A couple pictures of the funny girl from the past few days.






The other day, she wanted to wear Dad's socks.







Kit Kat candy bar...












I said, "Oh, look at your hands!" She showed me her hand.

Exciting things going on round here this morning. After Chris left for work, Anna and I heard lots of sirens and they all stopped in front of our house. A man with HAZMAT on his shirt said to make sure all the windows were shut and to stay inside. Then everybody outside put gasmasks on. That means they were serious.
We live 50 yards from some big water tanks and there are random tanks around them- holding deadly noxious gases I suppose. Anyhow, more and more sirens, more and more people on our front yard. We'll just set that list of errands on the table and settle in here. They were outside for three hours, Anna and I took a nap, I woke up and looked out the window. The bomb squad vehicle was parked out there and guys in the full bomb attire were walking down the street with a bright orange bucket. The had to stop at orange cones at our driveway and some other guys, fully suited up as well, came out to them, sprayed them off with a hose and took the orange bucket. Since then, they've been packing up but the street is still closed and I'm still parked in. They have taken off their gas masks too- a good sign.
But what was in that bucket? I'll bet it was E.T.

Haven't taken many pictures lately. =( September turned out busy- our calendar is bespeckled as though Cruella deVille shook her pen across it. "Blast this wretched wretched pen!" So, here are a couple pictures from day before yesterday. Probably the last pool time she'll have this year.

Here, she is telling me about something.

We went to the zoo, just grandparents and us. By Mercer Meyer.



Anna's little pointers got a workout.









Up close with snow leopards.








Introduction to a goat.



We had a great time. Thanks J and M for a lovely day. =)

1 year check-up. Today we went in and saw our dear doc. Anna has gained more than a pound in less than 4 weeks! Which brings her all the way up to the 3-5 percentile. The doc doesn't mind and neither do I- she eats aplenty and has rolling thighs to prove it. She had to get just one shot because the other two immunizations were on backorder(?? why yes, it is just my child's health. Backorder?) Anna didn't complain though. So, she was declared fit as a fiddle.

And this is mom's update on Anna. Walking, she does it. She refuses to walk for food though- if we hold out food to her, she lays on the ground and whines and we feel guilty for trying to entice her with nourishment. But she walks for her own pleasure. She still crawls to get places quickly though.

Talking, she does it, all the time. And now it is becoming more legible. Here's some of what she's saying:
Hi
Mama
Dah-dee
Dog
Woof
Meow
Grr
There! (pointing to teddy on Find the Teddy book)
Hot! (flat hand waving towards stove)
Deeenk (drink)
Thahn! (thanks)
Sheez (cheese)
Dat (snack/Gerber puffs)
Peeez (please, but we only get that rarely)

Her other words are known to her only. I'll have to get some of her babble on tape- she acts like she's telling me all sorts of important things. And I'm sure they are important, if only I could understand what. =)

It's been a full past few weeks so here's the photo line up: Mid August trip to Georgia to see my family.

Anna looking like a big girl in the airport.




We had a birthday party there for her- here is Anna in the same dress I wore when I was a year old.








And birthday cake. Sitting pretty in the pool.


Then back from GA, on her actual birthday:

And then birthday party in PA:





Then our second anniversary:
We went golfing. =)





I didn't golf though.


Then we had a one of Anna's friends for several days.



Then we spent all weekend lazing around. And Labor Day, Chris' parents were up for a day at the Philly zoo...those pics coming soon.

Today is the day! Anna is one year old today!
It has been the best year of our lives. I just can't believe how I blinked and it went by. God has richly blessed us with our little girl.
This picture here is Anna 365 days ago. And those have been 365 mighty fine days.

I'm so glad I have you, Anna. I couldn't ask for a better little companion for every day.

Today Anna took two steps! I forgot to put in her baby book, as in this blog, that her first step was the Saturday at the Lairs'.
And today Anna's big girl carseat arrived! (Not that she weighs enough to need it yet- and yes we are considering feeding her straight Crisco.) Anyway.

Opening the box.



Big time grin.




Strappy straps.



Tongue action.



Finding herself hilarious.



She cracks me up. Okay, more pictures. Here's Anna at her studies...

Come with me on a journey into symbolic logic!


If p then q...


Rules of inference.



Mom, this is a little advanced- I'm going back to e implies i implies e implies i implies o.