However, this one wasn’t quite as cooperative as Analiese was–always in a strange position and then moving around just as we were about to get a good image. Stubborn little one. It was a long ultrasound, but thankfully, the technician was as determined as we were to find out the sex.

We were most excited to come home and share the news with Baby’s big sister. So, we thought it appropriate for her to share the news with you…

That’s right…it’s another girl! We are shocked (since two girls in a row is very rare in our families) and super excited (because they get to be sisters!).

We’re not sure how much of this Analiese is grasping just yet, but we do know that she is going to be a wonderful big sister to this little one.

Most of the time, when Analiese sees the video camera, she clams up. But, the other day, I caught a rare performance:

This has been a full month for us. Between people coming and going to work on the basement, Daddy being away for a week for work and traveling to Cincinnati for Christmas, we’ve been a bit all over the place. I wish I could bottle up your energy because I am tired! That could be because I’m growing your little brother or sister inside of me, too. Which, by the way, we think you’re excited about. When we ask you where the baby is, you try to lift Mama’s shirt up to see my belly and often offer a kiss. You are going to be a very sweet big sister.

While Daddy was away, I whisked you away to do something very fun and exciting…

your first haircut! { Please, contain the joy. }

Really, though, you did great, babe.

You probably enjoyed our trip to the mall play area with your friend, A, the day before more. You had so much fun running around, climbing, sliding, hiding…it was a fun day for you.

You love your puppy dog! Parker makes you giggle out of no where. You love retrieving his toys when they get stuck somewhere and he usually has a very willing little person to throw his toys for him to fetch. He’s very appreciative that you now know his name, too!

You stay on guard when there’s food involved, though. Smart girl.

Christmas in Cincinnati was a treat for you. You woke up ready for whatever the day held and greeted everyone by name each morning.

We ate a lot of good food all week long and decorated Nana and Poppa’s Christmas tree.

You went to the grocery store with Nana where you put a smile on everyone’s face when you greeted them up and down the aisles.

You went to the bookstore with Poppa where you “organized” the shelves.

We slowly unwrapped gifts throughout the day so you could enjoy what you had been gifted.

Thank you, Uncle Erik, for the colored bubble launcher. It’s bound to be a favorite. However, it’s hiding until summer.

On our last full day, we went to see the trains at the Museum Center…

…made a gingerbread man with Nana…

…and in the evening took a drive with Nana to see the lights at Sharon Woods in our pj’s. What a fun and festive day that was!

When we returned home, we took advantage of having no plans and hung out with Daddy for the rest of the week. We wore our pj’s a lot. You played with all of your new toys quite contentedly. Some days you entertain yourself so well.

Other days require a project like painting { so focused! } or playing with water at the sink { messier than you may think }.

But you still love to color in your coloring books and are even trying to color specific areas instead of just all over the page. Nana would be proud.

In fact, most evenings before bed, this is what you’re doing:

Butt up. Tongue out.

Love you, Analiese!
Mama & Daddy

Every year it’s a challenge to design our Christmas card. I spend many months designing cards for pipe|up, but then need to stir my creative juices to come up with just one more for our own card.

This year was no exception. I really love so many of the designs in my shop this year. (Is that ok to say?) I loved designing them and I feel so honored when an Etsy shopper scours through thousands of possible card designs, adds mine to their favorites–usually among many other very talented card designers–and then purchases one of MY designs. It brings me such delight. I also had some great text and layout ideas shared with me by close friends who just want to help me succeed in what I love to do. There’s really no reason, other than the surprise element, that prevents me from just using one of the designs that already exists.

 { front }

But, you see, I do love a little surprise. And this year, in particular, we have fun news to share with friends and family and I knew exactly how I wanted to share it. No, the “+1″ is not referring to Parker. We’ve been gifted a brand new little life and will soon be a family of four. We feel so blessed.

We also wanted our card to reflect the true meaning of Christmas–the birth of Jesus, our Savior and light of the world. ”May they know He came for them” is from “Christmas Christmastime is Here” by Rosie Thomas. It’s a perfect message that we want you all to know and believe.

A few weeks ago, our church held a Women’s Christmas Tea. My dear friend, K, shared with the group some holiday traditions she and her family have begun. She closed with this:

I hope you know tonight that He came for you. Because of Jesus, I have complete forgiveness of sins and I don’t need to earn anything. For those who have a relationship with Christ, He came for you. For those of you who are still deciding what you believe, He came for you. He came for all of us that we might know the love of God and experience His grace.

{ back }

He came for you. Merry Christmas.

A further head turn, and there was this (notice her real milk in the background):

Then, I started roaming the rest of the house to see what else she had lined up and found this in her room:

My little organizer!

This evening, she came out of her room with her arms full of lovies. We have a collection of a few that didn’t make “the cut”, but she still likes to play with them. She also put on the headband herself.

It wasn’t too long before she was lining them up to take a nap on the floor. She’s telling the last one “night night” in case you can’t tell.

You have so many words in your vocabulary! We love hearing your sweet, little voice pronounce real, meaningful words. Communicating with you has recently gotten very easy and rewarding for all of us. You’re also using those words to imitate things you see us and others doing–like talking on the phone, reading a book, and praying. If we hear your rattle off a list of names and then a very clear “Amen!” we know what you were doing! “Night night” is a new favorite saying of yours and you are never shy to give a big “hi!” or “bye!” to whomever is coming or going.

You also love being around people and light up when we tell you we are going to see family or friends. You adore your Grandpa, Gigi, Nana, Poppa, uncles and aunts; You get so excited when you get to hang out with all of the big kids on Bible study night. Just this morning, you literally jumped out of bed when I told you we were going to go see some friends today. And on the way there, you repeated, “Friends? friends? friends?” the entire way.

