One month!

Sunday marked one whole month of Annabelle. She celebrated this milestone by having her first blowout in her last newborn diaper. I'll go ahead and admit that I almost cried when I realized she was outgrowing her newborn diapers--she still seems so tiny (then again, Mabes outgrew them after a week or so). She continues to be the sweetest baby. She's starting to get a little fussy at times, but it's only because she wants to be held and then she's fine. I can handle that. For the most part, she spends her time eating, sleeping, looking around, not crying, and cuddling. And I know most people would say it's too early for social smiles, but I swear she's smiling. It's different than smiles in her sleep. She's making eye contact with us, and Dave gets smiles more often than Mabes or I do. Annabelle seems to be recognizing our voices, though, and seems happy when she hears us, even if she isn't saying, "Oh, look, it's my big stister Mabes! I just love my big stister!", which is what Mabes thinks she's thinking.



I feel like I mostly know who reads my blog. Family, friends, the occasional blog-hopper from friends of friends... But I'm amused when I hear about people that I may not know as well (or not at all) who enjoy my blog. I mean, really--my life is not exciting. So I was quite flattered when Laura told me about her friend who loved kids and loved reading Sarah's and my blogs. I sent Rachel a Christmas card last year (still working on this year's...maybe we'll do Valentines?), and get updates on her from Laura.

And then Monday, Mabes and Annabelle received packages in the mail. Mabes was elated to see this:
"It's...it's...an ELEPHANT! Wif a shirt! I have a shirt like dat! From Aunt Laura! It says, 'I love da York!' Oh, I LOVE dis elephant! Wasn't it nice of Aunt Laura's Rachel to send me dis elephant?"

Rachel had kindly removed the sound box that apparently made a loud elephant noise when squeezed--she's obviously spent time around kids and kid toys. Elephant doesn't have a name yet, though Mabes is taking suggestions. He has joined Ricecake, Charlie, and Sharkie in the elite group of Mabes' toys, known as her kids. They get most of her attention and play time, naturally. I mean, they are her kids.