last day of the year

What a wonderful way to spend the last day of 2007. Another first for Anna - a trip to the "big" zoo, and as a special treat she was accompanied by Grandma Mary.

Our visit at the zoo began with the monkeys...Anna watched intently in Grandma's arms. She particularly liked the little baby monkeys, they were so cute!

Then off to Discovery Bay, where we spent much of our time. Lots of "water" and "fishys" as Anna liked to tell us.

And before heading down the "Tropics Trail" we had to see the Dolphin Show. This was Anna's very favorite part of the day. She danced to the music on grandma's lap and watched the dolphins leap in the air, toss beach balls, flap their fins and tails and make noise. She was entranced!

What a very, very fun day! Anna says "thank you" to Grandma "Minny"...can't wait to go again!

water play

Friends over
Cold day
What to do?
Water play!


Riley & Fletcher came to play this week...what fun was had at the water table. So much in fact that clothes were removed and placed in the dryer. Did that stop the kids...no way! What fun!

a vote

As you can see, for the new year I changed our blog's design (again) and opted for something simple and hopefully easy to read. As part of the change I wanted to get your vote on a piece of it as well - afterall, you are reading it! Previously I had a music playlist in the left panel that played a variety of music when you came to the site. I received feedback on the music player - some liked having it, some preferred not to have it - so I thought I would put it out to a vote!

If you scroll down, on the left panel you will see a poll (under the "Credits"). The poll is anonymous - so I can't see who voted, or what you voted for, just a tally. Whether you are family and visit this site more than once a day, or even if I don't know you and you just peruse this blog once in awhile, your opinion matters to me! Just click the checkbox for Yes or No to the music playlist. I'll leave it up for voting through Friday Jan 4th. Thanks much!

christmas day

After revelling in the aftermath of Santa's visit for a few hours, we headed over to Grandpa T and Grandma Penny's house for more Christmas cheer. Their house was decorated beautifully, very festive for the occasion. The table was gorgeous and the food was delicious - we shared a lovely meal in good company.

Grandma Great, Uncle Patrick, Tanya and Uncle Matt were all there too - Anna had fun playing with everyone. While she took her afternoon nap, another round of Buzz Trivia was played...a rubber match for Steve and Matt. I can't remember who won...was it Steve? Or was it Matt? Since I can't remember I figure I can just claim victory. HA HA!

While we stayed warm indoors, we watched HUGE snowflakes fall to the ground outside. With so many windows at Grandpa T's house, it was fun to see a truly white Christmas. After dinner we spent time exchanging gifts, and relaxing in front of the fire. Anna crawled on top of the gifts and tried to help pass them out. She didn't quite make it through the gift exchange, she was exhausted from many days of play, excitement and family. She definitely had fun!

It was a fun day and evening for all of us - special time together as my dad and Penny begin the countdown to their departure to Paris, France. In a few short weeks they will be leaving to begin their 2-year adventure abroad. Many gifts exchanged fell along that theme. Journals, photo albums, suitcases, clothes, Parisian cookbooks and guidebooks. All to aid them on their journey. And from them, lovely Parisian gifts from their trip there earlier last year. Unique toys, a lovely watch, bath scents, lotions. It will be a fun and exciting few years ahead. I am sure we will all learn a lot through their adventures - and will live vicariously through them.

And Paris...well, I don't think that city will know what hit them when this crazy cowboy arrives. Sorry dad...couldn't resist. (Great gift Penny!)

Merry Christmas!

christmas eve

We returned home from beautiful Colorado on Sunday the 23rd, to be greeted with more fluffy snow at home. Despite a few delays, we made it home safe and sound - just in time for a few hours of sleep before more Christmas festivities began.

Grandma Mary, Uncle Matt, Uncle Patrick and Tanya all came to our home on Christmas Eve to celebrate. We enjoyed appetizers, played a fun dice game with presents (Steve made out with the funniest gift...a mini fridge, which he is extremely excited about), and enjoyed time together. During the afternoon Anna opened her gifts and she couldn't have been more excited.

After church we enjoyed a simple dinner, and then retreated to play Buzz Trivia - a fun game Matt brought along. Steve and Matt went head to head, as my mom and I could not keep up with their fast fingers. It was a wonderful day and evening.

Early Christmas morning Santa paid our home a visit. I think he was spotted putting together Anna's gift around the hour of 5am, then making a quick trip to Walgreens (open 24 hrs!) to get last-minute batteries. Anna woke up and immediately spotted her little house. She didn't want to take time for breakfast, or to see what was in her stocking....the house had her undivided attention.

