Time for TEA

03 May 2006

Backyard bubbles

"out", "bubbles", and "wee", paired with a polite "peese", are at the top of Ana's list of requests since the new move. So outside we go every chance we get. However, two problems have arose since arrival-
1- The pool is not open
2- Ana absolutely HATES the feel of grass on her skin, and with the hot GA sun, plenty is exposed.

Solution #1: BUBBLE MAT baby sprinkler!!!
Solution #2: Swing put up in the backyard...still working on that one. For now we walk to the near by park in between naps.

02 May 2006

Home Sweet Home

Well...we made it. Justin car bound. Ana and I air bound. We all arrived safe and sound last Saturday evening and have been busy ever since. The movers came and went after unloading and unpacking us.

Nana and Grandpa (my parents) got in late Tuesday night and Ana was THRILLED to see familiar faces of those she loves most in life (not to mention not having to be carted around anymore from place to place with out any playtime).

Amidst all the craziness we did get to play a bit....Daddy's favorite day....up close and personal at the Tour De Georgia. The USA's biggest multi-stage bike race (a shady comparison to the Tour De France in Paris, but ranks up there with the best of the best). Ana had fun checking out the bikers as she gazed away yelling "wow" over and over again. Picutres will follow shortly!

Bye Bye Nana and Gaga

This was a sad weekend as my parents packed up and got ready to head home. Even though we'll see Nana in 6 weeks for baby #2's birth, it's still sad.

We all got quite weepy and Ana, sleepy eyed and confused, waved bye yelling, "bye bye nana, bye bye gaga", as the car pulled out.

First week in Atlanta

We've had quite the week. First a hotel, the Tour de Georgia, and then unpackers with Nana (Grandma) and Gaga (Grandpa)- my parents- here to help out...and of COURSE lots of Georgia sun at one of our neighborhood parks. They were life saviors and because of them we are 100% settled with no boxes to be seen.

Check out the highlights below.

Nana's "gasses"

Nana's gasses, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

Ans is obsessed with glasses.....or "gasses" as she refers to them as.

Ana: WEEEEE, more peese

WEEEEEEE. more peese, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

Nothing beats the rush of a swing!

Final days in WI: Practice Makes Perfect

Practice Makes Perfect, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

Ana's last days in Wisconsin spent with Gaga (Grandpa) and Nana (Grandma) practicing her steps.

Baptism- 4/15/2006

, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

Post-Baptismal waters

Post-Baptismal waters, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

Daddy's girl

Daddy's girl, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

Mama and Ana

Mama and Ana, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

17 April 2006

Easter weekend...No Purgatory

Easter Weekend was filled with memories for Ana.

First, she was baptized by Fr. Jack (Justin's great uncle, whom also married us) with Auntie Jess "Jess" and Uncle Laurence as her Godparents. Thanks to everyone who was able to witness the moment.

Second, Grandma Riley (Justin's mom) surprised Ana and flew in for the Baptism

Third, my parents threw us a great going away party. All our family and friends were there. It's so nice to know how missed we will be and how much we will miss you all.

Thank you to everyone for making us feel so important! Please stay in touch.

Vocabulary = DEMANDS

Ok. So, not that I'm complaining one bit, but with Ana's ever expanding vocabulary, comes ever expanding demands. Which, without the "to be developed" reasoning ability that IS NOT expanding at the same rate of her vocabulary, is leading to major, "I think I'm 2", temper tantrums.
But ADORABLE they are....

I have to share last nights latest demand.

A little background here:
As you've read Ana loves only one person unrelentlessly in her life- cousin Addy Grace. She calls for her constantly, looks for her picutres, searches Grandma's house daily for her and won't leave her side when together.

So....last night we got back from dinner with the family, but not Addy. Ana wanted to see her. Actually....she DEMANDED to see her. We came in and started all taking coats off while Ana was "sitting" on the floor (so I thought). In reality though, she had crawled to the door, pulled herself to standing and was pulling at the handle stating louder and louder "Go out Addy please" followed by pointing to our car keys hanging next to the door and saying "keys"

This is what we heard:

"Mama. go out Addy peese? Keys."
"Nana [my mom]. Go out Addy peese? Keys."
"Dada. Go out Addy peese? Keys." (repeated for each person in the room more than once)
GO OUT ADDY PEESE KEYS
GO GO OUT ADDY PEEEEEEESE keys" (repeated over and over again)

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (with a bright red face and huge crocodile tears)

I had to call my sister first thing this morning to tell her just how badly Ana needs Addy in her life!

12 April 2006

HAPPY

There's the smile we know and love. Priceless

1 year old Photo Shoot

Such a ham!!! She actually was quite a shy gal this day (just like her daddy). Wouldn't smile until the cake came out.

03 April 2006

8016 Abbey Manor- New Toson home in Georgia

8016 Abbey Manor- New Toson home in Georgia, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

So here is our new home-
We have an accepted offer in on this house in Cumming, GA- a suburb 30 miles due north of Atlanta. Great neighborhood with a zero entry pool, massive play ground, golf course and lighted tennis courts, plus plenty of guest rooms inside to accomodate you all and your family! We expect to see y'all here soon!

April 23rd is it!

Snack time at Grandma's

Snack time at Grandma's, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

It's moments like these that make me quite sad to leave. These two girls sure will miss one another!

Happy 1st Birthday Ana Lucille

"cake peese", originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

"cake peese"

Translation= I would like some cake please.

MMMM, MMMM Good!

