Life just needs a little balance...

As I think I've probably noted in previous postings, we have had so much fun over the past few months doing Little Gym. While it was theoretically supposed to be a "mommy and me" activity, my sickness with this pregnancy often resulted in Anna and I skipping our normal weekday time for Little Gym and Clint and her doing it together on Saturdays. So, fun for the whole family! Anyway...Little Gym has come to an end. While we had entertained the idea of signing her up for another semester, her interest in it seemed to have waned during the last few weeks, and she had become extremely adamant that she wanted to do "Tumble Bus" at school instead. So, remembering who's the boss, we of course complied...

She started Tumble Bus (which is basically a smaller version of Little Gym on wheels that comes to her school....but "cooler" in her eyes because she gets to do it with all of her school friends, and does it "by herself" without mommy/daddy) last week, and is completely obsessed. Her wanting to do this by herself is actually a little blessing for mommy too...trying to do Little Gym being 8+ months pregnant, and then with a newborn, was going to be a unique challenge this spring! Let's hope the interest in Tumble Bus sticks around...

Anyway...a few shots of her last day at Little Gym...

Big girl bed!

We are excited to report that Anna has officially transitioned to her "big girl bed"! We were attempting to let her stay in her crib until she demanded to move out or started climbing out on her own, but realized with her size that she might be in 4th grade before that happened. So, we decided it was time to go ahead and make the move. She decided she wanted to move into a different bedroom of our house and leave her old room "for the baby" (which logistically was a huge blessing for us...thanks Anna!). So, Daddy spent some time over the Christmas holidays getting her new room painted and furniture arranged, and Mommy followed up with some decorating, and we decided last weekend it was time!

She's done really well with the move. We've certainly had a few nights of waking up in the middle of the night, and even a few nights of moving back to the crib for a few hours, but she's solidly in her new bed now, and loving it! She told me the other day "I'm done with the crib for good now. I want to be in my big girl bed ALL the time." Done.

The photo above was from the first day she napped in her new bed. I went in to sneak a picture when she was first starting to wake up, and she caught me! I asked her to "pretend" to be asleep for the picture, so she closed her eyes but still waved. Oh well...close enough.

The first night she slept all the way through the night without waking, we celebrated with a trip to the donut shop the next morning! Rewards for Anna and Mommy...

It's That Time of the Year

Alright, Clint here. That unflattering picture of me from New Years has been at the top of the blog for too long, so I believe I'll bump it down a notch.

As you can imagine, there are many viruses going around Room 4 of the Childcare Center this time of year. Just before Christmas, Anna got hit by one and wasn't feeling good for a few days. Here's a pic of our little patient. Blue's Clues + lemonade + cereal + Teddy + blankies seemed to be the be the best way to treat this particular virus.

Good-bye 2008, hello 2009!

We rang in a very Happy New Year with a trip to the Houston Children's Museum. They have an annual "countdown to noon" for the kiddos, complete with New Years crafts, float-making, and a big brass band parade. They even have a ball that drops at noon! We did it last year as well, and had a blast! We think this may be an annual tradition. Here, Anna is waving a the "Wild Thing" (from "Where the Wild Things Are")...sorry for the sleepy eyes...this is photographic evidence of our dire need for a new camera...

We also enjoyed face painting--Anna reciprocated the favor of Mommy painting a heart and flower on her cheeks, and gave Mommy a makeover as well...

...and a little grocery shopping at the "Farmer's Market". Anna was thrilled to have her own grocery list and basket, and get to check herself out...