Annada Marie Vergo

Yes. That is a wasp in baby clothes.

Annada found it and threw it to me. “Momma! Take it out! Take it out!”

Can you believe it? Annada is almost 2-years-old.

Close Your Eyes

Yesterday Marc and I were sharing the honor of laying Annada down for bed. It is our favorite time with her.

Marc finished his part and called down for me to come upstairs and finish. When I came up the stairs I found Marc in our bedroom.

“Annada is hiding in her closet,” he told me.

“No, Annada is not,” came a small voice from Annada’s bedroom.

“Oh, where is Annada then?” I asked.

“Somewhere else,” came the voice.

So I looked around while loudly narrating that I couldn’t find Annada. Her closet kept erupting in giggles. Finally I headed back to her bedroom.

When I walked in to her room I asked where Annada could be.

“Behind her chair,” came the voice. Then under the crib, in the bookcase… But no Annada.

I turned around to see Annada in the closet. “Annada I see you!” I said.

“No!” Yelled Annada. “Close your eyes!”

Boy Toilets

I took Annada to Epcot yesterday. Whenever I can, I like to use the family restrooms so we have more room. One of them had a men’s toilet – which Annada ran over to check.

“Please don’t touch that,” I said. “It is a toilet for boys.”

“Oh,” said Annada. Then she pointed the other toilet, “Mommy potty.” She pointed back at the men’s one, “Daddy potty.”

Annada paused for a minute looking at the toilets.

“Daddy potty is gross!”

With Aunt Erica.

We all dressed up as her pirate crew.

One of my favorite moments was when we were walking to another house to go trick or treating. Annada suddenly dropped to the ground and started hopping.

“Are you a frog?” I asked her.

“No!” said Annada indignantly, “Pirate frog!”

The sun bursts are rays of pure joy exploding from my body.

I keep repeating to myself, “standing at the airport will not bring her home faster… standing at the airport will not bring her home faster…”

As parents wrapped up in absolute anticipation we have: new toys, fun snacks, reorganized her bedroom, made a sign and done the happy dance 20 times.

Yes, it was only a week. Yes, Annada was happy the whole time. Yes, she has amazing grandparents.

But I miss her!!!

And we are off! Annada has caught on that there is candy in these houses.

So happy she can't stand still.

We found a purple spider Annada connected with. Here she is giving it kisses!

After she was done trick or treating I let her pick out one thing to eat. And she picked the organic banana Grandma gave her!

After we drove up to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, they came out to greet us. Annada, who loves to be found, hide in my arms behind the car door. She shrieked with laughter as Grandma and Grandpa pretended to search for her.

Finally, Annada peaked her head up and Grandma exclaimed, “There’s Annada!”

“No!” Annada shouted out reproachfully. “A peacock!”

Annada's first hayrack ride. She's sitting on her buddy Daniel's lap.

Annada got to make a sand pumpkin. She loved it.

Annada's first pony ride.

We watched a movie about ants. Now Annada is fascinated by them.

“Ants” by Annada

Ant hill is ant home. Run, run, run: get food. Food to ant home. Babies in the home. Food for babies. Get food before rain. Run, run, run to ant home.

At the Moss Park playground Annada recruited some girls to play house with her. She is cooking them brownie pizza. (I'm not allowed to be too close.)

Marc teaching Annada how to play horseshoes.

As soon as Annada realized the horseshoes fit around her, the game was over.

Daddy’s Girl

Friday I took Annada to Magic Kingdom. I had just turned on the car to go home when Annada let out a huge fart.

I turned to look at her expecting her to say, “Uh oh. Potty.” Instead I caught sight of a wicked grin.

Annada threw head head back and started laughing, “Nice!” she said.

Once Upon a Time

When Annada goes potty, we read her a book. She has gotten so used to it that she now asks for a book when we are out of the house. Marc came up with the idea to use his hands to create a pretend book and then make up a story.

A few weeks ago Annada started reading books to me when I went to the bathroom. She started with real books, but when we are out she uses her hands.

Her books always start like this: “Once upon a time there was a snail.”

Then they usually continue like this: “His name was Diego! (Wild laughter.) The end. Shut the book.”

