Growing through winter

Early January 2001

When Annah hits the toys just right 
the music and lights on her gym come on.

"Tummy time is not so bad now that I can hold my head up on my own!"

"I can't quite reach those toys!"

"Daddy makes such funny faces!"

"Thanks for the Minnie Mouse ears Andy and Julie!
Can I go with you next time?"

An ornery smile

"Wow, that flash was bright!"

"This Super Saucer is pretty neat!  What do I play with first?!"

Just after bathtime

Annah's first piano lesson

Annah is now a pro at thumb sucking!

Sometimes just the thumb is not enough.

"I think I need a new hair stylist!"

 I'm growing so fast!

Feet

What's new? We have been busy and are still computerless at home. It's still being worked on, but it sounds like it might not be salvageable. 

 Annah has made a new discovery this week--her feet! What fun! 

 Last week she had her first little cold, but handled the sniffles, stuffiness and sneezes well. She's learned to turn herself around in her super-saucer too. 

 Mommy made an amazing discovery today too...If you sing a note while Annah's "talking", she will match the pitch with her voice! Sounds like we may have a little diva in the making! 

 Grandma Vonda is coming to visit and watch Annah for a couple days next week. Then we are planning to visit family in Indiana for a few days. We haven't been home since Christmas, and everyone is anxious to see how Annah has grown!

Scrambled Computer Brains

So sorry it's been such a long time since we've updated the site! Our computer at home has been out of commission, and may be completely kaput! It's quite a big mess, but we'll spare you the details. Hopefully we'll get it figured out soon, but we may be without a computer for a long, long time. 

 Annah is doing very well. She visited the doctor on January 30 for her 3-month check-up and weighed 13 pounds, 7 ounces and was 23 1/2 inches tall. Dr. Heinmiller said she is very strong for her age. That must be because she's been working out with Daddy every morning at the gym. (Just kidding.) Annah has also started rolling from back to tummy and also from tummy to back. The first tummy to back roll was even caught on video tape! 

 We put together the Super Saucer she got for Christmas, and she's played in it a few times. She is a very happy, smiley, talkative girl! 

 We are looking forward to a trip home to Indiana in a few weeks!

Gas

So, did you get your gas bill yet? We sure did! When we bought our house we were very careful to buy a house with "more efficient" gas heat. So much for that idea! We knew our bill would probably be a bit higher this month, but for the month of December it was $401!! We were shocked, and didn't think it could possibly be correct. Well, Jeremy called Columbia Gas last night and found out that it is accurate. Yikes! So, we decided we better get on their budget payment plan. Ughhh... 

 Annah is learning to reach out for things and grab a hold of them on her own now. She particularly likes to get a tight grip on Taryn's hair and not let go! She also began sucking her thumb last week. We think it is adorable, but have been told it may not be so cute in about 5 years. It seems to keep her quite content for the time being though. 

 Annah is adjusting well to days with her babysitter, Sandy. Mommy is not adjusting quite as well, but the situation is as good as it can be for now. Sandy is a very nice lady and she takes good care of Annah. She has a 10 1/2 month old son of her own, Zachary, who is very cute and smiley and can't wait for Annah to be big enough to play with him.

Happy New Year!

WOW! 2000 sure was a year we will never forget!! We somehow managed to cover almost all of the major life events! We knew it would be a special year, but we couldn't have guessed just how special. 

 We are so grateful for the wonderful family and friends we've been blessed with. You all just keep giving and giving to us, and we feel like we haven't been able to give anything back! You have given so much to us this year and throughout our lives. We can't say thank you enough. 

 Our "biggest" (little?) blessing of 2000 would have to be our Annah Christine. Each day brings so many wonderful moments with her, and she has brought us such deep love and happiness that it's almost hard to believe! 

 Annah went to the pediatrician on Tuesday (1-2-01) for her 2 month check-up. She now weighs 12 pounds, 7 ounces, and is 23 inches tall! She is growing so fast! It would be nice if we could slow the growing down a little bit, but at the same time we are anxious to see her developing and learning. She had her first set of vaccines on Tuesday too, and handled the shots like a real "trooper!" She only fussed for about a minute, and I even cried before Annah did! 

