All Things Annabelle: One Amazing Little Girl

Some days are so so difficult with a vibrating two year old, others are like magic!

Today was magic!

We had SUCH a fun day together, playing in the backyard with the best new toy EVER...the old "cardboard box" trick.... She spent hours "driving" me around...she took me to Target, Publix to get a cookie, school about a dozen times....it was pretty entertaining!

We went on walks, spent so much time in the new playroom, and, I am FLOORED at what a difference that room makes for quality playing. We just bounced around from one thing to the next with no interruptions of laundry, dishes, cleaning, etc. IT IS GREAT! 2.5 years in the making...I think it's well-deserved on all accounts!

After that, we went on a long stroller run where she logged a good hour nap, followed by a walk with our neighbor (whose son was unfortunately sick and couldn't play) to the park, then finally a trip to "The Island" for frozen yogurt which, left both us with a sweet taste for the day!

I'm constantly amazed at how she has become a little girl. She tells stories, makes stories up, and puts so much thought into the littlest things. For example. On our walk home there is a section of loose white rocks that she's always loved to stop and play with.

Today she said, "Mom, may I please get three rocks."

I said, "Sure, what are you going to do with them?"

She said, "I'm going to collect them, and bring them home so I can bury them and then find them tomorrow, then find their moms for them because they miss their moms very much."

Today also marks the first complete game of dominoes! No cheating, no hints, no help, she is a master princess domino player...and although it might not be impressive (no idea on the age level of dominoes) it totally impresses me! (I'm probably a pretty easy audience).

Also, she has a book of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse puzzles. And, no joke, she's better at putting them together than I am. For real.

She's memorized an entire Tinkerbell Story on CD in the car. We have listened to it the exact same amount of times and she gets upset with me because I can't say the words 10 minutes in...she can. Of course she can...because she's amazing!

I am convinced that she will be swimming by the end of the summer. She now leaps off the side of the pool onto a noodle and starts kicking and scooping her arms. Granted I am there to help make sure she lands on the noodle...but this impresses me greatly!

She has also started letting her friends know what she does not like. Her best girlfriend Layla is a big splasher in the baby pool, she LOVES to splash. Annabelle does not. If Layla forgets and starts splashing, Annabelle now holds up her hand and says, "Layla, please do not splash the water, I do not like it". Alli and I just sit back and watch (with a little bit of guidance) as they figure these relationships out!

OK, enough bragging....here are some pictures!