'Twas a Month Before Christmas

'Twas a month before Christmas and Mama felt like a louse
for already friend’s Christmas cards were adorning her house.

The props were arranged on the set with care...

In hopes that the subject wouldn’t be a bear

She in her red taffeta and I in my jeans I was ready to capture
All the beauty that Christmas means.

For a photo of the toddler I would try to take
Hoping my sanity I would not forsake.

Visions of smiles, full of sweetness and delight
Went spiraling down in a tantrumy-plight.

She cried and said up, and no and wouldn’t do what she should
Wouldn’t even play with the cones from the pine wood.

When from my lens I heard her feet patter
I looked up to see what was the matter.

Turns out her escape she decided to make.

Off of the photo set she did take

Everything but the photo was catching her eye.
All this Mama could do was sigh

The pantry!

The Boxes! The chair!


She did play.
On Oggy, On Oggy! Darn dog was making her day!


Running and screaming and having a ball…
(perhaps in baby talk saying, “I’ll dash away, dash away, right down the hall!”)

Though it’s the season of jolly, fun and St. Nick
I probably won't get the perfect click

Then I heard her sweet squeal as she tore out of sight.
And I thought this spirited blessing is Mama’s Delight!

Birthday Part II

When Gma and Gpa came to visit a few weeks ago, Anna got have another birthday party!

I think she was OK with that.

She totally has the unwrapping thing down...and loves it.

Anna loves kittens. LOVES them. So, several of birthday gifts from her grandparents were kitten-themed.

A kitten book.

A stuffed kitten.

A kitten puzzle.

Really? Is this a puzzle piece-worthy kitten activity???

Oh, my.

I think Grandpa and Grandma's favorite part of the trip was story time.

Has this girl got it good or what?

Our Favorite Visitors

When Anna woke up from her nap the other day, her Grandan was there to greet her. He brought her downstairs and, even in her sleepy fog, she was so happy to see her Grandma.

And, well, I think her Grandma was pretty darn happy to see her!

Her Great Grandma was, too!

Anna just snuggled.

We love having my parents come visit.

And GG too. Here are the Anna's!

Anna hammed it up for her audience.

And cuddled on demand.

No one reads quite like Grandan.

Great Grandma Anna got a rare opportunity to take a picture with 4 of her 5 great grandkids!

Special, special days!

Post-Church Photo Shoot

For the first time in quite a while, we brought Anna to the church nursery. I volunteer there, so I get to go in with her and get her settled before leaving. When I brought her into the room, I sat her down next to another baby, and she gleefully squealed, "hi!" to the little girl.

After church, she was still all smiles!

We had such a gorgeous fall...

...making most days ideal for photo shoots with the new cam!

Though she's not crazy about posing. She'd rather cruise.

Even dad got his hands on the new camera!

Fun stuff!

New Wheels

The gorgeous fall had us outside frequently enjoying the gorgeous weather. I came across these cars on sale at the end of the season...

...and decided, on a whim, to grab one for Miss A.

Turns out, that was a good move.

We're thinking she's enjoying it.

And, of course, on her first ride dad decided it was the most fun to chase poor Oggy with the car.

Anna

and Oggy agree.

The squeals and sheer glee were SO cute!

Now, we've had it for a few weeks...and she LOVES going down street toward our house because it's downhill and she goes fast! She grasps the steering wheel (at 10 and 2 o'clock) and flies while bobbing back and forth trying to go faster!

Whatever are we going to do this weekend?

Life Through A New Lens

A few weeks ago, my DH decided I needed a camera upgrade and bought my early Christmas/birthday gift: an SLR!

Needless to say, the clicking hasn't stopped.

Know what else hasn't stopped? Little Miss Perpetual Motion.
But now, I have a fast action lens to catch her:

The first night I had the new camera, a couple of Anna's friends came over to play...

Giving me the chance to catch them posing..

and being boys!

It was fun to start playing around with different shutter speeds...

...and just generally watching them play through the lens. I'm thinking she can hold her own.

These little guys adore her and are so sweet!

How cute is this??

Sweet Ty gave her several squeezes (if you ask him who he's going to marry, he immediately responds "Anna"! He's three.)

This is a pretty common look for her. Intent with some snack in hand.

Love these kiddos!