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 :)