And just like that, July is nearly over...and so is our time here...

Our little Annabelle June just turned THREE!  In honor of the big day, we had a few friends and family over to celebrate.  And, we reminisced of past birthdays:

Annabelle turns 3, July 14, 2012

Annabelle turns 2, July 14, 2011
(At the arboretum for her birthday - oh, how we struggled to get those pig tails in)

Annabelle turns 1, July 14, 2010
(The morning of her birthday)

Annabelle, shortly after 3am on July 14, 2009

It goes by so fast.  (How many times do we have to hear that?  And how old do I sound saying it?)  But it's true.  In a blink of an eye, that 7 pound lump on a log sat up, crawled, stood, walked, talked, and otherwise became an undeniable force in this house.

Did I say house?

We're moving to a new house in ONE WEEK!

This whole moving thing has been much like "we're getting a new baby" was, when I was pregnant.

We've talked of it non-stop, we've prepared for it for months, we've read books on it, watched movies about it.  And yet, no matter how much prep I thought we gave Annie before Emeline was born, the day she came to the hospital to lay eyes on her sister for the first time -- it was total shock.  She looked at me like I was kidding.  No, really, this IS your sister...the one that's been growing in my tummy...look, she's here now!  I held her over the baby bassinet in the hospital.  She glanced at the baby, gave me a blank stare, buried her head in my shoulder...peeked back up to glance at the baby, and then had a few minutes of that awkward toddler thing she does where we get a little baby talk, or lack of response at all. 

But within five minutes, she snapped out of it.  I assume she did a little mental recount of the months leading up to the moment, looked at Emeline and thought "oooooh, I get it!"  And from that moment on, she's been nothing but smitten with our newest little house guest.

I expect much the same with this move.  I felt like we were preparing her plenty.  We drive or walk by the new house often, visit the park just down the street from where we'll be living.  We talk about why we're packing up our things, and where they will go.  Building up the excitement that she will have her very own room (with a door! no more "nook") and a real closet!  There will be room for her toys to be out (rather than in storage during the years she's just the right age for them!)  So many great things to come with this big change. 

Most of the time she is inquisitive and eager.  Asking a few specifics about where Elmo will go, or if we'll take all of her dollys.  But yesterday we drove by the house, and I pointed it out as I always do -- and she seemed a little hesitant, upset even.  I said "Annie, look!  There's our new house again!  One more week till we can go in and it is ours!" -- she was quiet in the back of the car.  "Annie?"

Annie:  Mom...I don't know about this...
Me:  You don't know about what?
Annie:  I dunno
Me:  Are you ok?  You always liked seeing the new house before? 
Annie:  I dunno about this house.
(Me, in panic...what went wrong, how do I give her warm fuzzies about the move?!)
Annie:  I dunno about this house and this...stuff...I just...dunno...(she thought a minute)...will Dad move to this house too?

O-M-G!

YES ANNIE, Dad will move to this house too! 

Oh my goodness, the things we take for granted.  All these changes around her, and I had failed to stress what I thought was obvious...that we would all, always, go everywhere together.  I was worried she'd be upset about her books, or her toys, her pillow, or her bed...  I'd forgotten that she didn't even know for sure that her FAMILY was a certain part of the move.  Her family, in it's entirety.  Good grief.  Head smackin', failed mom moment.

That quick conversation in the car explains alot. 

Annie is ALWAYS our love bug (group hugs, unprompted I love you's...back pats all around) -- but the past few weeks, it's been CONSTANT.  Several times a day wanting "group hugs" and "mom and dad, you hug...now hug me...now hug Emeline...Mommy, HOLD ME!"  I figured the boxes, the house torn apart and general upheaval was stressing her out a bit.  But I never imagined...that she would imagine...our move would be anything other than all of us moving together.

So we're having extra hugs around here.  And obviously need to touch on some of the less than material basics of our upcoming move, more.

And then let the fun begin! 

A whole new chapter in our lives waiting to be written - in our new home - all nice and together like.

Annabelle, 3 years & Emeline, 4 months
Getting ready to move to their new home, together....with their mom....and their dad....and their cats...and yes, Daddy, the fish too :)

June 2012

Emeline 4 months (2012)

Annabelle 4 months (2009)

I know it's not proper to compare, but, when given the opportunity with two little sisters (made from the same batter as my Dad would say) it's just something we do.  If we could put a little more meat on Emeline, she would be the spittin image of her big sister.  Although at 4 months, Emeline is roughly the same weight Annie was at the same age -- she is the same HEIGHT Annie was at EIGHT months! So try as we might...filling out lil' stretch is going to take a some work.

The girls are keeping us busy.  Someone is always needing something or doing something.

Emeline said her first word recently.

I asked her kindly to take her nap during big sister's nap, so that Mommy might have a snowball's chance in hell of accomplishing just one thing today.

She said: "no"

That's a skittle in her mouth for peein on the potty and a sticker on the chart.

Other breaking news for the Meek family?  Annie gave up her diapers.  Just like that, cold turkey, straight to fancy pants (aka. undies).  We couldn't be more proud (amazing what makes us proud these days).  She really was amazing - a few learning accidents the first day or two and then she was full on house broke.  This chart shown here in the picture is now full of stickers...now if I could just convince Annie that she's a pro now and no longer needs a skittle for every success.

Eme 3mo, Annie 34 mo

Emeline's first swing ( cool having a big sis, Annie didn't get to do this till 7 or 8 months...nice to have someone to hold you up when you're 3 months old)

Oh, the things they say...I can only imagine what we'll hear when both of them are talking!

Of recent:

(Baby whimpering, with Annie sitting next to her)
Mom (making dinner): "Annie!  Will you give little baby her nukie please, it's sitting right on the table!"
(Annie ignores me)
Mom: "Annie!  The nukie!"
Annie:  (not moving) "It's OK Mom!  The crying isn't really bothering me!"

**********
(Mom typing an outreach email to a new galactosemic family, we've had a bunch of new ones lately, so this has played out more than once)
Annie: "Mom, whatchyou doin Mom?"
Mom: "Typing an email to a new galactosemic family"
Annie: "Why?"
Mom:  "Well, the mommy contacted us for information about her new babies, she just found out they are galactosemic and she's scared."
Annie:  "Why she scared Mom?"
Mom:  "well, she's afraid her little babies will get sick, or not do well, but I'm letting her know it will be OK"  (and I got a little choked up...)
Annie:  "come here come here Mom" (motioning for me to bend down) "bend your legs like this" (showing me how to bend down :p)
(I got down on her level and she hugged me)
Annie:  "she'll be OK mom"

**********
And why we should watch what we say:

Annie:  "It's damn hot out here"
(although, I find this a wee endearing.  I would garden with my Grandma Fitz when I was little, and I'm sure I was well into my teens before I realized "crabgrass" was actually just that, not "damn crabgrass")

**********
(Annie really wanting to mess with the baby bathtub, me discouraging her)
Mom: "Annie put that down, baby is not getting a bath until tonight."
Annie: "but Mom, I wanna"
Mom:  "Annie, just wait, she'll get even more dirty, then we'll give her a bath before bed"
Annie:  "But MOOOOM!  She's totally dirty and nasty already!"
(probably another good reason to watch what we say)

**********
(Annie goes potty, and yells from the bathroom)
Annie: "Moooooom!  Mom, come see!"
(I go and see, and sure enough, successful #2 on the big potty, she was very proud)
Mom:  "Great job Annie!  Let's flush and wash our hands"
Annie:  "No, no Mom, we gotta get Dad, he's gotta see this big turd"  (completely straight faced, and proceeded to yell for Dad to come see.)

**********
Best I stop there...I just can't post during potty training month without a mention of poo.  Dad, you're right - "I don't have to tell EVERYONE, EVERYTHING"...but I just can't help myself!  ;)