Laughter is a big thing in our home. It’s how Heather and I first bonded, swapping funny stories over pizza on our first date, and it helped the two of us survive Maddie’s passing, as it reminded us – slowly – that all wasn’t lost. So it should come as no surprise that Annie, after spending almost two years with us knuckleheads, loves to laugh too. She isn’t just satisfied with laughing though – when it comes to humor she has big ambitions.
“So a toddler, baby, and newborn crawl into a Gymboree…”
A couple months ago Heather was making silly faces when Annie, after belly laughing, announced, “Mama funny!” Since that moment everyone – from me to her grandparents, uncles, and cousins – has done everything in their power to amuse Annie enough to hear her say “_____ funny!” Annie is now like the Johnny Carson of our home – getting a “_____ funny!” is like getting waved over to sit on the couch.
Annie doesn’t just want to laugh at us though; she also wants to laugh with us. When Heather and I watch our favorite shows like “Modern Family” or “Community,” Annie will watch us instead of the screen, and when we laugh she breaks into hysterical laughter along with us. It’s so cute… she doesn’t understand why we are laughing, but she so badly wants to join in the fun. It reminds me of that scene in “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” when Steve Carrell screams, “I don’t know what we’re yelling about!”
What Annie wants MOST of all is to make us laugh. Quite possibly her favorite moment ever happened in this video when she cracked us up by putting raspberries on her fingertips and saying, “Tada!” Now she tries to recreate that moment all the time by saying “Tada!” while holding up whatever food she is eating, and when she doesn’t get the same reaction it frustrates her to no end. I can see the wheels turning in her head as if she’s thinking, “What am I doing wrong? And what did I do so right the first time?!”
I’m not worried about Annie figuring out this funny business though. Today I looked in on her in her playroom and found her practicing making funny faces at her Elmo doll. After a while she giggled and said, “Annie funny.” I couldn’t help but smile… She’s already cracking herself up. Something tells me she’s going to do alright in life when it comes to making people laugh.
mtodd says:
She is so adorable!
Jenn says:
Look at yourself, Heather & Maddie’s wit – So funny!!! I definitely think this runs in your family & will continue to do so. I know Annie is going to do great in life!!! She is such a joy now!!
We had friends who lost their son. For his funeral they had these t-shirts printed & handed them out to everyone. The front said…”LAUGHTER…THEN THE HEALING BEGINS”. It was the perfect message to give as family & friends gathered to celebrate a little boy who in life LOVED to Laugh!!!
I’m so grateful you guys have decided to share your girls with us all!! They are not only beautiful but also have such Amazing little giggles and smiles!! One cannot help to laugh right along with them when you see the glee in their faces and twinkle in their eyes!! What a gift they others by simply being HAPPY!!!!
Elissa Lerma says:
Funny kids are the best. My Phi is a total comedian. One time when she was about 4 we were walking around an outdoor mall and Phi pretended to walk into a light post. She threw her head back and everything. I must have looked like a horrible Mom. As people around us gasped, I took her hand and told her to knock it off.
Tara says:
No surprise, Annie is so obviously a fun-loving kid! Our 23 month old son is the same way, laughing along just because everyone else is laughing. It reminds us of Joey on “Friends” when he laughs along with intellectual jokes even though he has no idea what’s going on.