For the records...

ANNISTON


Anni has changed so much in the last couple months. It doesn't really surprise me, Reese did the exact same thing after her first birthday. It's like their true personalities decide to surface, holding nothing back.

A few things to remember...

• It's no surprise that Anni loves her big sister. She follows her around everywhere and wants to do everything Reese does. But she also knows how to stand her ground with Reese. She doesn't hesitate to make her feelings known and to milk the "baby sister" role for all it's worth. While she can't say much, she has her own way of tattling on Reese and giving me the saddest little "Mommy, Reese isn't being nice" face. 
• Anni understands just about everything I say to her. For the most part she's pretty obedient...and when she's not she knows it! She loves to give me a little guilty smirk before she high-tales it out of my grasp. While she may be fast...she's not too fast for mom just yet.
• She LOVES baby dolls. She's usually carrying one around, snuggling it. She also loves to push around the toy baby stroller...or ride in the toy baby stroller while Reese pushes her around the house. This always results in a lot of squealing and laughing, with the occasional accident and crying.
• Anni is a huge music fan. Anytime she can hear music...even in the faintest background, she will start to bust a move. She can even be in the midst of a full blown tantrum and all I have to do is turn on some music and those little shoulders start to bounce. Slowly she'll stop crying as the groove moves through her. I need to get this on video, because it's pretty funny.
• Anni isn't quite as good of a healthy eater as Reese has always been, but interestingly Anni has turned out to be a much more adventuresome eater. While she may snub her nose at several vegetables and fruits, she's a lover of all things spicy and flavorful. Favorites include Mexican and Indian food. 

REESE


There's nothing that sums up our little Reese like the words that come right out of her mouth...

Reese has been learning her more advanced colors, like the difference between Navy blue and baby blue, or light yellow and mustard yellow. We had just talked about shades of purple the day before this conversation.

Reese: Mom can I wear my violent panties with these shorts?

Me: (I had my back to her and hadn't really heard her because I was changing Anni's diaper) What did you say Reese?

Reese: I really really want to wear these violent panties, but I not know if they match my shorts.

Me: (trying to keep a straight face)Yes Reese. Yes you can wear those violet panties with those shorts. They don't have to match because they're under your clothes.
Reese: Yea!! I really really like these violent panties mom!

The other day Reese kept making excuses for everything I asked her to do. All her excuses revolved around her body hurting in one way or another. "I can't pick up my toys because my arms are hurting mom." "I can't go get my shoes because my legs are hurting." etc... until I got sick of the excuses.

Mom: Reese if I hear you complain about your body hurting one more time today, we will be canceling the neighborhood swim party tomorrow.

Reese: NO NO MOM!!! I want to swim and play with friends!

Mom: Well if your body is hurting so much, it can't swim or play with friends.

Reese: But but but mom, my body only hurt when it has work! It feels better when it time to play. 

Mom: (in my head) I know...convenient isn't it!

Me: Reese what are you doing out of bed?
Reese: Umm mine elephant not want to go to bed. I say to him he has to go time out. So I put him in time out and I sit and watch tv while he in time out. Ok mom?
Me: (trying not to laugh) Ok.

TWO MINUTES LATER...

Me: ok I think you need to go get elephant out of time out and go to bed.

Reese walks over to the time out chair...

Reese: Oh mom he say he still not want to go to bed so I put him in time out again. I guess I just have to watch tv more.
Me: Really? How many time outs do you think he's going to need before he's ready to go to bed?
Reese: probably lots mom.

Reese: What you doing mom?
Me: I'm coloring my hair.
Reese: But it not look colored, it just look brown.
Me: Well I'm just coloring it brown. The same color I always color it.
Reese: (very upset) But I not like brown. It sooo boring mom. I want you to color it purple, or yellow, or a fun color. I not like brown!
Me: I had no idea you had such a strong opinion about the color of my hair.
Reese: Well I have opinion mom!


I Woke up this morning sick and throwing up...

Reese: Mom, I really not like you throwing up so much. It really gross mom!
Me: Why don't you go watch cartoons honey. You don't need to watch me.
Reese: I know mom, but somebody gotta take care of you. And Daddy at work...(letting out a big sigh) so I gotta do it.

After Reese did something I had asked her not to...

Me: Reese, what am I going to do with you??
Reese: you just gonna love me mom!

Soooo true!


There really are no words for how much I love these two girls! I feel so blessed to be their mom and to spend everyday watching them learn, grow and become the beautiful people I know they are!