10 months

Where has the time gone? Only 2 more months until the big day. Wait. I can't think about that...not yet. 10 months has flown, and she is growing like a bean. Our little Anna Banana bean.

She's babbling now. Words are flying out of her mouth. "Da-da" this, and "ba-ba-ba" that...she claps, points and waves. She is obsessed with waving to people. And inanimate objects.

And don't get me started on her giggles. Her daddy can really get her going too. He laughs, she laughs. And loud, contagious laughs. So much so that our cheeks start hurting from laughing so much.

Girl loves the outdoors. And she can move. She scoots all over the place and at record speed. Mark saw her stand up on her own this weekend. She loves the water, loves to splash, whether it's in her nightly bath, a pool or sticking five fingers in her sippy cup or the cats' water bowls. Sigh. She loves her yellow chicken, and riding in her jeep. Which she has totally mastered walking in. "Look out kitties, here comes trouble!"

And books are one of her favorites. She loves her Karen Katz flappy books. And my old pop-up book, Thumbelina. And I love you Little one. The list goes on. Of course, my two favorites continue to be On the Day You Were Born and Love you Forever. I still cry every time I read them to her. She loves people and animals. Her family, her friends, strangers in the grocery store. Simon, a friendly springer spaniel came up to her at the park last week and gave her a big wet one right across the face. Girl didn't blink. Being raised with seven cats, she's gotten pretty used to furry creatures. And she loves them. She tries her best to scoot up to them and give them pats (we are learning the word "gentle.")

Today I'm celebrating you, Anna, and how blessed we are that you came into our lives. And all the love you have brought us. A day doesn't go by that I don't thank my lucky stars for the little family we have become. Happy 10 month Birthday little one...you are the apple of my eye.

And I just love this picture of Rusty. Lounging in a sun spot. I think he and Anna are going to be buddies.