the little squirt

 As you may have heard... Annie chews on stuff. I really thought for a moment she was getting better, but I think it's back with a vengeance and I've totally given up. Pretty much if it won't poison or choke her, then I just let her chew on anything. Including the water hose...

 Somehow she makes being ornery look awful cute though.

 She loves her daddy (though she's still a big mommy's girl right now and I'm trying to cherish it because I know Jamie will steal her heart soon enough).

 At her one year well-baby check up the pediatrician said she was beautifully healthy and perfect, but he did call her a "long skinny chicken".

 Jamie and I never set out to give birth to "climbers", but my goodness Annie is taking after her sister's footsteps, literally. Annie runs and climbs faster than any 12 month old I've ever seen. Sometimes people are alarmed... 'oh my your baby is standing in that chair!!' But I'm all- oh she'll jump off in a second and do a back handspring into a summersault... it's all good.

 Annie still has her blankie dragging around behind her though. She loves that thing!

 We've been working on transitioning her to the pack-n-play with a crib mattress. Our plan is to have that set up in her room in NYC until she is big enough to sleep in the bottom bunk bed (with a safety crib rail added).

We have also been training her to catch mice in our NYC apartment...

Ha! Just kidding. This is a wind-up toy that our friend Kate got Annie for her birthday. Annie thinks it's pretty awesome. She likes it so much... she chews on it. :)

oh audrie

I am trying to cherish all the hilarious antics of Audrie these days on the off chance that she turns into a surly teenager soon. :)

Jamie and I were both somewhat shy as kids. Maybe not complete recluses but nowhere near the level of Audrie's outgoingness! This girl knows no stranger. She talks to anyone and everyone. Yesterday I took her into Walmart for a quick 5 minute trip to grab a few things. She told EVERY single person that we walked by all about how she was going to her Grandma Lowery's house to play. While we stood in line at the deli counter, she made a best friend in like 2 minutes with another toddler standing there. Audrie actually gave the girl a hug bye when we were walking away.

Last night when we pulled into our driveway, Audrie hopped out of the car and several of the neighbors (adults and kids) called out to her "Audrie, Audrie!" and she ran around to give them all hugs and say hi. I kind of expected the paparazzi to be following behind her! ha

I'm not sure where she gets all this personality or if she'll outgrow it- but we love watching her build her fan club! :) She's going to have to start a new branch in Manhattan.

Oh and here is a picture Audrie drew of me today! Wow. (Is that chin hair??)

annie's bday party

Sunday afternoon we had Annie's birthday party at the park. Can't believe she is ONE!

We were a little nervous about the weather but besides a little wind it ended up being perfect.

I made a cupcake display in honor of our little girl (and my friend, Carrie, made the adorable toppers!).

Audrie was really excited about Annie's birthday and talked about it all week. Of course she helped us sing Happy Birthday to Annie...

Annie did GREAT being the center of attention. She is such a good baby!

She wore the same tutu that Audrie wore at her first birthday party.

It was too windy to light her candle but Annie was still excited about diving into her cake.

Such a cutey!! (Thank you so much, Kim, for taking these photos for us.)

Audrie helped us open all the presents. There were about 45 people at the party, so lots of gifts for Annie to open! But Audrie had no problem ripping into them. :)

Kim got this adorable hat for Annie!

Our friend, Angela, got her this awesome framed vinyl record from the musical. I love it!

The pretty birthday girl...

After we opened presents we busted out a pianata for the kids. They all loved taking swings at it!

Even Annie took part in the fun!

But it was Emma who finally broke it open!

It was so nice having the party at the park with an awesome playground so all the kids could run and play.

It was such a fun afternoon celebrating with family and friends who love Annie so much!

video montage of Annie's first year

I put together a video slideshow in honor of Annie's first year in this world. Enjoy!

Annie One Year from Rachel Cornett on Vimeo.

ten years

Today is our TEN year anniversary! I can't believe Jamie has put up with me for this long. I sure am lucky that he came along and swept me up with his good looks and charm. As much as I fell in love with that dorky boy in high school I sure never imagined how amazing of a man God was blessing me with.

This morning during my first period class I got a surprise delivery of a huge bouquet of roses from him. And the thing that made me cry in front of my students was that they are lavender roses (the color we had in our wedding). SO sweet of Jamie!

We have a tradition of doing something adventurous on our anniversaries (last year we were in the hospital the day after Annie's 'adventurous' birth), so I'll fill you in on this year's anniversary adventure soon.

In the meantime, I thought I'd write a list of my top TEN reasons why Jamie is the love of my life:
1) Jamie is really ticklish.

2) He sings terribly ALL the time (and an octave higher than is ever necessary).

3) Every single morning he acts as if getting up is THE worst thing that has ever happened to him. It's the same level of dramatic tragedy every morning. This impresses me.

4) He always forgives me easily. Especially when I'm constantly wrecking our cars. I swear it's never my fault. Cars (and mailboxes) just like to wreck into me. (Though he did tell me that when we get back from NY and get cars again I have to take a driver's ed class...!)

5) I love Jamie's awesome financial skills and how he handles our family budget. Ya'll should see the amazing charts and graphs he presents to me each month. I'm not kidding. Pie charts and bar graphs showing how much I spent on scapbooking this month. His enthusiasm for budgeting is super cute!

6) He is an amazing daddy to Audrie and Annie!

7) I love how he can convince me to watch the stupidest You Tube videos in the world. I try to act like I don't like them but it's hard to do when he is laughing his head off.

8) I love how tall Jamie is. And so good looking! :)

9) I love that he loves God and how I know we'll be in Heaven together someday. (which is apparently this Saturday, right??)

10) I love how much Jamie loves me. I look forward to growing old with this amazing man o' mine!

giggles

I've been thinking all evening about this time last year. Jamie walking me in laps around the neighborhood until I was about to burst. (Little did I know how effective those laps would be!) I remember thinking about how I couldn't wait to meet this little girl. What a fun first year with Annie it has been! I love watching her grow and change right before our eyes. We fall more in love with her every day.

Here is a quick video of Annie and her sweet giggles...

Untitled from Rachel Cornett on Vimeo.

house for sell

So it's not really the best time to try to sell a house...! But we are placing our trust in God and praying that our beautiful home (which we love and will MISS) will sell very soon.

If you know of anyone that might be interested or could help spread the word... we would really appreciate the help!

Here is a link to the listing: http://www.trulia.com/property/1079435588-691-Weston-Cir-Cave-Springs-AR-72718

 

Bonus Room on 2nd Level! Oversized Deck! Very nice split bedroom floor plan. Wood floors in foyer and formal dining room. Open layout and high ceilings add to the already spacious living room. Extra seating at counter height bar in kitchen. Vaulted ceilings in the Master Suite. Beautiful Master Bath with whirlpool and huge walk in shower. Crown molding through out the home. Great view from spacious deck!