Anna's new buddy

You know, they say that two is the age where kids develop a special bond to something. The term is a "lovey" and it can be a toy, a blanket, a t-shirt, etc. Something they like to sleep with and that makes them feel reassured if they're nervous or scared.
Our daughter's lovey?
http://www.toysrus.com/product/prodpop.jsp?LargeImageURL=http%3A//TRUS.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-7466940dt.jpg&displayTab=enh&productId=4068908&totCount=0

That's right, it's an ice pack. We had to hunt for it for 45 minutes last night (while Anna screamed "I WANT MY ELMO ICE" from her crib) and finally found it in the freezer (Rob swore he'd already looked there). I brought it up to her- freezing cold- she immediatley calmed down, said "Hi Elmo Ice. Night Night", hugged it to her chest, and went to sleep.

...I don't really know what else to say....

Croquet Match 2010

It gets bigger every year.

This year was by leaps and bounds the largest the crowd has ever been. We had a great time with everyone! VERY windy this year, but it was a blast. Anna is getting easier to entertain, and how could she not be with all the people playing with her.

Cheers. We're taking a day to detox from all the wine and champagne. :-)

Oh, Here we go...

Tonight marks the first night we are taking away the pacifier. I did my part by going out for girl's night while Rob dealt with a two year old in great need of a bath, and a surprise of no pacifier at bedtime.

We talked all day about who pacifiers are for (babies)...and are you a baby? (No Mommy, I'm Anna).

Oh. Kay. Then.

I just got home from my much needed girl's night and based on the dead look in Rob's eyes, I'm guessing that Anna decided she might still be a baby...

Stay strong, Townleys...stay strong.

Our Little Easter Basket

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend. We had an action packed weekend full of laundry, spring cleaning, easter egg hunting, and outdoor fun thanks to the beautiful weather. I don't have a lot else to say except I hope you enjoy the pictures. I'm slowly learning that being the mom means that the family scrapbook will star everyone else, but the fact that there IS a family scrapbook will prove my existence.

Either way, I think the last picture is my favorite. I love my peeps.

Happy Easter!

April Fools

Today when I came into the office there was a note on my desk asking to return a phone call for Mr. Behr along with a number to call him back.

I dialed the number and when a woman answered I said "Hi, this is Danielle Townley, I'm calling to speak with Mr. Behr."

The woman on the phone started laughing. She said "Honey, this is the Maryland Zoo... I think you've been fooled. Happy April Fool's Day!"

Mr. Bear. Hilarious.

Everyone got a good laugh out of it and for the rest of the day whenever the phone rang someone inevitably would say "Danielle, Dr. Fox for you on line one" or "Danielle, do you have a minute to speak with Mrs. Lion?"

I have to admit though, that's a good one. I emailed my Dad about Mr. Behr trying to reach him and he called too. Apple doesn't fall far from the tree in this family.

Thanks to the Maryland Zoo for being good sports. I'm sure they had quite a few calls today.

I am one proud mommy

Anna got this at daycare on Friday, and we finally had to scan it in and make copies because Rob and I were fighting over who got to hang it up in their office...

Happy Birthday Anna!

Anna is Two today! This was our afternoon hanging out...

Birthday Girl!

Anna's "real" birthday isn't for a few more days, but we had her party this weekend to make sure everyone could be there. A few pictures from the event...

Sarah, Demetri, and BABY BARRETT (thanks again for bringing all the food...again.)

Mommy, Daddo, and Birthday Girl!

Laura and Justin. I love this picture.

My Birthday task...I'm getting better!

And the real hit of the weekend- Nanoo and Papa!

A is for Apple

This is what happens when we run out of things to do...Mommy breaks out the fruit.

By the way, I have facebook and a blog...never sure which one to update anymore...thoughts? Should I keep both or do you 3 people think you can migrate over to facebook?

I felt like it was time...

Another day off of work. You know it's bad when you start wishing you could go to work just to get out of the house. Thought I would spice up our snow video a little - for those of you with nothing to do. Tracie- thanks for the ideas with Anna! I will definitely be giving those a shot, in the mean time, here's us trying to entertain her for a 15 minute span during ONE of the 4 mornings we were all stuck inside. Whew. We heard Anna say "I make a ball" probably a zillion times.

A room with a view...

Okay snow. Seriously?

We've gotten a lot of jealous emails from our friends in the south who got rain. Thought you "out of towners" would enjoy a visual of what 34 inches of snow looks like...

Rob and I each spent about 90 minutes today digging out our truck- that's right, just ONE of our cars. The snow is so bad here that you have to have somewhere to PUT it. So, along with all our neighbors, we're having to choose one vehicle - and bury the other. I should have taken pictures, not to worry, the snow isn't going anywhere and apparently we're supposed to get another 10 inches on Tuesday. (awesome.)
Anyway, the REAL challenge is finding things to do with Anna. We've read books, watched tv, skyped with my parents, danced around the house, tickled, finger painted, YOU NAME IT. Now we're going 'retro'. Here's the "Anna-bot", since Anna seems to have taken a shine to the roomba. She runs around the room yelling 'HI ROBOT! HI ROBOT!!!' and we have to remind her that "Robot" has a job to do.

And this was one of me and my sister's child hood favorites. The famous "sweater on the back of your head". We Townleys do what we can...

Snow Snow Snow!

In case you live under a rock and didn't know (but remarkably have internet access), MD got about 30 inches of snow in the last 24 hours....
We've been trying to keep Anna entertained inside, but all that changed when she saw her Dad having so much "fun" shoveling without her!

So OUT we went!

Anna and Mommy sitting in what used to be the parking lot.

Here in yuppie-ville

So...we got a roomba. (!!!). I'll let you know how it goes as soon as I figure it out. So far it hasn't cleaned anything, but it scared the hell out of our dog, so you know...step one.

