Annada Marie Vergo

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 :).