It was a beautiful Christmas Eve, and while the gifts were lovely and fun, as we spent time in good company we were reminded often of the true meaning of Christmas.

beaver creek, colorado

Our adventures began a week before Christmas Day. Nana, Papa and Uncle Nate travelled to our home for a Christmas celebration on the eve of our Christmas vacation. We exchanged gifts, ate a wonderful meal, and spent time together. It was a great way to kick off what would be a very fun week.

Early the next morning we gathered our bags, car seat, stroller, sippy cups, toys, snacks and as much gear as we could carry (& more) and headed to the airport. Colorado...here we come!

Anna was very excited about her first plane ride, while her parents were apprehensive. We were ready for a screaming child...but instead were greeted with a happy, excited, yet calm little lady. Anna travelled better than any of us. She sat in her chair, played with her toys and books, drank her water and ate her snacks. She squealed with delight as we ascended and descended...she was a treat. It was fun to experience flying through the eyes of a child.

Once we arrived in Eagle/Vail, we made the short journey to a beautiful condo nestled in the village of Beaver Creek. Attached to the ski hill, shops, restaurants, an ice rink and every convenience you could imagine, it couldn't have been a more perfect location. Thank you to our dear friends the Laskys for such lavish accommodations. It was gorgeous.

During our stay we were treated with a foot of fresh powder, perfect for skiing. The skiing was great - no lines, fresh snow...doesn't get much better.

In the evenings we relaxed around the fire, and found that the fresh Colorado air caught up with us all as we retired early in the evenings to get rest. Despite a few illnesses for the grown ups, we had a wonderful time. It was a Christmas we will always remember - more "firsts" for Anna, and many memories for all. What a treat, Jim and Norma, "thank you" doesn't even begin to express our gratitude.

where to begin

Many miles travelled ... laughs had ... calories consumed and spent ... wonderful gifts given and received ... stories told ... and memories made ...

Where to begin? This question has been running through my mind all day as I have tried, and tried again, to begin posting our Christmas adventures.

So, we'll start at the very beginning, a very good place to start (so I've heard).

Come with us to Colorado - where the air is fresh and the mountains stand tall.

a trip downtown

This morning Anna and I made a trip downtown to do a number of things! We saw "dada", we went to see the Nutcracker exhibit, we had breakfast and we even saw Santa! Did I mention this was all before 10am? HA! Yes, we were up and at 'em early this morning. It was an action packed morning, but a lot of fun.

red bow

Also in Anna's Christmas package from Great Grandma Mary came this pretty red shirt! Very festive! Anna had a hair bow that matched just perfectly, so we decided to get in the spirit today and wear RED!
Not one to typically keep anything in her hair, I have been telling Anna just how BEAUTIFUL she looks with her bow in. Every time she touches it, I remind her of how GORGEOUS and CUTE she looks with it in. HA! She eats it up and after a few hours she wouldn't let the bow come out of her hair. If it fell out she would find me to put it back in and let her know just how great she looked.

And, in case you were wondering how she looks when she says "Lola"...here's a snapshot.

meet lola

Lola is Anna's new pillow doll - an early Christmas present courtesy of Anna's great grandma Mary. Lola arrived in the mail yesterday and because, well, it's always fun to open presents early, we let Anna open her package. She was thrilled with what was inside! Is her name really Lola? Well, we don't know quite yet. Don't tell Anna this but, we named her Lola just because it's so funny to hear her try and say it! :)

an about face

Since our visit with the doctor nearly a week ago, Anna has been experiencing some BIG changes (and so have her parents!). She has cut her milk intake in 1/2, and in doing so has found that she has an appetite bigger than that of her parents!!

On a typical day this past week, Anna has eaten more food by noon than she had in an entire day the weeks before! She literally eats for breakfast what she used to eat for breakfast and lunch combined. This increase in appetite is wonderful, we hope it results in some added weight and muscle.

We are learning quickly what new foods to introduce, and to always have a snack on hand. Anna's favorite word is "EAT!" and now she really means she wants to! She is eating more than one serving of vegetables per day (vs. next to none before) as well as meat/protein every day - in addition to all she was eating before.

We are also learning that with more food comes more diaper changes. Hopefully that part will taper off a bit as her body adjusts! We will get Anna's weight checked in 3 weeks and hopefully we will see a bit of a change!

big changes ahead

Today Anna took 15 consecutive steps...all around our upstairs living room. We managed to capture a few steps later this afternoon while playing, take a look!


