Annada Marie Vergo

Annada went Putt Putting every day. She loved to find the lose bricks and carry them around.

Grandma and Annada played 18 holes together today.

Annada used her hands more than the club. But if anyone got the ball in the hole, Annada would clap for them!

She also liked to walk around and drop the balls in the hole – and then wait for us to clap for her :).

Annada likes to “help” Grandpa work. Grandpa can’t resist it when she lifts up her arms to get picked up.

Marc and I snuck off to a date at Animal Kingdom while Grandma and Grandpa cared for Annada back at the Cay. (Finding Nemo The Musical.)

Dancing to the DJ’s music at the pool. It was pretty clear Annada’s dancing made his day.

Annada loves Grandma’s shoes.

Splashing in the pool with Grandma. Annada even has a little tan now!

Annada liked going to the edge of the pool and splashing.

We played at the pool so long, the sun went down. So we warmed up by the fire. Thank you for the vacation!

Beach Babe

Falling asleep in the pool.

Awww, Grandma and Grandpa are dancing!

Shopping for groceries with Grandpa

Since she first learned how to crawl, Annada has had a fascination with the street. One of the little girls in our neighborhood told me Annada wants to be in the street because “that’s how you get places. She doesn’t want to be trapped.”

Probably true. So, like the childproof cabinets in the kitchen, Annada is bumping up against disappointment. Honesty, most of the time she tries to do what we ask. Sometimes she is puzzled by the boundaries, sometimes she forgets. But recently she has been testing them :).

I try to work on one new rule a week at a time. We’ve been on, “you must stay on this side of the line” (that separates the driveway from street) for a couple of weeks straight.

It’s pretty funny. Earlier this week we were walking back to our house. Annada was doing really well staying out the street. Until some other friends stopped their car to talk to me. We were talking for about two minutes when I saw Annada stop, turn toward me and stare for a moment. Then her right foot started inching toward the street. It was so deliberate even my friends noticed.

I reminded Annada to stay on this side of the line and she stood absolutely still for a few seconds. I went back to my conversation, watching out of the corner of my eye. Pretty soon that foot started scooting again. Then she started walking sideways (a new skill!) toward the street. We stopped talking and just watched as she picked up speed. (Their car was blocking any possible traffic.) When she reached the street, she turned and broke out in a gallop down the street while laughing with joy.

She was so happy it was hard to ruin her fun. But I ran after, scooped her up and brought her back on the grass. She just sat there, bottom lip out, looking wistfully at the road.

(Here she is testing the line. She puts a foot over and looks at me.)

Annada climbing the slide by holding my hand. Her collection of bamboo leaves is at the bottom of the slide.

Annada loves playing outside. She stands at the gate in the hallway and points at the door. Today I came downstairs with a shirt and Annada turned and ran away. I thought she didn’t want me to get her dressed, but a couple of seconds later she came running back with her shoes! She thought this was a chance to go outside :).

One of her favorite things to do outside right now is climb up the slide. If she is holding my hands, she can get all the way up. If not, halfway up she loses momentum and slides down. Either way, she giggles the whole time.

I wanted to update you and let you know Annada is feeling much better. She ate dinner last night and a whole banana today. Her face has color and she is happily stacking toys as I write. She still needs more fluids but I am confident we are heading in the right direction.

Annada has recently become my mirror. It is pretty amazing how many little things throughout the day she notices. For example,

– She has started brushing her baby doll’s teeth.

– She gives her baby doll kisses.

– When she puts her baby doll to bed, she pats her on the back before leaving (and I thought Annada was asleep when I left).

– She “talks” on my cell phone – even holding it on her shoulder like I do.

– After the colds in Denver, she will go get toilet paper then walk around sniffing into the tissue.

– She likes to take my pen and “write” in my journal.

– I have been singing and doing the hand signs to common songs for a long time. I didn’t really think she cared because she wouldn’t do the signs with me. Meme gave her a singing book for her birthday and she sits on the floor doing the hand signs to the songs!

– Last weekend Annada and I got the stomach flu. At one point Marc was watching Annada for me and I (very dramatically, I admit) laid on the floor and moaned. I few minutes later I had to laugh when Annada copied me exactly! (She is still kind of sick – and has lost over a pound. Would you pray for her drink more and hold down food? Her doc – who is the BEST – thinks she got sick enough to make her e. cells flair which makes her sick which makes her e. cells flair… Not serious, but she is getting dehydrated which needs to turn around soon.)

– Annada has learned to nod yes or no. Sometimes when she says (or nods) no, I nod yes and ask her again. It seems to work. Annada must have noticed it working because she has started using the same trick with me! And at the doc’s today she used it so seriously with Dr. Nielsen that the good doc had to lean over she was laughing so hard! (She purses her lips and her eyebrows go way up and down – she’s hysterically serious.)

– Annada has this new dance in which she sways her hips side-to-side. It’s funky. And yes, you guessed it – I caught myself doing it when I cook :).

Pepe, I love you. It is sad to leave.

Thank you for the rides, Grandma and Grandpa. We had so much fun all week!

Mom and Dad’s banner got lost in transit, so they made this very “cool” replacement. It was pretty hysterical picking out the stuff at Rite Aid in the middle of the night. They even made candy trails to lure students to their both.

This is where I slept. Okay – this is where I slept the nights I didn’t sound like a seal and got to sleep with mom. A year ago I could sleep in the diaper changing part. Now I can touch both ends stretched out!

Free to explore Mom and Dad’s stuff in the hotel room I began to show off how closely I am watching. Mom was a bit shocked when I started walking around with shopping bags and “talking” on her cell phone. Hmmm…

As the cutest attendee, I would walk around the conference center waving to students and saying, “Hi, Hiya!” When no one was looking I would try to sneak up the escalator. I made a lot of new friends. But if someone tried to pick me I didn’t know, I would run back to Mom, Dad, Grandma or Grandpa. (Way to go, Annada!)

Here I am kicking a soccer ball around at the airport. I found a soccer ball the day before and ran all over the conference center traveling with it. Daddy is excited to coach a little girls soccer team!

It’s my party, I can cry if I want to. Fortunately the tears are short lived.

I’m not feeling well. Good thing there are birthday cupcakes to help.

Tim, Wendy and Keira

Meme, Mommy and Uncle Kevin (and, one of Annada’s favorite things, a birthday balloon)

Grandma and Aunt Rona

New PJs.

I like birthday cake.

Tea with Aunt Abbie.

My second sled ride was with Daddy.

Please, please, please take me inside! (Don’t worry – we are heading back.)

I do NOT like snow, Dad!

Uncle William and Aunt Lucy

Najat and Daddy – that girl is brave!