A few steps here and there

So, I've been trying to decide when to write this post, just waiting for Annabelle to "really" stand or "really" take a few steps. After Mom's visit this weekend, she convinced me that the things Annabelle has been doing "count." She can stand on her own for about 5 seconds. She now tries to walk from place to place rather than crawling all the time. However, that walking is more of a run and she ends up on her face after 2 or 3 (as many as 4 or 5) quick steps. She just never slows down enough to get a good balance before taking that step. Kris and I are thinking she's going to go straight to sprinting! Here are some pictures of Annabelle trying to walk on Sunday...

She usually starts by holding on to furniture, but I was holding her to begin in these pictures. A wobbly start...


And, she's down! (with a smile on her face)


Woooooaaaahhhhh!

Fun with Her Easter Goodies

Annabelle loved the pool...even without water!




Reading her new book all on her own.


And, with Mommy's help.

Egg and Basket Hunts

On Saturday, we brought Annabelle outside for a quick egg hunt and her "outside" Easter basket. So glad we got at least one break in the rain this weekend.

She had three animal eggs to find...




And her sand pail with pool, bubbles, giant chalk, and bath toy...


Then, on Sunday she looked for her "inside" basket. Not here...


There it is! (with book stuffed bunny, and soft book)

Happy Easter

Annabelle on Easter Sunday


With Mommy and Daddy after the "egg hunt"


Daddy looks so funny in Annabelle's bunny ears!

Revisiting the Botanical Gardens

The botanical gardens in St Louis have an amazing Children's Garden. We took Annabelle there again on Saturday (yes, the 92 degree day).

"Mommy...this one doesn't look like the other flowers!"



Thank goodness they have a splash park to cool off! :)




She's recently been crawling like this at some times. Maybe she knows she wants to get up on her feet, but can't figure out how to get from crawling to standing?



All tuckered out...first time (since she was a newborn) she has fallen asleep in her stroller.

Copy Cat

Annabelle has been trying to copy us more often. Earlier I posted about her "cell phone" use. Now, she's trying to make funny noises. Well, she makes plenty of funny noises, but not this particular one...

More Fun at the Magic House

No joke, Kris had a "holiday" on Friday, so we went to the Magic House in St Louis again with Annabelle. It was really neat to see how much more she could do in just the few short months it's been since we were there last.

We played at the water table again. One of her favorite things to do right now is figure out how things can be put inside one another. She loves her nesting cups at home...and at the Magic House. Mostly, though, she just wanted to splash in the water.


What in the world? She really didn't know what to make of this...



Annabelle has a nice, warm hand print.



It was daddy's turn to try the static ball.


We discovered there are complete replicas of the Oval Office, Supreme Court and Congress on the ground floor. Future president?