Walking!

I'm going to call it - Annie is officially a walker!  Unlike the movies, there wasn't one moment where Annie just stood up and started walking.  It's been more of a gradual process over the last two weeks.  First she took two steps and fell down.  By the next week, she could take about 3 or 4. But today, she is finally getting it.  She improved all day, and right before bed was walking down the hall in our apartment.  Hooray! To celebrate, we went out and walked her firetruck all around the complex a few times.  This was SO much fun.  Annie felt very independent, and kept slapping my hand away whenever I tried to help steer the firetruck.  It was also so much fun that when I declared we had to go in for bath and bedtime, she threw a full on 10 minute tantrum, including screaming and flailing herself around on the floor.

I've got two quick videos here to share - the first one shows a few unsteady steps from Annie (she was much better by just a few hours later).  The second shows her dancing style (she is dancing to music from her cell phone, even though I don't think you can hear the music on the video). Annie loves to dance, and will dance anytime she hears music of any sort, even just my singing.

Walking

Here is the dancing one - it is really quick, because she saw something and had to run after it.  Usually she dances much longer.

Also, my baby doesn't usually go around without pants, despite what these videos show.  She had red pants on to match the cute top made by our friend Amy, but it was hot after nap and she refused to put them back on.

July

Books: they're not just for eating anymore...

They're also handy as step stools if there's stuff you want to explore on the upper shelves.

I love the "butt in the air" baby sleep position.

But trying to photograph it will definitely make for a shorter nap.

Annie's been on the go recently, sometimes taking a few steps on her own, sometimes cruising behind her awesome new firetruck.

She's always quick to drop what she's doing and run over to me if she sees I have the camera out.

Especially if the lens cap is around to chew on.

Did you need help with the camera, mom?

Max and Sierra have been coming over a lot recently to go swimming with us in the pool.  I don't seem to have any photos of that, probably because I'm usually holding a wiggly baby who has no fear of the water.  Annie loves kicking her legs in the water, attempting to drink the pool, and getting tossed in the air by Uncle Dan.  After we swim, Max and Sierra often come in to play for a few minutes.  Annie loves her cousins!

Big girl drinks from a sippy cup these days

What's that?  Did you want some milk?

I'll come right over and share!  Annie loves to offer me anything she is playing with or eating.

Also this month...a few weeks ago now, Annie started saying "-at,-at" whenever she sees Bert or any other cat.  How did that not get a blog post of its very own?

Fun with Henry

I'm behind on blogging, so I've decided to hijack a post from Annie's cousin Henry's blog.  Let's hope Henry's mommy (and primary blogger) doesn't mind!

http://bigbabyhank.blogspot.com/2012/07/annie-and-meg-come-to-town.html

Annie had  so much fun spending time with Henry, Aunt Sara, and Uncle Mike when we were in Maryland last month.  Henry is just about the sweetest baby you'll ever meet- he seems to be always smiling and cheerful and happy to see everyone.

One of the most entertaining parts about  hanging out with Henry was whenever we were in public with both babies, people would ask "Are they twins?". Not such a strange question - the babies are almost the same age after all. But the funny part was that when we would say no, they are cousins, the asker inevitably would say "oh", and look disappointed.  Are two babies any less cute when they are cousins and not twins?  Apparently so.  But I still think you guys are super cute Annie and Henry!

Favorite Shoes

I never thought I'd find myself writing a blog entry about shoes.  Seriously, never.  But this  is officially Annie's blog, and turns out shoes are very important to my girl.  Annie was given a pair of sandals recently by a coworker of mine.  They are super cute, but totally impractical for someone who is trying to learn how to walk.  I let her have them anyway, figuring she could play with them and never actually wear them.  She has some normal shoes that I put on her when she actually needs her feet covered (like when she's crawling around the park).  Annie likes her regular shoes, but she LOVES these new sandals.  Often in the morning she will go find them, hand them to me, then hold out her feet and cry until I put them on.  And then she will spend the next few minutes holding out her feet and smiling and admiring how nice she looks. (She's right, they are really cute).

Last night Annie took a few steps on her own, so exciting!  She's not really walking yet, just a step or two here or there.  When I picked her up at school I was very interested to hear if she'd been practicing her new skill.  I was informed that the only time she took a few steps throughout the day was one time when one of the teachers had her sandal and was holding it out in front of her.  Also, at one point today another girl stole Annie's sandal, and the teachers said she got so mad she turned purple.  Looks like I'd better start making more room in Annie's closet for shoe racks.  

Happy 4th of July!

Annie made this hat at school.  She cries whenever I try to take it off her today. I think she knows it is cute! 

1st Annual Summer Trip to Maryland

Annie and I got back last week from a relaxing long vacation at Nana and Grandpa's house.  Well, it was relaxing for us...I'm not so sure it was as relaxing for them!  Annie loved the house, especially the fact that there are stairs to climb, and huge areas to explore.  Nana cooked all her favorite things, and was willing to play games and sing songs for hours, and would read Annie's favorite book (Peekaboo Kisses) over and over and over again without complaint. Grandpa gave Annie lots of rides around the house and helped her sneak up on Mommy, which is hilarious every time.  By the end of the trip Annie would just throw her arms up in the air whenever she saw Grandpa, hoping he would scoop her up and carry her away for another ride.  We were both sad to leave, but look forward to seeing both of them again in just a month when they come out for the big 1 year birthday.

3 generations of Kelly girls

Who is that other baby?  Cousin Henry!  More about him in my next post...