We had a Cake Smash!

So here are some pictures from a cake smash we did with Annaka. This was Strawberry Patch's first cake smash and we had a blast, maybe because Annaka is one of our favorite models.

Things I want to remember

I have been trying to write this blog for days and I just don't know what to write. I wanted to make sure that the world, or whoever reads this, will know who she is. A place I can come back to and feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Something Annaka can read and get a glimpse of the woman she sits with in her pictures. But truth be told, Grandma is gone, if you didn't know her you just didn't know her, you missed out. Annaka will only have my memories and when I can no longer remember I will only have pictures and what I write now. So all I can think of is to write all the things I remember, the good the bad, the funny and the sad.

I remember......

That she took extra cream in her coffee. It was always the color of coffee ice cream.

She wore her hair the same way everyday, high in her head with a bow in her hair.

I asked her once when I was little why she wore her bows. She said that her patients liked them.

When I was little, in kindergarden maybe, she took me to her job, at the nursing home. I loved it, I loved the people. She said all I had to do was talk to them and it would make them happy. I was happy to make them happy. I know this is why I feel so fondly towards the elderly and prefer to work in geriatrics.

Before we hung up she always said "We'll talk again soon."

When she said "I love you Bethie."

When I was 12 eating a french fry she sang to me "A moment on the lips a lifetime on the hips." I did not appreciate that. :)

She use to take her teeth out at the most awkward times.

She would ask me to rub her feet with lotion, I use to hate it.

When she sang the song "Beans Beans the magical fruit the more you eat the more you toot the more you toot the better you feel so lets have beans with every meal."

Whenever she sent a a card she always sent a "smiley track" and return labels.

When I was younger and she would remind me to pray for my father because he worked nights and people who worked nights were more likely to get in a car accident.

If I said I like it she would try and give it to me.

She always wanted to give me money.

She loved when I prayed for her.

The last words I ever heard clearly from her were "I'm miserable."

Cuddling up next to her on the couch when we were together.

Cleaning my room and being upset because I could not find anything.

Fighting with her and saying sorry.

Spending the night with her in her bed, she always gave me all the pillows.

Her facial expressions, when she was excited and her she raised her eyebrows, or when she was so happy and would say "Wow". You could read her like a book, she wore her emotions on her face. I think that I get that from her.

Holding her hand.

Hearing her sing loud and off key.

Playing the accordion.

Praying to Jesus.

Eating her chicken and rice and her oatmeal.

Brushing her hair for her when she couldn't.

How her face would light up when she saw Annaka.

How excited she would sound whenever I called.

How brave she was to tell everyone even my friends about her faith in Jesus.

Talking to her about my classes and my life.

The way she smells (I'm afraid I am going to forget this one.)

Her laugh and smile.

This is just a tiny bit of all the things that I remember about my grandmother and the things that I will miss. I feel that Grandma and I were close and that we had a special relationship. I think that no matter what we always miss the people that we love I hope to never forget all these things. I hope that as time goes on I can add things to this list. I'm sorry if you never knew my Grandma but I hope that this can be a reminder to cherish all the small things for the loved ones in your life.

1 Year, 12 Months. 52 Weeks, 365 Days

Last year I did not make any resolutions. I had 3 goals, nurse my baby for at least 1 year, stick with cloth diapers and keep my baby alive. I think that this is the first year that I accomplished all of my goals! At one point I did give myself a few other goals, I have been working on my business with my sister, I sewed napkins but no quilt and I only managed to blog once a month. I guess I'll try again this year!

As we now have this fast little toddler no longer a helpless infant you start to think about the rest of her life. I guess I feel like if I can keep her alive for a year I can figure all the rest out now. (yeah right!)  SO i can't help but think about my hopes for my sweetie pie. Thinking of the kind of little lady I hope she will be, the kind of people I want in her life the things that I want to shield her from (of course all things bad and awful) the experiences I want her to have. It's hard to be realistic. Knowing that there will be pain, disappointment and lots of mistakes. So what can I hope for Annaka?

So after much thought and consideration here is my as realistic as possible hopes for my sweet little sugar bear.

On the "Polar Express" In Portland Maine. 

Dear Annaka,

You are now a fiesty, talkative, curious little toddler. No longer a tiny little helpless baby, I am thankful for that. I am thankful that you made it through your first year with minor bumps and bruises. I wish that I could shield you from all things "bad" and harmful as you continue to grow and walk through life, getting you through with minor bumps and bruises. Bad experiences as well as good ones shape us to be as we grow, so instead of hoping and wishing for something that is not only impossible but also not ultimately helpful to you here are my hopes and dreams for you my dear sweet girl.

I hope that you grow to have the support of not only your parents but also of other adults in your life. Adults that you can go to when your parents are uncool or would never understand, maybe forgotten what it is like to be your age. Adults that love you and have your best interest at heart, ones that will help you walk through hard choices and big heartaches when your parents just don't make the cut.

I pray that you have a strong foundation in Jesus and your faith. So when you do have to make choices on your own you remember you are never really alone and that you will hear the still small voice of the Lord.

I pray that your father and I always turn to the Lord when it comes to guiding you as you become you. I pray that we are sensitive as well to that still small voice to help you reconize your strengths and help you foster your weaknesses.

I hope that even when you make big, big mistakes you will feel loved and supported and know that there is nothing that you could do that will shock your father and I. Remember there is absoluty nothing you can do to make us love you any less. It is only possible for us to love you more.

I pray that you understand forgiveness. Both in giving and receiving because there will be a lot of it as you grow. Including dear old mom and dad.

I hope for the kind of life experiences that do not break you but only make you stronger and wiser.

