Just a Saturday morning at the Pailes Pad

This morning I decided that I should snap a few pictures of our "normal" life! These document a little bit of our Saturday...you know just cruising, smiling, laughing, and playing with mommy! 

Love her to pieces! 

Annelisa is 13 Months!

My dearest Annelisa Grace,

I am so blessed to call you my daughter! I am loving this stage of development with you! I have the pleasure of getting to watch you discover the world around us and see your darling personality come to the surface. Now that you've entered your second year, I thought I would write you letters instead of making lists of your milestones. I want you to have a record of what I was thinking and feeling as I watch you grow into the woman God has designed you to be.

Your 13th month had lots of new experiences for you. You started pulling up on everything and discovered the fun in cruising around the furniture. You are becoming quite the little communicator showing me the sign for milk when you are hungry or thirsty, pointing at items you want to have a better look at, and your eyes, oh your eyes, they light up when your daddy or I walk in the room. You have developed a love of the game of chase and you giggle and smile when we "catch" you. There is nothing quite like your giggle and smile.

During this month, we discovered that you have been suffering from Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD and started you on Zantac to help you feel better. God has been so good to provide us with a great pediatrician and friends to encourage Daddy and me in how to help you feel best and keep growing. We also went to see Dr. Hutcheson, the dentist, for the first time! She thought your teeth were so pretty and white! She gave you a pink Winnie the Pooh tooth brush that you love getting to use each morning and night to brush your teeth. You let me start, but you insist on finishing. This just shows your tenaciousness...show you once and then you want to do it from then on!

Annelisa you are full of grace and love for us and we for you! I love getting to sing songs with you and watch you light up as you recognize the words and the actions to go with them; especially in "If You're Happy and You Know It," "The Wheels on the Bus." and "Jesus Loves Me." You have a love of books which doesn't surprise me at all! It's so fun for me to watch you read them!

I love this monthly picture of you, as it shows your sweet, thoughtful, slightly coy personality! You are becoming a little girl and moving full speed ahead at toddlerhood. I love having you be my companion throughout the day and running errands with you! You are so much fun to teach and enjoy!

I love you, my little lady! I thank God for the blessing of you every day!

Love,

Mommy

Annelisa Visits the Dentist

At Annelisa's 9 and 12 month well baby exams, it was recommend that I to consider taking her to the dentist. I have known since before Annelisa was born that I wanted to take her to see Dr. Candice Hutcheson at Children's Dental Specialists. I had the privilege of getting to know and becoming friends with Candice through my former Women's Bible Study group at Northwest Bible. This appointment was a fun time of reconnecting and introducing Annelisa to her!

I have always enjoyed trips to the dentist! I know a little weird for most of you, but if I can help Annelisa develop the same love then I believe it will spare her some of the pain that can come from the dentist chair in the future!

The appointment was short and sweet. Truly an introduction to the office, Dr. Hutcheson, and the beginnings of the oral exam. I held Annelisa in my lap in the dental chair while Dr. Hutcheson examined her little teeth and gums. She gave me guidance on how to brush Annelisa's teeth and which teeth I should also try to floss since they are touching. She also pointed out which teeth were on the cusp of making their debut! Annelisa didn't much care for the exam as she isn't used to anyone else's hands going in her mouth.

We completed the visit with a "No Cavities" hall of fame picture! We'll be back in six months to take the next step towards developing a healthy smile!

{Mommy Style Field Trip} Dallas Blooms

Now that Annelisa is a toddler, I thought it was high time for some "Mommy-Style" field trips! For our first outing, we went to the Dallas Arboretum with our friends Aly and Asher. I've always wanted to visit the Arboretum, especially during the Dallas Blooms spring event, yet I had never been before. This is especially interesting considering we lived around the corner from the Arboretum for the the first two years we were married. Nevertheless, it was an especially fun day of enjoying picture perfect spring weather in Dallas!

The Arboretum is best seen through pictures rather than my words! Enjoy a look back at our day!

All loaded up in the wagon, ready for our day to begin! 

Asher "read" the brochure to lead us on our journey!

I love our silly faces! 

Riding the Mayan slide

A few of the Blooms! 

Such a handsome little man! 

"How Big I AM!" 

 My precious little lady

These pictures are credited to Aly Pray Photography. 

All four of us

All good things come to an end! She slept the whole way home! 

Already looking forward to our next trip to the Arboretum in the fall!