Happiness is...

 having your own swing.

All the different ways she likes to play. Siting on it...

  We finally figured out a way to put up the swing that we got for Anna for her birthday. She loves it!

swinging on her tummy...

 She loves to sit on it when I'm hanging up laundry. For the most part, it doesn't get in the way of the clothes but I try to put short things on the line between the chains so she's not running into them. 

standing up...

It's turned into her place to go to be alone if she's having a hard time. Sometimes she asks us to push her and is working on learning to pump.

and of course twisting up the chain...

Definitely a hit of a birthday present.

and letting go! 

Organizing!

I love organizing things. Lately I've been working on different areas and when I get it done, it makes me so happy. Here's what I've done lately.

I got this idea from a pinterest post about a well stocked craft cupboard. It's just an over door shoe organizer on a closet. The things I don't want Anna to be able to get on her own (like the scissors and glue) are at the top. Although she has figured out she can just pull up a chair to get them. Oh well, it was a good thought. She is good about putting things back with like things sharing a pocket and different things in separate pockets. The anal retentiveness in me is resisting the urge to label each pocket so there is only one 'right' place for each thing. This way Anna can change where things goes based on her mood. The things that don't fit (like pads of paper and such) are still in the cupboard where they were before. They are kind of just thrown in there so that is on my list of things to do.

Next is my canisters. I have two sets and love putting things in canisters. When Jason kept asking me where things were or what was in which one, I knew it was time for labels. Since some of them can change (like with the rices and other grains) I wanted chalk board ones. I was going to paint it on but then I found these dots at Target. They are made to go on the walls so I have some that are way too huge but there smaller ones that are just right. I especially like the dual circles.

I've done other small organizing projects around but those are the big ones. 

Old Man Shorts

Whenever Brian wears these shorts, which are a bit big on him, they turn into old man shorts. Cracks me up every time.

Playing Easter

I'm beginning to think Easter is Anna's favorite holiday. A bit ago, when we were organizing our crafts (more on that later) she got out all the paper Easter grass, sprinkled it all over the floor in the kitchen then added white pompoms for eggs and had an Easter Egg hunt. Hours of entertainment.

The "eggs" waiting to be found in the "grass".

Prancing around the "grass" with her basket.

Putting the eggs in her basket.

Toes!

 Brian is quite into chewing on his toes.

 Sometimes it's hard to change his diaper because he will not let go of his foot.

It's like sucking your thumb but with your big toe!

 I thought it was a recent thing until I was looking back at the pictures that had piled up on our camera. This has been going on for at least a month. 

I guess toes are the best because they are always available.

And So it Begins

To celebrate Jason passing his LEED exam, Jason bought himself a GameCube. He is teaching Anna how to play Mario Kart.

While waiting for Jason one day, Anna thought Brian might like to play with her. 

Oh my!

The Ill Fated Photo Shoot

One day I realized that Anna and Brian both have giraffe outfits. I thought it would be really cute if they both wore them and I took a picture. I didn't go as planned.


First I waited too long and Brian was ready for his nap. I took them anyway to check on poses and stuff.

She tries so hard

By the end, she was tired to the crying too.

After he woke up, he was much happier. Unfortunately, I discovered it was really hard to see a yellow giraffe on a yellow outfit and her shirt bunched awkwardly when she sat. Sigh.

The lying down ones were better for seeing her giraffe but they still aren't what I had in mind.Better luck next time.