Playground Bully

SO, I know we haven't posted anything in a while. And I know that most of you (pronounced: grandparents) won't think this is a real post - promise I'll make it up to you - but, this is my civic duty.

Last week we were at the playground with Anna. She still loves the baby swings & is learning about the slide. While we were there, we saw a large boy bullying other kids around. In fact, he shoved one smaller boy to the ground. The smaller boy was "rescued" by his mom. But the BIG BOY's mom was no where to be found. I know most of my readers are our family & friends. But on the off chance that BIG BOY's mom stumbles across our blog, I just thought she should know ...

9 months!

Hard to believe, but Anna is 9 months old today! I know I sound old myself when I say time flies, but, really, there's no other way to put it....these last 9 months have gone by soooo fast (too fast, really)! Anna's 9 month dr's appt isn't for another week, so I'll share stats at that point; for now, here's what the lil snickerdoodle is up to!

9 months is an incredibly fun age, at least when you are blessed with the smiley happy baby we are. Anna has been pulling herself up for the past 2+ weeks, and is now eagerly working on walking. Her half-crawl/half-walk movement, combined with walking along the furniture, get her everywhere she wants to go, for now. We're spending alot of time following her around the house -- I wouldn't say "chasing" just yet, since she's not too fast, but I know those days are just around the corner. For now, it's following behind to make sure she doesn't stick her pudgy little fingers into something dangerous or pull something down on top of herself. Keeps us busy, as well as entertained!

Anna is also starting to really express her interests and desires. She has a couple of favorite books that she likes to read over, and over, and over....and she's often perfectly happy playing by herself and pulling her toys out of her toy box, one at a time. Or, if that's not an option, pulling clean laundry out of the laundry basket is an enjoyable substitute. Until recently, it seemed as if Anna liked any and all food you would offer her, but I think we've finally run into a few that she's not so fond of. I'm still trying to convince her cauliflower and broccoli are tasty (?), but usually have to resort to some trickery for her to open her mouth for either.

Most notably, Anna has learned to roar like a lion, and recognize the lion in her books and music -- her dad is SO proud (if you ask him about it, I'm sure he'll let you listen to the recording on his cell phone). Really, it's a skill all 9 month olds should have, right? It IS just about the most adorable thing ever, and never fails to cheer her up.

Personally, I'm quite proud of her recent ability to "kiss". Not quite a kiss, but a super cute fish face that sounds like a kiss.

Hopefully I'll get both on video to share soon -- in the meantime, you'll just have to take my word that it will make you melt.

Wiggleworm

Traci & I enrolled Anna in an infant music class called Wiggleworms at a neighborhood music school. Each week parents & babies (our group is 6 - 12 monthers) sing, play, jump, & dance - all the while trying to learn a little rhythm. Anna has a ball & is enamoured with the group leader's guitar.

Please be patient...

As you have probably noticed, Will and I have not been good about updating the blog lately. I guess you could say there are other things we'd rather do with our evenings...you know, important stuff, like watch Anna grab the dog's tail, watch Anna try to crawl (not there yet - but very close, "army crawling" and starting to get the coordination between arms and legs; she also spends ALOT of time on all fours rocking back and forth), stack baby cups with Anna, enjoy the spring weather walking with Anna, and ... well, you get the picture. Anna, Anna, Anna. It seems like she's changing and doing new things each day.

I credit Anna with two words at this point -- both "mama" and "dada". "Mama" started about a week and a half ago, and "dada" started on Friday. Interestingly, Will himself hasn't witnessed "dada" yet -- I heard it over the baby monitor early Friday morning, and the woman who watched Anna that day said Anna was saying it all day. Still trying to convince her to say it to her "dada" though!

Yesterday, Anna mastered getting a baby puff/cheerio into her mouth on her own. She'd been working on it for a few days, and liked to eat them when I helped her get them in her mouth. Now, she can actually pick the puff up off her highchair tray and get it into her mouth, gum it, and swallow it all on her own. Today she ate EIGHTEEN of them all on her own. Pretty impressive considering she couldn't eat a single one two days ago.

So, hope you all will continue to be patient with us as our blogging lags...counting puffs eaten and coaxing "dada" out of here take alot of time and energy!

They Grow Up So Fast

"They grow up so fast." How many times have I heard a parent, grandparent, or other older relative or family friend say this? Truly, if I had a dime for every time I've heard that expression, Anna's college fund would be fully funded. I would not have expected to be the parent who says, "they grow up so fast." But, they do.

This week we passed April 15th - not just tax day, but also Anna's seventh month mark. Seven months. Anna barely resembles the tiny newborn that we brought home early last fall. Her head wobbled to & fro and her legs were so skinny that her socks would just slip off. We guarded her from the dog's curiousity & licks and took extra precautions to make sure that she was asleep on her back in her bassinette or crib.

Today Anna is a bright & curious 7 month old little girl. She has two pearly teeth and is enjoying exploring solid foods. She sits unsupported; plays with toys and babbles constantly. She seeks out the dog, fingers her claws, pulls on her ears, & giggles when she gets a lick in the face. She doesn't like to be rocked before bedtime anymore & falls asleep on her own. She sleeps on her back, her side, & her tummy. (Sometimes, I think she does jigs in her sleep, riverdancing from one end of the crib to the other.) Anna's once-skinny, little legs are no more. Today her legs puff out of her diaper on one end & stuff themselves into her socks on the other, resembling giant sausage links.

I acknowledge that this maturation & these strides toward independence are only the beginning. I know many of you have experienced all of this with your own children & grandchildren. Though, until it's your own "growing up too fast" or "growing like a weed" you don't really know just how amazing all those strides really are.

Around 3 am, in the quiet darkness between Friday night & Saturday morning, Anna awoke. She's typically sleeping through the night so this was not the norm. She cried out from her crib & I went to her. As I rocked her back to sleep, I realized she wasn't being the fidgety little girl that I'm accustomed to trying to rock. She was not anxious to be put down. Rather, she laid, her head nestled into my elbow, and let me rock her back to sleep. I sat with her for about half an hour, rocking her slowly, in the quiet darkness of her room. For 30 minutes, that tiny little baby was back. Well, except for the fact that she weighs 17 pounds, is 27 inches long & now takes at least two hands to hold!!

Getting to be a big girl is no small feat

Newborn

3 months

5 months

Anna's Baptism

Finally getting around to sharing some pictures from Anna's baptism.


Anna was baptized on Valentine's Day, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, here in Chicago. We were very fortunate to share this day with Anna's Godparents, Uncle Joe and Aunt Jennifer, along with Grandmomma. We're grateful they were able to make the trip to celebrate this special occasion, and the rest of our family was definitely in our thoughts.


Anna wore a gown that I wore, along with my mom and grandma. It was probably worn by babies prior to that, we're just not sure who or when.


The baptism itself was scheduled to begin when Anna usually takes her afternoon nap, but she held up pretty well -- a little bit of fussing at the very beginning, but she cheered up and did well with the water and oil!