Thawed and Aged

Well, we've survived our ridiculously cold January (yes, Arizonans, we are crazy for being here) and enjoyed a weekend with temperatures actually hitting freezing (and even above)! We've filled our inside time with all sorts of fun--Annie has decided that she really prefers to be on the photographer side of photography. Here is one of her self-portraits:

We've begun regularly watching our friend, Ella, a few days a week. We're figuring out how to keep a five month old and twenty-two month old happy. Here is a daily ritual: Ella getting her bottle, while Annie feeds Gabby (and herself, and any dolls or stuffed animals nearby).

Besides Annie celebrating her twenty-two month birthday, Eric and I each celebrated our birthdays as well. Eric and Annie made sure I had a good day--waffles in the morning, playdough to play with (Annie's gift to me), out for Mexican food for dinner, and then Nana's Chocolate Cake!


We continued to celebrate over the course of the birthday weekend. We had a birthday outing to the Minnesota Children's Museum with our friends Emily, Brett and Ella. We explored parts of the museum we'd never been to before (Outdoor World) and parts that we always come back to (making bubbles in the water play area).


Sunday we had birthday dinner at Eric's dad house. Annie enjoys all sorts of things over there, climbing the stairs, dancing, and especially playing and singing at Papa's piano.

Monday was Eric's 34th birthday, we were up early for breakfast before Eric left for work (notice Annie's hold on Eric's ear here--a definite sign of a sleepy Annie).

And, enjoyed dinner at home with Grandma Barb and pumpkin pie.

Annie's full of fun these days (challenges, too, of course, as she strives for independence and communication); her sentences are getting more developed, her play more creative, her songs more discernable, and her desire to be in relationships with all those around her quite profound. At our tot yoga class last week, she was determined to hold her friend Lucas's hand whenever she got the opportunity, and loved his hugs (which typically knocked her to the ground) enough to charge right up to him and ask for "more hugs."