The airport observation field

Thanks to a suggestion from another mom I met at the library, we've discovered a new favorite spot! The Grand Rapids airport has a nice observation field where you can watch the planes take off and land. We've gone a couple of times already and we really enjoy it.

Anna likes to watch the planes, but the bigger ones are a little too loud for her sometimes.

Anna has been experimenting every now and then with standing on her own. (In this video I think she was using Bryan's leg a little to help her balance.)

Hanging out with Laura

My friend Laura has been coming over during the day lately so we can watch all of the Anne of Green Gables movies together. Anna loves playing with Laura!

An afternoon in Holland

Anna and I went to Holland this afternoon to visit my old workplace (Kids Hope USA), to pick up some shoes, and to say hello to her friend Lillian.

Anna's first shoes!

Anna has been wondering...

... what we do after she goes to bed at night.

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Just wanted to let our regular blog readers know- I often do not post in order. To be sure you don't miss anything you'll want to scroll down the page every once in awhile.

Yoda baby

Riding up front

Don't worry. Just kidding!

Routine travels, or lack thereof

One of our stops on our way back from Wisconsin made me reflect on the way our lives have changed since the arrival of our sweet Anna.

A year ago this stop would have gone something like this:

1. Pull off highway.
2. Enter McDonald's.
3. Bryan and I use the bathroom.
4. Purchase snack.
5. Pull out of parking lot and return to highway.

This is what happened today:

1. Pull off highway.
2. Remove Anna from her carseat, grab ridiculously large diaper bag, enter McDonald's.
3. Take Anna into the bathroom for a diaper change while Bryan uses the bathroom.
4. Wait in line to use bathroom. Must wait extra long to hold out for the handicapped stall, which contains the handy-dandy diaper changing station.
5. Lay down Anna, discover that both of us are covered in poop.
6. Change Anna's diaper and clothing (I had a spare outfit for her in the aforementioned ginormous diaper bag.).
7. Find Bryan, ask him to hold Anna.
8. Go to car. Dig through trunk to find suitcase. Retrieve clean shirt from suitcase.
9. Return to bathroom and wait in line again.
10. Change shirt and use bathroom.
11. Find Bryan and Anna.
12. Return to car.
13. Secure nursing cover in car window to ensure privacy for breastfeeding.
14. Feed Anna.
15. Return Anna to her carseat and feel relieved that we can get back on the road again.
16. Pull out of parking lot and return to highway.

Note: At our next stop we had a very similar experience at a rest area, down to the Mommy and baby matching poo outfits. Must remember not to feed Anna apples & prunes when embarking on long car trip.

Wisconsin Trip, Day Three

On the road again! After I attended church with my family and Anna took a refreshing morning nap after the hotel (with Bryan to supervise), we all went out for brunch together. After brunch it was time to hit the road. This was a rather difficult trip for us. Despite it being a Sunday we hit lots of traffic due to construction. We were all very grateful to make it home!

At brunch Anna kept us all entertained with her latest party trick.

Clowning around in the car.

Stuck in Chicago traffic.

More goofball antics.

A future soccer star?

Getting some help with Daddy during one of today's many wardrobe changes.

Sometimes babies and long car trips just don't mix.

Wisconsin Trip, Day Two

Today was the big day- Philip's eagle scout ceremony! Congratulations, Philip!

Anna and Bryan were unable to attend the ceremony because it was at Anna's naptime, but they joined us for the reception.

Anna was very impressed with Joe's badges.

By the time we arrived at the hotel this afternoon, Anna was pretty pooped!

But she had a good time playing with her Grandma and Grandpa Dutra.