it's still raining

Anna is as enthused about the weather these days as we are. We did enjoy a nice break in the clouds and rain yesterday, and were able to spend some time outside playing in the yard. Anna tasted grass, leaves, dirt and rocks for the first time. Can't say she loved any of them...but it was a good "taste" of fall.

Not too much is new in our house. Anna has one of her top teeth now, with the second looking like it's going to poke through the skin any day. She is still cruising around the furniture, gaining confidence each day. With this new found confidence comes a few more falls with bumps and bruises to prove it. I am sure it won't be long before she is toddling along in front of us.

Anna is also becoming more and more vocal each day. She says "hi" to almost everyone she sees when we are out and about. She also loves to say "up" and to climb up into your lap for a few seconds, and then say "don" (down). Animal noises are also still fun. Today during dinner I asked her to eat some of her chicken and she responded with a resounding "bawk bawk!". I about fell out of my chair laughing.

Her favorite toy is still her yellow bus. She likes to put her people, and any other toy (including her socks) into the bus. Always in and out the door...never via the open top. She can sit and move things in and out of the bus for half an hour straight, jabbering to herself the whole time.

One of the most rewarding of Anna's recent developments is her increasing desire to show affection. She is learning about hugs, cuddles and kisses and will sometimes come up and want a "cuddle" out of the blue. Since she has always been a very independent baby, and not one to cuddle or sit still for very long, Steve and I treasure each opportunity to hug and soak up this little sweetheart's affection.