Happy Birthday Daddy!

Part IV: Happy Birthday!

A few days after the move, Nate celebrated his 32nd birthday. His mom, sister Gretchen, and her girls, Hannah and Abby came to celebrate with us over lunch. It was a small party, but very nice. Happy Birthday Nate/Daddy - we love you!

Moving Day

Part III: Moving Day

The day after we got back from vacation was moving day. My parents, brother, Amber and Nathan came to help, and we got it all moved in one day. While we are still organizing and unpacking, we're making progress (though at a much slower pace than we would have pre-Annabel) and it's starting to feel like home. We LOVE it! We have tons of space to get used to, a couple pieces of new furniture to enjoy, and just think the whole place is beautiful. We've had some minor bumps along the way, but I won't bore you by complaining about it. The point is, we're home! Thanks to all of our helpers!

Annabel goes to Grandma and Grandpa's House

Part II: Annabel's vacation

While we were off trapsing through the jungle, Annabel spent the week at my parents' house. All the pictures make it look like she had a great time, though in reality I think she gave them a pretty hard time of it. By the end of the week they were referring to her as Sybill. That can't be good! Unfortunately for them, I think Annabel decided to transition from our sweet, easy going little girl to a big whiney toddler with a whole lot of attitude! She goes from happy one second to throwing a huge fit the next. I'm sure all of you parents out there that had babies who were harder on you than Annabel has been on us are thinking "it's about time, you've been spoiled!" I know.... we've been blessed up til now, and I supposed this was bound to happen. She's still the sweetest when she's happy, but man, when she's not, look out. Tonight, she cried through dinner. Then she cried through her favorite tv show. Then she cried through bathtime. Then she cried when we put her pajamas on. You get the point. It was a long night.

Anyway, sorry mom and dad that you had to be the ones to go through the transition! Thanks for taking good care of her... I know she had a good time, even if she didn't always show it very well.

Grandma and Annabel on the back porch

Annabel playing at the park w/ Great-Aunt Nancy

Aunt Nikki was there to play, too!

Grenada Vacation

HELLO!!!! We are back... did you miss us? It's been awhile, I know. We have lots to catch up on, so I'm going to do this in pieces. Hopefully by the time I am done, you'll feel like you know everything about the last month with our family!

Part I: Grenada!

Just before the big move, Nate and I travelled to the island of Grenada with Nate's sister, Sarah, and her husband, Jerry. For those of you who are saying - "Grenada... didn't we have troops there? Is it safe? I hope you were careful!" Relax! about 30 years ago the US intervened to save the Grenadians from the communist Russians and Cubans. They are pretty big fans of America, as they attribute their victory in the "Revolution" to be largely due to our involvement. In short, there are no Commies there, and the people that are there like us. So it's all good.

The island was beautiful. We went to several beaches, all of which were beautiful and not crowded at all. In fact, there was one beach that Sarah and I visited and were the only ones there! It was awesome. We did some great snorkeling one day.... had our very own "Discovery channel moment" when we swam up to and through a school of thousands of those tiny silver fish that swim together and create what looks like a wall of fish. It was an amazing sight!

On the last day of our trip we went on a hike through the rainforest, that took us up a river bed to the island's tallest waterfall. The hike was 3 hours each way, and was very intense... all of you who know me as the city girl who doesn't get dirty would be so impressed! We climbed rocks, falls, etc.... I've never been so tired in my life. But the hike was beautiful, and when it was over I felt like I accomplished something huge!

I feel like this description really doesn't do the vacation justice... maybe these pictures will help. If you're my friend on facebook, you can see more pictures on there. This is just a small sample of some of my favorites.

La Segesse Beach

Nate and I at St. George's Harbor
Sarah & Jerry at Mon Rouge Beach

Sailing
Nate & Sarah on the catamaran
View from where we stayed, at the Mangi House
A shot of the Mangi House, the side that faces the ocean

This shot pretty well sums up the week!

