Mommy said I was kind of a bad girl today. I didn’t want to nap. I screamed and cried almost all day.
So, Mommy said I had to write an essay explaining what I did. She said it was something she had to do a lot growing up, whatever that means.
You don’t know what it’s like, you guys! It gets so boring around here. I mean sure, Mommy is always singing and dancing and acting dumb, but it gets old so fast! She needs a new material.
Now, onto Rigby. She is just into me for my snacks. And she even has the nerve to bark at me if I don’t share them! You don’t see me all up in your food, do you Rigby? It works both ways, Rigby. Share your snacks with me, and I’ll share mine with you.
I want to go back to something here. Why is everyone SO INSISTENT I take naps? I’m eight and a half months old, I think I know what’s best for me. Napping is NOT what’s best for me. In fact, I am going to use this time to share what IS best for me.
1. crawling
2. ripping things
3. knocking things over
4. escaping the baby gate
5. changing channels on the remote
6. feeding myself
7. screaming
8. pulling hair
9. smiling at things when I deem them important
10. gnawing on things
I think that’s the gist of the list. I reserve the right to add to it at will.
Look, I’m gonna let you in on a little secret. I’m a baby. Sometimes, I’m just gonna get all Linda Blair In The Exorcist up in here and nothing is going to stop me. Not tylenol, not 87 teething tablets, not my pacifier or my blanket or singing or ANYTHING. I just wanna throw myself around for a bit. It burns calories. It’s fun. And frankly, I’m good at it.
The good news is that, just as quickly as my tantrums start, they can stop. And then I’ll go back to being super smiley and adorable, and you’re gonna want to love on me and have a dozen more babies just like me.
BUT DON’T. I don’t want to share the attention!
Mommy, I trust that this has fulfilled my obligation.
Signed,
Annabel
{ 102 comments… read them below or add one }
She is so precious! LOL I could hear your voice over for her as I read this. I’m sure she is going to love seeing all of this when she is older. I wish my parents were that creative!!
I could hear the voice over too!!!!
LOL, glad to know I’m not the only one!
Haha – you gals are so funny! You had plenty of company hearing that voice-over! ?
I heard it too!
Annie, I’m a drama queen too. We’re more interesting! Keep it up, girl.
Look at all that beautiful dark silky hair! I love her.
Adorable!!!!
Absolutely love her!
Becca_Masters´s last [type] ..thats a wrap!
Whether she’s crying or smiling, she is so adorable! Rock on baby girl!
Poor lovely girl. And poor Heather. Hopefully it’s teething and will pass.
I don’t know why, but those pictures of Annie crying made me want to have another baby. Call the hormone police!
Lynn from For Love or Funny´s last [type] ..Vanilla cake saved my life
Heather, I love your sense of humor. I wish I’d read this post before my youngest child grabbed the glue stick away from our craft project and smeared it all over the furniture yesterday. Sometimes there’s no logical explanation for what goes on in the minds of babies and toddlers…a lot of the time actually.
I had a completely sleepless night last night and this totally made me smile. Thanks for that.
Hope the teething gets better. I remember (and strangely enough miss) those days……
OK, not only was this totally cute, but I could totally “hear” her “voice” through the whole thing.
HA! I completely read this post with Amazing Annabel’s voice in my head.
Oh god, my Angus who is 10 and a half months had this exact day today! Best I ask him to write me an essay as well. He and Annabel would no doubt share notes I think!
xo
But, damn is she ever cute!!
First let me say that posts like these are what the woman from the other day,,,,,, who said she “stopped reading your blog because it was too sad” is missing out on! Okay; with that said,,,,,,,,,,Annie just wants to keep it interesting, and let it be known that she has many different personalities. What a difference from the first picture to the second one where she’s decided it wasn’t that bad after all, and she’s going to look absolutely gorgeous. Maybe it was getting close to the time for Daddy to come home, and she wanted to make a liar out of you when you complained to him about how difficult she was all day!!LOL
Oh Annie, you are so cute!
Is this a foreshadowing of you having to share the attention soon???
I know what you mean about Rigby, Annabel. I think my dog only likes me for my snacks too. You are so beautiful and adorable!
Jen @ lifelove’n'wine´s last [type] ..Oh My God
too cute!
