tavianna

1,2,3, four!

"Little bits" turns 4!

It's funny because kids always expect a birthday to some how make them instantly older. Like, George asking why Annika wasn't as tall as him now that she was his age. But somehow in a day Annika did seem older. Maybe it was having a birthday that belonged to our family. Or maybe seeing her own gifts being presented, opened, and played with. Or maybe it was because we took time to see how much she grows and learns everyday observed all in one evening. Whatever it is, it was beautiful to witness. We just all love her so much!!!

 

:: She loved her cake! And learned a new word too - dots!

 

:: Daddy cooked a mean stir-fry...Jackpot Cafe style.

 

:: The princess and her royal subjects!

 

:: However, make no mistake, this princess does her own cooking...mostly muffins.

Oh, what a glorious year she has coming!

sweet goodness

What do you do when you have a house full of kids who LOVE to dress up but you don't technically celebrate halloween and besides, you have a church service on Saturday night?

Well, You definitely still dress up...

:: This is our ninja for the evening

:: And here is Will Turner from Pir@tes of the Caribbean in full demeanor

Then, you make sure there is some sweetness involved, like baking chocolate chip cookies. Annika's first time!

:: I think she approves!

Annika has been reading up on her gourmet cooking ya know...

 

Finally, you do it all the night BEFORE with a good new-release movie to watch while your dunking those cookies in milk. Sweet goodness.

And have you noticed our new shiner? Yep! Annika was running around the house with George, you know that activity that I tell them stop doing over and over, but giggling endlessly is bound to land face down and the desk was there to greet her. Just like last time, it grew to an enormous bump in a matter of seconds. I've never seen a girl get a knot so fast, or a boy for that matter! Well, at least we have a few bangs to cover it this time.

pigtails

Another first for my baby girl! We have our first pigtails! I had recently purchased some little Goody ponytail holders thinking that we might need them in the near future. Well this morning Miss An saw them in her drawer while getting her dressed and she knew exactly what to do with them! Of course, we immediately made our way to the bathroom, stood on the stepstool so she could she herself in the mirror, and I made a very ouch filled attempt to make pigtails. Annika loved it! Let me just say that when I tried to take these pictures she got all giggly because she KNEW she looked absolutely adorable! The boys doted over her and so did her daddy, O my!

 

 

This last photo is her trying to find the pigtail to show me again. Let's just say a few hairs aren't quite long enough to make it back to the holder!

time-line

We finally did it! I have been homeschooling for 6 years now and I have dreamed of a time-line rounding out the walls of the schoolroom since day one. When Nicholas started 5th grade it became mandatory to our history curriculum to put up dates so here we go. My ultimate dream is to have a shelf extending over the top of the time-line and fill it with craft projects we do in history throughout the year. Wouldn't that be awesome! However, don't despise small beginnings, right?

 

 

But putting such a thing up with all its copying, cutting, and sticky-tacking comes with a small price. What life looks like in the room you kept everyone else busy in!

 

O, well what are playrooms for anyway.

2 months home

Annika has been home two months now!!! And this is our first family photo. It was taken a few hours before our social worker arrived to interview for our first post-placement. Amazing what actually get stuff done sometimes!

It was a great interview however. When you answer questions about how your days have been going, it really makes you hear your own thoughts. I feel once again, overwhelmed with the faithness of God as He has weaved peace and goodness into establishing a new normal over our family.

She just gets more beautiful everyday...

pretending

Let's do a little cooking! It shouldn't surprise me that a girl who loves to eat would enjoy pretending to whip up something tasty. I can hear her little dishes clanging in the morning before I even see her emerge from her room.

Annika is very excited about how to "cut" her food. And she also has learned how to "crack" the eggs into the bowl. However, she was a bit confused as to why the yolk didn't actually come out! It is, after all a piece of velcro. I think I see some small kitchen appliances for a certain birthday girl in our future.

full of smiles

Our little girl is doing pretty well. She's learning so much everyday. But I will say, that adoption is full of emotions - daily.

Annika loves to show affection. Many kisses, hugs, and cuddling go on here. It has made all our transitions (and there have been many so far!) have a certain grace that keeps things lovely. However, the more we are out and about, the more I realize that these terms of endearment are easily transferred to complete strangers! That is, strangers to her - not to us. Being mommy, it's a strange feeling. So bonding is something that doesn't just happen, it is something you consciously have to consider - daily.

But I found a good thing! Inspiration! A place my little girl can only find me for her affection. It's called a big comfy, yellow, chair right beside her bed. It's a place where my almost 4 year old becomes my baby. We rock back and forth, back and forth. Till her stillness is evidence of peaceful sleep. So maybe bonding is more natural than thought. And way more supernatural than emotions can contain.

oldest to youngest

let's play!

Smell fall in the air? Oh, I love October! This year it is that much sweeter due to one beautiful boy in my family that is enjoying playing a little soccer.

The other kids observing the scrimmages.

And of course me and my girl!

firsts

There might have been a few firsts we have missed in Annika's life but we aim to remember a few starting right now!

:: An's first "St@rbucks" at our favorite bookstore. She was so thrilled to have a cup like everyone else's that it really didn't matter what was in it! Water definitely tastes different with the funny lady on the front, apparently.

:: First browse around our favorite toy store - it actually was a little experiment on my part, wondering what childhood fascinations would capture her attention. Yep! this is definitely part of being a girl. My boys wouldn't even think about touching this stroller, much less putting a baby doll in it!

:: Annika has even attended her first birthday party! Can you tell she enjoyed it?!

So I guess we can't exactly compare these events with say a first tooth or first steps but I can guarantee that they are every bit as delightful and amazing for her parents to share.