Annada Marie Vergo

This was Annada’s first year of eligibility, so Marc wanted to make sure she was ready :). He bought (totally on his own) a basket and some eggs. Then everyday after work, he would put cheerios in some eggs and hide them for Annada to find. She loved it!

A couple of days before the hunt, Marc took her out to Lake Hart to get some on-site practice in.

When they first started hunting, Annada would pick up an egg and a wood chip and then wander around happily.

During the official hunt, Annada knew just what to do. There was a 10-egg limit for each kid. Annada went to town loading up her basket. Marc had never taught her to hold back, so when she wasn’t looking he would throw eggs out of her basket.

Pretty soon, she stopped long enough to see what was in an egg. What? Candy? This is way better than cheerios!

The annual picture with Mrs. Bright. That woman is amazing. She sat behind Marc and I the whole time we performed. Every time I ran past, she said something encouraging. Then she gave Annada a bracelet made out of flowers.

Annada loves her baby! She has taken “her baby” (a different one each time) to the playground 3 times today. She is so sweet and gives her babies lots of hugs. If the stroller falls over, she makes sad noises and gives them a kiss while saying “my baby, my baby.”

I was sitting on the coach trying to read while Annada did her best to get my attention. When barking like a dog and stacking ice cream cone toys on my legs didn’t work, Annada came up with a plan I couldn’t resist. She crawled behind the futon to the “adult” books and pulled down a book on brain chemistry.

Then she pushed it back behind the futon, walked over to me and thrust the 1 1/2 inch hardback in my direction saying, “book?”

When I stopped laughing I asked her if she wanted me to read it to her. “Please,” she said and crawled up into my lap with her serious eyebrows on. So I read about 5 pages on brain SPECT scans. I could tell she was trying really hard to pay attention, but even I was bored! Finally she turned around, gave me a kiss and asked to get “down.”

Then we turned together to the more serious matter of how many plastic ice cream scoops fit in the mailbox.

Annada loves to intercept Daddy when he comes home at the sandbox. What could be better than sunshine, Daddy and sand?

Notice the shoes? Meme brought them with her and successfully turned Annada into a shoe-aholic! The sandals are so cute that even strangers stop and tell Annada she has cute shoes. As a result, Annada now wants to pick out her “shoose” each morning and gets quite upset if I put on the wrong pair. I’m not sure how she selects which pair to wear each day, but she is usually right!

This is a classic Annada pose! I love the way the camera caught her attitude and motion. As Marc nicknamed her, she truly is our “go-baby.”

Blowing bubbles!

Drawing with chalk on the sidewalk. The two girls are actually traces of Annada. After the a couple of days, Annada picked up the moss, wore it on her head and started showing off her new “hair” to people walking by.

Meme took Annada to the hardware store where they picked out supplies and made a sandbox. Annada loves it! Everyday she goes out and plays in the sand. She even brings her friends and proudly shows off her box. Annada likes to walk around the block, find treasures and bring them back to play with in the sandbox.

We love you Meme!

Kevin and Erica had an excuse to go to theme parks performed at Magic Kingdom, so Meme, Marc, Annada and I caught up with them at Epcott. It was a beautiful day and those sunglasses even lasted for a couple of minutes :).

We brought a stroller. They are great for carrying bags. Annada, however, spent most of her time a top Meme and Erica’s shoulders.

(And yes, I caught you letting Annada try the cokes, Aunt Erica!)

One minute Annada was babbling, pointing out “birs,” the next she passed out! It happened so fast, it scared me. I guess if you fight sleep as hard as Annada does, it has to sneak up on you. 30 minutes of ZZZs later, Annada was ready to conquer Disney again.

Feeding the ducks. That day Meme taught Annada to quack. Along with how to say “fry.” Meme must have some kind of special powers because Annada’s vocabulary seemed to double while Meme was here.

Daddy plays with Annada and some magic props.

We went to a 2-year-old birthday party for Anna, Annada’s friend. Although she never got the hang of “birthday,” Annada did tell Anna “happy” several times!

There was a bounce house. And Annada had a blast. She can’t jump on the ground yet, but given a bounce house, she knows just what to do.

PS: Check out the FRENCH braid in Annada’s hair. Meme’s got skills! I have one good looking family.

Meme, Annada and I went to IKEA. And came home with a blue tunnel and a tent! Annada loves them. The tent is up in our living room and she runs into really fast. She is just a little taller than the opening, so her head gets stuck. Rather than duck, she just runs in place until the tent pops up and lets her in.

It is her little home and she keeps her monkey and blanket in there. Sometime I go in and lay down. Then Annada will come in, cover me with a blanket and give me a kiss. But don’t worry. Apparently naps in Annada Land are very short: soon afterward she starts hitting the back window to wake me up!

Two weeks ago Annada didn’t know any animal noises. Then last week Brennan taught her arf and Meme taught her quack (by feeding real ducks, of course!) and ssss. This afternoon Annada let us know she was awake by barking. Marc and I just stood outside the door and laughed at all the cute animals noises coming from her crib.

PS: Annada loves to get in things. Pots, boxes… she’ll even try cups.

Pepe came to visit! When he first arrived Annada stared at him for a while, but she warmed up pretty fast. By that evening, she held his hand when they walked around outside and fell asleep in his arms.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was the next day after her nap. While I was changing her diaper I told her Pepe was still here. “Pepe,” she repeated after me. Then she called out for Dada. When he didn’t reply Annada started calling out for Pepe again! She called until Pepe came and since then has said his name several times.

Pepe got his first Annada kiss on this trip :).

Annada must be soaking up all the Grandparent and Meme/Pepe love because her vocabulary is exploding. She this week she started saying “egg,” “balloon,” “fish,” and “please.” Tonight she even said, “Night-night Dada”! Marc and I were shocked. (Normally that is what I tell Marc as he leaves her room.)

Friday Marc and I took Annada (along with Diego and his mom) to an outdoor showing of “Up.” Annada was scared during most of movie and furiously signed “all done.” (We left halfway through.) But she would crack up when the dogs said, “squirrel” and were distracted.

Annada must empathize with the dogs. Tonight when it was time for Diego to leave, Annada started following him and crying. She didn’t want him to go. Then mid-cry she suddenly stopped, turned and picked up a wood chip.

After 30 seconds of checking out the wood chip she stood up, looked around serachingly and rememebered she was upset about Diego. She started crying and heading toward his house again until… another wood chip crossed her path! It was hilarious. So now instead of “squirrel,” we say, “wood chip.”

Annada likes to get in Diego’s car and let him drive her around. They are the cutest couple: they give each other kisses, like to cruise around and fight over who touches the radio. Annada likes to sit on the floor and makes Diego mad by putting her feet in his space. Then Diego likes to swerve around and show off. But he is always very careful to drive slower when she is in the car because “she is a baby so I am gentle.”

In this picture, Diego noticed I was taking pictures and jumped on top to pose. Pepe is behind the car and Mario, Diego’s dad, is in front. These are adored kiddos.