Power Nap

Annada is brillant in the stalling arena. We often find out about new skills she has right before bed.

Last night when it was time for bed Annada grabbed my hand and started pulling me upstairs. I thought her sudden compliance was pretty strange, but went with it. Instead of heading into her room, she went to mine. She threw herself on a pillow on the ground and called me to lay next to her.

“Shhh. Go to bed,” She told me.

“Are you going to sleep here tonight?” I asked her.

“Yes. Sleep with Mommy. Shh. Hold my hand. Close your eyes,” she replied.

We laid there together for about a minute – long enough for me to wonder if Annada was serious.

“Wake up!! Mommy wake up!” Annada sat up. “Hungry. Get breakfast.”

“Annada, you need to go to bed still,” I said.

“No. All done. Wake up, Mommy!” she replied.

That Happened Fast

I was sitting down today when Annada came to me cradling her baby doll.

“Momma, this Annada. This baby Annada,” Annada said, holding the baby out to me.

“Aww, is this your baby?” I asked Annada.

“Yes. Baby go to Meme’s,” Annada replied.

“Wow. You have a beautiful baby,” I said. Then we both sat there patting the baby.

“Okay, bye bye,” Annada said as she started to walk off.

“Wait, do you want your baby?” I asked.

Annada paused and looked confused. “Baby at Meme’s,” she said.

Suddenly it dawned on me. “Did you bring me your baby so I could babysit?” I asked.

“Okay,” Annada said brightly. “Yes. Baby at Meme’s. Bye bye!”

The water was cold!

We rented a paddle boat. Annada “fed” the fishes leaves and stayed tight on my lap looking for alligators. I think the Mexcio ride at Epcot has given Annada deep fear of alligators. Annada loved her life vest and cried when she had to take it off to leave.

This week Annada and Daddy are on their own while I am at a conference. Honestly, I think they are having a blast. Today Marc took her to the bounce house place.

This is the first time Annada really seemed to understand that I was leaving.

Sunday night as I was rocking her before bed I told her I was going to fly on a plane.

“Fly on plane! Fly on a Plane!” Annada shouted out in glee. “Okay.”

“And Mommy will fly home Thursday,” I replied.

Annada stopped her happy dance and sat quietly for a minute. Then she said, “Annada fly home?”

“No. You will have lots of fun with Daddy. I will fly home on Thursday after you are in bed. Friday we will go to Disney.”

(Another moment of silence.)

Suddenly I realize Annada has big quiet tears. Then in a quiet voice, “Mommy fly home. Miss Mommy. Miss Mommy.”

We sat and rocked and talked about me leaving for a week. She would get upset then I would remind her I would be back Friday and she would calm down. A few minutes later she would ask again, “Mommy fly home?”

Monday morning I was gone before Annada woke up. Marc said when he came in to get her she was laying on her back. “Miss mommy,” she said, as he walked in.

Highchairs are out; Sitting at the table is in.

At 21-months Annada has firmly entered the “Annada do it herself!” stage. She is making her opinion known more and more. So here is the current list of trends in our house:

HOT!:
Tot Fox books
Asparagus
Cucumbers from the farm (She won’t even let us touch HER cucumbers!)
Singing Happy Birthday
Helping cook
Playing pretend beach/feeding the seagulls
Figment
Diego (her friend)
Kindermusik with Daddy
Sitting at the table to eat
Hide and Go seek
Tutus
Reading books
Wearing dresses
Band aids

In:
Avocados
Eggs
Cheese sticks
Applesauce
Spicy foods
Hugga Hugga Root Root Root
Playing with Lauren (her nanny)
Going to see the interns
Saying “Thank you, you’re welcome” when given something
Going shopping
Stalling before bedtime
The sneakers that light up
Going on the little potty
Caring for her dolls
Tents
Sunglasses
Hats
Lip gloss

Out:
Cucumbers from the store
Highchairs
Carrots
Lettuce
Being in the stroller
Mommy and Daddy leaving the house

Pretending her tutu is a hat.

Tents are in. Going to bed is not.

Eating the special little pretzel.

Annada and I made pretzels. We pulled the dough together and then Annada did the water and cinnamon sugar. We put them in the oven and Annada eagerly watched them bake.

