Lunch Time!

This One's for Grandma...

"What happens at Grandma's...stays at Grandma's"

Love you Grandma (and Grandpa, and Papa, and Uncle Derek, and Gramma Sue, and everyone else I'll get to see later next week!!)

11 Months

11 Months Old!

Annie climbed up on the baseboard heater so she could look out the window while Dan was manning the BBQ

Summer.

first trip to the Beach (at Revere)

and it took her approximately 2 minutes to remove...

her hat :)

the best toys are the simplest ones

July Visitors

We were blessed with a busy July.  Annie's Grandma and Uncle Tyler visited for just about a week (yeah!), and our friend Mark came from Germany the following weekend.  (Katie and Mark graduated from high school together in Antwerp, Belgium, and hadn't seen one another in 10 years!)  In the course of just over a week, we visited the zoo, Children's Museum, several parks, walked around downtown, and did lots and lots of playing.  We LOVE visitors (can't you tell, hint hint?) :)

We found an Annie-sized door downtown

Hanging out with Mark at Quincy Market

these pouches are great for eating on the go- no mess!

love those big blue eyes!

bubble room at the Children's Museum

crawler room at the CM

one of Annie's favorite toys at the moment

Thanks for this pretty, fluffy dress Grandma!

Grandma love <3

combing Grandma's hair

Uncle T popped Annie's collar so she could be cool like him!

checking out the animals at the zoo

the zebras were entertaining

our brave animal-love reaching in to pet the goat

checking out the chickens

all tuckered out

Countdown to Grandma (and Uncle Tyler's) visit

Annie's Walking! (with a cart)

Annie is learning to walk with her Fisher Price cart.  She can walk back and forth across the room.  When she runs into the couch or the wall, she will stand there and bounce until we turn her around.  Enjoy.

She is actually closer to 11 months at the time of the post, but better late than never.

Reading

One of Annie's favorite things to do is empty her corner of the bookshelf and leaf through books.  It brings us great joy as parents to know that she loves reading, in her own 10-month old way :)  She also enjoys being read to...current favorites are any books involving animals (especially if Mom or Dad hams up the animal sounds), "Fluffy Scruffy" (a touch and feel book about dogs), and Grandpa Loves Me (a lift-the-flap book about making pizza with Grandpa)...

Not a reading picture, but this shot shows how she likes to sit in her highchair, with her big toes hooked under the tray (hm...wonder where she gets that from?! :)

Last day of swim class + playing at the park

Dan and I have enjoyed participating in the parent/child swim class at our local Y for the past few weeks.  Annie went from leaving the pool early on the first class, to launching herself into the water from the side of the pool during the middle classes, to extending and moving arms and legs simultaneously at the last class.  She still loves the water, and we enjoyed trading off Saturday mornings with her as the lessons progressed.  (Sidenote: I love the deep sense of trust so many kids have to jump into the outstretched arms of a parent, believing with simple, childlike faith that they'll be caught!  What a wonderful image of faith :)
Y policy doesn't allow photos to be taken of classes, but we snuck in a few while waiting for her group to start:

loves her daddy!

watching the big(ger) kids

 

 

 

 

 

love her blue eyes!

We've also been hitting the park more and more as summer sets in.  Last week we met up with friends and their little ones for a playdate, which included playing in the sandbox for the first time and a few (tearful) lessons on sharing...

Zeke's Birthday Party

Annie's buddy Zeke turned one a few weeks ago, and one of his parents' friends graciously took photos of Zeke and his friends at the party.  Even though it was his birthday, he was sweet to share his toys with the other little party guests.  Here are a few fun shots: