{ in good company }

Typically I don't do so well with David being gone for nights on end. I am usually a downright wimp about it. If not for the cheery little girl you see pictured on the left I'm afraid I wouldn't ammount to much more than a weepy, moping, puddle of tears. Fortunately sunshine and smiles follow her around all day long. So we are making it through each day, minus the Man of the House. Not that we don't miss him. Cause we do. Terribly so. It's just that at the same time, I am so glad to have my very own little girl to keep me singing and laughing all the day long.

And here are some of my recent favorite tib-bits of her that I want to be sure to jot down, so I never forget...

Like the way she says flop-flip instead of flip-flop

Or how when I ask her the color of something it is always, often without even looking, red first and if I say no, then it is pink. always.

I love how she cops out half way through the ABCs...once we get to " M " she then insists..."all done, Mommy, all done! "

Hearing her say "dear Jesus..." all by herslef tonight, for the first time

Then I woke up the other morning to her soft little pats and a " hi pretty Mama " (which of course her Dad taught her to say )

How well she has gotten at talking on the phone and when she tells her daddy " I miss you."

The phrase " stinky toes " which she picked up somewhere and says randomly throughout the day. That and " soggy bottom, " referring of course, to a wet diaper.

How every unfamiliar noise, is a " squeaky mouse "

She is really into copying anything and everything we say right now...And other day she was copying Auntie Roo. It went something like this:

A.R. : I

Annabelle: I

A.R. : am

Annabelle: am

A.R: going

Annabelle: going

A.R. : to

Annabelle (shouts with confindence ) : THREE!

Tonight after hearing me talk to her Daddy, who is currently unable to come home because the roads have been closed, on account of a really awful winter storm, she came up to me and said shaking her head gravely, "awww...poor daddy."

Her favorite toy is " Mr Socks " All day long it's " Mr. Socks this and Mr. Socks that, as if he were just another member of the family.

When she says " oh no, Annabelle made a mess! " and tries her little baby best to clean it up.

She is curled up into a little ball on my lap as I type this, sound asleep. And this feeling sweeps through me, that's more of an ache than anything else.

( with her Mr. Socks )