Throwback Thursday

I don't know about all of y'all, but I'm ready for some sunshine! Or should I say warmth, considering the sun tricks us into thinking we can go out when we can't! We get a little stir crazy around here when we have to stay indoors all day every day... I know, Michigan family, we shouldn't complain. But I did.

July 2013.

Who wouldn't fall asleep in a bouncy chair by the ocean in your own personal shade tent?

Yes, please.

Snow Bunny!

So, since I know you're all dying to see photos of Anna Kate in her first North Carolina snow (we had snow at Thanksgiving in Michigan, but didn't take pictures!)... here is the extent of our adventure today! Hope you're all staying warm and enjoying your snow day if you have one!

Just another ride in our red car... oh wait, what is all of this white stuff?

Still not realizing what is going on..

"What in the world?"

"Um, no thanks, this is cold."

Indifferent and watching her doggies play...

On. A. Mission.

"Seriously, what is up with this...."

46 Weeks!

This week, we realized we are fast forwarding towards almost having an eleven month old, which is entirely too close to having a one year old, and that just means that time is going by too fast!

Little Miss Anna Kate is quite the explorer these days, willing to crawl farther and farther away from us comfortably. Her favorite is going to find the dogs water bowl (the food bowls are put away after each meal), which now resides in our half bath to provide us a longer respite in between each time she remembers it's existence... And a door as a means of stopping her! Actually, the dog bowl was one of the first obvious clues to us that her memory is developing. We moved it a while ago, because when it was in plain sight in the kitchen it was a constant battle of keeping her out of it, but she knows very well where it is "hidden" now.

This week her speech has started to take off. We have very audible and specific "Mama" and "Dada" although we aren't convinced she completely connects them with us. She stole Daddy's heart this week when she looked right at him and said, "Dada". But then she went back to calling him "Mama" soon after. We've decided "Mama" means I'm not happy, feed me, change me, love me. Must have something to do with how happy Mommy gets when she says it, so she knows she will likely get her needs met quicker. We are hearing other syllables (ya, ba mainly) but not as clearly or specifically.

Whew, sorry for being so wordy. Pictures, please?

Hiding a cute smile under that hand!

"Raise your hand if you're a cutie!"

Pure sweetness.

Followed by trouble...

"Me? Trouble? Nahhh."

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

As of late, little miss Anna Kate has been quite the curious babe. I know, this is normal. It is cute, funny, and frustrating all at the same time! Walking will add all sorts of fun to this adventure, but for now, enjoy some photos of our (very) active little one...

"What do you mean, 'This isn't a toy'?"

"Why are you taking photos? I'm getting in the bath, Mom!"

"And Daddy thought that Mommy had a shoe problem... I love SHOES!"

(But seriously. We usually leave our shoes in the garage, so whenever we happen to take them off in the house, that is where you will find her- with the shoes!)

"Oh hey, I could pull up on this."

"But Mom, look at this face... you can't be mad!"

45 Weeks!

Week 45 was a blur around here. I am just now getting around to writing this post because, as you read in the last post, we have had a lot of showings for the house over the past week or so. Unfortunately, while we were hopeful with one possible buyer, we are still at square one. All Anna Kate knew about the situation is that somehow she kept ending up at Nana's every day for nap time!

In terms of development, we are getting closer and closer to walking every passing week. I will post a video soon of Anna Kate cruising a short distance from a toy to the coffee table. Her favorite activity continues to be pulling up on everything, and it is rare for her to sit and play with a toy for long. Because of her joy of pulling up, she really enjoys pulling up on her baskets of books and pulling them out, which is cute to watch. We are also getting closer and closer to AK being able to eat the same food as we do. She always has to try whatever you are eating, and is getting really good at trying lots of things just because we are having them too. She enjoyed her Uncle David's deer lasagna this week too! She is choosy about when she wants to talk, so it is either all or nothing with her talking, but she is adding different syllables all the time.

