Annada Marie Vergo

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.

(Annada has this habit of whispering when she thinks something is important. That’s why she whispers at the beginning – and when people she loves call her!)