Trick or Treat!

Annalise had a blast on Halloween! She's been very excited about being a kitty cat. She dressed up at school and again that evening when we went trick-or-treating with her cousins, Lindsay & Caitlin. She had a great time!

My mom joined us, as is the tradition, and she and Caitlin were both dressed as witches. Lindsay was a cheerleader. They all looked so cute!

We're now doing the daily candy battle, as Annalise wants to hit the candy bucket every morning when she wakes up. Oh well, it was a fun day!

I Love My Girls!

This weekend I had a slumber party with my best friends from college! Yes, I'm 32 and pregnant and I went to a slumber party. So what? : ) I had requested to the BFF (no, that's NOT "best friends forever") to have a slumber party before the baby comes. So, this past Saturday we all invaded Mitzi's condo. It was a BLAST. I laughed for about six hours straight. And they surprised me with a little shower! I was spoiled with one of Mitzi's world-famous diaper cakes stuffed with onesies, PJs, pants, & toys, a Snap n Go, a monogrammed pillow, a bunch of monogrammed burpies and bibs that Les & Julie made, and a monogrammed diaper bag. They are the best. As I always say, "Friends are the family you choose for yourself." These girls really are my family. I love them all!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Pea!

Annalise, I can't believe you are three today. Time has flown by, and I really wish I could re-live a lot of your moments over these past three years. It seems like yesterday that we were all excited about you sitting up by yourself or crawling, and now you are running around, dancing, singing, playing, and chatting away. Where did my baby go? I asked you that last night and you said, "I'm not a baby anymore. Ryan is a baby." You are right, I suppose. But, you are still, and always will be, my sweet baby girl! Thanks for all of the laughs and loving moments over these past three years, Annalise. You have been our little comedienne and the light of our lives. What a wonderful gift we received three years ago today. We can't imagine our lives without you. Enjoy your birthday today, Pumpkin. And, like you and Daddy say "Party like a rock star!"

A Fun Day in Dahlonega

This weekend Annalise and I joined my parents (Annalise's "Nee and Papa") for a day in Dahlonega. Having gone to North Georgia College, I never miss a chance to go there because I love it so much. We had a great time!

Annalise loved the General Store, which, as I said to my dad, offers an amazing assortment of "crap" -- coonskin caps, asian table linens, trinkets of all shapes and sizes, metal Jack Daniels signs, coconuts carved into weird faces, etc . She loved buying marbles (or, as she calls them, "mar-balls"), watching the player piano, rocking in the rocking chairs, and selecting candy. We browsed through different stores (mom & I spent way too long in a children's boutique), had lunch, played on the drill field at NGC, and finished the day with ice cream. The weather was absolutely perfect. I get so jealous every time I'm on the NGC campus. I see the students and I want to go back in time and take their place. I love looking around and remembering different moments from college, both good and bad.

On the way home, we were all exhausted. Or, all except for Annalise. She said, "Nee, wanna play hide and seek at my house?" My mom, wno was totally wiped out, kind of laughed and said, "Annalise how old do you think I am?" Annalise said, "Nee, you three." We cracked up and mom said, "How old is Papa?" Annalise said, "Papa not three, Papa's ooooooollldd" We all died laughing, of course. Poor Papa!

Too many Disney movies...

Today Annalise wanted to play outside, but it was time for lunch. This is how our conversation went:

Annalise: "Mommy, I want to play outside."
Me: "It's time for lunch, Annalise, we can't go outside right now."
Annalise: "Mommy, I want to go play outside the palace walls!"

Hahaha! I think we need to stop watching Aladdin so much!

What will she say next?

Annalise continues to crack me up daily with the funny things that come out of her mouth. Thankfully I've been writing most of them down so I don't forget. So, here are a few of my favorites from this summer:

"Mommy, do you remember me? My name is Annalise!"

(In a sad voice) "Awwww...Mommy, Elmo doesn't have nipples."

Me: "Annalise, in this house we take turns."
Annalise: "Mommy, I want a different house. I want Nee and Papa's house."

Annalise showed our friend Mark a tube of Desitin and said, "Look Mark, this is toothpaste for my pee-pee parts."

"I love you, Laura Darling."

"Mommy, I need to check my e-mail."

Said to my mom ("Nee") this weekend at the beach: "Nee, you need to wear your big, big bathing suit at the beach."

"Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy....I, I, I, I, I, I......I don't remember."

Labor Day at the Beach

We were happy to enjoy one more weekend in St. Augustine before the end of summer. We had a great time! My parents came down and joined us, and Ricky, James, Meg, and I forced both sets of parents to play "The Newlywed Game." It was hilarious! Once again, Annalise LOVED the waves. She is a dare devil! I celebrated my 32nd birthday down there, too. Annalise was super-excited about the birthday cake. Her favorite thing!