 Annah started to roll from her back to her side on December 30th. (She'd probably roll all the way to her tummy, except that she doesn't like to be on her tummy very much!) She's also starting to discover her hands. She bats at the toys on her musical baby gym, and can turn the music on all by herself now! We're so proud of her! 

 Grandma Vonda is visiting this week, as I returned to work on Wednesday. Although I enjoy my job, it is very difficult to be away from Annah. Next week will be even more difficult when Grandma leaves and Annah goes to the new babysitter's house. 

 We received a scanner for Christmas, and are in the process of installing the hardware and software for it. Look for lots more pictures to be added in the somewhat near future!

Annah's first 2 months

1 week old

in "the puffy suit"

yawns at tummy time

loving the bouncy seat

 This is Annah's "Over the Moon" nursery. When Grandma Vonda visited, she put up the wallpaper border, and painted the ceiling with suns, moons, stars and spirals!

 watching the cow jump over the moon

Our first Christmas

We were home to Indiana for a few days to celebrate Christmas with our parents (a.k.a. "the new grandparents"), and had a wonderful time.  It's just never enough time to get to spend as much time with them as we'd like or see everyone else we want to see.  Each moment, no matter how short, is treasured though. 

My dad took some photos of Annah in the adorable plaid Christmas outfit my mom got her.

4 generations of DeHaven family

        The main pipes for our water froze last Friday before we went home.  Thanks to Jeremy's quick thinking, that problem is solved.  We still have to figure out a way to thaw out the pipe for the water softener, but we seem to have the problem under control for now.  Jeremy is being forced to become a real "handyman" these days!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Frozen pipes

   Well hello!  Sorry it's been quite a while since we've updated the page.  You can give us a break though, right?  We have a beautiful new baby to take care of and play with!  What could be more important?!

         You'll find some new pictures up now!  There are some on the pictures page, and, of course, some of Annah at her page.   We're having an interesting crisis with our house right now...Yesterday we woke up and had not a drop of running water!  The pipe from our water softener to our water heater has frozen!  Jeremy spent a few cold, miserable hours yesterday morning, and a few more aggravating, freezing hours last night in the attic--to no avail.  A plumber came yesterday and charged an unbelievable ridiculous amount to bypass the water softener, so we do have our regular chlorinated city water, but that's only a temporary solution.  Our advice to any of you who may be thinking of buying a house...BUILD one!!, Don't buy an old one, because you'll just have to fix it!! *Sigh*

  Have a Merry Christmas everyone!!

All You Are

Jeremy's Aunt Joyce sent us the wonderful lullaby CD Sleep Sound in Jesus by Michael Card, and I've been listening to it with Annah and reading the words to the songs.  Every song is so touching, but this one has already come to mean a lot to me.  I love to sing it to Annah.

All You Are

Where did you get those eyes so blue?
They're from the sky that you passed through.
Where did you that little tear? 
Did you find that it was waiting for you here?

And what about your little nose?
He knew you'd need it for the rose.
And as for your soft, curly ear,
He knew there would be songs for you to hear.

For all you are and all you'll be,
For everything you mean to me,
Though I don't understand,
I know it's from the Father's hand.

How can it be that you are you?
He thought you up and so you grew.
Because you're mine it must be true
That He was also thinking of me too.

For all you are and all you'll be,
For everything God gave to me,
Though I don't understand,
I know it's from the Father's hand.

- lyrics by Michael Card 
from the recording Sleep Sound In Jesus
adapted from the poem Baby, by George MacDonald

Mandy

Annah and Mandy
 

This is Mommy and Daddy's friend, Nurse Mandy.
She was there when I was born to make sure everything went alright,
and to help Mommy, and make sure I was healthy.
Now she is my special friend too!

Mandy stayed with me when Mommy and Daddy went out for an evening.
She cares for babies all the time, and she took good care of me.

Thanks for a fun time, Mandy!
I hope we can play again soon!

~Annah