Taking Steps

Anna has been getting more adventurous by the day with taking steps. Yesterday she progressed up to four steps. It is so cute (and so wobbly!)

My First Experience in the Nursery

Our church wants all parents who put their kids in the nursery to help out one Sunday a month and this weekend was my husband and I's Sunday to help out. We signed up for the Waddlers room which is kids who are walking. It was lots of fun but also lots of craziness. It gave me a new appreciation for the parents who are in there with Anna each weekend.

Shopping Carts

The TV was on while I was at the car service department today and there was a brief news story about shopping carts at stores. Apparently stores are looking for ways to sanitize the shopping carts since, when tested, they had more germs on them than door knobs and public toilets!! The shopping cart cover is a keeper!

Happy 10 Months Anna! And a few random notes

It is hard to believe how much different life is today than it was 10 months ago. So much has happened and Anna has changed so much since she first entered the world.

Anna and I had a few errands to run today and I made a few observations.

1) People are more likely to talk to you if you have a baby - maybe its because Anna was really happy that there was a 3 year old in the waiting room of the car service department and kept squealing VERY LOUDLY that people couldn't help but to notice Anna, but I learned a lot about a couple of strangers grandkids. It was nice and made the time pass quickly.

2) People tend to want to help more if you have a baby - it was time for us to checkout at Target and the lines were backed up a few carts in each lane. I quickly scanned the lines to see which would get me out the quickest and happened to catch the eye of one of the workers. He opened up a new lane and ushered me in, very speedy service.

Snack Time

Hot, Hot, Hot

The upstairs air conditioning in our house decided to stop working as Raleigh hits a high of 101 today. The guys came to put the new air conditioning unit in today and since the attic access is in Anna's room, she's been unable to sleep in her crib. We played hard all morning and around 11:00 (an hour and a half after the start of her normal morning nap) Anna crashed on the couch despite all that was going on around her. It's fun being able to watch her sleep.

Anna & the Blue Balloon

I was at the grocery store today and Anna was fascinated with some balloons that were attached to someone else's cart. She continued to squeal through the store and so I decided to pick up a free balloon on my way out. Anna loved watching it float around the car and couldn't keep her eyes off it once we got home. I tied it around her walker so that it would be on her level and then the fun began... or at least until she started trying to bite the balloon. I think we'll pass on the balloon next time to the grocery store.

Popping Up

When I returned from NY, Anna had learned something new... She can now go from sitting to standing all by herself without pulling up on anything. She will then stand there for a few minutes, maybe do a few squats, and then sit down - - doing all of which with a toy in each hand, of course. Some of my friends' kids did this right before walking!

As I'm getting ready for playgroup, I've been thinking. Since all of Anna's friends are older and "further along", it is easy for me to want Anna to do all of the things they are doing, but I need to remember that Anna is a few months behind them and she will do those things soon enough.

Fun with Da Da

Anna had a wonderful weekend with just her and her Da Da. She played and played and slept very well. She even tried a few new foods - hushpuppies and grilled cheese (at least that's all I'm aware of :)).

Girl's Weekend

My wonderful husband will be holding down the fort this weekend as I head to New York with family. I know he, Anna, and Cassie are going to have a wonderful time together! I will miss them.

Prayers for the Miles Family

My sweet friend Julie is being induced tonight. Her son Ethan, who will soon be welcomed into the world has HLHS (Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome).

More info about HLHS and baby Ethan can be found at http://ethanscottmiles.blogspot.com

Lima beans, turkey, mac & cheese, peaches, pears, cheerios

That is what Anna had for lunch today....

As I talk with other moms in my neighborhood group, the biggest challenge for many of us right now is feeding the little ones. Of those I know that are around the 10 month mark, most of them have given us moms the "no thank you" when we try to feed them baby food with a spoon. Anna's version of "no thank you" was a forceful arm trying to knock the spoon from my hand :). So if they are not eating baby food, then what? Though the doctor gave me some direction as to what Anna can and cannot eat, I still have trouble. There are many meals where I stand at the refrigerator and try to find something that Anna may eat. Many nights I will try 6 different items before I feel Anna has eaten enough. I am excited that Anna can now eat most of what we cook for dinner which will cut down on our grocery bill, but it is still rather confusing!

Anna & Cassie

Anna has a whole new level of fascination with the puppy - she can't seem to leave her alone. Wherever the puppy is, Anna with crawl over to her and I know she is getting close because I will hear this low growl - from Anna!! Anna has also started "feeding" Cassie from her high chair. Whenever there is something she doesn't want, Anna holds it in her hand over the edge of the high chair and Cassie is quick to help her make it disappear. This has all been cute lately, but I'm sure that it will soon become an issue and the word "no" will be heard around out house a lot.