MMMM, MMMM Good!, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

At first Ana wasn't too sure about the cake, but now she has it down with a demanding, clear as day, "CAKE" (Followed closely behind with a scream if cake isn't delivered promptly) when one is in sight!

PRESENTS!

PRESENTS!, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

Rehnstrom Clan celebrating Ana's 1st

Rehnstrom Clan celebrating Ana's 1st, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

Ana LOVES LOVES LOVES her cousin Addy!

Toson side Cousin's celebrating Ana's 1st birthday

Toson side Cousin's celebrating Ana's 1st birthday, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

They are all getting so big!

Trying out the new "weeee"

Trying out the new "weeee", originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

"mama, Hep, peese, weeeee"

Translation= Mom, please help me. I would like you to push me around the house on my new car.

Favorite play = dolls

Favorite play = dolls, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

Ana absolutely LOVES dolls now. This is something she discovered on her own given our house is filled with trains, blocks, flachcards and books (once a teacher always a teacher). But her "baby" is by far her favorite- which Grandma gave her for her birthday.

Often she spends almost an hour independently feeding the baby, giving the baby hugs and kisses, brushing the baby's hair, putting the baby "nie, nie" and making them talk to one another. It is quite the good preparation for her new life ahead!

Play buddies at Betty Brinn

Play buddies at Betty Brinn, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

Ana's friends all joined her at the Betty Brinn Children's Museum downtown Milwaukee to celebrate her very 1st birthday (Tuesday, March 14th). The kids had a blast playing the sand, sliding down slides and just running around being kids!

Strike a pose

Strike a pose, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

Ana's dream come true..a life size piano!

Drummin' to the beat

Drummin' to the beat, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

Still loves to eat the sand

Still loves to eat the sane, originally uploaded by Ana's mom.

Here is Ana with buddies Sam and Charlie digging away. Look...she's just as tall as them. Such a big girl!

24 March 2006

Definition of BIG GIRL:

Massive amounts of barf all over the crib, blankets, jammies, mommies, floor,..... you get the picture!

That's right, no more baby spit up in this house. The flu hit, and hit with force. Poor little thing. But, as always with this tropper, no tears, no crabbies, just BARF. If I don't check on her regularly she sleeps in it due to the fact that she doesn't cry to get cleaned up, or for help (is it possible to be TOO INDEPENDENT at age 1?).

FABULOUS!

17 March 2006

Congratulations Daddy!

Today Daddy officially accepted and signed his promotion (which involves a relocation to Atlanta) with an April 10th start date! Atlanta here we come. That is right, we're moving AGAIN. This time far away and for good. YIKES! We head out next weekend to look at houses and the ball is rolling.

Our anticipated date of arrival in the new home to be will be the last week of April AT THE LATEST. The rush lies in the fact that baby girl #2 is growing healthy and will need a Georgia hospital to welcome HER into the world. After a lot of talking with doctors, family and each other, we've decided the best move for everyone- baby and Ana most importantly- is to get to Atlanta ASAP and have the baby there. So off we go.

Stay tuned for details and pictures.

I am 1!!!!!

Tuesday, March 14, 2006 Ana turned one. She brought in her new year with all her family and friends. First a party on Saturday and then playtime at the Betty Brinn's Children Museum with all her friends on Tuesday. Pictures will have to wait until April 1 as Mexico exceeded the upload limit for the month (OOPS!).

1 year Check up-
Weight: 23 lbs. 8 oz. (85th percentile)
Hieght: 30.25 inches (75th percentile)
Teeth: 10 in all- working on 1 more (3 out of 4 molars and front 7 - 4 top, 3 bottom)
Motor Development: Crawling, cruising, walking with walker or hands, pincer grasp, shape sorter, up and down stairs alone, in and out of baby chairs alone, stacking 2 blocks
Eating: NO MORE BOTTLES, drinking from a straw cup, eating all TABLE food (NO MORE BABY FOOD), whole milk, blueberries are her FAVORITE
Play Time: very independent, loves monkeys, dolls, and balls
Bed Time: requests with "nie nie" and cuddle with favorite green blanket, sucks left thumb- still takes 2 naps and sleeps 12 hours a night
Language Development: currently has 35 words, putting 2 words together, and saying phrases (ALL SCARILY APPROPRIATE):
dada
mama
turtle
quack, quack = duck
dow = down
roar = lion
ah, ah, ooo = monkey
bu bu = blueberry
kitty
cah ker = cracker (to tell us she is hungry, wants a snack)
ta koo = thank you
baba = bottle
nie, nie = nap please (when really tired points upstairs and says "nie, nie" over and over again)
bubble =swimming
bah = ball
dehter = Dexter
go
go get it (while pointing)
tickl tickl = tickle
bear
key = monkey
don do dat = "don't do that"
baby
Wow!
Uh Oh
hot
dat = that's
dis = "this" (when asking for something for what something is)
dare = "there" (when accomplished a task she's been working at ie. putting a ball in a bucket, etc..)
up stay = upstairs
up
hi (with a wave)
cere ral = cereal
all done (with sign)
pay = play

bye bye _______
mama ________

Nods YES (with her entire body)
Shakes head NO
signs ""more"
signs "all done"
signs "duck"
signs "bye, bye"
signs "hi"

01 March 2006

Mexico Survives Ana

Ana and mommy went to Mexico with Grandma, Auntie Jess, Uncle Laurence, cousin Addy and good friend Donna. A Peurta Vallarta all inclusive and she had a blast. It was the schedule as usual with 2 naps a day and sleeping all night, but lots of sun and fun in between. Check out the highlights below: