BFFs

Anna-Kate! Hey!
Mary-Knowles, look at this cool frog.

I love you, Anna-Kate!

I love you too Mary-Knowles! but did you see this cool frog?

Mary-Knowles sat down on Anna-Kate, and Anna-Kate simply kept playing. Lately the girls have started "hugging" each other, or more aptly described as lunging toward one another. What a treasure to watch their friendship develop!

Walking

Mary-Knowles is walking! She just turned 13 months. She has been putting steps together for a couple weeks. This was her last week. She had gotten pretty good at 6-10 steps at a time. She was learning that walking on grass is different than on carpet.
Now, she can walk anywhere she wants to go! She laps my downstairs.

This morning she was debating between the funcitonal pail and the fashionable purse. When you can't decide, why not choose both?!

Anna-Kate just watches.

Look Who's Talking

Yesterday I was telling my sister how talkative Anna-Kate is. She asked what it sounded like. This isn't her most talkative, but it gets the point across. And, if you can last the entire 2 minutes, you will also see her play peek-a-boo and somewhat do the Indian call.

11 Months

We can not believe that our girl is going to have her first birthday in just one month!

Will came home to this image last night. I had put in an animals Baby Einstein video so that Anna-Kate would stay on her tummy longer. He said that he could see 5 year old Anna-Kate when he saw her like this.

Mobility: She can scoot backward, but she doesn't do it everyday. She looks, at times, like she is trying to sit up, but she can't figure out how to do it yet. She remains our sweet, not-mobile baby!

Language: She talks all the time. Her words right now are: dada, mama, duck, dog, woof woof, yeah, bye (with a wave). She will repeat more sounds now. I can hear the "k" sound appearing; I think she is trying to say "becca." Mary-Knowles says my name now, and I think Anna-Kate is trying to as well! She signs "milk" and some times will sign "all done." She clearly is understanding tons. This morning I said, "Are you ready to go get Mary-Knowles?" She threw down the cheerio that was almost in her mouth, smiled, and said, "yeah!"

Cool Things: She is clapping now, and the below picture is her doing the indian call. (sorry, I am sure that is not p.c.) It is soooo cute! She gets excited that we are so excited, which means she doesn't always cover her mouth. She will also play peek-a-boo. In the same way, the first time she will cover her eyes, but then the rest of the time in her excitement there is no telling what she will cover. Her mimicking has simply picked up a lot.

Other Random Facts: She just finished her first round of amoxicillin because of her first ear infection. She has recently cut her 7th tooth. She is a great eater; she will try anything you give her. But, she has started to throw food on the ground if she doesn't want something or if she would rather eat more of what you gave her earlier.

We love you baby girl!

Out with the Girls

We have spent some time with Mary-Knowles's Grandma "Bird." We took the girls to North Hills and had to stop and see the fountain!

Bath Time Beauties

- Anna-Kate, aren't days at the salon great?
- I totally agree Mary-Knowles. You can't beat the product that is used here.
- I know. It's amazing no-tear formula leaves my hair so soft!
- Do you think we have time to get my brows done? They are totally out of control.
- Girl, you're crazy. You look great.
- Well, that's true. But, so do you girl! Time at this salon just enhances our natural beauty. Don't you think?
- You know it!

Wisteria Lane

The above picture is what my Grandma Harrill's house looked like every spring. She had a tree beside her house that was more wisteria than it was tree. I loved it!! Whenever I see wisteria in bloom, I smile so big. I love the purple flowers seen all over the city, and I love the reminders of my Grandma's house.

The first spring Will and I were dating. He couldn't come to Wed night church. He didn't want me to be disappointed. So, before church was over, he cut some wisteria and tied it to the handle of the door of my car. I felt so loved! He knew how much I love wisteria, so he brought it to me. Every year since, Will has found some way to give me wisteria. One year, I came out to my car after teaching, and there was a box full of wisteria in the passenger side seat of my car.

This year Will came home from running a few errands with a bunch of wisteria. He then found a bowl he liked and put it in the middle of our kitchen table.

It is nice to have a husband that cares for me. Will, my knight, I don't take you for granted!

New Students

Mary-Knowles, Anna-Kate, and I visited MK's classroom at Broughton.

Uh oh! I didn't study for a quiz.

Call on me! I know the answer!

One More

This picture was taken during the trying to move sequence (posted a few days ago).

Baby's First Easter

Anna-Kate in her first Easter dress with her first hairbow!

This was Will and siblings' rocking chair growing up. Anna-Kate already loves it!

Flowers

The truth is that this picture may become my new unhealthy obsession! I don't think I could get a picture this good of Anna-Kate in this beautiful of a setting again if I tried. The funny part is that this picture was taken on a whim when we were waiting to cross the street at North Hills mall. This is a small flower garden at the corner of a busy Raleigh street.

Our Girl

Working on it

I am trying to give Anna-Kate tummy time as often as I can. I am not bothered that she isn't crawling, but I want to make sure she is building the muscles to do it when she is ready. I caught these images of her about a week ago.
I am trying mom, but I keep going backwards!

I am so tired! Moving on my own is so hard!

This is the face we see most often when she is on her tummy. She's not crying, but she is not happy.

Mom, I'm a big girl. I can just stand and watch. I don't really need to move.