Walking Pics

She is getting braver by the day!
Here are some cute pictures of Anna walking...

Giggles! Thinking about getting up to walk...

I can do it!!

And I'm off!!!!

Face Lift

I gave my blog a face lift. What do you think? I like it, I think it suits me. Pretty colors and kind of springy. Which I am so longing for .... spring. And flip-flops. And stroller walks with Anna. I start wishing away winter come mid-January. But I deserve it ... I did move back to Michigan from Florida! At least the sun is out today. But very fooling because it's freezing out there! And windy, which makes it so much worse. My cat was fooled today and wanted out on the screen porch. She was scratching at the door and making a racket, so I let her out. And she suddenly wanted back in! Poor Cola, she is wishing for spring too! But for now, it's January and we'll endure the cold. Spring will be so glorious!

Anna's First Steps

Anna took her first steps yesterday, January 10th! Our 15 month old little girl decided to make the move! She took three steps from Daddy's arms and into Mommy's. Brent and I were beaming! And so was Anna. She was SO pleased with herself! She went back and forth between Brent and me about 6 times - each time taking two or three steps. The best part about it was that Brent and I were both home and we got to see her first steps together. Our little one is growing up!

Return To Blogging

I have been thinking to myself for the past few days, "I need to start blogging again." So here I am, blogging. My beloved babyhartsell.blogspot.com. That "babyhartsell" is the reason for my absence. But a darn good reason, at that! Anna keeps me busy these days. She's my busy 15 month old. And I adore her and all her busy-ness. Think back to my very first blog entry...when "babyhartsell" was very new. And here we are 15 months later with a busy, happy Anna and two very happy parents. So, blogging resume! There is so much goodness to share.

We had a very Merry Christmas this year. And we hope the same for each of you! Anna enjoyed the holidays very much. She was so pleased with everything happening around her - the visitors, the decorations, the new toys and gifts. We were lucky to host the holidays this year. Brent's parents came to visit the weekend before Christmas and my parents and Scott came the day after Christmas. Everyone came to us this year, which delighted me! It was fun to have Christmas in our home with our families. Anna's favorite gifts this year ... the Little People house and barn from Santa, her first baby doll from my parents, and a tea set from Brent's parents. And she learned Jesus and Santa ... she would point to each respectively - to Jesus in the nativity set and to the Santa decoration. And she especially got a kick out of all the little Santas on her jammies. The picture above is Anna on Christmas morning, in her Christmas dress after church. Our little Christmas girl.

Happy 2010! What will this year bring? A whole near year just beginning. I can't seem to think much past tomorrow, let alone a whole year ahead of me. But lots of fun awaits, I know.

Anna seems to be getting closer to walking on her own every day. She walks while holding on to our hands. For the past few days she has been hanging on with only one hand, rather than with two. Won't be long now...maybe? She is taking her time and that's okay.

What she lacks for walking, Anna makes up for it by talking. And what she can't say with words, she lets us know what she's thinking otherwise!! Her favorite things to say right now are "baby" and "night-night" (more like "nigh-nigh"). And Brent has taught her to say "Daddy" and "Mommy", rather than Da-Da and Ma-Ma. She still regularly says "Da-Da" and "Ma-Ma", but the others are pretty cute when she says them. Oh, and she loves to say "hi". Especially when we're out shopping. She'll say hi to anyone in ear shot. And "car-car", which she says for car. She says that a lot, too. If she hears a car go down the street, even when she's in the house, she'll stop what she's doing and her eyes get big while she exclaims, "Car-Car!!". She's learning "kitty-kitty" and "okay", among other things. And she's always listening ... our Anna doesn't miss a trick.

As far as routines go, Anna is pretty predictable these days. Her schedule gets a little mixed up when company comes or with the occasional long afternoon outing. But she's typically a good sleeper (what? did I just say that about Anna?). She'll usually sleep for 12 hours in her crib, all cozy on her belly with her blankie and kitty near by. She takes a good nap during the afternoon, usually for 2-3 hours. And in between she eats like a horse and plays all day. And Brent and I enjoy her every moment.

I find myself staying up too late at night lately. I enjoy the quiet time of the house when no one needs me. Except the cat for an occasional lap, but I can handle that. So maybe now I will dedicate more of my quiet evenings to my blog. It's fun to share a little piece of our life with you.