Another Year Older

The tot's elders recently celebrated another two years of life. On my day, we ate out at Moe's (she LOVES Moes), went mini-golfing (where we quit at hole 9 b/c the 5 people in front of us each round were taking too long for our dear heart....instead she rode the indoor carousel once) and ate cake. For his, we went to lunch at Maggiano's (with babe in tow, as babysitters were unavailable) and also a day at the orchard complete with lunch, apple-picking, and children's play area.

 Talkin' to G'ma

 Riding a "tractoo" in the play area

 Llama

 First Pony Ride (argh, what a bad picture) 

She called this "carousel" b/c she associates the horseys going around in a circle as such

Dada, do you like the shirt I picked out?

If you're happy...

Tonight at dinner she gives us this big grin and says "happy. clap" I say "Oh you want to sing?" And J informs me that they had watched a bunch of nursery rhyme songs this morning! While we know this familiar one from library storytime, it is the first attempt on her part to initiate any motions while singing. So in between bites (great way to get her to eat...), I sing:

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. (and she does)
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. (and she does)
If you're happy and you know it, then your face'll surely show it (and she does the point to your dimples)
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. (clap, clap!)

Tonight before bed we added the stomp your feet and shout hooray part.

Very cute. And another mini-milestone. :)

Another sentence

This time, 4 words! "Dada, where are you?"

Fun time at Oktoberfest this evening. Trying to expose my child to some of her heritage. :) Held in a great park with slides and swings and even a strolling balloon man. Somewhere J got a pic of our tiny little miss in the balloon line with all the big kids....some days I think she is getting "so big" but then I see her next to a bunch of big kids and think "Oh goodness, she's still so tiny!"

Tiny or not, that countdown to TWO is on its way.

My plan to break the pacifier is to box them all up and bring them to the newest neighborhood baby. I talk this plan up each time she mentions her "paci." The conversation goes something like this:

AK: Paci? Paci!
Mama: Now, AK, you know doc says no more pacis at 2. Can you say "No paci at two?"
AK: No paci two!
Mama: Good! Do you remember what we are going to do with your pacis? We are going to give them to baby....
AK: Katie!
Mama: Yes, that's right!

I plan to do this on her bday. In the morning after breakfast, when she doesn't use it. By naptime (after her party), I am hoping she will be so exhausted she won't notice. ha ha. (who am I kidding?)  Should be interesting at least....."they" say it takes 2-3 days to completely make the break. Oh boy....no, oh My BIG Girl--you can do it!

Last Days of Summer

Tonight, AK sat through her first Dr. Seuss book. Well, perhaps not exactly her first, but one of the first longer ones. How proud her Grandpa Angel would have been of her. She can also name "Grandma, Grandpa, Mama, Dada, Grandma and Grandpa (Angel) in our wedding photo in her room. The tears came streaming down. She can also count to five with 6 and 8 thrown in at the end, but that isn't nearly as emotional! :)

In an effort to stay current with the blog (ha ha), here are some pictures from our Labor Day Weekend adventure. While the trip was one we'd like to forget, we did have a great Sunday and got some good pictures. (Let's say, our little angel was mostly a little devil. Win some and don't win others!)

Washington Park Zoo: the animals my child most closely resembles :)

At the entrance to the zoo

Lake Michigan

A butterfly I tried to rescue from the sand

My dune climber

"I see you!" She had people walking by cracking up with laughter!

My very busy beach baby...she loves her sand!

Yeah, September

September has always been my favorite month, so I am trying to be a little more productive in its honor!

Here is a sampling of pictures from our time with Grandma and Grandpa...July 2010.

 She fondly calls this picture "Sand." She loved seeing herself so much that I had to set up the pictures in a slideshow (digital photo frame) just to keep her from driving me nuts.

What a growth comparison to last year...putting her feet in the water...last year brought tears!

Balloon for "Anpa's" 85th bday!

Playdate with neighbor's granddaughter.

Anpa's presents

Best Family Photo Ever

Mama and her Little Miss