Yoga

This week I decided to start doing yoga in the mornings while hoping Anna entertains herself.  Yesterday she hovered around me, occasionally sitting on me.  Today however she decided to sit or lay on me at every chance.  When one video would get done she wanted another, even though she was not watching them.  I am hoping she might try some of the moves like downward facing dog.  We shall see.
I have been getting more diligent about her signing.  Really working on her to ask up and down on chairs and help, mama, dada and please.  I saw a little progress yesterday and hoping she remembers them today.
I also found a molar yesterday!  It is on the top left, so was hard to find.  When John was trying to feel it last night she chomped on him.  No fingers in her mouth!
The weather is supposed to be in the fifties today and I am thinking about getting the dogs out.  I think we all need to get out of the house.  Walk, local park or dog park.  That is the question.  We gt outside for a little bit yesterday.  Everyone was trying to lay in a sunbeam and Anna was checking on the birds out front.  Some days she can sit for a while and watch them.  Hopefully some will stick around for summer.

Mango Banana Muffins

Having bought a pack of mangoes at CostCo I found we were not eating them fast enough.  Thinking of banana bread, I decided to look at mango baked goods.  I came across a recipe for mango muffins.  After reading comments about the ingredients I decided to add banana to mine and decrease the baking powder and milk.  I left aside some chunks and pureed the rest of the mango with a small, really ripe banana.

Success!  They came out nice and tall, golden and yummy.  I think I may try adding cardamom next time as another person suggested.  Anna has eaten several and it is nice to be giving her some good fruits as well.  I like the moisture level and they are firm, yet soft.  A good density.  Anna enjoyed watching them in the oven at the end.  She wanted one right away, but had to blow on it to cool it down (this usually involves blowing on her finger after touching something).
We had mixed weather yesterday of rain, sleet and snow and several inches of snow overnight.  We have spent the day watching all the birds and squirrels.  Anna enjoys pointing out the birds.  She looks for them up in the trees and follows them when they go by.  She is getting to be a good little birder!

Our little birder

The weather has been cold here this week with little flurries and a big storm expected.  I have been putting seed out on the buttress of the house as well as the window sills so that the birds get close, entertaining us and the cats.  Yesterday I was pointing out a cottontail to Anna and she went and pointed out a house finch up in the tree to me!  Our little birder is seeing the birds!  This morning she had walked into the dining room and was quiet for a few minutes.  What was she up to?  Looking out the window at the birds and squirrels!  So much fun to share this with her.
With the weather being cold and not getting outside, Anna and I built a fort in the living room.  It is a sheet taped to the mantle supported by some chairs.  She thinks it is fun to dive under it and play chase around it.  We have also been going upstairs to chase each other in circles.  She finds it very funny with lots of giggles and squeals when I surprise her.  I got her good one time and she jumped and fell on her bottom laughing the whole time.  I try to be noisy when I chase her so she knows I am coming, but I got her that time!

10 months!

It is amazing how time has been flying.  It seems like the other day that she was starting to crawl and now she is able to get everywhere.  We have been enjoying some great weather here and getting outside everyday to swing.  She loves that and will point at the swing and say, "Ah!"  That means she wants to swing.  We use the front yard so we can talk to people and the dogs come out as well to run around. Lots of soccer and swinging!  I let her crawl around some, but it is rough with all the acorns!  We do spend time picking up acorns, me making sure she does not eat them.  Good times!

Deerfield Fair

Anna's first flight ended up with our plane changed and us running to our gate.  We met a very nice lady who has Great Danes, is grandma to a GSP and used to work for Hallmark.  Anna even wanted Glenda to hold her after we had been riding together for a few hours.  She and her husband were on the way to Maine.  We were also delayed in Baltimore, so Anna got to crawl around and expend some energy.  I am glad I had my Boba carrier, it made the day a lot easier!
We visited Great Gram (Meme), went apple picking with her cousins, went out in the fields at the Farm and hung out Uncle.  We had a quiet evening with her Meme and Bapa and stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's where she would crawl on them before bed.  They had new floors in the kitchen to crawl on and Aunt Rebecca to bug, as well as all the dogs and cats!

John, Anna and I ran over to UNH on evening to meet with our friends Drew and Becca and had a good time wandering around the campus.  John and I had not been in over 5 years and so much has changed!  Lots of new buildings and remodels on old buildings.  The lawns are still beautiful and we enjoyed a nice fall night.
So, Anna had fun visiting NH again and getting to go to her first Deerfield Fair.  She ate veggie subs and broccoli and cheese soup and all kinds of carbs :)  She enjoyed looking at the animals, the people, showing off her pumpkin hat and banging on the glass behind the baked goods counters.  We did quite a bit of visiting, but unfortunately not as much as we hoped.

Pumpkin Hat

I finished my first knit for Anna!  It is a cute pumpkin hat finished just in time for Fall and heading to NH.  We got some cute pictures outside.  I put a jacket on her even though it was about 80 degrees.  A pumpkin hat without a jacket looked wrong :o)

9 months!

Anna is now 9 months old! It has been going quickly. John and I have fun looking back at earlier pictures and seeing how much she has changed. She has gotten longer, leaner and much more expressive. She loves to smile and now has a look of determination when she is working on walking along the couch.
And practice she does. She will crawl over to the couch or the ottoman and walk along talking as she goes. She will stick her tongue out at times very similar to John in deep concentration. And her brow furrows too. Very cute.
I also like it when she is on the other side of the ottoman then sits. Then I see this hand come up, "Eh?" Then another hand, then the top of her head. It is funny to watch. Busy this week out for walks, visiting with friends and practice, practice, practice!
And if you are wondering, Fenway is still obsessed with the fish tank.  Silly cat!