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books


As you can see, Anna refused to wear pants this afternoon. HA! I think she wanted her legs free so she could practice. And practice she did!!

ages and stages

While I know there are many ages, and many stages, to come...if I could freeze time for a little while I would freeze it at this age and this stage. Anna's personality is blooming. She is such a happy little girl, who loves attention, and loves to laugh and giggle. I love watching her get so excited over something so small - like going to play in her playroom, eating raspberries, playing chase or peek-a-boo, having someone read her "Wiggle Waggle", singing or dancing.



Oh sure, we have our moments when limits are pushed, time-outs are issued, and frustration runs high. But the laughter and the moments where I just want to pick her up and squeeze her with love overflowing outnumber those other times ten-fold. We are indeed having a great time.


Anna is learning new things every day. This second year is AMAZING. It seems like the moment she turned 12 months things went into fast forward. It's so interesting to watch her little brain work, and her muscles strengthen as she continues to strive to walk. Anna is very confident, happy, determined and funny at this age.


Each day I watch and another piece of her personality unfolds. Today, after being told "NO" and issued a time-out because she intentionally hit me and scratched my face (more than once in a row), she followed me saying "hoppy, hoppy, hoppy" (happy, happy, happy) - clearly willing me to be "happy". I couldn't help but smile.



Slowly Anna's world is expanding. New foods - broccoli, cauliflower, corn are now staples believe it or not, trying to master a spoon and fork, attempting to drink out of a real cup, eating snacks out of bowls or baggies if we are on the run. She is less a baby and more a toddler each day.


Our conversations are beginning to resemble real conversations. Instead of me narrating what I am doing each day, or what we will do, or just simply making things up to talk about - I can now ask Anna questions to which I will get a response. Perhaps not always the response I was looking for, but a response none-the-less.


I love this age. I love this stage.

let it snow

stats: 15 months

Today we had Anna's 15 month appointment. Steve and I decided to change doctors, as we had heard of another place nearby that specializes in just pediatrics. While Anna's previous doctor was certainly a nice, capable doctor we felt she may prefer a female doctor when she is older and we also were not thrilled with some of the experiences we have had there.

The minute I walked in the door I was happy with our decision to change. Our new place is geared much more for kids. There were 3 huge aquariums and Anna was in heaven immediately! Our new doctor also made a very good impression on both Anna and I. Anna was very comfortable - the most comfortable I have ever seen her - throughout the entire exam.

So, Anna's stats at 15 months are:
Weight: 18lbs. 7oz. - less than 3rd percentile
Height: 30 5/8 in - 65th percentile
Head Circumference: 18.5 in - 50th percentile

This is fairly consistent with her percentiles at 12 months - although she has grown over an inch in length in the past 3 months.

We did learn a few new things though! Anna's milk intake is much higher than it needs to be. The doctor recommended that we cut Anna's milk in half - offering her 4-6oz. at each meal time, after she has eaten her meal. The doctor believes that Anna is drinking so much milk that she is not as hungry at mealtimes, and also while there is a lot of fat in her whole milk, there are not the nutrients that Anna will get from food.

Anna will return in a month for a 2nd flu shot, and for a weight check. The doctor is going to review Anna's medical records from our previous place, and see how she grows over the next month weight wise to make sure that everything is looking ok. While I am not concerned with Anna's weight - it is nice to know that she is going to take some extra time to look things over.

Anna had 4 shots today, but is in good spirits! At least she won't have any more shots (with the exception of another flu shot) until her 2 year appt!

blissful baking

Growing up, our kitchen was always stocked with delicious Christmas goodies the weeks preceding Christmas. Shirt boxes filled with sugar cookies, Russian tea cakes, peanut brittle, peppermint bark, nut goodies, peanut blossoms, turtles and other delectable delights were stacked up in our refrigerator and freezer. Whenever a snack was needed, one could be found. And every Christmas Eve we would proudly leave our plate of carefully made sugar cookies for dear old Santa.

My mother, a wonderful baker, has maintained this annual tradition by inviting my brothers and I, and our loved ones over for an all-day baking extravaganza. There are baking stations, and boxes and baggies and wax paper and more chocolate, butter, sugar and other so-bad-for-you-but-so-yummy things than you could ever consume.

In a span of about 5-6 hours, collectively we made homemade caramels (new recipe addition this year), sugar cookies, peanut blossoms, peppermint bark, turtles, and popcorn balls. A busy afternoon it was, but an enjoyable one as well.





Anna watched intently as we Christmas elves worked...perhaps next year she can help a little too! Although, I think she was happy watching, studying and possibly her favorite job - taste testing.



But I can't say I blame her...could you resist?