i can push buttons now!

we heart jet noise!

we practice for a few days and then one day she just did it on her own . . . seems to be a trend these days!

we’re working on commands.  she helps get a diaper when it’s time to change.  I’m trying to show her how to turn on & off the lights.  we are also trying to teach her ‘help’ instead of just ‘eh eh eh’.  (great idea from my sweet friend laura)

just uploaded lots of fun pictures and wanted to share.

out at the mall

 

playing after bath

enjoying the swings with mason

 

  eating a little mulch

our first official date to la costa spa was a great success!  we had such a lovely time and really enjoyed getting to pay attention to just each other.  it was a beautiful and relaxing day.  I love you, muggy, and I love us!

fun times at miramar park.  cousins seraphina & tristan came out to play too.

 

she did some good climbing at the park too.  I didn’t realize she was already able to climb up stairs!

swings with papa

 

walk walk walk

some of my recent favorite faces!

 

a few days ago i decided to go cold turkey with pacifiers.  anabelle didn’t use one much but was putting herself to sleep with it.  it took a little work but things are going great now with carter’s help (carter is her monkey).

anabelle is doing great with sippy cups and straws.  she just started drinking cow milk at mealtime.  well, sort of.  she really wasn’t interested at first so I’ve been watering it down.  we’ll just work our way up to milk – straight up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

anabelle is the lucky new owner of a tickle monster kit!

(a fabulous birthday present that papa is enjoying too)

she has been playing with her hair a lot, especially when she’s eating.  good thing bath comes right after dinner so we can get all the food out of her hair.  silly girl!

bathtime lately often involves a naked ‘jail break’ as chris calls it.  while chris is getting the tub ready, anabelle escapes down the hall bare bummed and she’s fast!

 

our sweet smiley funny jelly bean.

love her!

(Ben, don’t you think she looks a little like your gemma here?)

phew!  that was a lot!

oh, wait!  one more.  here is a pic of some of my sweet xo sisters from the fourth of july.  it was so great to catch up and show off our babes.  hootie hoo!

(thanks for the pic, alisha)

anabelle in action

i’m trying hard to catch up on pictures, videos, and our goings-ons.  i am finding that i’d much rather blog than do my work but with the event in copenhagen only 6-ish weeks away, it hasn’t been that simple. 

i’m so easily distracted lately . . . hmm, wonder where we’ll move next, wonder when we’ll get orders, wonder what i should wear to the usmc ball this year, wonder when i’ll get to fly up to connecticut to meet my new nephew (he’s not due until september), wonder what anabelle will think of her first taste of cow milk (she’s trying it tonight at dinner), wonder what i should get chris for his birthday . . . you get the idea.

i did just finish some work so i’m treating myself to a little blogging time while anabelle is still asleep.

so, where to begin?

chris and i are off to la costa spa tomorrow for our first real date since anabelle was born.  the spa is going to be such a treat!  i’m still not great at leaving anabelle but aunt deidre is coming over to spend the afternoon with her.  thanks d!  I know they will have a great time doing some godmother-goddaughter bonding.  deidre mentioned that they might “do hair, paint nails, watch the justin bieber movie” and then said “wait, she’s only 1.  we will practice furniture walking.”  she cracks me up!

on the topic of walking, anabelle is working hard practicing.  she sure has figured out her walker wagon.  here are a few videos.

 

 

anabelle had her 12 month check up today.  chris was even able to come with us.

dr. park said she continues to look just right for an anabelle.  she low in the percentiles, but she’s consistent.

it has been such a great year & we are so blessed with dr. park.  we took in some tasty homemade morning glory muffins to say thank you.

ara’s latest stats:

17 pounds 13 ounces

29 1/4 inches

she had three more shots and one prick in her big toe for an iron test just to make sure all levels are good.  she has been rockin’ her iron man band-aids all day!

want to see anabelle’s pool trick?  check out mauri’s video of our kiddos from the trip to the country.

(anabelle is at 0:36)

she still loves the bath too.  here she is helping get things ready.  check out that post-dinner face.  good thing dinner time comes before bath time.

she likes to try to drink the water.

this one is just a cute birthday video of us sitting at the harbor in annapolis listening to a little live music.

that was the best day!

ok, better get some more work done.  i’ll be back later.

at the country

after the wedding in annapolis I was able to stay for an extra five days with mauri & baby jack at her parents’ house in the country.  It was such a lovely week!  we relaxed, played, ate, laughed & completely enjoyed the time together and the beautiful weather.  Thanks mauri!  can’t wait to see you guys again soon.

