One Year Ago Today

I can't believe a year has already flown by!

Annabelle's first birthday has been quite eventful so far.
She had her 12 month appointment this morning (complete with three vaccines and two vials of blood!). After a wonderful nap, we ate some lunch and went to the playground with grandma. Annabelle had a wonderful time climbing, swinging, crawling, and watching the older kids.
Now, we're back home and she's taking another nap. Then, we're going for a walk and eating at Steak and Shake for dinner...yum!
We're saving all the celebrations (cake, presents, etc.) for tomorrow when Kris will be able to spend more time with us.

Update on her stats:
length/height: 28 3/4" (25%)
weight: 16lbs 8 oz (3%)
Healthy little girl!

Vacation Part 4: Virginia Beach

We spent the final few days of vacation in Virginia Beach. One of Kris' good friends from high school got married on the beach, right outside an awesome beach house that they rented for the week. Annabelle almost made it through the ceremony. Afterwards, she had a great time playing with the other kids (always watching and learning from the older ones!)

and entertaining the adults.



We also got some quality beach time in and found out that Annabelle loves the beach!
At first she was a bit afraid of the ocean (don't blamer her, I still am!) and didn't want her feet to touch the water.

But, she loved playing in the sand (and, later, the water too).

Vacation Part Three: Williamsburg

On Tuesday morning, we went to the Richmond Botanical Garden and had lunch with a high school buddy of Kris' before heading to Williamsburg. There, we met up with Kris' parents and brother's family. Annabelle loved seeing her cousins, Noah (20 months) and Eric (11 years). Annabelle really enjoyed being carried around by Eric and I think she learned lots of mischievous new things from Noah. For dinner, we ate at a delicious Chinese buffet where Kris loaded up on sushi (since we never get it...bleh!) Then, on Wednesday we visited Colonial Williamsburg and the outlet mall.

Our oh-so-cute nephew, Noah.


Annabelle and Noah mostly played around in the "commons" area. Noah, showing Annabelle how to work the buckle of his stroller.

Annabelle had a very fussy morning, but fell asleep in my arms (a rare occasion!) just as we were on our way to the car to go back to the hotel for a nap. So, we took a break under a tree.


All of us at Colonial Williamsburg.

Vacation Part Two: Richmond

On day three of our vacation, we were in Richmond (where Kris spent most of his high school days). We visited the Children's Museum (where she did her first painting and made her first collage), got some sweet treats at the candy store next door (woohoo Groupon!), and spent some time with my Aunt Anne. I can't believe we didn't get any pictures with her! What were with thinking?!?

Riding the train (Annabelle was a bit worried about the loud animal sounds)


Playing in the water table...splash, splash!


What big sunglasses you have, Mommy!


She was supposed to be sorting vegetables into these bins. She thought it would make a better climbing apparatus.


See? I like peas!

Vacation Part 1: Baltimore and DC

On day one, we flew from St Louis to Baltimore. Annabelle did pretty well on the flight; a few complaints here and there. Of course, she fell asleep about 10 minutes before we landed (something we were trying to accomplish the whole time). So, Kris got to manage all of our luggage while I lugged a sleeping Annabelle through the airport, baggage claim, and on the rental car bus.

In Baltimore, we visited our old neighborhood, Federal Hill. Our friend, Matthew, met us there and Annabelle met him for the first time and took an immediate liking. We walked around, went to the park at the top of Federal Hill, watched some kinetic sculptures go by, and went to dinner at Kris' favorite place in Baltimore, Thirsty Dog. Annabelle met two more Baltimore friends, Sean and Becky, at dinner! Of course, we also stopped by Ropewalk Tavern, where Kris and I met 6 years ago :)


We spent the next day in DC. Matthew met up with us again and my brother, Paul, and his girlfriend, Brittany, joined us as well. We went to the National Mall and perused the Natural History and Air and Space Museums. We took a walk to see the Washington Monument, but didn't have time to go to the other monuments or the White House :( Dinner was a Luna Grill and was delicious (Happy Mother's Day)!