Annika's Favorite Song

Annika and I spend a lot of time together in the car going to and from work/daycare and home. She's a pretty good traveler, but sometimes she cries and/or screams when we're in stop-and-go traffic. There's usually not much I can do about it except keep going, so I just turn up the music a bit to drown out the noise. It seems that she might have a favorite song -- this one almost always stops her crying:



I'm so glad my kid has good taste in music. 


(Random side note: you can create a personalized music video using your address. I tried it with my childhood address, 919 N. Hill Blvd., Layton UT, and it was pretty cool.)


Someone gave me the advice to keep listening to my music for as long as possible, since at some point I'll have to venture into the somewhat frightening world of children's music and then try to keep my sanity. I'm sure at some point the soundtrack to my life will consist of Raffi tunes, and I don't need that day to come any too soon. 


While we haven't exposed Annika to a lot of kids' music, I have created cheesy songs lyrics to familiar tunes. We sing these to her (it's a real treat -- if you've ever heard Scott or me sing, you'll know what I mean):


(to the tune of Frere Jacques)
Noodleriffic, Noodleriffic, 
Noodle Nu, Noodle Nu.
You are so fantastic, you are so amazing
I love you, I love you.


(to the tune of 99 bottles of beer on the wall)
Annika Annika Joan
Annika Annika Joan
We love you so much
You're the best of the bunch
You're our dear sweet Annika Joan
(for variety's sake, and to keep her ego in check, I sometimes substitute her cousin's name, Ha Jyn Son)


(to the tune of some random song I sang in church as a child)
Mommy (Daddy/Lucky/Grandma/Dee Dee/etc.) loves her fussy-bus
You're the best of all of us
It's ok, cry if you must
'Cause mommy loves you fussy bus.


I also tried "my baby's too Noodle-licious" instead of Beyonce's "my body's too bootylicious," but I'm proud to say I didn't know that one well enough to make a whole song.

Story Time

Annika and her father have begun a nightly story time. 

She is captivated by her dad's reading.

They're reading Hop on Pop, a book I used to read with my dad.

Score One for Daddy!

Since before Annika was born, Scott had hoped his baby would have blonde hair. 

I, on the other hand, was hoping for something a bit darker.

When she was born, I thought I'd won. Her hair was dark brown.

I heard all of the stories about newborn babies' hair falling out and/or getting lighter. About a month later, her hair had lightened a bit, but was still brown.

However, I now must concede defeat. 

Nearly four months later, our daughter is definitely a blondie.

She also now insists on being held outward so she can observe the world.

More "talking"...

...and a big smile!

Three months!

Annika turned three months old last weekend!

I remember waking up in the hospital on the day we took her home and thinking that this was the beginning of the second chapter of my life. I then laughed at the ridiculousness of that thought, since chapter one would therefore include my own birth, growing up, coming to New York, graduating college, starting a school, getting married, etc. I have to say, though, that so far it has felt like a totally new chapter. Sometimes it's hard for Scott and me to remember much about our pre-Annika lives. While it does seem like she's growing fast, it's also mind-boggling that we've only had her in our lives for three months.

At three months, she is now old enough to sit on the couch in the nude.

We put her in her "home from the hospital" outfit -- I'm guessing this is the last month it will fit -- and went to a picnic in the park.

One of my favorite developments over the last month is Annika's "talking." She has become quite noisy, although she seems to quiet down anytime we try to catch it on camera. Here are two recent attempts:

The Namesake

We've been very happy with the name we chose for our daughter. We liked it because it reminds us of many of important people in our lives. Annika has now met all of the people she was named after!

Annika Joan, Catherine Joan

(This is near where I grew up in Utah. Isn't it beautiful?)

Annika Joan, Granny Joan (who, despite her youth, insists on being called Granny)

Carlyannika!

Jennifer Ann, Annika

Anne, Annika

BianCA, AnniKA