Speaking of your bed, Daddy removed the side, so you are officially in a toddler bed! Thankfully, you’ve stayed put during naps. Occasionally, though, we find you on the floor in the middle of the night…completely fast asleep. You’ve always been a great sleeper and this transition hasn’t made you waiver at all.

As you near the age of two, however, we are definitely witnessing your burgeoning awareness of your independence in a variety of ways. As your world gets bigger, you are craving the comfort of familiarity. Recently, you’ve become very attached to your lovie and want to take it everywhere. Gone are the days when Cheerios would be the only distraction needed at the grocery store. We’re not sure if this is something we should just let play out or try to set up boundaries.

You are frustrated easily when things don’t go the way you want them to (not because you’re your mother’s daughter or anything). Whether we have to tell you “no” to something or a toy isn’t doing what you want it to, a little comforting and encouragement is needed to get you back on track.

We love getting to know more of who you are, Analiese. Your personality is starting to show as you line up your toys and dolls when you play (organizer?), help Daddy build things with tools (creative?), march around the room dancing to different songs (musical?) and jump at any opportunity to be around people (social?).

Also, you have the cutest bounce in your step when you try to run. And you love riding in elevators!

Love, Mama and Daddy

This week marks the beginning of advent. While we currently don’t have any notable family traditions surrounding this, Heather and I have decided to go through this advent guide produced by The Village Church. While we’re just getting started, we’re hopeful to spend some time slowing, reflecting, and anticipating.

Christ is coming. He has come, and He will come again. This is the message of Advent.

He is typically tired after getting a do, or as Missy Elliot would say, after getting his hair did.

Dear Analiese,

The beginning of the month surprised us with some very warm, sunny days. We were outside as much as possible–parks, the zoo, Greenfield Village…anything to savor the last few days of warmth!

You are quite ambitious when it comes to climbing and exploring.

And you know how to give yourself a good laugh.

You are so very confident and independent, too. We marvel at how easy it is to drop you off at the gym’s child center, or the kid’s room at a new church. Most of the time, though, we find you playing by yourself, enjoying the bustling of other kids around you. We’re told this is totally normal.

Our trip to Washington DC marked your third time in an airplane. Now, whenever you hear an airplane, you pause and try to find it in the sky. A proud “there it is!” usually follows even if the plane is no where in sight.

Since you love to color with crayons, I introduced you to paint. You were SO focused on what you were creating! It’s beautiful!

We celebrated your 21st month in Bloomington, Indiana, where your Daddy, Mama, Gigi and Grandpa went to college. It was surreal to stroll the same paths we once walked as hurried students with a toddler in a stroller. Gigi and Grandpa bought you your first IU sweatshirt as well as a teddy bear with a little red hoodie. You affectionately refer to him as “hood”.

As the weather has begun to cool, you love wearing hats!

“Gigi? Papa? Gigi? Papa?” was what we all heard immediately after you awoke every day! It warms their hearts to know that you know who they are and you can’t wait to spend time with them.

Love to you, Baby Girl!
Mama and Daddy

We are working on listening and obeying at home. She’s doing such a great job and I’m always so proud of her when she does what she’s told, when she’s told. However, 20,000 feet in the air on a crowded plane with strangers is no place to test the boundaries. Our flight was only 1.5 hours long, but we went prepared.

I made a list of things I thought Analiese would enjoy doing on the plane went shopping at Target. I stopped at the $1 bins first and picked up a colorful snap bracelet and a sparkly notebook. I had stickers and crayons at home. I pretty much never shop for toys (thank you, grandparents!) so, I was somewhat overwhelmed when I walked down the toy aisles. There are so many cool things out there! For my artsy daughter, I decided on a kid-proof Magna-doodle and some no-dry play dough.

My mother in law had a wonderful idea that I didn’t hesitate to try: wrap each “distraction” individually. The unveiling process was a distraction in itself and kept her intrigued.

We knew she’d be content to watch an hour of Elmo’s World on Ross’s ipod, but we tried to hold off on this until we exhausted a few other options. We wanted to keep a few wrapped items for the return flight, too.

Food, of course, is always a good way to keep Analiese content, too. So, we had with us a few treats she doesn’t normally have at home:

• a selection of HAPPYTOT pouches
• a canister of HAPPYMUNCHIES
• Cheerios (her fave)
• water
• juice (to suck on down during take off)

We had to wake her up much earlier than usual for our flight there. She drank her milk at the airport and snacked on some cheerios. Once we were on the plane, we got out the notebook and some crayons. Eventually, one pack of stickers was opened and this kept her occupied and content on my lap for the majority of the flight. Once she started fussing a bit, we took out Ross’s ipod to watch some Elmo. And about 10 minutes later, they asked everyone to turn off electronic devices. Bad timing. This did not go over too well, but since she was pretty tired from waking up so early, she gave in and sucked her thumb for the remainder of the flight. Her ears didn’t bother her at all. She was awesome.

Coming off of five days of busyness and short naps, I was sure the return flight wouldn’t be so smooth. Literally, it wasn’t. It was probably the bumpiest flight I’ve ever been on. My stomach was doing flips. But, we decided to start out with Elmo and Analiese wasn’t phased AT ALL by the turbulence. Or anything for that matter. When Elmo finished, we unwrapped the Magna-doodle, which was a hit, and then some more stickers. When she popped up on the chair once the plane landed, the lady behind her didn’t even realize there was a child sitting in front of her.

So, all in all, flying with a 21 month old was a success. It definitely helps to have two adults, though!