Annada Marie Vergo

Annada thought painting on the paper was fun. But painting herself and Daddy… now that is exciting!

Cleaning up is fun too.

Giving Grandpa a kiss.

Annada recognized Grandpa right away. And she remembered to check his shirt pocket ASAP! It was good to see you Grandpa. Thank you for all the hugs. (And letting Mommy sleep in.)

Annada has had a lot of friends over lately :). Jack is staying with us while his little brother is born. In the morning when Annada sees Jack is still here, she runs over and starts laughing and saying hi. Although Jack is only a little younger, Annada calls him a baby and brings him “baby” things. Jack sits in her high chair, and I’m not sure we will ever get her back in the “baby seat” as Annada has christened it!

Playing hide and go seek in the pantry.

Even in the pool, Annada can’t resist wood chips.

Over spring break, we snuck away and had high tea at the Grand Floridan. I have a feeling tea with Meme is in Annada’s future.

Reading books in her bedroom.

Annada got up early so Daddy snuck her outside while Mommy slept. Pants or no pants, Marc is a superhero!

Annada and Daddy have a game where he sticks out his finger. Annada touches it with her finger and they both laugh. That’s it. But it is quite funny.

Getting in some Pepe time. As Pepe says, “Pepe time is party time.”

Annada went to three egg hunts this year. This was the last and by this time, Annada was a pro.

Marc and I did magic tricks and spoke at this church’s Easter Egg hunt. So Annada had to get there early and just look at the eggs waiting to be found. At least, that was the plan. Shh… Pepe let her hunt eggs early. It was a catch and release program.

At Aquatica

Annada ride the merry-go-round with Aunt Erica.

Uncle Kevin and Daddy at SAK. It’s “nerd love.” 0110001010

I love my Meme and Pepe.

We went to Beaches and Cream to celebrate Kevin graduating. Kevin is an ice cream addict, so he got “the-whole-kitchen-sink!” Annada was a big fan of this kind of celebration.

Annada is starting to like time alone. She will go in her room and shut the door. It is very important to her the door is shut – if I go peek at her, she will get up and shut it again. While this is bitter-sweet, she is so serious about it I can’t help but smile. Today she spent 20 minutes reading books on her bedroom floor this way.

When Annada gets very tired she will lift up her arms and say, “me baby.” That means she wants me to hold her like a baby and cuddle with her. I can’t believe she is old enough to “act” like a baby. I relish those cuddles.

Annada is bubble-obessed. Blowing bubbles in her water cup, bubbles in books, bubbles in the glass on a store display: she can spot bubbles anywhere and she always knows where the bubble solution is.

When Annada is really excited she stomps her feet in excitement and giggles. It is the cutest little jig.

Annada pretends to call Daddy on the phone. I know because she calls, says hi, and then holds the phone toward me and tells me it’s Dada.

There were a couple of weeks Marc didn’t get to see Annada because work was crazy. Annada would wander around the house looking for him and crying. She doesn’t cry tears very often, but when she starts missing Daddy, she cries huge tears.

Annada’s knees are skinned on top of the scab from the last skinning. But she doesn’t cry. She will be happily walking along and I will notice blood. Then she will start running away because she knows I am going to take her inside to clean up!

Annada has so many new words. Here are a few: fish, strawberries, ball, alphabet (alfbet), pears, elbow, belly button, ears, eyes, shoes, and outside. She has learned to sound like an owl, kitty, sea gull and dolphin in addition to dog, snake and duck.

Annada is attached to her babies – anything stuffed that resembles something alive. She sleeps with a glow worm and a polar bear mommy and baby. When I lay her in bed she waits for me to put the glow worm next to her then she pulls it in with one arm and sleeps with it. She has to be able to see the polar bears. Once the blanket covered them and she started crying. I uncovered the bears and she moved them so they were looking into her eyes.