   

     

poolside refreshments

bestie girlfriends and bestie babes!

  

     

handsome jack – 7 1/2 months

 

mauri surprised anabelle with another fabulous crown for her birthday.  surely can’t have too many of those!

checking out the view in the back yard & exploring in our room

       

discovered anabelle can escape from the bumbo now and she continues to be really interested in babies.  here she is checking on jack while mauri & I packed up for an outing.

       

such a sweet little man.  his version of little is a bit bigger than anabelle though.

we decided we had to try for a group shot.

GIBBIN, Jack, Meredith, & Anabelle.  Yah summer 2011!

home sweet home with my beautiful happy unpacker.

(not a staged photo.  She did this herself)

anabelle is one year old!

you can almost see the sign, right?

1 year, go anabelle!

a few weeks back i noticed myself starting to sort of miss the little baby stages.  didn’t last long though.  anabelle has been such an amazing baby and is so fun everyday, how could i not just love this next phase too?!  and she’s still so little & petite.

the story of the three of us just continues to get better & better!

click here for the final monthly slideshow.

(of course, there will still be oodles & oodles of pics and videos for months and years to come)

patrick & becca

cheers to patrick & becca and many blessings for an absolutely lovely marriage together!

this past weekend we enjoyed what felt like our first real family vacation up in maryland.  chris’ buddy got married at the naval academy chapel.  it was great to catch up with some of our friends who are based on the east coast and to see annapolis again.

- - - - -

anabelle got to wear her beautiful smocked outfit from her great grandparents in louisiana.

here is one of my besties, mauri, & her handsome hubby, brad. 

brad & chris went to the academy together and were roommates in flight school.  mauri and i have shared a lot through this journey with our boys.  i am currently being spoiled by spending the week with her and her handsome baby jack at her parents’ lovely country house. 

(that will be a separate post)

anabelle found her nose just a few days before and is fascinated with how perfectly her little finger fits right in!

fun family pic (thanks for the outfit, mom!)

at the reception

    anabelle & mauri dancing and having a blast!

(it was mauri’s first night away from jack)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

fun with papa

taking a break.  it was a very full day!

happy birthday, anabelle!

anabelle reece allain

born july 10, 2010 at 9:10pm

6 pounds 10 ounces, 20 inches

- - - - - - -

so . . . there i was.  me, with a 1 year old!

shut the front door!

I was aware how it felt as the weeks and months flew by, but now an entire year has come & gone in the most incredible swoosh of joy & discovery.  anabelle has taught me so much (& I’m sure chris too).  I have never felt more brave, more empowered, and even pretty!

quick shout out and high-five to myself and to anabelle for making it one full year of exclusive breastfeeding, score!

so, what do you say about your tiny baby changing into a big girl and turning the big 0-1?!

I suppose a birthday inspired ‘itsy bitsy’ verse might be in order:

the itsy bitsy spider is turning one today

she’s changed our lives forever, it’s a constant cheer ‘hooray!’

she brightens every moment, our days with her are swell

happy birthday to our enchanting little belle!

I sure have missed chris this year (heck, I miss him when he just goes to work only 10 minutes away), but this little bundle that is our mademoiselle anabelle sure makes the time apart ‘suck’ a whole lot less . . . and of course the time together even more special!

- - - - - -

just thought i’d take a little look back . . .

these were taken last april before chris had to leave.

 

here i am with my belly just a couple days before anabelle was born!

go team anabelle!

i couldn’t have asked for better support while chris was away.  cheers to my mom, suzie (sister-in-law), and doula, alexis!

  

hip-hip-hooray for natural childbirth!  so incredible!

“muggy, we did it!” 

i can still remember my groggy squeaky little voice telling him ‘she’s here!’

(pics by rockstar doula, alexis)

       

oh anabelle, you are a celebration every single day!  lucky us that we get to be your parents forever and ever!  i’ve had a crush on you since even before you were born and there is mightly long list of wonderful people who prayed for you to get here and continue to pray for you.  thank you for joining our family!

(pics by helene cornell photography - thanks, helene, for coming to visit and to capture these special moments)

just a couple days after we got home, a very important introduction . . . meeting papa!

ok, had to throw this one in there too.  big day!

anabelle, we love you tons & tons!

happy birthday, jelly!

anabelle reece allain

first birthday

19ish pounds, 28 inches

 

hearts to all you readers - thanks for following my blog & for loving on me and my family!