I probably should have warned her it takes a while for pretzels to cool off.

Annada is in that stage of toddlerhood when emotions hit her completely and quickly. So literally one moment she was lying on the floor weeping with sorrow that I wouldn’t give her a pretzel; the next second it registered that her special little pretzel was going in the fridge to cool off so she could eat it. She jumped up, clasped her hands and – this is one of Marc and I’s favorite Annada expressions – stomped her feet as she giggled for joy.

Ah… I love that!

Annada got a package today!!

Now she knows just what to do – rip off the paper! Inside we found this super cute outfit and a creature. (Squirrel?) It was pretty warm in the sun, but Annada wanted the whole outfit on immediately. She played in her outfit for about twenty minutes before suddenly running toward the house.

“Annada cool down. Annada cool down!” she yelled.

We took off the warm clothes, but even then Annada couldn’t part with the skirt. And as soon as we came in she wanted everything back on again.

Later, as Annada got ready for bed, she started recounting her favorite parts of the day. “Package. Special treat! Special treat.” she told us.

And of course, “Again. Special treat again. Yes. Fly to Pepe’s house.”

Thank you Meme!

On the boat ride over to Epcot. Annada loves her hat.

On the Figment ride - her FAVORITE!

Watching the fish. We got to see them feed the mantas. Which is much cooler than you might think. Annada and Brennan loved it.

Nemo is a little intense for Annada. But Brennan loved it. Annada was really into the rocks (under her) by the statutes though.

By the end, Annada was “Disney Drunk.” It is like slap happy for toddlers who miss their nap and believe Figment is flying around them :).

On the boat to Epcot.

Dancing pirates, alligators, Figment or hippos!
You never know what is going to show up in our house.

In the last month or so Annada’s imagination has bloomed. She has gone from making endless “pizzas” in the pool to full fledged stories about pirates that dance, shop and wash in the rain.

The pirates one stumped me for a long time. About once a day, Annada comes running up to me or yells out from her car seat that she sees pirates. Sometimes she’s scared. Sometimes she is laughing.

The first time I didn’t catch that she was saying pirates (because, you know, I’ve never been attacked by pirates personally) and I thought there really was something scary outside. She is very convincing.

Curious, I started asking what the pirates are doing. Sometimes they are dancing. Sometimes they are “walking backward upside down.” Sometimes they are just standing in our backyard being scary and coming to get her. A couple of times they were going shopping for milk.

I asked Annada where the pirates live. She told me “outside.” So I asked what they do when it rains. She said, “Wash. Naked.” Then sadly, “No bubbles.” (Those poor pirates!)

Meme finally figured out where Annada learned about pirates. Annada has a book about a dolphin that gets captured by pirates. They decide hurting a dolphin is wrong, so they let it go. To check I asked Annada if the pirates were hunting dolphins.

“Yeah,” she replied in her super slow serious way.

The Figment of Imagination

Annada has a new imaginary friend: Figment.

Figment is a little purple dragon (or alligator if you are Annada) who hijacks a tour of the Imagination Institute in Epcot. There is something about Figment that completely captures Annada. I hear about Figment and what he is doing every hour. Annada goes to bed talking about Figment and wakes up asking to see him.

When I drove into Disney last Friday Annada started clapping her hands and yelling, “Figment! Figment!”

(I read online that Disney updated the Imagination ride and got rid of Figment a few years ago. Angry parents and even board members protested and Disney actually redesigned the ride again! In many ways, Figment really did “take over” the Imagination Institute.)

I think having Figment as an imaginary friend is particularly fitting for a girl who spends much of the day “cooking” for Marc, me and three babies, pretending to be a wild animal or walking backward upside down (outside if at all possible).

I read Annada a book about snow. She ran and got her coat, a blanket and matches (yikes!) and cuddled up in our bedroom pretending to be cold. It is in the high 90s here.

Annada got up from a nap and was so excited to go outside she ran downstairs before Marc even got her diaper off. This girl LOVES being outside!

Freedom!!!!

Annada would beg us to feed the birds at the beach. They even ate out of her hand a few times.

The funny part is that she would beg to feed the birds, then scarf down the food we gave her. So Marc fed the birds and Annada watched while eating stale bread.