I pray for you to have confidence in who you are and who you are becoming. The kind of confidence needed to play alone, eat linch by yourself and make new friends. The kind of confidence that is only found in Jesus.

I pray that you will be blessed with friends, life long, loyal, kind friends. Friends that will love you no matter what, support you and gently correct you. You will gain these kinds of friends by being this kind of friend.

Most of all I pray that you enjoy all that Jesus has in store for you. That even now when you are still so small He will begin to work in your life and plant seeds in your sweet little heart.

I am really crazy about you Annaka. I never understood the blessing children were until I was blessed with my own. Happy Happy Birthday sweet girl.

With all the love I have to give,

Mama

Stationery card

Our Top Ten Holiday Card

Shop hundreds of holiday photo cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

11 Last baby month

They say that a one year old is a toddler but I can't believe it, she is still so tiny, she still has so much growing to do. Maybe I will be saying that for the rest of my life, that she is still so tiny and still has so much growing to do.

This month for Annaka: 

Had her first halloween, she was a cupcake.

First sweets, a lollipop and a ice cream cone.

Started to gibe kisses, baby kisses

Took her first unassisted steps.

Had her first overnight away from Mom and Dad.

Fell on her face and cut her lip with her teeth.

Got two more teeth on the bottom.

First Thanksgiving.

First finger painting project.

Running with her baby walker.
Started sleeping through the night!!!!

Adorableness 

ice cream come

A lollipop in her cupcake outfir

Mom and baby

First finger paint project

First Thanksgiving meal

Helping decorate the tree

Dear Annaka,

You are growing so fast. It has been so cool to watch you grow and change and become this little person. People told me that this time would go by fast I imagined it going by fast but it is a type of fast that I guess you don't know till you have babies. If you even choose to have babies enjoy all the moments. Try hard to not miss any, to breathe and relax when you are frustrated, to try and remember that you will get to sleep again one day. This time really doesn't last forever and it has gone way to quick. Thank you for trying to talk to us. I love when you "say" Gus or Dada. Sometimes we think that you are repeating everything that we are saying! It is amazing! Thank you for giving us kisses, wet slimy ones and thank you for lighting up and smiling big when we see each other after a time away. Sometimes when I put you down for bed I miss you. I love talking to you on our walks. I love reading to you every night and I love having cuddle time when you first wake up. 

Thank you Annaka for being adorably sweet and so kind to everyone. Everyone who meets you loves and how could they not. I love you so much Annaka and I am so excited to continue to watch you grow.

Love

Mommy {which you have yet to say;)}

We have reach double digits 10 months

Today as I peeled back the 10 month sticker from the paper I began to get a little teary eyed. It caught me off guard since I am not the emotional type so it was short lived but none the less it happened. Only two more stickers (the ones that I have used in the onesies) until the first year is over, where did the time go, they say it goes by fast but no amount of warning can really prepare you for the speed of light the year as felt so far. Now not only is Annaka's first birthday coming up but the holidays as well. I know at the end of the next two months I'll wish I hadn't blinked.

As always our sweet little lady filled our month with more joy, laughter, frustration, exhaustion, concern and love than the month before. Our once tiny little infant is now not only crawling but walking with assistance. I can't believe it, I was not wishing for this day to come SO soon. I was fine with the fact that the only way she could get around was crawling and pulling herself up. Of course I couldn't be more proud of our smart daughter. I am sure I have said it often but watching someone grow is truely one of the most amazing gifts from God. Besides my husband, Annaka is the most wonderful earthly gift I could have ever been blessed with.

Our little world traveler was on the road again this month. We finally were able to visit the sunny land of California. It was so great to be able to see family and friends. Of course I think that they were all more excited to see Annaka understandably. :) We were there for a week and we stayed with Lydia my best friend from college. It was so great to be someplace that even though we had never been to was so warm and familiar. Lydia wrote a great post and posted some GREAT photos on her blog. http://syniahsmama.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-baby-in-our-home-smith-visit.html I was so glad she took so may pictures, I tend to slack on taking pictures when I know someone else is, then when I get home and have no pictures I am always upset with myself (hopefully my dear friend will send them all to me ;) One day I may learn. We were also able to see my dad's family, my dad goes out every year for his mother's birthday and this year we joined him. We also say my very dear friends Haiza and Christine and her family. All in all it was a fantastic trip.

While we were in California we also visited the world famous San Diego Zoo. Annaka did pretty good she lasted a whole 5 hours! She enjoyed seeing monkeys and birds. She did also enjoy watching the elephant relieve himself we did not photograph that event.

This month on the way home from California Annaka had A LOT to say and has not stopped talking since. She was very friendly with the people that we meet at the airport, mixed feelings about that one. She also had her 9 month visit and she is doing great! She got her last round of shots for a while, and is in the 50th percentile for height and weight. Her head is in the 75th percentile. Annaka is also getting her top 4 teeth, yes at once, poor baby and poor mommy and daddy a little bit. Like I said ealier she is walking with the assistance or whatever and whoever is around and mobile. She moves FAST!

The biggest event I think of the whole month is that she spent the first FULL night away from her mommy. It was a success and only a few tears were shed. I had a girls weekend with two of my best friends from high school Auntie Miss and Auntie Kris. It was nice to get away to know that she is fine with out me. :(  But it was also nice to see her smile when I got back. Sometimes I really go nuts being home all the time and I miss working but it does make a mommy feel all warm and fuzzy inside when their baby is so happy to see them!

Kyle and I are going to try and really soak up these last two months of Annaka's first year. Soak up all the baby goodness that we can get.

Happy 10 months Annaka! We love you and are so glad that you have many more wonderful milestones ahead of you. We plan to enjoy them all as we get to witness you grow into a beautiful little lady.

Your adoring fans,
Mom and Dad