Almost to One

Christmas until now has flown by. It did the same to some extent when I was pregnant with these girls too. I wish I could slow this last month down just a tad more and drink in all the baby more than ever before. With 5 kids it is really hard to do that. I can see why big families just keep doing this. Although, Anthony and I both agree we are ready to move past the baby stage. Each month we inch closer to a year is bitter sweet. I look towards the future of sleep, no diapers, and doing older kid things like amusement parks. I still lovingly look at babyhood and kind of wish we could keep one around. Unfortunately it brings a lack of sleep and demands I am ready to move past. Instead I look towards the future of grand babies a long ways out!! 

The personalities are beginning to shine with these two. 

They look so chubby, but in reality I believe they are the smallest any of our kids have been at this point. They are not tiny by any means, but they are not huge either. 

Annlise

Anthony and I marvel at this girl every day. For her being so somber and serious her first few months she now makes up for it times ten. She is a very expressive child. She is a people person through and through. She will do whatever it takes to show off and get your attention. Although she still does not say dad just mom. 

Temper tantrums are her thing. She has hurt her head more times than I can count. When she doesn't like something she throws herself backwards. This has resulted in many times crashing out of my hands if I am on the floor with her. She figured that will hurt her head so now instead she goes forward. The girl is flexible. Because of this Anthony calls her Hammerhead. She just has a big old noggin and clangs it around even in sleep. We all have been the victims of the hammerhead in the middle of the night while she sleeps. 

She loves to play Peek-a-Boo with any clothes or blankets. She covers her face and we say, "where's Annalise?" Then she takes it off and giggles when we say, "There she is."

She only has eyes for Anthony when he gets home from work. She snubs everybody and screams if he won't pick her up. She just loves him to pieces. She is the blueberry queen and would eat pounds a day if I let her. 

She can now stand by herself. She loves when other people sing to her. She also loves to sit and play by herself with toys. We love her to pieces even with all those temper tantrums.

Daphne

This child is just busy! She is a little explorer through and through. She does not throw fits like Annalise and is much easier to keep out of things. You can tell her no and she looks smiles and finds something else to do. She does like to snuggle, but on her own terms. Bed time is her favorite time to snuggle. She is shy also when people want to hold her. She will smile at them all day long, but if they try to hold her or touch she ends in a fit of tears it seems. 

She loves to sing and dance. She things she is a monster like Ari and roars and waves her hands in the air. She also plays pat-a-cake and is now patting her hands.

She is loud too. She has learned to scream like the older kids and does it just to get attention. Anthony has taken up calling her Doo. She responds to it usually which is funny. She loves any electronic she can get her hands on and squeals with delight if she succeeds. She loves bananas. She screams at the baby gate if she can see them on the counter.

She is very close to standing, but is not as balanced as Annalise is.

Happy 11 months sweet girls!