Hello Everyone,
We hope all of you had a wonderful holiday and happy new year! We had a great time spending Christmas with Alan's family in Los Altos and New Year's Eve (and day) with the Tippett's up north. Sara had a blast sledding solo and did a
sled-run with a jump that propelled her three feet in the air. She is sure she was going 80 miles an hour.
It’s been quite an exciting time since our last update when Anna was just starting to crawl. Here is the latest news on Anna:
One week after crawling, Anna started sitting up on her own. By Friday November 12, she was a pro. One week after that, on November 19, Anna pulled herself up to a stand. I came into the room and Anna was standing. I looked at Sara who immediately said "I didn't do it." Anna would continue to surprise, sitting when I left the room and standing when I returned. It was a couple of days before I saw her do it. Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Adam visited over Thanksgiving and got to see her in action. Anna spent the rest of November practicing. Go Anna!
Now, Anna can stand on a surface that is straight up (like a wall, a door or a dishwasher). Before, she would only pull up on a chair or a couch. She now cruises from one piece of furniture to another. She can easily hold on with one hand. She can hold onto something wobbly and stay standing. Yeah Anna!
In the last two weeks Anna has tested letting go and standing on her own. She hangs in mid-air for a second or so and then sits down. She gets this great surprised look on her face. It looks just like a cartoon character that runs off of a cliff and hovers for a second before falling to the ground. It’s fantastic.
Anna is also a very fast crawler. She will be in another room in a flash. And, just before Christmas, Anna realized she could crawl from one room to another, so now, she will stay in one spot and play and when she needs something (if she’s hungry, tired or needs a diaper change), she will crawl and find me. Great job Anna, way to participate in your own happiness!
Grandma and Grandpa came for a two-week visit in December and by the end of their stay, Anna started talking. It’s still Anna-speak, but she is definitely starting to use baby babble to communicate. Sometimes, she is very chatty.
I am sure she says Mama, but so far, I am the only one who hears it.
Anna is starting to eat real food. Last night she passed on the jarred blueberries and apples and opted for cheerios, almost a full ounce of cheese and half an ounce of ham. She also eats pasta, bananas, bread, rice, and turkey. It’s a full tactile experience and Cleo (the dog) sits patiently underneath the highchair. Anna’s been eating solids for two months and Cleo gained 3 pounds. Cleo is now on a diet per the vet’s instructions.
Anna dances. Put on music and watch her go. She has a great hip sway and knee bend combo. Really, she bobs up and down to the beat with a great big Anna smile. She also loves to spin to music and will stop crying if Sara sings to her. It's time for music class.
On Friday (New Year’s Eve), Anna crawled behind the curtain and played peek-a-boo with me. She would pull the curtain back on cue (“Where’s Anna”) with a giggle and then pull the curtain over her face. Over and over she would pull back the curtain, and cover her face. It was a blast. We were laughing and laughing. It is the best entertainment!
Anna is pure joy and gives us great pleasure. She is so loved and she loves back. Here is a big hug and kiss from us to you.
Happy New Year,
Victoria and Alan
