Anna is becoming quite the accomplished crawler.

Baby manipulation?

Today Anna and I went to Target to pick up a few things. I stopped in the medicine aisle to look at a box of Infant Motrin. I heard it's better for teething than Tylenol, and I thought it might be a good idea to have some on hand. Anna saw me holding it and reaching for it. Mommy Mistake #1: I gave it to her. After thinking about it for a minute I decided to put it back on the shelf and get it another time. Anna WAILED. Mommy Mistake #2: Alarmed, I handed it back to her. I was a little surprised as she very rarely cries when something is taken from her. So I thought, oh, well, I guess we'll just buy it. Two aisles later I stopped and thought, no way am I going to let my 7 month old baby tell me what to buy. Mommy Mistake #3: I tried to take it again. She WAILED. And I chickened out and gave it back. At the checkout lane I warned our checked that she was going to have to scan it really fast. Then I had THE NERVE to take it from Anna for a moment and it took me awhile to calm her back down even once she had it back. Unfortunately I still had to take it away from her once I had her buckled into her carseat because it had plastic wrap on it and I was afraid she would get it loose. I tried to quickly switch it out for Anna's doll. She didn't buy it.

A trip to the library

Another first

Busy Weekend, Day Two

This morning Bryan, Anna and I stayed in at the Van Hal's house. Anna enjoyed playing with Grandma and trying out the swing in the front yard.

In the afternoon some family friends came over to watch Anna and we all went to see Wicked. It was so much fun!

Lindsey and Darrek were very excited to see the show :).

Anna was in a silly mood on the way home from Lansing.

A very busy weekend

Bryan got up with Anna this morning so I could sleep in a little on my birthday.

Bryan and I went to Holland for the wedding of our friends Kristin and Dave. Anna stayed home with her Grandma Van Hal, Aunt Lindsey, Uncle Darrek and Uncle Mike during the ceremony and the first part of the reception.

The happy couple!

Anna has arrived at the reception! (Thanks for driving her over, Barb and Lindsey!)

Here she is hanging out with our buddy Liz.

Getting some crawling pointers from the pros.

Once the reception was over some of us headed over to a friend's house to hang out (and in Anna's case, nap). Here is a fuzzy photo of all of the kids- they were not especially cooperative.

After Anna had her dinner we headed to Lansing to stay at Grandma and Grandpa Van Hal's house for the night. Anna enjoyed the view of the backyard...

... played with Uncle David's shoes...

... played with Aunt Lindsey and Uncle Darrek...

... stole Darrek's glasses...

... and played with Mommy's birthday balloons. Whew! What a crazy day!

p.s. Here's a photo of Anna we took on this day last year.

Anna had an exciting day today. She played on giant breakfast food. She got to see our good friends the Ulrichs and the Konfaras. And she went swimming at a hotel. Wow.

Sierra, the Ulrich's youngest daughter, was kind enough to share her toys.

Here's Sierra using Bryan's shoulder for a boost.

Haddie's antics in the pack 'n play kept us all entertained.

And... swimming!

Smile! You're on Candid Camera.

Daddy/Daughter Jam Session

It's time to babyproof...

... because Anna's trying to crawl!

Peek a boo

This is how Anna entertained us while we ate dinner last night.

Monday Movie for Moms

Our local movie theater has an event called Monday Movies for Mom. The theater turns down the sound and turns up the lights to allow you to bring your baby. Today was the first time Anna and I went. We saw Mamma Mia and Anna was very good! She enjoyed the music and the action- she typically is not allowed to watch much TV, so this was a special treat for her. She stood on my lap for almost the entire movie.

By the time we got home she was tuckered out.

The Children's Garden

Today we visited Meijer Gardens again to take Anna to visit their Children's Garden.

Anna took a ride in a saddle...

... played dress-up...

... and sat in a chair just her size.

Hanging out at the beach

Yep. Anna still has a cold.

Little Miss Mischief.

Four years of marriage

On Thursday we celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary. We went out for dinner at a yummy restaurant we've never been to before and spent a night at our favorite Bed & Breakfast. Anna had a great time playing with her Grandma Van Hal, who came to stay with her for the night. The first photo below was taken shortly after Bryan and I became engaged. The second was taken on our honeymoon.