We went to the beach during welcome week and a beautiful rainbow stretched across the sky. It was a great beginning.

Last week I took Annada to the pool. I was sitting on the steps talking with Belissa, Diego’s mom, when Annada came up behind me and began rubbing my back. “Mommy touches, mommy touches,” Annada started saying behind me.

It melted my heart! Annada is a touch bug and loves to have her back scratched and everything else rubbed. When she wants us to give her a back massage, she lays down on the ground and says, “Annada touches. Annada touches.”

Annada rubbed my shoulders for a while, then reached around, gave me a kiss and jumped back into the water.

Best Compliment Ever

This afternoon when Annada woke up I rescued her from her crib. I like to get her diaper off right away, so she had hardly said a word to me as I began taking it off.

“Mommy look pretty,” Annada said.

“What?” I asked, wondering if I was missing something.

She reached up and pointed at my face. “Mommy look pretty,” she repeated.

The YearOne Team 2010-2011

Last year our YearOne interns referred to Annada as their mascot. This year, with 7 women interning, Annada is more of a princess. She gets picked up, played with and generally steals the spotlight.

Annada knows she’s the princess too: At Marc’s birthday party we were all standing in a circle. Annada began going around the circle dancing on “her stage.” And at Disney last Friday, she picked a random college-aged girl and crawled up into her arms. As I came to rescue the startled girl, Annada gave me a big grin that said, “What’s wrong mom? All 20-somethings adore me.”

Learning to surf.

Annada is always listening. Somehow she picked up why we went to the beach a few weeks ago. As she exited the car she began singing, “Gospel at God’s pool, gospel at God’s pool.”

Princess Touch Hand

Part of YearOne is serving Disney by being a spiritual resource for their interns. We go each Friday and have a great time getting to know people from all over the world. It is amazing to see how God is moving among the 5,000 interns at WDW.

It always takes me a least a day to recover from each day out at Epcot. Even so, with Annada in tow I’m not able to keep up with the group. Last Friday my group set out to visit 3 countries before breaking for lunch around 2. I decided dragging a hot and hungry toddler to each place wasn’t going help anyone. So after Mexico I told the group I was going to feed Annada lunch and catch up with them in Morocco.

On the way to Morocco we saw Snow White. Last year Annada had an unfortunate early experience with Stitch trying to sneak up and kiss her eat her head and Annada decided all the characters were evil, toddler gobbling monsters to scream at.

I thought Snow White might be a good warm up character, so I paused about 20 feet away and let Annada look at her. I told her she was a princess and she was nice (meaning: won’t eat you so there is no need to scream). When I started to walk away Annada surprised me by begging, “More princess please! More princess please!”

I decided this seemed like a good time to retry the character thing (because having a child that screams every time they see Mickey Mouse is a downer to conversation at WDW). We waited in line and Annada seemed so happy to get closer and closer to the princess.

Until it was our turn. At which point her old Stitch memories must have resurfaced, because Annada began digging her nails deeper and deeper into my skin as she moved her body as far away from Snow White as possible without letting go of me. Snow White, a consummate professional, pretended not to notice that Annada was acting like she had ebola. She walked to the side away from Annada and spoke softly while posing for the picture.

Then, as if approaching a scared bird, she reached out her hand and held it steadily toward Annada. “Would you like to hold my hand?” she asked.

Annada didn’t let go of her death grip on my arm, but she didn’t cry either. So Snow White gently pressed her fingers on Annada’s, blew her a kiss and was off to take more pictures.

I suspected that as soon as Snow White was far enough away for Annada be able to breathe again, Annada would begin reproaching me, “no princess! no princess!”

But instead she reached out her hand in awe. “Princess touch hand!” she gasped.

She held her hand out, staring at it, for a good 5 minutes (which is like 10 years in toddlertime) whispering, “Princess touch hand. Mommy, princess touch hand!”

Annada walking backward upside down.

Annada has a new favorite book, “Silly Sally Annada.” In the book Sally Annada walks to town backward upside down. It has now become hard to get Annada to walk forward right side up!

She has also begun giving “leopard kisses” (licks) from the book I read her before naps, crawling like an ant from Babybug, running around with her mouth wide open like a hippo from a book about a colorful chameleon and flapping her arms like the butterflies Meme showed her.