Hi Annie,
I am a monster too when I am teething. I am getting my 1 year molars in right now and I’ve decided that not only do I not want to nap, I don’t want to sleep at night either. My mom is too tired to even type right now, that’s why I am writing.
Love, Jack
(and his mom Karen)
Your blog is now officially etched in my brain. I read this entire post with Annabel’s online video voice in my head.
feefifoto´s last [type] ..Wordless Wednesday- Can You Guess
Hahaha, I did that too!
She is so cute,smiling or throwing a cry,she looks more an more like her Daddy everyday,thanks for sharing with us
I have one just like her!! And that last picture looks so much like her big sister!!!
Cati would love to sign her name onto this letter as well.
Stephanie´s last [type] ..Trapped
Thank you for the laugh this morning. I really needed it. She is so stinking adorable!
Hi my name is Olivia and my mommy Jen reads your blog everyday! I see stuff about this annabel chick and I have to say she’s pretty cool! And she’s gotta point to all this I need to do it my way stuff! Today I woke up crying at 5am. Why? Probably just because! I am almost 2 so I have this life thing down pretty good at least in my mind. Sometimes my mommy doesn’t let me do or have something I want and that just makes me really mad! I cry and even bang my head! Mommy gets pretty frustrated too but knows that hey what can you do sometimes. at least bed time comes every day!
Have a great day xo Olivia and her mommy Jen!
Guess we are all in this together huh! Have a happy day Heather!
gah, such drama queens.
Gage is made for the theater I swear. Broadway here he comes…
designHer Momma´s last [type] ..Taking advice from the peanut gallery
Well said, Annabel! Hope your teeth poke on through soon so you can get some relief.
Jen L.´s last [type] ..Thirty-Three Months
OOhhh Man!!! I don’t miss those days when NOTHING is okay with your baby. You hold them, they want down, put them down, they want up. You KNOW for a FACT they are EXHAUSTED but the little bugger is stubborn enough to stay up!!! It’s like wanting to screaming, to crying to loving them cuz suddenly they’ll be all cute!
Hugs to you my friend. If I were there, I’d take her for you! Since I’m not, I’ll do the next best friend, I’ll send you evert bit of positive energy I have….and….send you a case of Canadian Beer!
Oh, Annie. One day you will realize that Mommy does know what’s best for you and that you DO need that nap! Okay, so you may be in your 30s when you look back and realize that Mommy was smarter than you, but better late than never, right?
Be good to your Mama!
(((hugs)))
Deborah´s last [type] ..Photographing Animals- Again
Very good essay, Annie. However, I’m with your mom on this one, naps are important, you should nap.
Lisa´s last [type] ..Why I Chose to Wear my Baby
Annie, I know the first few pictures are the most telling of how-to-get-what-I-want-101, but the last picture seems like it’d totally makes up for what you put your mommy through. Simply adorable.
XOXO from GA,
Nikki
The bottom picture of Annie…looks so similar to the picture of Maddie in the sidebar. The way she is holding her mouth/smile, the eyes and eyebrows. I see it now for sure! Simply sweet!
Heather´s last [type] ..Well That Explains It!!
Oh Annabel, you sweet girl, I don’t believe a word of this. You? Throw FITS? Look at your sweet little FACE with the CHEEKS om nom nom nom.
(You write so brilliantly for eight months, I must say).
bessie.viola´s last [type] ..in memory of The Purple Binky
I lurve those cheeks!
She’s stinkin!
Rumour Miller´s last [type] ..Im just a Mom
Yo Annie – its Jaxon from Oklahoma. We should hang out. My mom wants me to nap and stuff too – but I think she’s crazy. I don’t see what the big deal is… sleep is over-rated!!! She also thinks I should sleep at night, too… silly momma!
Hit me up sometime!
Jax
Well said Annie! You are out of the the dog house!
Four Gambel Girls and a Guy – documenting the adventures we call life´s last [type] ..Pesto Making Thyme!
Gorgeous picture at the bottom! I must know….what kind of flash do you use?! Is it just the pop up flash on your camera, or do you have some sort of fancy gadget?
P.S. Annie, you will totally understand the beauty of naps one day! But by then it will be too late, and no one will be relieved that you’re sleeping in the middle of the day. Instead they’ll call you things like “lazy” and “unproductive”. Ridiculous, huh?!
