2 Years-old

It's amazing to me that my baby is two. What's more amazing is that she won't be my baby come June. There will be a new little face around these parts (I still am having loads of trouble wrapping my mind around this). In fact, my heart at once bursts and breaks when I think that Ada won't be my only child soon. Is this normal? I'm such a swarm of conflicting feelings. On one hand I can't wait to add another little person to the mix. I can't wait to see Ada as a sibling. I can't wait to cuddle and new warm baby and introduce it to the wonders I've slowly discovered the last two years with Ada. On the other hand, the thought of dividing my time further, of spending even less with Ada and Mike and art is a complicating and conflicting thought.

But back to my darling Ada girl. She knows her ABC's and can almost count to 20 unassisted. She can sing all the words to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and knows several other tunes that she puts most of the words to (Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam, Stars Were Gleaming, Mary has a little Lamb, Row, Row, Row your Boat, Elmo's World Theme Song . . .) She describes things with several adjectives, "Ada wants her purple ciucio with tiny, purple stars." Literally. She has said this to me on several occasions. She speaks in third person 100% of the time and often narrates everything she's doing or experiences. She mimics nearly every word I say. She picks up quickly on emotions. She loves to draw and paint and can do it for several hours a day. She loves Elmo. She seems to prefer book stacking to book reading these days (but perhaps it's because she's tired of our selections at home. . .) She can build the train track by herself but gets frustrated easily when the pieces don't line up on the first try. She loves wearing dresses and necklaces and hats but also loves to run and jump and climb, throw balls and play at the park.

She is a completely different baby than she was when we moved out here in August. In fact, I don't think she's really a baby at all anymore. This growing up business is even harder to watch from the outside. She's more and more fun by the minute (and often more challenging) but the phases pass so quickly and she's shooting up like a weed I'm not sure how much more growing I can take.

Can't we just put things on hold for a bit? A little bit? Please?

Ada, I love you so much my insides turn to pieces. You are the brightest joy of my life. Happy 2nd Birthday, sweetie.

18 Months

An effort to immortalize this phase that I am loving so much.

Month 12

People have asked me if it seems like just yesterday that I was handed my baby for the first time. Honestly, that feels like several years ago. Ada has been on 14 airplanes and 6 trains. I've probably changed two dozen diapers in the air. She's been in 7 States and 6 different countries. We've lived in 4 different homes. Those few numbers alone remind me of how many beautiful changes we have undergone in the last year. Life is a constant flux. It's a metamorphosis of form, understanding and relationships. It's a transformation making things more complex and more real and more nuanced as time passes.

This year has been full in so many ways. Most of all, it has made my heart full. It was strange to feel it stretch when I was an expectant mother, but to watch as every inch of that space be filled with love has been incredible.

Truly, my cup runneth over.



p.s. Our episode of House Hunters International aired on Friday. We haven't been able to watch it yet (we listened to it and squinted at the screen as my parents held their webcam up to the TV. Thanks guys!). You can read about it here.

Month 11

My sweet baby is becoming less of a baby every day. At this rate, I swear she'll be completely independent by age 3. (Sigh). Also, this past month seemed really, really long, not in a bad way, just in a "Whoa, that picture is from December? That feels like ages ago," sort of way.

I hope the next month feels even longer. I can't handle the thought of having a one-year-old yet.

Month 10

I spent way too much time digging in my own archives and watching some of Ada's earlier videos.
Stop growing, Ada. Stop it.

Advent Calender Day 12: family Christmas dance party

Christmas Song: Joseph, Who Understood by The New Pornographers

Month 9

Oh my Ada Louise. She learned so many new things this month. Among them: dancing, clapping, taking steps, how to open the top drawers, balancing, reaching, throwing fits, arching her back to get put down, waving (sometimes, mostly just at herself in the mirror), hiding and finding, to give kisses (if you're lucky. Usually she just pushes our faces away, unless she's feeling extra sweet), lots of new sounds like "da da" and "na na" and "gjsh gjsh", what shadows are an that she can make them move.


I just love her, love her, love her, love her . . .

Month 8

I have been grateful a million times over that I have Ada here with me. Italy would be so lonely without her. It's a lesson in trusting in the Lord's timing. And that life is more fun with kids.

To celebrate 8 months, she wore a gold tutu and stripey tights. We went to the grocery store and to the library where a little boy toddler kissed her a dozen times (several on the mouth! Hi germy kid, maybe take it down a notch) and only stopped once I moved Ada out of the reach of his lips. She's a doll, a bambolina, and we love her so.

Month 7

I got strangely sad when I made this month's video. Not because Ada is growing and the days I spent with her curled up on my chest seem like years ago. But because we're taking her away from so many people who love her and flying across the ocean. I know it's not for forever and we can chat and skype and call to our heart's content, but the reality is still sinking in. The summer days spent in the back yard with family are gone for now. Goodbye summer. And goodbye Provo (soon).

Month 7 from Paige Anderson on Vimeo.

Month 6

Month 6 from Paige Anderson on Vimeo.

Month 5

Seriously? How how how is my baby getting so big so fast? Everyone said to brace myself for how quickly it flies. I just didn't expect I'd have to wear a seat belt. We're going at warp speed.


Month 5 from Paige Anderson on Vimeo.

Month 4

Month 4 from Paige Anderson on Vimeo.

Month 3

Month 3 from Paige Anderson on Vimeo.

Month 2

I can't believe how the time is flying. Nor can I believe how much I love the time I've spent mothering this curious little person.

Month 2 from Paige Anderson on Vimeo.

Month 1

I know. MORE BABY PICTURES! I get it. Who doesn't like looking at cute babies? I've been trying to find the minutes to put this little video together (yet another project that Mike says, "is on an unsustainable path...") I'm surprised it took me so long. But here it is. For your viewing pleasure. Over a month late.

Month 1 from Paige Anderson on Vimeo.