Family Pictures 2011

Things to Remember:
*I spent all morning scouting out two perfect locations. We didn't use either of them, and I am so glad- the photographer had some better ideas.
*At the first location, and after only about 10 minutes, Kalia laid down on her belly in the dirt, just goofing off. I was freaking out!
*Ella was teething and has her tongue resting on her bottom gums for most of the pictures. We didn't get a great shot of her, but oh well. Next time.
*I used a curling wand on my hair, as well as Kalia and Annie's.
*Annie had to go potty in the middle of the shoot. I had to take her around the side of this old "peeling paint" building and hold her while she went on the ground.
*I wish I would have gotten my hair done before the pics (regrowth!) but it had only been 4 weeks, and I couldn't rationalize it. Guess there's always photoshop.
*I used bathroom humor to get Kalia and Annie to smile- things like "poopy bum!" and "Ella tooted!" and "stinky pants!" and it totally worked.
*Kathryn Crouse (Kathryn Crouse Photography) is amazing. She's in our ward. We loved working with her. She edited so many photos for us, I had to beg Samuel to give in and buy the whole session. I don't think we'll regret it.
*This is the first time I've ever been truly happy with pictures of myself. It's probably the extra 12 lbs that are missing, but oh well- Samuel looks handsome too- and we are both hit and miss on photos. Another reason to buy the whole set.
*Ella was really getting cranky at the second location (the Pecan Groves and the red building with the vines growing up the building. Loved that place.)
*I returned Annie's shoes to Kohls after that photo shoot, because after only 1.5 hours the outer toe leather was worn off.
*I was going to put tights on Ella but I forgot. I'm glad though, because we got that cute baby leg fat photo.
*For the last 7 months, Ella's little left eye always has a tear in it, since it doesn't drain well. I Love that she caught a shot of that tear so I can remember it.
*The last picture is the one we are blowing up huge for our wall (on canvas.) Kathy told me to stick my hip out like that, I didn't think of it on my own. I liked the final effect though.

Here's my handsome hubby!

Time for Change

Ya know, I've been thinking about this ol' blog of mine. How I only get around to posting about two times a month; how I'd rather spend time on Pinterest. How I have always written with readers in mind, and tried not to bore anyone or come off as a whiner or a bragger. But last night I sat down with Kalia and showed her pictures of the first two years of her life- from my Blurb Blog books that I published in January. She was delighted to see it! And I realized how precious these books are, and how they are really the only type of record or jounal I am keeping. I don't want to forget all the sweet moments of my long and sometimes hard days. I want my journal to keep on. So I am going to be focusing on that- I guess we can call it a New Years resolution, but I want to start it now. I am going to start blogging shorter and more frequent posts, and I am going to be writing for myself and my family. Anyone who is still stopping by to read is welcome to keep visiting! But it won't be geared as much toward updating others about my family, as it will be for my own record.

Just thought I'd let ya know!

Annie Turns 3!

November 6, 2011
Well, Annaliese Sadie Bigler turned 3 on November 6th. We had a little family party and dinner, and she had a great time. I got a Rapunzel cake from the bakery (had a free coupon) and Annie got some new barbies, a cute sleeping bag, and her favorite gift of all, green hand soap in a frog-shaped pump. That girl loves playing with soap and water. Also, the Bottle Fairy came and took her bottles to give them to other babies who actually need them. (Don't judge!) We had our reasons for letting her keep the bottle til now (at bed) and 3 was the perfect time to be done with them. She transitioned pretty easily, and loves her new tea seat that the bottle fairy left.

A few things to remember about Annie at age 3:
She still cannot have any dairy, but she loves her almond milk.
She gets a crazy bum/lower back rash from eggs and peanut butter, so avoiding those too.
She is my most emotional child, and feels thing intensely, much like her mother.
She can throw some major fits, and when she gets super mad, you can almost see the steam coming out of her ears. She clenches her fists and squeezes until her whole body shakes.
She also can be the sweetest, most polite little thing, which is what side we see more often.
She has a tiny little voice, and she LOVES to sing, and she's great at it.
She likes to play with her doll house more than Kalia did, and is more of an independent player.
She LOVES makeup and having her nails painted.
She still prefers to take an afternoon nap, although most days I will make her stay awake so that she'll go to bed early with Kalia.
She loves to sing Taylor Swift songs, and "If I Die Young" by the Band Perry. She knows almost all the words.

7 Months old

This post is 2 weeks old, but oh well!

*Just cut her bottom two teeth

*After a 6 week hiatus, is biting my nipples again. Punk.
*Has had a stomachache for about a week (I've been too lax on the diet + Halloween candy)
*Has rotten-egg-stinky-toots when this happens
*Crawls at lightning speed
*Can pick up tiny little things
*Let go of the couch and stood alone for about 20 seconds
*Likes to play in Kalia and Annie's room the most (always fun stuff on the floor)
*Is waking up more than usual at night
*Mommy is tired
*Is going to get moved into her own suite next week
*The suite = a storage closet
*Will have to go through night-time sleep training, finally
*Takes 3 good naps every day
*Still has a clogged tear duct (drain) so her left eye usually looks teary
*Favorite Activity = Crawling to the toy piano, standing up and banging on it
*Will not sit still at church anymore (of course)
*Babbles away- so cute.
*Only poops once every 4 or 5 days (so strange! it's soft too!)
*Barely any baby food in her diet still
*Said "Chick or Treat" for Halloween
*Didn't like to take (professional) family pictures (due to aforementioned stomachache)
*Enjoyed her first "Smarties" to keep her from crying. (it worked)
*Snuggles up to her little square pink blanket as she falls asleep
*Sucks on 2 fingers too