Happy Birthday Anderson!

I am so behind on my posts. Anderson's first birthday was last week. Our nephew is one!

Anderson is so fun! He is one of the most active babies I have ever been around. He is always moving and has a contagious laugh.

I love his facial expression as he opens his present. He looks genuinely surprised. Cute!

I love watching Will interact with Anna-Kate, of course, but I also love watching him with our nephews. That night Anderson would crawl over to Will's leg, and then look up at him and start talking. Maybe he was asking Uncle Will for his toy back.

My brother is married!

Congratulations Walter and Heather! They got married this past Saturday and are now enjoying the Mexican sun on their honeymoon.
Not long ago, I took some engagement pictures for the two of them. Here are two of my favorites.

I was not thinking about my camera though on the wedding day. Unfortunately I didn't really get any good pictures. Here is one of the groom with his proud sisters.

In the commotion of after-wedding pictures and trying to beat the rain, I didn't think to get someone to man the camera to get one of the bride with the groom. She was beautiful! Welcome to the Miller family Heather! Here is a picture of the 3 sisters in the Miller family now! followed by the beautiful bride!

5 Months Update

Here is what our little one is up to at 5 months old:
Mobility
What's that? She can roll over tummy to back, which she does about once a week to prove it. She has tried a few times to go back to tummy but gives up after a short fight. At night in her crib is where she proves her strength the most. When we get her up in the morning, she has rotated on her back at least 90 degrees.

Posture
She loves to be in a position where she can see all around. She holds her back straight when you carry her. When I sit her up on the floor, she wobbles while you hold her, but she grins the whole time. I think she'll be sitting on her own before we know it. :)

Sleep
We are slowly getting her naps in order. She naps 3, sometimes 4, times a day. Some nights she goes straight to sleep, some she talks herself to sleep, and some she cries herself to sleep. Her parents are working on a consistent bed time.

Disposition
Content. She grins often. She laughs well, if she is in the mood too. She mainly cries when you are trying to put her to bed and she would rather hang out with you. She is turning into a more social being. She loves smiling at herself in the mirror. And, she loves bath time.

5 Weeks to 5 Months

5 Weeks

5 Months

Look at how she has grown. Apparently 5 Weeks was a hard time for Anna-Kate. I can't help but love that picture. And, I love how easy her grin comes now.

Family Vacation

When Anna-Kate was 8 weeks old, we drove to northwestern Virginia (and back) to listen to a time share talk at the Massanutten Resort (7am to 10pm same day). The main reason we went (on that crazy journey) is because they promised a free 3 day / 2 night stay for any time we wanted to take it during the next year. They also required that we go for our stay during the week. It was wonderful!! A required vacation from work...we'll take it! We decided to go now, hoping to see the fall colors at (or at least near) their peak.

This is a picture from the balcony of our room looking at the resort's ski slopes. Did I mention this was the view from our balcony? Beautiful!

The above two pictures are two of the 4 pictures we took at Massanutten during our 3 day stay. It rained the whole time! We didn't care. It was just so nice to be out of town on our first family vacation. This picture of me and Anna-Kate was taken in a mist after our long car ride on Wednesday. We had to get out of the car and stretch our legs even if it wasn't totally dry.

Will called her "our dream baby" often during this trip. She didn't cry in the car for so many ours (5 hours one way). We stopped at Monticello on our way home, and she only made one sound during our guided tour through the house. Maybe Anna-Kate was just trying to show us that she is going to be a history buff like her daddy.

Will collects coins. I don't think I would be able to tell you that Monticello is on the back of the nickel if I wasn't married to my Will.

Socks

I have never been one to put socks on Anna-Kate. In the beginning she wore sleepers and then it was summer, so....no socks. When I took her home to meet my family, my grandma, my aunt, my great aunts (women at least 70) all said, "Where are that baby's socks? She gonna get the colic. She needs socks on those feet." I guess 90 degrees or not, she needed socks.

After 4 months, Anna-Kate wears her first socks. Either it is the socks or the sleeping baby bottom, but this is one cute baby!
Will laughs at me for this comparison, but in her denim skirt and high socks, I think Anna-Kate looks like a school girl. Switch the denim for a plaid skirt and she could be the next Rory Gilmore going to Chilton. (Sorry to the non-Gilmore-Girl fans for the reference.)

Cereal - Take One

Anna-Kate had her first experience with a spoon on Wednesday. She tried cereal. Keep scrolling down to see how the rest of the week went.
She was definitely unsure in the beginning. We could tell she liked it, but she wasn't sure what to do with it.

When she was finished eating, I took the baby to the bath tub and Will did damage control. I don't know which was messier - the baby or the table/bumbo.

Cereal - Take Two

This was Anna-Kate's second attempt at eating cereal. We added a bib. Thanks to my coworkers last year for the message!
I am going to keep telling myself it is because it was the second time and not because it was Will's turn to feed her that Anna-Kate stayed so much cleaner.

Cereal - Take Four

This is a video probably only grandparents will love. We did think it was cute that once she noticed Will with the camera, she turned for a bite of cereal and then went back to looking at the camera.

Dancing with Daddy

That's my man!

Bath Time

This was Anna-Kate's first bath in her tub. She was about 3 weeks old, still had her baby acne. She didn't smile in the tub then, but she never cried either.

Now look at her, Miss Confident! She smiles and kicks her feet. If she is a little fussy, hearing the water run quiets her.

We love how she throws her arm over the side. "I'll relax; you clean."

What a kissable face!

PS All those who think she is happy all the time....I must qualify only most of the time. I just listened to 18 minutes of crying so that she would sleep 22 minutes (woke up hungry).

Stuck in a Moment

I have never been to a concert of this size with this much energy! Below is a picture as people were still coming in before the concert started.

Many thanks to Walter, Heather, and Amanda for giving Will these tickets for Will's graduation/birthday present.

Before the concert, we tailgated with Walter and Heather and some friends we know from Providence.

I like how this picture during the concert shows off how many people were there.

My favorite quote of the night....Bono to the audience, "We made this space ship for you! We wanted to create intimacy, intimacy on a grand scale." Funny thing was, the hugeness of the stage and screens did make you feel like you were closer than you were.

I just now tried to upload a video but the site wasn't letting me. I might try again later. Until then...enjoy the intimacy with Bono!

Baby Dedication

This was such a special day.

Long and Lean at 4 Months

Anna-Kate went for her 4 month appointment last Friday. She handled her shots beautifully, barely cried! We continue to have a tall baby, close to growing out of her 3-6 months clothes, but her weight is beginning to even out.

Weight - 14lbs 1oz - 52 %ile

Height - 25.5 in - 90 %ile

Standing is Anna-Kate's newest trick. She discovered her feet at the beginning of the month. She is fascinated by opening and closing her hand. She has started to grab toys but doesn't know what to do with them once she has them. She is much more content if she can see what is going on and put her hands in her mouth. She sleeps well, though, I am currently working on her naps.

I think that this is my favorite age. She still likes to be held real close and cuddle. She loves to laugh and smile. She follows the sound of our voices and seems to respond to us. We love our little girl!