room and say bye-bye to the babies. Every day.

Yesterday afternoon, when I picked Anna up from daycare, that was not so much the case. She was crying. And whiny. And unhappy. And she continued to cry as I came to the door and kept saying "assy, assy, assy" over and over again. (Mom translation: "Paci" or Pacifier). Anna doesn't use a pacifier at daycare. All day long. Not even for a nap. So they had no idea what "assy" even meant.

So I proceed by explaining to her that I didn't have a pacifier and that we "gave them to the babies". I thought that reasoning with her might help the situation as it has before, but instead she broke out into a wail. So I did what any mother would do...I held her tight and high-tailed it out of the room.

And as we passed the infant room - instead of waving bye-bye to the babies, like we do every day - Anna points at the babies and says, "assy, assy, assy" as if to tell me she wanted me to get her pacifier back from the babies.

Oh yeah...the wheels are turning. Mommy's going to have to get smarter!

18 Month Checkup

Here are Anna's stats from her 18 month checkup:

• Weight: 28 lbs. 2.0 oz. (90th percentile)
• Height: 32.5 inches (80th percentile)
• Head Circumference: 18.75 inches (80th percentile)

She only got one shot (tetanus), and she didn't even shed one tear.