Adrianne´s last [type] ..Me and Clyde
Annabel,
I hate writing essays. My mother made me do that when she had apparently “had enough” as well. I just turned 4 and my mother shows me pictures of you and your sis all the time. First, let me say those teething tablets, well they work and all but my mother was the same way, fed me millions an expected me to change instantly. What she didn’t understand was that it was PAINFUL! Nothing in the world could make it better. Hang in there it WILL get better.
As for Rigby, my dog Chloe wants my snacks and even my dinner everytime I eat. Makes me so irritated. It’s like…dog…GO..AWAY, you have food of your own. It’s still happening to this day, so sorry no good advice for you here.
I just wish parents would understand that we have bad days too. I know we are cute and all but seriously, it’s hard work looking as good as we do! Come on, give us a break!
I know today will be better for you, live everyday to the fullest even if it means screaming all day.
I will check on you tomorrow.
Love your friend,
Lauren
P.S. This was typed by my momma because she said I wasn’t doing it fast enough…..geeeez!
She looks like sweet baby Maddie in the last picture.
Your family is so amazing!
I love reading your blog every day, even though all my friends in college make fun of me for it.
Annie, now you listen to your mommie and take your nappy nap. You are too young to not nap! Mommy, don’t cave to those little cheekers, she will eventually get back on track. Babies go thru phases with their naps, I remember this all too well.
What a cutie . . . though I know from experience it’s not as cute when you’re facing the screaming in person!
Oddly enough, I had a bizarre dream last night that I popped by your house to drop off some books (???) and did a little photo shoot with Annie. She was a perfect angel throughout the dream. lol
Annabel is total baby perfection!
When I read this post, I heard your voice in my head as it is on the friday video voice-overs. Too funny.
I guess I’ll stop complaining now about my 2 1/2 yr old not wanting naps.
ME TOO. Which just made it twice as funny.
Ok, so the best part about this essay? I can HEAR “voice” as I’m reading. LOL! (I’m sure pretty much every comment before mine says the same thing, so sorry for the repetitiveness.)
Lessons in Life and Light´s last [type] ..A Dear Friend
Such a cutie-patootie, even when throwing a fit! Hey, I don’t know if you realize this, but the blog photos are not copy-protected any more. I can right-click and get Copy as an option.
LOL! At least she’s honest! =:-)
toastgal/Susan´s last [type] ..I Need One Day
I can hear this in the Annabel voice I hear in all of the videos…
Annie is adoreable even when she’s screaming! And I agree, that last picture makes up for all of it… and she sure looks like her big sister in it!
Hmmm….I may need to make Mea try the essay thing. We have always used “writing lines” such as, “I will not hit.” “I will not scream.” “I will not be the devil at the supermarket.” Very good for handwriting practice….but essay’s would be awesome for vocabulary.
I suppose we should get the whole writing letters our letters thing down first, huh? Annie is so advanced!
change a couple of photos and the name at the bottom … and you have my night last night with my finn.
gah.
i pop those teething tablets in ’cause on the tube it says …
“your child may fall asleep” and i’m always really hoping that it works.
jen´s last [type] ..not-quite wordless saturday
So sorry to hear about the no-napping day. You’ve probably already tried this but both of my girls would fall asleep on wheels. That is in a stroller or a car. Good luck!
Hi Annabel. I’m just 2 months older than you. I like your list, but I would add pinching my Mommy to it. I like to pinch her lips and I really like pinching her when she’s nursing me. She doesn’t seem to like it, but I won’t let that stop me. Did you know that cats don’t like Cheerios? I keep throwing them on the floor for them, but they ignore them. Then my Mommy steps on them. It’s funny.
Hugs and kisses,
Sunshine
Dora´s last [type] ..Rock- Rock- Rock- Rock- RocknRoll Daycare!
I’d say the paper gets an A!!
Oh and as I was reading it I totally heard it in the Annabel voice as Jenn mentioned above. Some things just stick with ya
(((HUGS))) from Florida
omg she’s so frickin’ adorable it hurts
alicia´s last [type] ..GMBOA Coming Soon
I heard the voice, too!!! I love that Annie has such a diva attitude in her videos and now in her writing. Hilarious!!
I truly don’t know how you can stand it. I see that smiling little face and I just want to gobble her up. There should be a law against making babies that cute!
