Annie's quilt...

Isn't it gorgeous!!! I pieced and sewed it together and then Teresa, a wonderful quilter, put the backing on and quilted it for us. She also wanted to give Annie a piece of fabric because she loved the whole idea so she added the binding as her contribution. It is quilted with hearts and stars - just lovely. The backing is the fabric that we sent to people and the beginning of Annie's book has that fabric and our wish for her, our darling girl. A huge thank you to Shirley and Teresa for giving me quilter Teresa's name. She did a beautiful job, we couldn't be happier. Annie loves it too and she cuddled up in it when I was trying to spread it on the floor. Now I just have to finish her wishes scrapbook... oh and then her lifebook, oh and then the special trunk I am making her for all of her precious gifts from China oh and... I better stop there. At least her/our photo albums are all complete now. And my Mom told me I needed projects. Yikes!!!!!

Thank you...

to my cousin Emma. I LOVE all of the clothes that you send me but I especially like these boots and vest!!!! I have been wearing the boots around all day. Did I tell you that I LOVE shoes!! Mom and Dad bought me my first reebok runners today and they are fun to wear too. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for your gifts to me AND your great taste!!!

Love Annie-Isabel

PS: My Mommy also thinks that you rock!!!

A wonderful vacation...

We took four days and went to visit our very dear friends on Saltspring Island. It was such a great time. Annie had lots of "firsts" like riding on the ferry, swimming in the lake and "shucking" corn. She also "helped" us do some crabbing. Thanks Colleen, Bob, Arthur, Jaspar, Max and Fred for such a great time. We love you all so very much.

Annie's new room...

We didn't create a nursery for Annie because we knew that we would have her bed/crib and clothes in our room for the next few years. Her future room is our guest room and I was trying to figure out how to achieve more space so that it could be a play room as well. I started looking at loft beds but I wanted a double - singles are easy to find but doubles, well those are more challenging to find. Anyway, I went on used Victoria and found one!!!! I am really happy with it. The bed is originally from Ikea and the people selling it had also purchased the bookshelf, desk and chair that goes along with it. Now we have all of these for Annie as she gets older. Anyway, we can still use the room as a guest room because she is far too little to sleep up there yet but it is now her playroom too!!! Here are some photos...

The loft bed is really neat and has hanging shears for privacy which will be perfect for when Annie is older and wants that canopy look. Veronica

was the first guest who slept on it and she said that it was just fine!!!! We put the double mattress that we already had on it so it should be just as comfortable as our guest bed always was. I am just so excited to have another space for Annie to play in. As well, I purchased a pine blanket/toy box at a white elephant sale last year, full of toys for $20.00. The toys have been amazing BUT we had the chest cleaned up and it is a BEAUTIFUL pine box in our living room now. I am so thrilled to be able to put all of her toys out of sight at the end of the day and enjoy our living room again!!! Even though I LOVE looking at real estate, the reality is that we will be staying put. The changes that I have been able to make have given us more space AND allowed our rooms to be multipurpose!!!! Now on to other projects...

Communication...

Annie is very good at communicating her needs. Tonight at dinner, she said that she wanted something and we pointed to everything on her plate. Annie said no to everything but we found that she wanted her Dad's water. Shawn gave her the water and after she took a big long drink, she turned and hugged me. She then told her Dad she wanted to hug him. The hugs went on for about a minute with lots of kisses too. It was the sweetest thing. We had a very busy weekend with lots of people around and we think that maybe, she was happy to be having dinner at her table tonight with her Mom and Dad.

It makes a mother cry when...

your little girl rubs and scratches your back!!!! Yesterday, Annie woke up from her nap and I had the tv on because I was watching my pvr'd Eastenders - I am addicted!!!!! Anyway, it went back to HBO and there was a program on where a lady was sad and her husband was rubbing her back. I said "Daddy gives Mommy and Annie back scratches just like that". Annie was on the couch with me, she stood up behind me and I felt this little hand start to rub my back and then she started to scratch it. I was speechless and in tears. It was such a wonderful moment I had to record it here. Annie gives hugs and kisses but this form of affection is new and I hope that she keeps it up.
In other news, Annie will complete her "Starfish" class tomorrow and next Tuesday she will become a "Duck" at swimming lessons!!!! She is a real little fish.
Oh and this afternoon she was saying "Gampa" because she talked to her Grandpa this morning. Just thought you would like to hear that Dad because she says Nana so well. Still waiting for her to say Joma but that is a little harder.

Brilliant Child!!!

Annie loves animals. She is very gentle when petting them, holds out her hands for the little dogs to sniff and LOVES to watch the four chickens in our neighbour's yard. The city just created a bylaw that allows chickens in the city!!!! Anyway, when Erin was visiting she gave Annie a chicken. The other day we turned around and Annie had her chicken sitting on the little tupperware with the hay and eggs in it. Brilliant child!!! Just had to snap a photo of it. Oh and she loves her chicken!! Yesterday while "watching" her favorite show "Comfy Couch" she watched Loonette put Molly on the couch and she then she put her chicken on the couch and said "up"!!

I also had to post this photo of our little cutie, ready for swimming lessons. Thank you Joma for my cute suit and cover up!! Annie is reaching for her "Quachi" that she loves - you can tell by the smile!!!

I also wanted to thank Kathy for having us over with Shirley today. We had a lovely afternoon tea in Kathy's beautiful backyard which is on a cliff by the ocean. She laid a beautiful table with gluten free goodies and her special china. I forgot the camera or I would have posted a photo. Annie wore her new dress that Joma sent and she looked perfect!!! It was a wonderful afternoon full of fun and laughter but we missed Stella.