Just a lazy Saturday

This is hopefully the first of many posts highlighting just a typical day in the life of 5 month old Anika. She played in her jump up today, practiced sitting, and of course ate and napped. Whew! What a busy day. If her tongue wasn't in the way you could see her brand new tooth.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

This month we braved (what for us in Richmond) was a cold wintery night, so we could see all the lights at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. My friend Kara and her daughter Bridget joined us for an hour or so of looking at fun lights and decorations. I'll bet Anika would love the gardens if we went back this summer when she can run around. So here is our family picture (minus Monty who of course was not allowed to hang out in the gardens).

One of Michael's lovely students gave us the tickets for Christmas, so a shout out must go to whichever boy or girl thought of that one.

5 months old

Wow, I haven't posted since Christmas, shame on me! So this is a very exciting week for Anika. She cut her very first tooth on Monday (MLK day) January 19, and while she wanted to be held a little bit more than usual we did not have the common fever, crying, and rash that can accompany it. Whew hew! One tooth down, lots more to go.

This week Anika has started doing pushups and extending her hands all the way so she can look around the room. It is very exciting when she pushes her legs around to and makes you think she could crawl at any minute.

Well, her happiness in her jump up has ended so I must go, but more to come eventually, I promise.

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Anika has much enjoyed all the wrapping paper and new things to play with. On Christmas Eve we had to leave poor Monty behind and fly to Seattle where we met up with Mike's parents. They live in Cathlamet, Washington which is about 2.5 hours away from Seattle, so there was lots of travelling this Christmas. But Anika was very good on the airplanes and is enjoying visiting with her Grandparents, Uncle Jon, and Aunt Sarah. To all who are far away, we wish you a very merry christmas (even though it is a little late).

All three of us have now gotten colds over the Christmas holidays and we are anxiously awaiting the abatement of stuffy noses. Meanwhile, Monty is holding down the fort at our house and hanging out with JC who graciously agreed to watch him last minute, as our previous dogsitter needed to back out.

Well, we are still here with Phillips family so I am going to get back to family fun and merriment. Merry Christmas from the west coast, and Happy New Year.

4 months old

Today Monty decided to cuddle in. Little did he know that Anika can reach out and grab stuff. It took a bunch of tries to get this shot because she kept trying to reach into his eyes. But Monty is a good sport and stuck it out. Anything for a pet, right?

This is Anika and her friend Bridget. We lay them down next to each other and they decided to hold hands! Don't you love her hair in this?

Ok, so after looking back at those very old pictures, I had to include some more recent ones. So here are pictures all from December.

Its been a while...

Right after her first bath at home

During her first bath at home. Look at how little she is! She was 11 days old.

Snoozing with Papa Mark (Grandpa Phillips) way back in the day

In case you can't read her shirt, it says "I'm big in Japan"

Snoozing with her Grandpa Doug. My how yellow she still was then.

I realize it has been almost a month! Wow how time flies. Anika is now 4 months old. She is 12.4lbs and in the 50% for height and head size. Which means she's just about perfect I believe. She is very busy these days chatting and rolling over. She can also sit for miliseconds at a time which is most exciting. I'll have to add new pictures soon, but alas, that will have to be another day. We are looking forward to seeing my parents this weekend and Mike's whole family on Christmas Eve as we fly to Washington State to be together! It will be quite an adventure with Anika in tow, but we think it will be worth it. I can throw in some random pictures from long long ago, but keep in mind that none of these are recent so you aren't confused by why she has shrunk.

A new video

And here she is again. All dressed up for my birthday.