Anna's 2nd Birthday Party

On November 20th, we had Annalise's 2nd Birthday Party at the Lighthouse social hall of our church.  In addition to the enjoyment of celebrating Anna's birth, it was also great to see some friends and family that we have not seen in awhile!  This year it was also great fun including her on some of the decisions for the partya and shopping!  Anna specifically requested peanut butter ice cream for the party (how she even knew about peanut butter I have no idea), so on that day that is what she got.  She seemed to like it but interestingly she has not even mentioned it since and she was mentioning it daily before then. In any event, Annalise really enjoyed playing with all the other kids, and of course the cake and presents!

 A view of the adult guests --- all the kids were over playing in the other part of the room at this point!

 Scoping out the cake

 Getting a closer look!

 Enjoying the cake and the peanut butter ice cream

 Mr. "Tato" Head from Rammer, Shira and baby James

 An adorable outfit from Jason, Kristin, Caden and Abby 

(Anna loves clothes as much as she loves toys if not more so!)

 The awesome tent from Emmy and Mike!

 Hanging out with baby James after the party

Annalise just loves him and talks about seeing him all the time!

A Visit From Baby James

On Thursday, our friends Rammer and Shira and their son James came down for a visit. It was a great visit even though we were not able to go to the fair! Annalise just loves babies and was sooooo excited to see "Baby James".  She was very gentle and was so proud of herself that she helped to give him a bottle.  She also helped to changed his diaper by handing the wipes, etc to Rammer and she also helped to burp him!

James used Annalise's old Exersaucer while he was here.  It kinda made me sad because I can remember not too long ago how she loved it so!  Now she says "That for babies."

Being helpful with feeding James.  I have to admit I sooooooooo miss having a little baby around.  I just breathed in his little, cute, adorableness!

"Am I doing this right, Mommy?"

(I didn't know I was in these pictures, hence the fact that I am just talking and not looking at the camera.  I thought that he was just taking them of Anna and James).

So proud of herself for being such a big helper!

Meeting Baby James

On Wednesdasy and Thursday of this week we visited our friends Rammer and Shira and got to meet their adorable baby boy, James, who was born the beginning of June.  It was a nice visit and Annalise was really good with the baby!  She just kept saying "Hi-ya baby James" over and over again while helping to gently rock him in his swing.  She really didn't show any signs of jealousy when I was holding him although when I was feeding him a bottle she did ask me for a bottle for herself.  I reminded her that bottles were for babies and that she is a big girl.  That seemed to be enough for her because she didn't mention it again.  Anna even carefully laid her beloved doll baby on James while he was in his swing.   I do have to say though that the visit showed me that I am not ready for a second baby until Anna is at least 3 years old!  I just can't imagine having a newborn with a 20 month old!  Annalise occupies soooo much of my time and attention at this age that I have to give major credit and applause to those of you who are obviously so much braver than I!  At one point I was giving James a bottle (which I loved doing and I completely fell in love with all his newborn cuteness) and trying to read Annalise a book and keep her occupied.  Whew, it was tricky!  Anyway, enough of my rambling (which I know I do so well) here are some pictures:

Adorable little James

I just love how much hair he has!

James' brother, Cisco (don't know if I spelled that right)

Honestly one of the best dogs I know!

Anna decided she wanted to put her feet in the pool.

She went on a step that was too low though and got her shorts soaked!

After her shorts were soaked she said she wanted to get in the pool.

I put her suit on her but I questioned how long she would last because she is not really a fan of our pool unless it is at least 88 degrees (which fortunately has been most of the summer)!

I was right, she got out.

She did end up getting back in though for a little while.

The berry lover was in all her glory because they have blueberry and huckleberry bushes at there house!  She ate soooooooooo many berries while we were there!  Amazingly she didn't even get a belly ache!  Here is is eyeing up the blueberry bushes.

Eating some blueberries

Havin' fun

Helping to rock James

Here she was sharing her most favorite doll ever (I am pretty sure she has had it since she was born or shortly there after).  Anna walked up to James and said "Here James" and put it on him.  Notice though she is keeping an eye on it =)

Stitting with "Uncle Hammer" -- as she started calling him

Wayne County Fair

On Sunday, we went to the Wayne County Fair in Honesdale. We go every summer for a quick visit to see our friends Rammer and Shira who live outside of Honesdale and every summer it rains the evening that we go. This year was no different, although it was the first time that Annalise went to the fair. I told her that it was just a "warm-up" for the Bloomsburg Fair, since I am known to be down there as much as I possibly can during fair week =). Anna had a good time taking in all of the sights and sounds and playing with her balloon....until the rain came and then she was ready to go and let us know it!!!! Hopefully next year we can break our tradition and choose a day with when it doesn't pour!

Taking it all in...

Listening to a conversation between Shira and Mommy.

Taking a break to eat some puffs.

Getting bopped on the head by Daddy...which is very funny.

More funny balloon bopping.

Honesdale and a Big Girl Bath

Annalise has been a busy little girl this past week. We went to visit our good friends Rammer and Shira in Honesdale. As always it was great to see them and we had a really good time! It was nice being able to just relax for a couple of days. Anna did something new while she was there......she took her first "Big Girl Bath". We didn't take her little bath tub with us, so when it was time for her bath that night, we put her in the regular tub. She loved it! She thought it was really funny to be able to splash in the water more easily and thought it was funny when I splashed water on her. As usual (I apologize, but I am getting better), we did not take many pictures but here are a few.

Hanging out with Rammer

Petting their dog, Cisco (who is hidden at the moment)

On the porch in the "Air Chair"
We have one of these too and I love it!

Keeping an eye on something..

Anna's first Big Girl Bath

Little peanut in the bath