Annada Marie Vergo

Friends are becoming a very serious part of life for Annada. No longer does she play side-by-side, but she becomes quite attached to the people she calls friends. She’s loyal to the end (which has led to some tears) and we are trying to help her understand that it is good to have lots of friends and let her friends play with other people.

Fortunately, our neighborhood is full of amazing kids. Even though most are older than Annada, they love on her and play with her. It’s not unusual for 4-5 kids to come to the house asking if Annada can come out and play.

For her part, Annada LOVES to feed her friends and make them presents. The week she made gingerbread men (think cake pops in the shape of gingerbread men) to give away. Then she runs to the playground to find kids to share with. The neighborhood kids are quick – when they see Annada walk out with a plate of something they come running.

My Friends Warm Me Up

Last week Marc was out of town so I asked Annada to think of something fun she would like to do. She said she would like to have a tea party. So we planned a party.

After getting ready and baking orange rolls we headed out to find some girls to invite over. I was hoping for about 3 girls. Well, we ended up with nine as word got out and kids kept showing up at our door (after 9 I started saying no – there were only 9 rolls). It was really fun. And some of the kids even ran home to find something to bring. We ended up having more of a full dinner than just tea.

After eating, all the kids went into Annada’s special room under the stairs. If you have seen the room, you know that required people sitting on other people. The kids made sure Annada had a spot but after about 10 minutes Annada left and went up stairs. I watched her on the monitor just mess around in her room while everyone else played downstairs.

After about 15 minutes I went up after her.

“Annada, do you want the kids to leave?” I asked. I though maybe she had enough.

“No!” Annada burst out.

“You aren’t even playing with them. Why do you want them here?” I asked.

“When it is just you and me I get cold,” Annada replied. “But my friends warm me up.”

This was the most kid-firendly wedding I have ever attended. It was great. All the kids were invited to be a part of a parade before the Bryn walked the aisle. Annada was so excited to get to be in the wedding. She took her role very seriously.

I always love it when Annada is cuddly!

They had a movie and coloring for the kids during the reception, but Annada never even checked it out. The moment the music started playing she was out on the dance floor… without me!

We had just gotten food and I was hungry, but I watched as she danced her heart out and found new partners for every dance. It is amazing how much she had grown up – she doesn’t just jump around anymore. She was dancing with the best of them :).

20 minutes in I noticed she was down to one shoe. The other sandal had literally spilt in half because she was dancing so hard.

She danced the whole time, only stopping to eat wedding cake. (Once I ate, I was out there too. I know Annada comes by her love for dancing naturally.)

I think we were quite a pair, the pregnant lady and the 4-year-old prima. (And 2 days later, I could stand up again with feeling like my hips would spilt.) The only time Annada reminded me she wasn’t a 20-somthing was during the Cupid Shuffle. She couldn’t quite get the whole dance and would get frustrated every time she turned the wrong way.

One of the sweetest moments of the night came as Annada was eating cake. She’d danced several hours non-stop and she was holding up her head with her hand. She looked like at any moment she would fall asleep and face plant into the cake. But even with her eyes half open, her shoulders were bobbing up and down to the beat.

The upside to feeling sick is all the cuddles :).

Sunday and Monday I was not feeling well. My guess is that Annada wasn’t feeling great either, but she’s got to have at least the flu to stay in bed.

I, however, crawled in bed Monday afternoon and stayed there. Annada joined me for a movie before bed and then I fell asleep. Usually I do “cuddle and talk time” before she goes to bed, but Marc wouldn’t let her wake me up. Right after he left her room, she came out saying she needed to “make my goal.”

Every night after I put her in bed she runs out of her room saying she needs to “make her goal” which is to give me one last hug. I wait by her door, hug her and she goes to bed. I know she’s stalling, but hey, I get one more hug!

So right before going to sleep yesterday she ran into my room, jumped up on my bed and gave me a kiss. I expected her to head to bed then, but she turned and put her arms around my belly. “Dear God, please heal my Mommy’s tummy,” she said.

This morning I woke up feeling better. So I when I came downstairs I told her.

“I prayed for you all night,” she replied.

Every night before bed I tell Annada I have something important to tell her. They I say, “God made you on purpose and with purpose. He loves you with a never-giving up, unbreakable, always and forever love. And I love you too, just the way you are. You are a blessing and a gift and I am so glad you are my daughter.”

It’s become part of the routine, so if I forget Annada tells me to say the “important words.”

Last night as I was putting Annada to bed she said she wanted to sing to the baby. So she put her head on my tummy and sang a song. Then she rubbed my belly and said, “God died. He loves you. You are important.”

“I told the baby his important words,” she told me.