"This is my stinker face..."

"Don't I look snazzy in my 12 month pajamas?!"

What you don't see here is my hand cropped out that is holding her down...

"What? Am I making this difficult?"

Sleeping Spy

So, I've been neglecting the blog.. or really the camera lately. We have had four scheduled showings in about a week, so the camera keeps getting tucked away. That, combined with some slow times post-holiday, and we don't have too many new photos of our sweet baby Anna.


To keep you entertained, I want to share some of my favorite screen shots of Anna Kate sleeping (or not). For those that don't know, Mark hooked up an IP camera and built a stand for it in Anna's room that links to our phones and iPad. This way, we can check in and make sure she is sleeping/safe/not climbing out of her crib/etc. When you go in her room, it is the creepy little white security camera pointed at her bed.


Here are (several) shots of her sleeping, and not sleeping. Believe it or not, I have a ton more of these that I haven't shared. It is just so easy to snap a screenshot when she is being cute!

"I know you're watching..."

A little baby Anna Kate... You can see the excersize ball in the left, so this was maybe 2-3 months.

 Another baby Anna, playing with her toesies.

Sweet baby sleep.

This one is boring. But so cute.

Passed. Out.

Playing with the sleep sheep.

I see you!

How big does she look sitting up?!

We lowered the crib mattress this day.

Fell asleep in a seated position after protesting a nap.

This is my absolute favorite. After being such a belly sleeper, it is hilarious for me to see her passed out, on her back, sprawled all over.

On Photo Shoot Strike

So, I'm sure (if you actually read everything) that you have noticed multiple mentions of Anna Kate hating her weekly photo shoots. I'm way too close to the end to quit doing them now, but pretty much this is how they go: Change Anna Kate's clothes and diaper after waking up, camera is on and ready, background is set up and ready, sit Anna Kate in the boppy, pick up camera. Put Anna Kate back in the boppy, take blurry photo. Put Anna Kate back in the boppy, give her her lovey, take a photo of her with her fingers in her mouth with lovey. Take away lovey. Take photo of Anna Kate trying to get to lovey. Repeat until some normal photo comes out.

So, I took a lot of photos this week between her 10 month and 44 week photos of what actually happens... Enjoy. I'll laugh about it when I finish this silly project.

"Yeah, Dad, let's play peek-a-boo instead!"

Mark trying to help..

Nope.

And again...

I believe this look is, 'I hate you guys'. I'm sure I'll recognize it in 15 years.

"Hey Mom, look at these books... we could do that instead!"

"I found more books!"

"This is a cute pose, right?"

Anna Kate, over and out.

"Check out these stairs!"

"And this bench!" (love the tippy-toes!)

10 Months/44 Weeks!

This week, Anna Kate turned 10 months! I can't believe how close we are to the one year mark.

This week, there weren't any new developments. Anna Kate continues to pull up on everything, enjoys lots of new foods, loves her doggies, and still has a cold and a little separation anxiety.

To summarize month 10... In this month Anna Kate began pulling up (practically the day after turning 9 months), gave up army crawling in favor of traditional hands and knees, uses Da-Da, Ma-Ma, Ya-Ya, and other babble frequently, learned to clap and snap, can sign for more occasionally when asked, and she began eating more finger foods than purees with her favorites being cheese, bread, cheerios or puffs, and any kind of bread/egg/oatmeal casserole. She experienced her first Christmas, which was followed by some normal separation anxiety. Lastly, she gave up her antacid right after Christmas and it appears that her reflux is under control. We get a spit-up every now and then, but completely without the help of medicine. She is still in 9 month clothes, occasionally wearing 6 month onesies/shirts and 12 month pajamas (when the rest are in the laundry).

Ten months old and loving it!

Not loving the photo shoots anymore, Mom.

44 Week photos- what a cutie!

"I was thinking we could read instead..."

Who does she look like?!?

Love all of those perfect little features!