Big 3 for Annabelle!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS ANNAB!!!!! How is it possible that our first little girl is already 3?!?! It's been 3 joyful and fulfilling years with you our little Annabelle.  You made me and Daddy parents and for that we will always be grateful.  You have brought such a happy light into our lives that we didn't have before and we are thankful that you are such a good girl with a big heart.

We decided that Dad would just take the day off for your birthday and instead of having a friends party we would celebrate as a family.  You asked specifically to have a chocolate donut for your birthday so that was an easy wish to grant.  Our favorite place to get donuts here in Kingman is Donut Deli, they are delish and made fresh every morning. We thought we would save money by celebrating with just us, but of course Dad and I wanted to spoil you and went overboard on your presents, you're worth it though! :)

This is you when you first woke up and walked out of your room, we wanted to surprise you...

Your breakfast consisted of your chocolate donut with candles and a strawberry milk with a straw!  I was surprised because you didn't finish your donut, I think you were just too excited for your toys.  One of your presents was this little picnic table which also had an umbrella that we could put up for shade when you are outside. We had your presents all wrapped and ready for you to open, there were balloons all over the floor too.  You were so happy, we just wanted you to feel loved on your special day.

You asked Grammy Schaub for a Frozen dress and ran around the house singing Frozen songs, it was so cute!  You acted like you had magical powers like Elsa. We also got you a magnetic doodle board because lately you have been loving to draw.

We asked you what else you wanted to do and of course you said go to the splash pad, wish granted!  Kingman doesn't have one so we took a little road trip to Vegas, Rachel Adams referred us to one and it turned out being a really nice with lots of water fountains for you to splash in.  I think you could run around the splash pad all day long, I'm hoping one day when we own our own place Daddy will build you guys your own personal splash pad in the backyard, wouldn't that be nice? You are so cute in your little swimmie.

Pax was such a grump that day, I thought he would have been more excited to be out in the water when it was so hot but nope he wasn't!  It was pretty hot that day so he was a bit flushed, I ran around with you in the splash pad and Daddy took care of him most of the time.

You were all SMILES at the splash pad, cute girl! You are so easy to love and please.

Then your last wish for your birthday was to eat your favorite food...hamburgers and fries dipped in ranch.  Wish granted, we took you to Red Robin and you got a hamburger and all the french fries your heart desired and loads of ranch.  We also told them it was your birthday, so the staff came out and sang to you and gave you a special dessert.  I would call the day a success, it was so fun being able to have some treasured family time.  You are our everything bear and we love you so very much, I hope you will always be able to feel of our love for you.  Thanks for being such a great addition to our fam!

Paxton 7 Months

7 Month Update: 

1. Mommy likes to say that you look like a cute little hedgehog.

2. Your favorite toy to play with is this Sherman bobble head that Annabelle got in one of her happy meals.

3. You still fall asleep sucking on one of your muslin swaddle blankets.

4. You can sit up all on your own now.

5. We always put you as the centerpiece of the table in your bumbo while we eat dinner.

6. You think Annabelle is a comedian and will laugh the most at her! It's so cute to watch you guys play together.

7. I gave you your first taste of solids this month and it was baby oatmeal mixed with some formula. You weren't a huge fan and still just prefer to nurse.

8. I tried giving you some apple sauce and you didn't like that either.

9. You will randomly sleep through the night which mommy loves!

10. You have been such a grouch lately in your car seat that we never want to take you anywhere!

11.  We put your first baseball hat on you and you just looked so darn cute!

12.  Grammy and Papa Shaver came to visit for their anniversary and you loved all the attention you got from them.  Grammy Shaver just loves to hold you and it's nice bc then Mommy can get some things done around the house. 

13.  Your favorite thing to suck on is your hands. 

14.  You still do not enjoy tummy time and get mad within the first couple of minutes.

15. Sister makes you sing "Let It Go" in her frozen microphone and you don't like it, you'll just sit there and breathe into it.

Swim Lessons at Grandview Pool

We signed you up for swim lessons this summer at Grandview Pool.  I was anxious to see how you would do because the only other swim class we had done was at the hospital when you were 1 and I was in the water with you.

The first day we were kind of nervous because it was going to be your first time in the pool without your floatie on.  Dad and I were both a bit worried so we made sure that one of us was always sitting on the sidelines just in case something happened.  We did get a bit of a scare on the 2nd day because you had let go of the side railing and your teacher was helping another kid and his back was turned towards you so Dad almost jumped in to get you!  My heart started beating so fast because you had gone under water for a good couple of seconds.  After that though you didn't let go of the wall and were more attentive to your teacher and following the instructions.

The goal of the class was to get you used to being in the water without a floatie and also teaching you how to swim short distances towards objects.  You were much better at going under water, learning how to hold your breath, and plugging your nose.  We were pleased with how the class went and can't wait to sign you up again next summer!

The class ran for 2 weeks for a total of 8 lessons and was only $20! We decided to do an afternoon class so that Dad could go with us to watch you.

Each Friday they let you guys put life vests on and go down the slide and diving board.  You were courageous enough to do the slide but too scared for the diving board!  Instead of going off the diving board you would just stand off to the side and jump into the deep end.

Turns out that your teacher Tanner Cardiff was in our ward!  He was so good with you guys and always so patient.  The last day of your lesson you got a lollipop and a certificate stating which swimming techniques you had passed off.  Way to pump your fins in the water little AnnaB fish!