From the couch of Danielle Townley

Honestly.
On friday I picked Anna up from daycare early because she was sick (re: vomitting). Once I got her home she tossed her cookies about 5 more times before bedtime. She was fine by Saturday morning (surprisingly). Apparently it's a quick moving little virus. The daycare said some kind of stomach bug was making it's way through the classrooms. Rob and I were just praying that it wouldn't make it's way through our home (as usual).
Well, I made it all the way to Tuesday.
Did you know daytime tv sucks? Cause it suuuuuucks.

30 = Awesome

Okay, so far being thirty is pretty much the bomb. For my birthday, Rob came home from Africa (not JUST because it was my birthday- also because he lives here) and we went out to Roys for dinner. The great irony was when I ordered a 'big girl' drink and the waitress asked to see my ID...which I did not have. (My "special occasion" purse holds nothing more than a breath of fresh air. it's that small). After explaining this to the waitress, she leaned forward in a consipratory way and asked in a loud whisper if either of us were cops before taking our orders and serving what can only be described as grain alochol in a tall glass with an umbrella. (Glad to see their security system is air tight.) I then proceeded to consume my body weight in gourmet fish and a "chocolate lava" dessert. The ride home consisted of Rob shaking his head from side to side while I lamented the decision to wear anything other than sweatpants. (If I was worried about 30 making me dull and mature, clearly my fears are unfounded.) Either way, it was delicous and an awesome end to the day.

But no, the fun did not stop there.

Saturday night Rob scheduled a "Laser Tag Birthday Party" for me (mainly because I demanded it). We had about 20 of our friends show up- one of which-Damian, is a professional magician and he did magic tricks for us while we all ate at Pizza Hut. (I know, I know...I'm a pony ride and a face painting artist away from being 8 years old all over again). But we had a freaking blast. I think there's something to being "allowed" to have fun that all adults should indulge in every once in a while. Anyway, I won't ruin this post with more sarcasm. The point is I had a GREAT Birthday. (Rob, you are hereby forgiven for the cupcake incident of Mother's Day, 2009). Pictures below.

Everyone at Pizza Hut. The one place you can walk into on a Saturday night at 7pm with 20 people and have NO wait time. I'm pretty sure we're the (only) reason they will make their monthly quota for January.

Damian's first trick. Christa...STUMPED.

BLUE TEAM

RED TEAM

The score sheet says that Rob and I (seperate teams) shot eachother something like 20 times total. Marriage counselors everywhere are praying you don't find out how theraputic this is.

Last day as a 29 year old!

As today is my last day in my 20's, I'm allowing myself a "Me" post.
(It's cool, you can skip this one).

Top 10 Highlights from my 20's

1. Celebrating my 21st b-day in the parking lot in front of CSC with a bottle of champagne, two plastic cups and one great friend
2. Graduating from college
3. Moving to five different states in ONE year (NC, CT, DE, VA, MD) and everything I owned fit in a 2 door sports car
4. Getting my first "real" job
5. Moving to Maryland and knowing no one, having no money, and learning the many ways to eat spaghetti (i.e. with or without spaghetti sauce, depending on if I had an extra $2.50.)
6. Getting married to Rob
7. Buying our first house (and all the fun home owner surprises that came with it)
8. Celebrating Valentine's Day in Africa
9. Having Anna (and surviving pregnancy)
10. Family trip to Italy

My 20's have been great, and I'm looking forward to my 30's being even better... I'd be lying if I said it didn't freak me out...it definitely does. Suddenly I feel like all the commercials about wrinkle cream and hair dye are directed at me - and they're starting to piss me off a little. But I guess that's all part of life. I don't lament not being 22 anymore though - I'm happy where I am, and have no desire to go back to duct taping my work pants because I can't afford to get them hemmed.
I hear a lot that people relax a little in their 30's, spend less time worrying about what impresses everyone else and more time focusing on what really makes them happy.
Also, they eat less Ramen Noodles.
Okay 30's, bring it on.

First Hair Cut!!!

Today Anna had her VERY FIRST hair cut (okay, trim)!! We found this great place, Crew Cuts and Pig Tails, that specializes in kids hair cuts. They do a great job making a big deal out of the first hair cut (for moms too...) and even give you a certificate and lock of their hair... I can't decide if that's endearing or creepy. Although I'm sure years from now I'll be glad I have it. This is Anna's "What is going on?" face.

Although they have toys, animal crackers, movies, games, basically whatever you could possible need for a kid to sit still

And they don't sit in hair dresser chairs. No... they sit in AIRPLANES and FIRE TRUCKS. I thought that was awesome. I think my inner-child came out a little.

Here's Anna with her super nice hair stylist, Ashley.

Proud Mommy Moments

Today my daughter called another one year old a "whiner".

Ironic since my daughter is the one who refuses to wear pants.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. Happy Birthday, Jesus!

That's about as far as we got into the service before one of us, who shall remain unnamed (re: not Rob...not me) decided to take off running out of the church and down the hall screaming.

I'm sure Jesus understands. We'll try again next year. :-)

I'm sure I'll catch all kinds of crap for dressing her like this in about 12 years when she sees this, but we think she's the cutest little Christmas girl ever.

Merry Christmas!

Snow Day Updates!

Anna and I have severe cabin fever so off we went to play with Pierce and Stacy Adams. We tried like a zillion stores looking for sleds before my boss finally told me his wife heard on the news they're recommending laundry baskets tied with string. Sounds cheesy, but I think we're not even going to buy a sled this year. Laundry baskets were flipping awesome. I didn't get any pictures of the kids in them because I was busy with Anna yelling "PULL!" at me. We had a great time!