Tonight I was giving Annada a bath when she overheard Marc mention praying. “Annada pray,” she said.

“What do you pray for?” I asked, hoping she would say Mommy or Daddy.

“Boats,” Annada replied.

“Boats?” I asked. She’s never even been in one. “Yeah, boats,” Annada replied seriously.

“Is there anything else you pray for?” I asked.

“Doggies. Annada pray for doggies.” She replied.

(And she is still talking about Aunt Rona’s dogs!)

3 years ago when we first bought our home we knew we loved everything about the neighborhood… except the cranes (and later the armadillos, but that is a story you need to ask Marc about). They are loud at 6 a.m., peck cars, stop traffic (because they are protected there are huge fines for running one over), run at you if you get too close and are constantly trying to break into our house by running through our sliding glass door (they have left huge scratches).

We grumbled about neighbors who fed the birds and swore we never EVER would.

Until Annada fell in love with the birds.

At first she would run to the sliding glass door to watch them. Then she starting crying when it rained because “Birds wet! Birds wet!” Finally she would watch with fascination as our neighbor girls would feed them.

Yeah, now we feed the birds. And if they would quit trying to break-in, we’d even like them.

(Thank you for the shirt, Aunt Lucy!! And a shout out to Jess for amazing pictures. This neighborhood has talent!)

Annada is talking more and more. Which means she says something cute and funny just about every day. Here are some recent highlights:

Introductions

Annada and I were at the pool when a new family in the neighborhood joined us. We were making introductions when Annada interrupted to intoduce herself.

“Annada. Outside. Run outside. Playdough. Eats nuts. Annada.”

(LOL- who knew that was how she defines herself!)

That Sucks

I was putting a diaper on Annada for the night (she still wears one to sleep in) when she started kicking me. It was a game we played when she was little, but now it hurts. So I warned Annada that if she kicked me again she would “get a full 100 second time-out.”

Annada paused, looked at me very seriously, then with all sincerity said, “That sucks.”

Mama Sick

Between strep, the flu and sinus infections, this has been a hard month on our family. Last week I was particularly sick.

So Annada followed me around the house with a blanket. Whenever I sat down she would put the blanket on my lap and then run to Meme asking for hot tea to give me!

Annada is now too tall to be backward facing. She loves getting to see as we drive.

Annada loved going to Pepe’s house while Marc and I were busy getting ready for the interns’ arrival. She even made up a song to sing in the car, “Pepe’s house, pepe’s house…”

Now when she sees a plane fly by she points at it and says, “Fly to Pepe’s house!”

Wearing Pepe's jacket.

A couple of days ago, we all headed to the coast for the YearOne leadership retreat. To get Annada excited to go, I told her we were going to the beach. “No, pool,” Annada responded.

I realized Annada probably didn’t remember what the beach was. So I told her, “The beach is a huge pool God made.”

“BEACH, BEACH, BEACH!” Annada squealed as she danced around.

When we got to the beach I asked her if she liked God’s pool. She responded by digging in the sand gleefully. I hunted for shells with her and forgot about it until it was time to leave. “Say bye to the beach,” I told her.

Annada blew a kiss toward the water then said, “Thank you Jesus.”

Medicine

Annada is sick. She has run a fever everyday for over a week. It seemed like she was just getting over strep and the ear infection when she woke up covered in green snot this morning.

But life goes on. So I took her with me when I gave a friend a ride to the doctor today. It wasn’t even Annada’s doctor, but somehow Annada knew where we were. As we walked up to the counter Annada sternly told the receptionist, “Medicine. Annada needs medicine.”

I explained to Annada that she was already on antibiotics and medicine won’t help her cold. She nodded, paused, then held out her arm.

“Okay, shot.”

(She must be miserable!)

The First Bathroom Joke

I was walking into the grocery store this morning with Annada. She normally has a quiet voice in public. But all of the sudden she loudly proclaimed, “Doggies go potty outside!”

“Yes,” I said trying not to laugh. But Annada clearly didn’t think I was taking it seriously enough.

“Mommy,” Annada said louder, “Doggies go potty outside!”

Shopping for the first round of antibiotics.

