Re: A note for my cousin Anna.

Dear William,
I tried another biter biscuit, as you suggested. I am sorry to say, I find them truly disgusting. I don't know, it must be me. You like them, the baby on the box does, my friend Maddie does. Perhaps it is an acquired taste?
Love,
Anna

Well, we haven't spent much time on the computer this week, which means less posts for you. Apologies all around. We have been keeping busy- Anna's teething, for reals this time, Chris has been working late and Mom's been marching to Martha's tune, eh.
I was going through stuff in our room and tossing some things- I found this cow rubber bracelet. Chris picked it up when we were at Hershey Park last August, three weeks before Anna was born. Being massively pregnant, we didn't go on any rides except the factory tour and everyone looked concerned with the rotating platform/moving cart transfer... It was Chris' company's Hershey Park Day, so Chris was off work as long as he went to the park so we went, but we didn't see any of his co-workers the entire time we were there. So Chris grabbed the cow bracelet for evidence that we went.
Anyhow, I tossed it on the bed to Anna for the trash pile she was dispersing, but she had other ideas for it. It's her favorite teether.

I'm throwing in the towel, coach. North Carolina lost yesterday; they were supposed to be the NCAA champions, according to my wise bracket, but they fell short of even the final four. Male Schwartz has overtaken weaker schwartz. (Those are actually our bracket tourney names...can you guess who made them up?) So, everyone root for Ohio State...to lose.

And onwards, to Anna news. We went down to MD on Saturday to see the grandparents and Anna was given a fresh supply of pink apparel. =) We love it. She got a new puzzle and it tastes great. Check out the headband.














Here's Anna showing Grandmom and Great Grandmom how to put the puzzle together, and how to drop pieces on the floor.


Grandmom found a pair of sunglasses for Anna- movie star style. She liked them, I think because everyone was laughing when she had them on.




We had a good time and I think it's safe to say that the grandparents enjoyed Anna. =)

A couple weekends ago, Anna went to her first birthday party- her friend Maddie turned one- and was given a balloon. The helium seeped out within a day, but Anna still likes it.
That's all I've got for now. We've got work to do round here.

Chris wins. No, not the March Madness bracket...haha hardly that. =) Anna says Dada now. We're pretty sure though that it's more like the fifth syllable rather than the first word. Usually it's da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da....

Anyway, we've been keeping busy around here. Still plowing through the Martha book and at least the apartment is the better for it.

Okay, some cute pictures:
This was Anna getting ready for bed tonight.



And this morning, she was rolling around and ended up here.



She even seemed to understand the hilarity of her predicament because she was laughing even before I started to.

The best part about the first day of spring is not the snow still on the ground, but the ice. This ice.

I'm so glad Rita's is open again! Last summer, she was key to getting through the last trimester of pregnancy. Anna is seriously half made of Rasberry Lemonade Gelati.
As soon as Chris is home and we have dinner, this is where we'll be headed.

March Madness is upon us. We've been enjoying basketball games non-stop since games began Thursday. Anna did not fill out a bracket but is rooting against Ohio State- she didn't like all the excitement with the buzzer beater game against Xavier. Dad and Mom jumping off the couch was not funny to her, made her cry, and Ohio State is going to pay.




She's still loving that football. Pigskin makes a great teether...












On Saturday morning, Anna noticed her shadow.

It is a glorious day out so we left Martha and her how to iron vintage linens tutorial and strollered ourselves over to the park.





We broke out the umbrella stroller the other day and I'm loving it. Thanks Erin! =)

Anna's on her way...

She's not quite there yet though. She can only go backwards actually.
She rotates well though. Yesterday she circumnavigated into the couch.




Since about six months, Anna seems to learn something new everyday. She pulls her arms out of the sleeves when she's being undressed and straightens them into her jacket sleeves. She rocks back and forth and hums to herself. She takes the ribbons off her dolls. She pats my face when I ask her, "Where's Mama?" She can make the lights of her Bach organ come on with her head! She can use a straw to drink. She's full of tricks and keeps us nicely entertained.

Recently, she has enjoyed going down for naps...really. Day before yesterday, I put her in her crib for her nap:



Yes sirree, she's been a happy baby. Still no teeth yet. We have attributed every runny nose and any fussiness she's had since 3mo to teething, but, well, we've got nothing to show for it. This morning, I woke up with a bit of a sore throat and my first thought- "Mmm, probably just teething." Right.

Other than baby news- and I realize most people stop reading here- I picked up a book at the library and what a book it was. Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook. Yikes and egad, twice. It's massive and complete, simply every single thing you could ever, and probably never wanted to, know about all things homey. It is overwhelming, and frankly idolatry of the home, but I am learning some useful tips. It is haunting though- it really is. Since I picked it up, things have been a little more "pristine" around here so I do recommend it. Just don't you MCLINC users request it yet- I'm going to need all of my renewals to gleen from these 700 pages...

Anna updates and some cute pictures. On Monday, Anna had her first Cheerio! Also, we started giving her a sippy cup and added another solid meal at lunch. So now the big girl is eating breakfast, lunch and dinner, drinking out of a sippy cup and eating Cheerios. Yep, she is growing up, but look how cute and little she still is...

Dad squashing Anna.

Anna and the coveted Bach Organ pipes.


And she's in for the touchdown!












Dad, how do I throw a spiral? I'm supposed to reach the strings?
She loves this football. Thanks A&A for giving it to uhm, Chris.


Anna still loves her books.









The end.