My Uncle Pidge

My Uncle Pidge just got home from his mission to Scotland.
Don't we look great in our matching kilts??

Naptime

Annika loves Timothy and loves taking naps with him. ha ha

Our new favorite

Papa rented Annika a movie that was described as "Learning through Laughter." Now, as most of you know Phil does not have a great track record for getting new movies that are quality (namely "The Blue Elephant" ahhhhh!) but this one was a hit. Annika laughed hysterically throughout the whole thing...like hold-your-breath hysterical. Mama was laughing just as hard, which hurt, but it was worth it.

We highly recommend this one!!

I'M A BIG SISTER!!!

Introducing my baby brother

Timothy Philip Janke.

Born April 21, 2009 at 1:00pm

7 lbs. 4 oz.

20 1/2 inches long

I am such a great big sister and always hold and kiss baby Timmy.
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Me and Mama needed a good nap after such an eventful day.
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Easter in Spring City

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We drove to Spring City just for the day but wish we could have stayed longer. It was great weather and Annika had a blast with her cousins. Lucy gave her several eggs she found which added to the fun. There was a huge Easter egg hunt on the property and Annika loved petting Max and Spurhawk (the horses).
What a fun Easter weekend!!

Easter at Nana and Grampa's

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Nana got me the cute Easter dress and a matching one for Molly (my doll). I got to hunt for eggs filled with delicious treats.
We all went to dinner at Training Table then miniature golfing at Hollywood Connection!
It was Annika's first real golfing experience and of course I forgot the camera. We'll just have to go again really soon.

Parentwatch

So Annika's preschool has a camera system so parents can watch their children throughout the day. I have rarely used it but just needed some Annika while she was at school today. So, I logged on and saw her taking off her snow clothes by herself. She didn't even seem to get too frusterated. Wow! Next I watched her sit nicely for a full 20 minute circle/story time. I was so proud! Then it was lunchtime. I watched her sit pretty well as she ate-no milk dumping...hooray!!

Then the lights were turned off for nap and it was a whole 'nother story. I noticed Ashley, her teacher, sat next to her first to rub her back (I know what that means-she's a tricky one). She laid down pretty still for about 1 minute then just started doing gymnastics. She began kicking her feet and rolling off of her mat. Within about 5 minutes she "lost" her blanket (the teacher holds it until she rests quietly). 15 minutes into nap she was wrapped up like a burrito in her blanket and Ashley was rocking her. Oh man, my cute little Annika is one of those nap time kids. I feel so bad because she goes to sleep so easily at home. She even puts herself completely to sleep. I will have to get the teacher's extra treats for doing such a great job with a tricky napper.

All in all, it was great watching Annika at school. Kids are so different in other environments and it was exciting to see her sit through the whole circle time and lunch. And even though nap was a bit of a disaster I am still so proud of my little, tricky girl.

A little help please...

A part of potty training is pulling up our pants all by ourselves.
It's a work in progress. he he

POTTY TRAINING DAY!!!

Yesterday was finally the BIG DAY, potty training day. I have been so excited about this day and the more we talked about it, the more excited Annika became. I read the book Toilet training in less than a day by Nathan H. Azrin and I was sceptical. But then I started talking to family and friends and EVERYONE had read the book and potty trained this way and had success. So, it was my turn.

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(Annika in her first pair of underwear.)

Friday morning we woke up, ate breakfast, then at 9:00am the potty training began. It is pretty intense at first because you're asking the child every 5 minutes to feel their pants. If they are dry they get a treat and a drink. Then every 15 minutes you have them sit on the potty for 10 minutes. This was the hard part because Annika doesn't sit still...ever. Once we incorporated a book she did fine. She peed on the potty immediately the first 2 times we tried it, then had an accident around 10:00. When they have an accident you have them "practice" pottying themselves 10 times quickly. Annika didn't like this and threw a tantrum the whole time. I stuck to it and helped her walk to different spots in the house, check her pants, told her "Mama doesn't like wet pants", then told her she needed to practice quickly and helped her get to the potty and do each step of pottying. It was tiring but by noon she had already pottyed herself 3 times which means she's potty trained! Yay!!

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(Annika enjoying her drink and treat.)

She will probably still have a few accidents over the next few days but that, to me, is totally worth it...NO MORE DIAPERS! HOORAY!!

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Look at our big girl!

No More Binkys!!!

Well, this week has been full of Annika growing up. Annika is moving up to the Seahorse class in her school and they don't allow binkys and are doing potty training, so to prepare we have been talking for a week about how we are going to give her binkys to the baby class because the babies need them and Annika doesn't because she is a big girl.

She woke up from her nap on Friday holding all of her binkys and said, "Take binkys baby class now." We got her all dressed up and put all of her binkys in a pretty jar with a bow and took it to the baby class. She did fine until we left the classroom. She cried for binkys for a minute until we told her we were taking her to McDonald's for dinner since she did such a great job. Then we took her to IKEA and got her a big girl bed and let her pick it out (with some guidance of course) and let her help as we took out the "baby crib" and set up her "big girl bed". She was so excited and just played with her toys on her bed until bedtime. We were a little nervous about bedtime without binkys and also thought she might just stay up all night playing with toys because she could get out of bed by herself. Here is how she has done so far...