Almost a month ago Annada started seeming cranky. At night she would cry that she was hungry but not eat. Otherwise, she was a super happy active toddler.

We were heading out of town and I decided to play it safe by taking her to the doctor. It turns out we both had strep. Annada is such a trooper! A few days later I was feeling a ton better and Annada seemed more sparky too.

But as time went on Annada started complaining about her throat again and saying she was hungry after meals. I didn’t think she could have strep so I assumed she had a cold.

Three weeks later:

The last two nights she cried a lot at bedtime so Marc and I decided that if she was still upset in the morning we’d take her to the doctor. At breakfast I asked her if anything hurt. She said, “Throat. Go to doctor. Medicine. Annada needs medicine.”

Wow. I can’t believe how much Annada is talking and understands. So I took her to the doctor.

And guess what? She still has strep! And an ear infection. Ugh. I feel bad I waited so long to take her. So now we have extra strong antibiotics and I’m giving her Motrin. I could tell when the Motrin kicked in – she’s already a happier girl. I’m really hoping this is the end of strep (yeah – Marc has it now too) for our family.

PS: At the doctor’s Annada wanted the stethoscope. Dr. Nielsen asked Annada what the stethoscope is for in that casual, I-don’t-really-expect-an-answer way. I thought Annada was say, “Boom Boom Boom Boom” because that is what I do with her play stethoscope.

Annada points to Dr. Nielsen’s heart and says, “Heart.” I have no idea where she learned that!

Markers are fun for so many reasons.

Annada asked why for the first time today. I have a feeling she will ask it a lot, so I wanted to have a record of the first time.

I sat her on the potty and told her to go poop poo. She paused for a minute, looked at me, and said, “Why?”

“Because poop poo goes in the potty, not in your undies,” I replied.

“Oh.” (Goes potty.)

I hope her questions are always that easy to answer!

So… I realized today that Annada sings along with me in the car. I’m not sure when she started because once I became aware I also realized I’d been hearing and ignoring it for a while.

I figured it out today because Annada started singing on the way to the car. We were leaving Campus Crusade for Christ after hosting lunch for the summer interns. She had been cooped up a lot, so I was letting her walk to the car (and check out every bug/lizard/bird/leaf/rock… on the way). As soon as she saw the car she started singing, “Down, down do your thing, do your thing. Down, down do your thing, do your thing.” (From Stupid Cupid.)

The YearOne interns had made a CD of songs at the end of the year and I’ve been listening to it. Out of curiosity, I started singing with her. When I go to “To the right, to the right, to the right…” she started shrugging her shoulders to the right!!

So, yea… I dance in the car a lot while driving. Just like that.

On the way home, the CD came on to that song. We sang it together. Then the next song came on. This time I listened and sure enough from the back seat came a sweet little, “tonight’s gonna be a good night, yeah tonight’s gonnna be a good good night.” The next song and she was singing, “So I run to you, I run to yooouuu…” Then, “Go hard, or Go home,” rap staccato and all.

Hmmm… makes the whole “little ears in the back seat” thing more real!

Update! Okay, this was too cute, I had to share. Yesterday Annada and I were walking together when all of the sudden she started singing, “Bye, bye, bye, bye.” When I laughed, she put out her right hand, crossed it over her body and did the dance as she sang the song. :).The Backstreet Boys ARE back.

Teaching one of her monkeys how to draw. Notice she is putting a marker in each paw.

Annada loves monkeys. When she wakes up in the morning her first mission is to find her big monkey. It is usually “sleeping” in our bedroom. Annada has two monkeys and she clips the little one to her neck so it can ride piggy-back. She takes the monkeys (and the cut out of a kitty Meme gave her) potty. Then she teaches the monkeys how to do everything she does. They get lots of hugs and kisses. Annada is even starting to prefer her monkey pjs.

I guess she is taking after her Aunt Erica.

(PS: I asked Annada who the most wonderful girl in the world is (meaning her) and she replied in a heartbeat, “Erica!”)

We used chopsticks, so Annada wanted to use them too.

She is still working on her chopstick skills.

When she got full, she discovered how much fun sticky rice can be.

Annada scarfed california rolls and ginger today. The seaweed and Krab were her favorite parts. This girl has good taste.