She's 2...sad...but true

Our sweet baby girl is turning 2 today!!! Yes, you heard me correctly...2. I just cannot believe it. I cannot believe how fast 2 years has flown by. I still remember every single detail of when I got pregnant with her, my pregnancy, her birth, her first day home, the first week home, the first months of her life, all of her "firsts"...everything...as though it was just yesterday. On July 7th, 2008 at 8:11am, when that sweet baby girl (after 3 hours...but it was all worth it) came into our lives, I never thought I could love her more (sniff sniff) but I do (sniff sniff). The tears are not because of the reasons you may think. Sure, there is a part of me that is a little sad to see her get bigger but I also am so excited about that so that's not the reason. The reason is because I am immensely proud of Ansley. In her short 2 years of life, she has been through a lot. She was premature, and her first day of life, she was not held like most babies are. She was placed in an incubator and could not be touched, held, or loved on for 24 hours. She was 4 pounds 15 ounces when we brought her home, which could have been hard, but she did pretty darn good. Her daddy was gone traveling for work 5 days out of the week for the first 2 months of her life. Although she was a baby, babies need their parents around, but she got through that like champ. She then had to go through moving out of her home and moving all the way to Florida into another home. During our time in Florida, she must have been on 8 or 9 airplanes...and this is all before she turned 10 months old. She had to make new friends and adjust to a new area. Now, I realize that it's not like she was 18 and had lived in the same house forever and had to leave all of her friends, but babies need consistency, and she didn't have that at all. We were dragging her everywhere. We were building a house and every time we had an appointment for anything...she had to come with us. We had no family and were just meeting friends so that was hard to. Once life was starting to get normal and she had a group of little friends, that comes crashing down when we had to move again due to some very difficult circumstances. So, she goes through yet another move and back to Memphis, but not to her original home, but into another temporary house. Then things start to get a little normal and then boom!...her world is turned upside down AGAIN. Her little brother enters the world when she is just 1 year old. Not only is she trying to adjust to things that every 1 year old has to (such as: getting off the bottle, eating "real" foods, etc) but she also has to adjust to this new little man in her life. Now, I realize there are so many kids that face far worse situations than what I have just described and I am so thankful that Ansley is healthy...but with that being said...for a healthy 2 year old...she has been through a lot in her short 2 years. Through all of this...she has been a dream. She has adjusted every single time, she has been a loving, sweet little girl and I am just so thankful to her for that. I can honestly say that with everything that we have had to go through and put her through...she has truly been an angel. I know that I am her mommy but she is SUCH a joy in our lives and my heart is FULL of love for her...more than I could ever put into words. She is an amazing, beautiful, joyful, smart, funny, witty, happy, loving, sweet (I could go on and on and on and on) little girl and we love you so much Ansley...so very much. Happy birthday baby girl and always know how much love we have for you.

Her first time in her "big girl" car seat


With her favorite guy...Daddy


Her first day at the zoo with Mommy


I haven't been walking long...but I'm getting good


My favorite snack...goldfish!


My first sip of beer...thanks Daddy


I have a new found love for exercise


The real stuff tastes way better than that baby food


I'm a big sissy to my little brother Ty


...and I'm not quite sure what I think about that


One of my very favorite things...


...being outside...


...and it makes me so very, very...


...happy!


I'm getting good about walking in this grass


I LOVE my Daddy...he gives me rides way up here


Yeah...I'm not sure how I got these blonde locks either


My first bubble bath with Daddy


Trying to pick four leaf clovers...good luck with that


I have about 11 teeth right now...cheese!


I love getting into small spaces


I love taking pics with my Daddy...


...and by myself too!


Yes, it's the same costume...Daddy wanted me to be a spider again


I've been going to "school" and I love it


Yep...I still love goldfish


I love my buddies Archie and Parker


Okay Mama...what's next?


I LOVE a box!


I love high spaces...like my little shelf in my closet


I'm bringing back the 80's


My first pair of snow boots, but if I know my Mama, it's not my last


...oops...did I say that out loud!?!?


The holidays are coming...


Baby got back...yeah right!


Waiting patiently for Daddy to get home...hurry, hurry, hurry!


I love being outside...even when it's cold


If you haven't noticed...I love a snack


She's just beautiful...takes after her Daddy


Pushing her baby around in her shopping cart


Okay boys...what can I make you for lunch?


It's hard to believe how small she is with how much she eats


She REALLY loves small spaces


She also loves her elliptical machine...aka...playground


Mama, you crack me up! You have to be the funniest person I know!


On our way to "school"


Baking something delicious for Daddy in my kitchen


Daddy, I love you but this chic is hungry


A special trip to the zoo with Nanny & Pappy


No one loves their Daddy as much as I do


I love to multitask...playing and eating at the same time


That smile can turn any frown upside down


Sometimes she is so...focused...


I love Veggie Sticks!!!


It might be big but I love a swing...I don't discriminate


I love going to church...come on Mama!


My first pigtails


I love to draw at my table


The first cake I made for Daddy...by myself...well kind of


And he loved every bite


Another one of my favorite things...a slide


...and I love a chair too...


...and definitely sunglasses!


Posing for her Daddy outside on her swing


She loves her Daddy...


...but loves her Mama too


Precious...I want to kiss those lips!


