We have been having so much fun lately! The last few weeks alone seem like they have flown by, per usual. Heading into the busiest season of the year, time will certainly be flying.... and Anna will be 2 in just over a month. How is this happening??
 |
| cheeeeese! |
I swear every day I feel like she grows up more and more. The kid we put to bed is not the same one that wakes up. She says so many things now, understands so much more and is really quite funny. She has learned the correct way to say "toothbrush", which for a long time was "baby brush" (no idea). Something drops or she throws something, an automatic "UH OH!" Doesn't like to get her hands dirty during dinner and frequently yells "HANDS!" with her hands up so I will wipe them. My favorite at the moment is calling any princess "PI-ZZA!!" (that's what it sounds like.) I know I'll be sad when she stops that one. Is very obsessed with Curious George and asks for him by name. Also says "night night George" a lot, since when I let her watch an episode and then turn it off I say the same.
 |
| watching George at Grammy & Poppy's house |
Getting good at jumping for real (both feet off the ground); can climb up and down the stairs by herself, holding on to the railing; can count to 10 - mostly up and down the stairs but also counting frogs on her blankie or counting down to something (like jumping off her little chair or running a "race" against herself) 1.....2.....3......GO. Can try to say her ABC's but most of it is babble that only we can tell is her trying to sing.
 |
| Um, lay off my snacks lady. |
Also, when we go to and from Miss Sandy's in the morning we go over a bridge out of Red Bank and almost every morning like clockwork I hear a "WEEEEEEEE" in the back from Anna, looking out the window like we're on some sort of ride. I love it. The inception of "weeeee" started when we did the first few bike rides. Almost like she knew it was supposed to be fun but the accompanying sound effect was lackluster. This is such a sweet little sound, and I tried to get it on video this morning but of course she saw the camera and decided to hush up.
 |
| Brushing Pop's hair after her bath |
Since I last updated:
Doug and I had our 8th Annual Bar Crawl in the city for Tory. Anna had a sleepover at Gram & Pops. Everyone had fun!
 |
| Uncle Brian in a rare appearance! |
I did my JDRF Walk in Avon. The weather was windy and cold, I decided to leave Anna home - her nap would have fallen at the end of the walk and I didn't want to deal with a meltdown on the way home. Christina actually came and joined me and we had a great time walking and catching up together.
 |
| 25mph winds and COLD! But a pretty day |
We did a lot of painting at the new house - our bedroom and our kitchen! I love both rooms and can't wait to do more to pull them together (need to paint trim, hang curtains and get a backsplash. Baby steps!)
 |
| part of our room, now blue |
We went pumpkin picking and I won't go into it too much cause the day was a bust, but again, an event I thought would be fun and cute turned into this:
 |
| Literally the only photo from the event, and the only moment she wasn't wailing. |
Then we visited our friends and their "new" twins (they are 9 weeks old). Anna had so much fun playing with their older son and got down on the floor to snuggle the babies repeatedly. Also tried to tickle their feet while I was holding one and patted them on the back (her favorite 'friend' motion, after a hug). Gave their pacifiers back and never tried to take them as her own. Big points for Anna!
 |
| a little face time with baby Henry |
Doug went to San Francisco and back and then San Diego and back in a weeks time. Busy bee. Before he left, we did a charity bowling event through his work for the Don Monti foundation and raised 3700 bucks! A quick night out in the city for a good cause! I love bowling!
 |
And the man with the most strikes!
|
While Doug was gone, we went out to eat at the Anchor Inn, where Anna was a little tornado, per usual. We helped her cope with not being able to run around by giving her a whole loaf of bread. Instant hit. I don't blame her, their bread is to die for.
 |
| playing on my old tricycle before dinner |
 |
| but MOM! Where's the FOOD?! |
 |
| Oh, okay good here it is. |
Doug got home early Sunday and the 3 of us traveled to Brooklyn and met Christina at the Prospect Park Zoo and Anna just about lost her MIND with the concept of real live animals everywhere she looked. It was so fun to see her so excited. I wish it wasn't getting colder and we could do this every weekend! Maybe the aquarium in Point Pleasant will have to be our next outing!
 |
| oh my goodness look at those horns! |
 |
| Happy in the monkey house |
 |
Not so happy leaving the monkey house
|
 |
| checking out the turtles with Aunt Christina |
 |
| wanted to dive head-first into the pond with all those ducks and turtles |
 |
| sea lions! LOOK! (she kept yelling LOOK! LOOOOK!) |
We had Alexis and Little E over for a playdate on Monday. When Anna woke up from her nap, the first word out of her mouth was "BABY!", followed by "baby's sad" - he was downstairs getting his diaper changed and wasn't happy about it! So funny and cute and another way she surprised me with something she knows. We had a nice walk and played at the playground where E had his first ride on a swing. He laughed the entire time, safe to say he loved it.
 |
| golden babes |
 |
| tickle monster |
 |
| hanging at the park swinging, Little E making Anna look HUGE! |
This weekend we'll be hangin out at home, getting more stuff done. Family trip for coffee and snacks, Home Depot run, painting, playing, carving pumpkin, having friends over Saturday night. Should be a good, relaxing weekend!
Taking a "staycation" on November 11. Very excited to get things done, have some fun, go out to lunches and the movies, generally just relax and unplug for a bit. We'll send Anna to daycare so we can maximize our productivity! No staycation for that girl. She needs to earn it!
A series I like to call...
A girl and her TOOTH. BRUSH. (Man it is the cutest pronunciation ever)
A few more photos cause I know that's what everyone wants to see!
 |
| Look at that ponytail! Getting so long! |
 |
| Gathering up her purse and ready to go. |
 |
| kisses for Mommy before we head to work and Miss Sandy |
 |
| "Talking" on the phone to Grandma and Baba |
