Spring

I woke at 4am with a headache, which is never a good start. But, after I got the big kids tucked away at school and activities, I loaded baby girl in the stroller for a walk in the Springtime. She watched for dandelions and asked me to stop and pick them for her. We paused to smell the blossoming crab apple trees. She got out for a quick run and back in for another ride.  More than once. I smiled as I looked down at the cup holder, full of withered dandelions from a different day's adventure.  And, the stroller basket, strewn with pinecones. I breathed in the lilac bushes and turned my face toward the sun and thought: Ahhhhh.  It is a good life.

Labor Day Weekend

We hitched up the camper and persuaded friends to join us as we bid farewell to summer amid the Colorado mountains. A warm end-of-summer day found us on the banks of a reservoir where kids made mud pies, splashed in the lake and chased each other along the shore. I sat in the shade with baby on my knee, watching in awe as my beautiful children ran along the sand. These healthy, happy babies of mine who have grown so long and lean, funny and clever, kind and forgiving. These five who have filled my life up to practically perfect. Oh, how blessed I am.

Baby girl practicing her walking at the campground

first year

She grew. How does this happen?

assignments

It is officially summer vacation, and my kids are on their annual "summer plan." It is always slightly different, but goes something like this: do a little work, including some summer school-ish things, then you can play. Simple enough.  This year, for their learning jobs, they have to read, write and do math every day.  Not much. Not overwhelming, but just a little something to keep their minds going. Dallin (of course) whips through things quick and is out the door to find a friend and an adventure. Kate delays, dawdles. Her friends knock on the door and she is still.not.done.  It drives me nuts. What I wouldn't give to have someone tell me I HAD to read and write every day.  I might even do a little math, just to have a chance at the other two.  Unfortunately, moms don't get that kind of assignment (luxury). At least not this mom.

But, oh, how I need to write more. I write in my mind all day long, but rarely do I find a minute to sit down and pull it out of my head an onto the page.  If I do sit, it is at the expense of something else (like my floor, which at this moment is a disaster, but I'm avoiding the sweeping. Like Kate might. Hmmm....maybe I'd better have more empathy for that girl?)

So, tonight, I'm assigning myself the task (joy!) of catching up on the life of my baby.  She is 11 months tomorrow. 11 BIG months!  Amazing! Her babyhood is slipping away and I am slow to record the beauty of her days.

Annie can crawl, but doesn't usually use it to get anywhere fast. She is more of an explorer, taking the round about way to get somewhere in favor of looking and seeking (and finding lots of stuff on my messy floors!) She has figured out how to get up the steps, but I try to keep her away from doing that too much because our long, steep staircases scare me! She does NOT know how to go down, so everyone is on eagle eye watch whenever she is upstairs, even with the baby gates. When she does decide that speed is necessary, it is cute to see her employ the use of her one foot, as she scootches it up and uses it to help her go fast.  Usually, she uses her 'fast' crawling to play chase with a sibling.

She hasn't taken any steps, but she has started cruising, just a little.  She loves to pull herself up on things, especially the dishwasher (right near the utensils), and the dryer (she is excellent at unloading all the clothes onto the floor!), or up onto the back of my legs. Which is precarious!


Annie loves to eat solids and is good at grabbing most everything and feeding herself.  She LOVES blueberries, strawberries and cheese.  She also likes yogurt and will still let me spoon feed her oatmeal. She doesn't love veggies, but will tolerate them mixed with fruit. She likes bread, sometimes. Tonight she had spaghetti, and loved it (and it was everywhere!).  She loves most fruit.

Annie loves to wrestle and climb over anyone laying on the ground.  When she wants to play, she will put her face into the floor, like she is hiding, and then pop up and laugh. We are working on getting her to point to her head, nose, ears, etc., but mostly she just points to her mouth, doing the sign for 'eat.' She will point to her head, at the wrong time, and also does the sign for 'more', but also, usually, at the wrong time.

Annie's smile is a light!

If you ask Annie for a kiss, she puts her forehead onto your lips. Melts my heart.

Annie loves her siblings and gets excited to see any of them. They are so sweet with her and they all love to play with her. She is one lucky baby!

Little #5 is such a joy to me. What would I do without her?

Annie

'officially' announcing baby...

Baby

My new little one.

Isn't she amazing?