Friday night-Put her in bed at 8:00. Read books and said goodnight as she yelled "binky, binky, binky, binky." Phil went in after 10 minutes of her crying and laid with her for a few minutes. She slept through the night.

Saturday nap-Laid her down at 1:00. She asked for her binky and I asked her where they were. She told me the baby class and napped for 3 hours without a peep.

Saturday night-Put her in bed at 8:00. Read books and said goodnight. She slept until 9:30 this morning and when I went to get her she was still laying in her "big girl bed"

What an amazing little girl we have. I can't believe how GREAT she is doing with this transition. She has always been easy going and we just hope she doesn't grow out of it.

Annika is 2!!!

So our little Annika turned 2 on January 14th and we just can't believe it!

When Phil brought Annika to school there was a "Happy Birthday Annika" sign on the classroom window and streamers throughout the whole room. It was so cute of Kelsey, her teacher, to work so hard and make it so much fun. We brought cupcakes for her and her friends to enjoy during the class party.

Unfortunately we were all feeling under the weather and had some birthday cake the Sunday before so we didn't make any plans. When Nana and Grampa Blake called to invite us to a Mexican linner/dunch to celebrate, we were so excited! We woke Annika up from her nap by singing "Happy Birthday" and filling her crib with balloons. At first she looked at us like we were crazy but a few minutes later she couldn't stop talking about the "baa-louns" and even had to take her blue balloon to the restaurant.

After that Philip had to go to work and we just found out that Annika's Aunt Katie just had a major surgery, so we stopped at Cactus and Tropicals and went to visit her. The whole Janke gang was there, even Oma and Opa, so Annika enjoyed some gift opening and even chocolate cake. It was perfect and Annika had so much fun. What a great birthday!

P.S. Thank you Kelsey and Katie for cutting the cupcakes in 1/2. It was a sugar filled day!!!

NEW YEAR'S EVE

Annika was so excited to go see "Colin" and "Kitties" on New Years. We went to Auntie VL's and rang in the new year with the Hales.
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At 9:00 we sprayed silly string and made lots of noise. What a fun night!!

Daniel's Summit

Delicious dinner at the Lodge
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Sittin' with Gramps
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BIG SMILE with Bri

Christmas with the Baucom's

Every year, Gramps comes into town from Texas for a week. This year he brought my Uncle Jeramy and Uncle Randy. We had so much fun at Grama Bob's just playing and opening presents!
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One of Annika's favorites-"Rock-rock. We sit when we rock."
ha ha
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Uncle Jeramy showing me how the Jack-in-the-box works.
Thank you Jeramy!!

The day after...

I think the day after Christmas should be just like this.
A little R & R.
Annika did not move off of the couch all morning then took a 4 hour nap. She's gonna need it because Gramps comes into town tonight and there's much more to come.

Christmas Day Brunch

Nana always prepares a great brunch for Great-Grandma Darlene and Papa Lorry, Jackie, Ron and Brad. Wow what a crew. This was Annika's first year to enjoy the delicious food. She had a chocolate kinder-egg at home so she didn't eat as much of the healthier food but it was still so fun...and delicious.
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Posing with Auntie Bri.
P.S. Annika's Christmas outfit is from Nana and is just the cutest thing ever. It is from the children's store Janie and Jack and you MUST go there if you have children. I am a huge fan and will now only shop there.
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Papa Lorry, Grandma Darlene and Bri. I tried to get everyone in the picture but it just didn't work. Bummer

Christmas Day at Nana and Grandpa's

On the drive to Nana's house. Annika had to bring her "girls" as she calls them. They all stayed in their pajamas for one more photo.
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The face says it all.
Annika loves horses or "Neighs" and rocking is one of her favorite hobbies. What a great gift.
Thanks Nana and Grandpa.
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Auntie Bri and Uncle Brandon gave Annika a Hello Kitty art set. She worked hard while everyone else opened their gifts. What a great Christmas morning.

Christmas morning at home

Merry Christmas Annika!
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Annika got 3 Angelina Ballerina books (mom's favorites as a child). Annika just loves "mouse" right now. How does Santa always know?
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Annika also got an American Girls clothing trunk with pajamas, dresses, purses and other accessories for her Molly and Samantha dolls. We changed them into pajamas and got a group photo. Don't they all look so nice?!

Christmas Eve at Oma and Opa's

In German Culture you celebrate Christmas only on Christmas Eve-which works out nicely for getting kids to all of their Grandparent's houses. We ate a delicious German dinner then the kids opened their presents. Annika got a doll house just like Oma's, actually a little bit bigger, and didn't move the 10 minutes it took for everyone else to get their gifts.
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Annika kind-of posing with her cousin's Kira and Lucy. Such cuties.
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Here is Annika 2 hours later, back in the same position. She only got up 2 times and that wasn't even for candy, just to get one of her dolls from a cousin that was borrowing it. Christmas Eve is always so much fun!!