Photos and a video

Some audio-visual Hannah moments...

Reading a story this afternoon. The kisses she gives to stuffed critters are more like big chomps. Wonder if she knew it was a finger puppet?

Playing in the back yard. No doubt she's got Doggett thighs!

Then now in a field of bluebonnets at the airport. We definitely had better wildflower weather last year!

The end.

Little love

A most wonderful thing about Hannah is how affectionate she's become. She loves to give hugs and kisses, which are wonderful to receive - even the open-mouth-slobber-eat-your-face kind that she sometimes needs to give in sets of 10 or so! It's been interesting to watch her chose her objects of affection. Apparently love of cuddly stuffed things comes naturally. Or maybe she's seen me curled up with Pooh Bear when Andy's not home... Here are some photos of our little lovey. (Who cut her first molar sometime very recently, and has been remarkably good-natured about it - we'll see how long that lasts!)

Hugging a baby doll at Caroline's 1st birthday party yesterday.

Heading off to bed this evening with Harriet, after trying to feed her some of her milk.

Getting her sleep sack for bed. After her story, she kissed me and dove for the crib!

Computer woes

First a pretty picture just 'cause...

After 3 1/2 years of blissful matrimony, apparently my internet provider software and my older computer no longer see eye to eye, leaving me relegated to webmail on a spare laptop. It's amazing how much I not only rely on having a computer, but having my computer with my files and my Outlook! So if you've been getting emails from me in strange formats, or no messages at all, or ones sent to addresses that you only check once a year, there's your reason.

Grammy and Hannah at the Arboretum.

Field trip day - look at all the pretty yellow flowers!

On a less whiny note, we just had a wonderful visit from my mom. She helped me do some shopping and find the item I've dreamed of for years - a summer dress that works with a regular bra! I know that may not impress any guys reading this, but you girls know what a victory that is. We also enjoyed some time with my mom's Ft. Worth family, a hike at Lake Mineral Wells State Park, and some fun at the park and Arboretum. Hannah really enjoyed getting to know her Grammy more and we really enjoyed our night at the new fancy W Hotel (thanks to Andy's hotel points!). We haven't slept that late in a long, long time!

The new toy from REI.
Sportin' the sunblock 'do. She won't keep a hat on, so we have to rub in all over her head!

Angel baby loves to sleep, but it never happens in my arms any more. What a blessing.

Hannah's becoming the most amazing little person. She's developed quite a squeal/scream/laugh thing when she's excited that's not exactly pretty, but fun to hear. She's also really fond of saying Daddy these days (and cheese, but not with quite the same enthusiasm). She'll let out a Daddeee when he comes in the door or even when we met him at the park in his biking gear. She absolutely loves to play at the park. After a stop to choose her favorite wood chips to carry around, she heads off to the stairs and slides or just runs around laughing. What a joy!

Along with her exuberant joy of course comes other intense emotions. Like the utter tragedy of being told to stop or that something is not hers to touch. Out comes the big pout, often followed by genuine tears, wails, and even her hands over mouth. And then she finds something else to do and plays happily with tears on her cheeks. Here's a winner from the "feed me now" category. Our little drama queen!

So small!

I've been using Andy's old computer lately, and found some photos on here that I haven't seen in a long time. They're from Hannah's first few days, when I certainly didn't have the time nor the mental capacity to upload photos onto the computer. It seems unreal that the toddler who led me into the kitchen this evening and managed to communicate that she was hungry (after dinner and PJ's, mind you) is the same helpless baby in these photos.

Easter at the Arboretum

My first home-made outfit!

Saved the best for last.

I've been tagged

I've been tagged, which means I'm supposed to post ten things people might not know about me. I could spend way too much time thinking about this, so I'm going to just bite the bullet and post!

1. Pooh Bear, who I’ve had since I was about 2 months old, is still on my bed and I cuddle up with him when Andy’s not home. (This is not the yellow bear in a red shirt that Disney has marketed. He’s a brown bear like the original stories by A.A. Milne.)