I love to climb anything and anywhere


I also love any accessories


Going for a stroll outside


My all time favorite thing to do...swimming


Let's take this pic so I can get in that water


I am a water baby...this is the life


I also love my baby dolls


It's hard to be so cute when you have had fever for 5 days...ugh!


Give me a slide and I am all smiles


Bikini...check, sunglasses...check, floatie...check


Okay...I'm ready...let's blow this pop stand!


Ansley loves her little "Ty Ty". When he first came home, I think that she really didn't even notice. She was only 1 but she really didn't mess with him even though he laid on the couch right by her all day. She went through a phase where she didn't want a whole lot to do with him but that quickly changed. She started wanting to help me out with him and was very interested. Even so, she wanted to do things on her own time which was completely okay with us. We were just so glad that she was acting like normal and not being mean or ugly towards him. As time has gone on, she has really grown to love him. She started bringing me his diapers, throwing his dirty diapers away, feeding him his bottles, feeding him snacks, playing with him, hugging him, kissing him...loving him. It's just so sweet to see her be a good big sister. Now, there are times when Ty just wants to be around his sissy and she isn't feeling like it...and she has her moments...but that's okay. Those moments are going to happen. Overall, though, she is really good with him and is gets better and better the bigger he gets. She loves him so much that she has her own little name for him..."Ty Ty" and it's super sweet.

Ansley visiting Ty in the hospital


Sitting with her baby brother the first few days after he came home


Laying down with her bro bro


Happy Halloween!


Holding hands with her little brother


She is really starting to help out...here she is feeding him


It's the holidays...


...and Christmas is around the corner


We are Santa's little reindeer


Posing with my brother for Mommy


Merry Christmas 2009!


Okay Mommy...are you almost done with the pictures


My two favorite guys...Daddy and Ty Ty


Best friends forever!

Live, laugh and love

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So I took this video about a month ago although, I have to say, it was by total accident. I actually missed the first few minutes of their interaction because I was not planning on taking it in the first place. I was sitting on the couch while the kids were playing and next thing I knew...they were playing together and laughing. I grabbed the camera and started to film but, like I said, I missed the first few minutes. It's just about the cutest thing. There isn't a whole lot going on but it is just really sweet and I had to share.

Playing, swimming, doctors and more!

My poor baby...day 5 with fever


His new favorite hobby...visiting his little friends


Put her outside & give her a slide...she's putty in your hands


Other favorite hobbies...climbing


He's my gentle little bull in my china shop


Ansley is having a "playdate" with her friends


Always happy...I'm lucky


Just out for a stroll


She is starting to get some crazy hair but I love it


Daddy and his favorite little guy


The poses are not coaxed...I swear...it's all her


Mommy with her favorite sweet girl


She LOVES her babies


She was born ready to go swimming


LIfe is gooooood


She's always packing...a snack that is


Our first little ponytail


So I have some pictures that I have had for a few months but haven't put up so I thought I would just post a few. They are mostly from right before "summer" started but I thought I would get those up so I can start fresh with my new posts (because I have so many). Things have been crazy so far. We have been trying to stay busy with playdates and errands but it can be hard. It's so hot outside that the only way we can be out there is being in water...which would only make Ansley so happy. Ty went for his 9 month check up and is doing great. He was 21 pounds and 2 ounces but 30 1/2 inches long! He is 95% for height and 75% for weight. The doc says he looks great and is very healthy. He is crawling super fast and cruising everywhere and it's getting to be...interesting. Things are good though and we are just trying to make the best of each day. It is a little different with not having Ansley gone 2 days a week but it really hasn't been too bad. She has become quite the helper and really is starting to play with Ty more and more.

Outside!...her favorite word

So every night when Mike gets home from work...Ansley RUNS to him as fast as she can and gives him a great big hug. As soon as that is done, she takes off either for the door to go "outside" or she goes to get her "shoes, shoes" so she can then go "outside". It's funny because all day when she is with me...she might ask me once to go "outside" but never bugs me about it again but, when Daddy gets home, it is on and she is begging to go out. I think it's because she knows that she has her Daddy wrapped and she can get him to do pretty much anything she wants. Mike wanted to let you get an idea of what he comes home to so he had me leave the camera outside and he filmed as he came in. To be honest...I probably should have taken the video because you don't see Ansley hearing the key turn and the door open and you don't get to see her RUN like the wind to get to her Daddy... but you get the idea.

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2 of her favorite electronics

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Ansley LOVES the remote control and knows how to work it and she also LOVES the phone. She will randomly call people without me even knowing. Anyway, I was able to capture her with the phone but I wasn't quite quick enough because right before I caught this clip...she was jabbering on the phone as though she was talking to someone. It was cute and I will try to see if I can get her on video where she is just having a conversation with someone again.

H..e..x..a..g..o..n!

So when Ansley was going to her school (AKA: Mommy's day out) she learned a lot of different things. She has really grown so much since starting back in September although I think part of it was just her just getting older. One of the many things she learned was her shapes. She has the common ones down such as circle, square, etc. and then also learned hexagon. Every time I go pick her up, they have a sheet for me that tells me what she ate, how long she slept, etc. and what she learned that day. On one particular day there was a note that said "Get Ansley to say hexagon"...so when we got home...that is exactly what I did. It was hilarious and I had to get it on camera. The funny thing is that every time I ask her to say it... she does the same thing and it just cracks me up.

**don't forget to mute the music**