She is to cute for words. Love the Exorcist bit, my daughters were the same way.
OK. You can’t stay frustrated at that face! Look at that girl. She’s just perfect! That was a hilarious read-not depressing at all.
I hope today is a better day for you both!
That is a challenging age! Well, they all are but for different reasons.
It’s just “one of those days” for Annabel I guess. It happens, don’t take it personally. I tried to just love my daughter and hold my her as much as possible when she had one of those days and tuned out her crying and tried to not let it affect me. After all, she can’t really control herself. But I know, it’s not fun for you either
It’ll get better soon. The smiles and laughs are so worth it though, look at that beautiful face!!! 
It’s probably not funny, but we sometimes say the baby is bi-polar. She switches on and off that fast. Yesterday, we called her Emo baby for the whole morning. Because she was. Everything obviously suuuuuuucked.
BTW, I love her fat little legs. I hope that doesn’t offend her. I think fat little baby legs are adorable. <3
Oh – I know all about this! My son, Grayson, is one week older than Annie. He is not a fan of the afternoon naps at all! It’s way more fun to pull Mommy’s hair and throw the pacifier. Your pictures here are cracking me up – I see this transformation daily! Annie is SO cute.
Oh my gosh even crying she is adorable!!
Dear Annie,
Does your mommy know about the 8-9 month sleep regression? Point her towards http://www.askmoxie.org and tell her to search for it. It’s not your fault you don’ t like sleep right now! ; )
http://www.askmoxie.org/2006/02/qa_what_are_sle.html
It will pass, sweet pea. For now just suck it up and do your punishment essays. You’re pretty good at them!
I think that the resemblance between Annie and Maddie is just striking in that last picture. You and Mike have such beautiful girls =)
Hilarious! And so, so true. My little one screamed her lungs out for hours one day last weekend for no reason AT ALL… and then passed out and slept for almost 12 hours. It’s hard work being a pain in the tush.
(And I worry that my neighbors are going to call child protective services on me, because it sounds like she’s being tortured!)
Ah, the torture cry, that one is my favorite….not!
Elle´s last [type] ..Wordless Wednesday- The Progression Of Peanut Butter
I’m so with you Annie! Some of that goes away when you get older and then when you get married it ALL comes back. Especially the pulling hair and changing channels because who want to watch some lame show about battleships when you can watch The Real Housewives.
Elle´s last [type] ..Wordless Wednesday- The Progression Of Peanut Butter
i have a 3.5m male version on my lap at this moment……..
Wow. She REALLY looks like Mike in that photo of her smiling! And even looks a bit like Maddie, or what she would have looked like if she was Annie’s size at that age.
Mrs. Wilson´s last [type] ..case
That one of her lying on the floor in the purple shirt–I immediately thought of the little girl with the curl in the middle of her forehead; “when she was good she was very very good, and when she was bad she was horrid!”
The last picture she is soooo cute and adorable!!
I think she explained her life to a T. (hehe).:)
Cute pictures, she’s getting so big!!
Btw, I’ve been studying for exams and have pulled a Heather… I’ve had my peanut butter hidden in the couch for quick pick me ups
How long till the husband notices? No one knows.
add me to the list hearing the voice over. hilarious.
my son doesnt sleep at all lately (6.5 months) and im exhausted. I think he went to the same baby school as annie. he throws these fits and then just as quickly can giggle and smile. UGH!
My 8 1/2 month old son was going through the exact same thing last week haha…at least I can laugh about it now
And what is it with the darn TV remote that’s so attractive?!
To be fair to Annie, the photos in this post are kind of like those “before” and “after” photos of models on diet pills in the back of trashy magazines. The “before” pictures are all fuzzy and dark, and the “after” photos are shiny and crisp, providing an outside influence on the viewer.
She is just so cute in all of them, though! But, I can close the blog window, and you have to deal with the crying babe! I mean, I’d totally babysit her, though, if we lived in the same place, and I wasn’t a stranger!
That kid has an amazing head of hair.
Too cute! She is the perfect combo of both of you. My daughter just turned 5 months today and I have a three year old little boy. Where does the time go?
She is seriously too cute. Her personality is popping out of your blog!
XOX
HAHAHAAA!!! This is awesome!
