We Don't Have a Baby Anymore

Annalyn has officially graduated from her crib to a twin bed! She looked way to big for her crib, but now she looks too small for her new bed. That's okay, we're happy to see her growing up. She's no longer a baby, she's a little girl now!

The new bed came at a welcome time for Annalyn. This past week she had a fever and was stuffed up pretty bad. As a result, she wasn't getting very good sleep. But her big new comfy bed changed that in a hurry! Rachel took excellent care of her to help her get over her bug, and she loves going to sleep now. It's never been a real problem putting her down at night; we have a strict routine every evening that Annalyn knows and is accustomed to. But her new bed is so big and so comfortable, she's even easier to put down - she might even be looking forward to bedtime! At least, for a awhile...

Bad health has been getting to all of us recently. I injured my back (again) on Saturday. Must've tweaked it just wrong, or added the last straw, either way my back said it was done. And it's been out for almost a week now. Mornings have been really debilitating. Each day has been a little better than the last though, and Rachel has been an absolute angel in helping me get back to full strength. She got me a heating pad for home and some heating packs for work, and she's always there to help me with stretching to keep me limbered up so I can keep going. Even Annalyn helps out. The other morning when I was laying on the floor in pain, she brought me one of my golf balls to comfort me. She then followed that up by bringing me a copy of my latest magazine. Even at 2 years old, I'm amazed at the emotional insight a person, particularly a little girl, can have with those around her that she loves. It's easy to see the nurturing side that is so divinely innate in her personality.

Rachel's about to hit her 30 week mark! Declan is still  continuing to grow just fine. But 30 weeks means 10 more weeks still to go - not exactly right around the corner. And Rachel is wondering how big Declan is going to get before he arrives. Still struggling with some sciatic pain, but you wouldn't know it with how well she carries on with everything she does. But Annalyn is all but over her fever now, if not completely healed. We hope that her recovery is a good omen for my back to finish healing, as well as Rachel's sciatica to stop acting up, and she'll be able to wrap up her last trimester without too much to fuss over.

Ice Blocking

Last Tuesday night for mutual we had a combined activity to go ice blocking. I'm pretty sure the last time I actually went ice blocking was when I was about 10 and I went with my sister Melissa when she was a beehive. Needless to say, I did not slide down the hill with a cold brick under my butt.

But I did get to watch some of the young men and young women get a little crazy - not to mention a couple of the adults.

We had originally scheduled the activity for two weeks prior, but we were unable to locate any ice blocks. Gas stations, grocers, everywhere was checked....nothing. So we had to postpone until some blocks were located by the manufacturer. Yes, we had to find someone who 'manufactures' ice blocks.

Everyone had a really good time. No one wanted to stop, especially when they started making groves in the grass which helped them slide even further. Even the bishop got involved and had fun!

Just before the ice blocks melted to the point where they couldn't be used, we decided to call it an evening. Everyone was safe, no one got hurt. Afterwards, we told stories of activities past, and Fred enjoyed a little of the ice himself.

"Where You Going Baby?"

The library here in St. Louis had a reading program this summer that Annalyn participated in that rewarded her with a children's book and a free evening at The Magic House. The Magic House is a children's museum - one of the greatest places I've ever seen for kids. It is a huge 4-story building full of play rooms for kids. From a grocery store to fishing to court rooms to a static ball, a Lewis and Clark campsite, a Sherlock Holmes mystery den, and dozens of others. It could easily take a day or two to really do everything there. She really enjoyed herself.

She's been picking up more and more words, and can be understood a lot more clearly when she speaks in sentences. A common one Rachel hears during the day is, "Where you going baby?" Which makes her wonder if that's what Annalyn hears several times throughout the day.

The other day at the mall we let Annalyn loose on the world, but still kept an eye on her while trying to keep up! She can take off pretty quick, as most active kids her age tend to do. She has this new thing she does now where she spins her left arm around like a windmill as she runs. We don't know what she thinks it's suppose to be doing for her, or if she's just being silly, but either way, it's adorable. During one of her runs she about ran into a family walking straight towards her. Just before a collision took place, she stopped, looked up at them and clearly said, "Oops! Sowwie!"

We're very proud that she's so polite.

She's been good at saying 'goodbye' for anyone; sometimes she'll even throw in a 'love you!' thinking that it's just part of 'goodbye'which is sweet. Her greeting has gotten better lately too. Not only will she say 'Hi' but again quite frequently she'll add a 'How you doing?' We love her to death! We can't waiting for her to meet Declan when he joins our family.