Look at this nature girl! This is a good sample of the terrain we were hiking up, though there were parts much tougher than this. The guy in the back is Wello, one of our guides. He was AMAZING. The guy helped Sarah and I climb down a 12 foot wall by having us climb onto his shoulders and stepping down his back, while he went into a full squat. Let me tell you, I am no feather weight, and that takes some ridiculous strength. Once again, my description isn't really doing it justice. He was a big dude.

Here's our group at the top of the falls!

Nate and I at the top

The end - What a fantastic week!

A break from the packing

With moving day just three weeks away, we have been up to our eyeballs in packing lately, which is my excuse for why I've been so bad at this these days. Easter has come and gone, and I've yet to post pictures of Annabel in her pretty dress. So sad! Anyway, I'm sorry about the delay.

Annabel is developing by leaps and bounds lately, and she is more fun each day than she was the day before. She is quite the little mima bird.... she is constantly copying our motions and tries to repeat our words. Not too much in the way of in the way of understandable words, but she gets close enough for us to tell she's trying. She has also just recently become VERY loud.... she likes to practice at restaurants. Thankfully she's not crying, so it's not as irritating as it could be, but still a little obnoxious if the restaurant is on the quiet side. Luckily most of the time the people around us laugh at her, rather than scowl.

She has quite the attachment to me right now, which is driving Nate a little nuts. He's hoping that when I leave town next week the alone time with Annabel will help. I think while he's waiting for me to leave now, he'll be happy when I get back..... she's a lot of work these days! We'll see.....
OK, enough writing.... here are some pictures for you:

It was a beautiful spring weekend, and Annabel got to wear this cute outfit that her Nana and Grandpa sent. Thank you!!!

This weekend Sarah came to visit from Atlanta - Annabel loved spending time with her!

This one is for the Grandmas..... (might be the only time she gets to wear it.... little tight on the belly!)

Happy Easter!!!

Annabel playing with her Uncle John

This was the best picture I could get of her in her pretty Easter dress.... she's always on the go, and it was pretty much nap time when we got home from church. A tired Annabel doesn't pose well for pictures!

Three little words....

"Balls excite her"

This was a note that we got on her day care form a little while ago. And lately I've found that besides being very funny, it's true! The girl loves balls - and not the naughty kind. :)

Annabel goes to California

This weekend Annabel and I travelled with my friend Michelle (Ralsto) to see our friends Allie (Ski), Marc and their baby girl Riley. We were so excited to meet Riley for the first time.... she's so cute and tiny! It's crazy to think that just a year ago Annabel was that small! We have had a very busy weekend, but have had a great time.... here are some of the pictures with the highlights. We leave to head home tomorrow -tired and yet rested at the same time - it's a funny combination. Thanks to Ski and Marc for being great hosts, and thanks to Riley for being so stinkin' cute!

Here's the star - Riley Annabel was very excited to meet her!

In addition to spending the weekend with my good friends, I have loved spending the time with Annabel. She is so much fun to be around these days! Here she is hamming it up for the camera.

Riley and her Mommy

We went to the Oakland Zoo on Friday, with Ski's friend Lyndsay and her son Xavier. I didn't get too many pictures on my camera since I was busy chasing Annabel, but here are a couple. They are checking out a wall here - it was fascinating for sure.

Here's Annabel, with Xavier looking on from behind

Saturday we went wine tasting - why not? The kids had fun, too!

Here is Marc w/ Annabel, before the wine tasting

What a ham!

Here's a self shot of Annabel and me at one of the wineries - not bad, if I do say so myself

Annabel kept trying to eat rocks here.... she thought it was a great game that I kept swiping them away.

Today we went shopping in Walnut Creek - here is Annabel walking with Ralsto. I just love how big she is these days.

Riley loves shopping too!

And now I'm going to head to bed. I'm wiped! Hope you enjoyed the pictures.... it's just a sneak peak at the great weekend we had. We're sad to leave, but at the same time can't wait to get home to see Nate. Hopefully the flight home goes ok! (The first one wasn't bad, but was definitely exhausting)