Maria Delgado´s last [type] ..My ALL Origional- Chocoloate Cheesecake w-Salted Pecan Pralines and White Chocolate Drizzle
you know what i love about this? that i totally could hear the “annabel voice” in my head as i was reading it. too cute!
**just noticed that i’m not the only one, looking up through the comments.
Bwahahaahahah! This was excellent! So glad I snuck on at work instead of waiting to go home to read this.
I see so much of sweet Maddie in that last photo of the adorable Annabel! They are both so cute!!
Ohhhhh, I just want to pick her up and comfort her. Sweet baby!!
I spent an entire day following my grandson around, praying he would nap. He would not. He refuses to take a bottle from me now because he KNOWS IT WILL MAKE HIM FALL ASLEEP!
I comfort myself knowing that when he goes home to his parents who have been up since five a.m., he will nap with them and that I, left home alone, will nap as well.
I suppose it all works out.
Why, why, WHY do babies fight sleep? After raising four of my own, I still do not know.
Ms. Moon´s last [type] ..Quiet Morning
This is why no matter what I always come back to your blog.
Damaris´s last [type] ..Foodbuzz 24×24- The ABC of food
Great essay Annabel. You made your points and supported them well…and she is so freaking CUTE!
Kristin´s last [type] ..Happy Happy Joy Joy
Today was picture day at school when I got home I looked just like Annabel in that second picture. Every girl deserves a good cry once and a while, I can so relate.
Loved the essay! Our daughter learned at an early age that if Mama is tired or hungry, she gets grumpy. Now I hear “Mama, I’m only grumpy because I am hungry. I am like you!” Your Annie sounds like a charmer, watch out!
Lizard Breath´s last [type] ..Surprise Adventure!
She looks so like Maddie in the last picture. Beautiful girls.
Hi, Heather,
I remember taking ONE picture of my oldest crying in her crib and I caught so much hell from my (ex)husband for it – “why weren’t you comforting her instead of taking pictures”. He was CLUELESS about babies, life at home alone with babies, life in general which is why he is my ex!! Life is full of it all — smiles, giggles, gurgles, cries, tantrums, etc and we, the adult population, know this and embrace it all!! I love the pictures after which goes to show you – we all survive our tantrums, moms, dads (some of them) and babies!!! You are the neatest mom ever!!!
Cutest stinkin’ photo EVER! Annabel is so beautiful. This is of course the cutest essay. ;o) And, yes: that smile must make up for every tantrum. =D
This is hilarious and so true! 87 teething tablets? LMAO! I think the last picture looks like Maddie, more so in the eyelashes and brows. Your daughters are so beautiful Heather!
Due to Annabel’s awesome videos, I could almost hear her talking here! =)
Great pic of her smiling – she looks sooo happy & surprisingly well-rested! =)
I too could ‘hear’ the voice.
I had never really seen much of Maddie in Annabel before but that last photo oh my gosh…
Both beautiful amazing girls
LOL – you got your hands full there – not even a year old yet and the TANTRUMS have started!!! And I bet you taking pics of her crying didnt improve the mood!! HAHAHAHA
Annabel, it seems like a lot of people are leaving comments for your mommy even though you wrote this post yourself. Can I tell you a secret? Your posts are my favorite… but don’t tell your mom. She might be jealous. I hope you found some awesome things to rip and gnaw on today. You’re lucky you’re so cute so you can get away with those things!
Oh my goodness she looks like Maddie here. Such a beautiful girl. The eyes I guess in this picture. She certainly has her own look and personality. But there was something very Maddie that caught me in this one. Precious and lovely. She is perfect, tears and all.
Sooooo cute!!! How did you make all of us hear your voice, as her?!! haha!! Must be because you’re boring…: P
That was GREAT!! She is so adorable and she cannot help but, to cry when she’s in pain, poor sweet babe. I hope for her sake and yours that those teeth with pop in and it’ll be over and done with quickly!! You could still make her write essays for snaggin the remote, though!! HA!
I *know* I have watched enough Annibel movies when your “voice” plays without being heard! LOL
And the pics! I’m loving that Mom couldn’t get a clear shot in while you were screaming. Yeah… no one wants to be remembered that way anyhow.
Glad to see you are back to smiles Annie!
Dawn @ What’s Around the Next Bend?´s last [type] ..One Special Silly Bandz
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