Annada and I were at IKEA yesterday when all of the sudden she screamed, “Baby!” very upset. She loves to point out real babies when shopping, but I could tell something was really bothering her. I couldn’t see anything. She started crying, so I told her to point and I followed her finger – right to a fake bear skin rug! It was the same color and fabric as her polar bears. She grabbed a corner and hugged it. I explained to her that her babies were still safe and no babies were harmed in the making of the rug. She thought about it, then put down the rug and patted it several times before agreeing to move on.

Annada isn’t sure of the potty yet, but she loves washing her hands. When I go to the bathroom, she rushes in and makes sure she gets to wash her hands before we leave.

Meme taught Annada her body parts. She knows eyes, ears, mouth, nose, belly button and elbow. She likes to point to her own ears, but your eyes. The trouble is, she likes to show other little kids where their eyes are by poking them. I took her to Sea World Friday and she walked up to many kids, said hi, and then poked them in the eyes saying, “eyes.” About half the kids thought this was great. About half ran away scared. Annada would stare at the scared ones saying hi over and over trying to get them to come back.

Annada still likes to pull out a book and come sit in my lap. When I am done with the story, she will often reward me with a kiss :).

Annada enjoys small spaces like her Mommy did. She even sleeps sideways pushed up on one side of the crib. So she loves our new closets.

It’s time to baby proof another shelf :). My theory is that any new skills that don’t involve blood, are good. This time Annada got into the pantry and started carrying around a jar of spaghetti sauce. She wandered into the bathroom and dropped it. I saw it happen. But what made me laugh is how she came to get me right away. I wanted to get paper towels first, but Annada kept pulling me toward the mess to show me. Then she stood there pointing in disbelief. She was so cute and insistent I went and got my camera to take a picture. Her look said, “I think I might be in trouble, but Mommy look: this is awesome!”

I got some pictures that capture Annada’s joy in her tent. She gets so excited that she falls over in there a lot. Which works out great because the sides of the tent catch her. One time she fell so hard the tent flipped over. It didn’t hurt – she laughed. Until she couldn’t figure out how to get out.

The back of the tent. Peek a Boo!

“Up. Up.” Annada’s “pick me up” look is so sweet and sad.

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.

Our YearOne crew! Nathaniel and Jess were the brave ones to face the cold weather and rain with us.

Annada wasn’t so sure about this race in the rain. Particularly when I tried to warm up my hands on her back! She was a trooper though and ate a whole pear as we made our way through this off-road race.

Annada’s favorite parts were: the bounce house, going home with balloons and climbing up the stairs when we went inside to warm up.

Saying goodbye at the airport.



After they left, I let Annada play in the sand behind our townhome. I don’t think she knew Grandpa and Grandma had left, but she did seem to know something was wrong. We had fun playing, but she was extra cuddly and didn’t try to wander away from me (unusual). Since then she has been upset whenever Marc or I leave the house, even if it is just to get something from the car. I think she had so much fun with Grandma and Grandpa; she misses them!

Annada has become quite the sweetie. In the last month, she has learned to blow kisses, give kisses and hugs and stroke my hair when I lay down. If I am sad, she will crawl up in my lap. If she is sad, she will hide her head in my shoulder.

She gives us all (Marc, Grandma, Grandpa and I) a kiss before going to sleep. It is one of my favorite parts of the day. The last couple of days, she has also taken to blowing Daddy kisses as he leaves her room at night. Marc won’t leave until she stops and we have both had to laugh at the incredible amount of kisses he gets (and how long she can delay bedtime!).

Annada learned something else new this month too – pretending to go potty. When I go to the bathroom, Annada sits on her potty too. Then she flushes the toliet for me and stands under the sink while I wash my hands. I’m hoping all this role playing will make the real thing easy :).

While Mom and Dad were busy with Preview Weekend, Grandma and Grandpa took Annada to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. She loved the rocks, leaves, animals and constant love.

Annada loved the aquarium. She would rush from tank to tank, her hands above her head, giggling with joy.

Annada started saying bird (“bir”) at Epcott whenever she saw one flying or swimming on the lake. In this picture, she is pointing at the birds.

Das Madchen ist in Deutschland.

Afternoon coffee break in France.