The Family 411

The time has come for another update... infact, the time probably came awhile ago, but indeed, summer has gone, fall has come, and with it a new (and busy!) season of life in the Roberts household. For those of you who we haven't had the chance to update, after prayerful consideration, Adam has decided to take some classes to see if he would like to pursue dentistry! {insert gasp here} If he opts to complete this journey, it looks like it will take about 7 years... but we're just trying to take it one semester at a time, so don't go and get any cavities yet :-)

He has started with some prereqs at The University of Maryland. Mon-Thurs. he attends night classes consisting of Biology & Chemistry lectures & labs. While it's exciting for both of us to begin this journey, it has its fair share of difficulties. Adam leaves for work at about 8:30am, goes straight from work to school and doesn't get home until around 10/10:30pm, upon which he begins studying. We switched our little sleep monster's schedule and she is waking up a little earlier so Adam can see her in the morning for about a half hour, but as you can imagine, he's not getting enough time with us girls these days! It's hard to give up so many evenings as a family, but we are finding the Lord has some special moments and lessons for us in this season too. If nothing else, we are getting more organized and intentional about the time we DO have together, and that has been quite sweet.

As for Anabelle & I, we are best buddies these days. She is a very busy girl and keeps me on my toes. I'm still working from home, though finding it much more difficult these days as she pulls up on things & cruises, but hasn't figured out that she can't just let go and free fall backwards without painful consequences!! Diaper changes are complete wrestling matches (we broke a diaper yesterday!) and her impatient streak comes out during feeding time. The MOMENT she is in the highchair she starts screeching! And, if you feed her something she doesn't like, more screeching. Infact, often when she's perfectly happy, more screeching!! Dare I say "what goes around comes around" as this is exactly what I did to my mother & family members in my early years. It bothers my ears more than it does me, and I'm learning creative ways to appease her. Being with her 24/7 has it's joys and challenges, but I love being there for every new moment and watching her blossom before my eyes! She is a heaven-sent gift we still do not take for granted!!

This is getting long, so here's the brief update on Miss Anabelle D.
LIKES: crawling, standing, cruising, doing makeup with mommy (ie, sucking on mascara tubes etc.), being vocal, swinging, johnny jump up, turning pages, glasses, sucking on everything - especially her 2 faithful fingers, tofu!, slinkies, shaking her head 'no', playing in and with water, carrying things in her mouth like a puppy, floor vents, shopping carts, playing follow the leader (video to come), headbands & hats (or maybe that's just mom!), smushing banana between her fingers, cats & dogs, ... oh, and the child would watch TV all day long if you let her (which we haven't and won't) but man, some days it's tempting!! :-)
DISLIKES: The first 5 mins. of a nap, avocado (though we sneak it in still!), spaghetti squash (instant vomit reflex), the first 2 mins. in the highchair, diaper changes, face & hands wiping, landing after a free fall, the vacuum - unless you maintain direct eye contact with her, being woken up, bottles (heaven help us), and not being able to run the show!

Daddy & SuperBelle walking around his new campus! Go Terps!


The next picture segment shows all the fun that is to be had with a crib!!

How we knew the mobile had to go


How can we miss Jackson when we now have this little one with puppy dog eyes and the ability to fetch things in her mouth?! :-)


Her angel wings are starting to show!!


This is pretty much how she spends time in her crib. There is not much laying going on these days... She's happy to just stand and wait! We keep meaning to lower it, but between school & social events, Adam hasn't been able to get to it while Anabelle is awake!


Little Miss Sunshine


Thoroughly enjoying the baby version Bible


The "I love you" posed fingers live on!!


Here are 2 videos of Anabelle in her natural habitat...

This is Anabelle's fav. pastime which we now call "Vent diving"


And here she is showing off her stair stepping talents. She's been mobile for awhile now, but I still get a kick out of putting her down in the living room play area, going to the kitchen, then moments later have her turn the corner & peak her head in at me!