2. In the last few years, I’ve discovered that I’ve become a bit OCD about where things go – on the counters, on my desk, in my drawers. Once I like the set-up, I try to always put things in the same place. Maybe it’s a product of having a husband who can never remember where he’s put things, but I think it’s mostly my own neurotic obsession!

3. On the flip side, I can be a real slob when no one’s looking. Being around neat-freak Andy is helping me to learn the value of a picked up house, but when he’s gone I can let this place get phenomenally cluttered. (I’m guessing there’s some serious psychoanalysis to be done with numbers 2 and 3 together!)

4. I’ve been known to spend the better part of a day reading if I have a good book. I don’t imagine this will happen again until Hannah goes to college, so thank goodness for long-nap days!

5. I love to take naps. Any time, any place, but preferably in a comfy chair/couch with the sun in my face!

6. I don’t do well with having expectations that aren’t met. It’s part of why I didn’t want to know Hannah’s gender before she was born, and why I tried really hard not to guess. (Though when she was born, I wasn’t surprised that she was a girl.)

7. I love ice cream. I can make a meal out of a pint of Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia.

8. I never exercised regularly or participated in sports in high school (I played softball, badly, in 5th grade), but I did triathlons when I lived in Austin and ran a marathon in 2005.

9. I really miss making music (with adults) on a regular basis. I’ve played piano since 1st grade, majored in music, and played oboe in the Austin Civic Orchestra after college. I really miss the experience of making music with others. I also miss playing piano, yet the digital one I have just doesn’t speak to me the same way an acoustic does, so I rarely play. When we have a house with stronger floors…

10. I got to play a 1904 Steinway at a historic home in Flagstaff a couple of years ago, and it was absolutely the best piano I have ever laid hands on.

And now I'm going to tag Amy Bankhead, Krystle, and Karen.

In like a lion

This was Friday, March 7, in Dallas, Texas - the second time that week! Of course by the afternoon is was gorgeous and sunny, but it was still sight to wake up to.

My dad was here for a visit and managed to fly out before the weather got crummy. Hannah had a really good time hanging out with her Grandpop, and Andy and I enjoyed an afternoon of much-needed shopping without the baby. Now that she's walking, she won't stay in the stroller for very long and is quick to explore all of the trouble options at the stores! The three of us went to the opera on Saturday night, thanks to our friends Cynthia and Dean who were willing to be talked into babysitting Hannah for the night. She did us proud and behaved very well (read, went to sleep easily) and got a chance to practice her social skills by trying to steal Lukas' snacks! We saw Porgy and Bess, which I've never seen before. It's certainly a different experience than the more traditional operas I'm used to. I don't think it's my new favorite, but I'm glad that I've seen it.

Singing with Grandpop.

Holding hands for a stroll, what a treat!

Hannah is really enjoying being a toddler and sometimes seems to walk around the house just for the sake of taking the trip. Unexpected parent lesson - soft-soled footsteps are much quieter than crawling hand slaps. I used to be able to tell exactly where she was from the familiar slap, slap sound of her crawling, occasionally accompanied by loud whining. Now she's underfoot or in another room before I know it!

If she insists on carrying a purse, at least it's a drum!

We haven't heard any definitive words yet, but she's been mimicking me a lot lately and can sign "more" and "all done". Of course she signs "more" all day long. She seems to do it when she wants anything, food or otherwise, but I think she's also hungry from all the walking. She's also developed a pretty serious addiction to cheerios (rather the organic replacement from our local grocery). Not only do I have to try to keep her from seeing her snack cup, she'll get mad if she hears them rattle and she can't have any! But having a child who can communicate her needs and feed herself is pretty amazing to me. I'm reluctantly working on teaching her to use a spoon. This is one of those skills that I'd really like her to magically learn overnight. I don't have a lot of patience for the sloppy attempts. I'd rather just feed her and get it over with or give her finger food! Any hints or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Snack and a beverage to go.

The camera apparently needs some yogurt.

Strangers like to comment on her thumb sucking,

but no one tell's me she needs to eat more!

It's been a while, so I know I rambled on a bit. Andy's mom, Karen, is coming this week, which I'm really looking forward to. She and I have been putting in long hours trying to plan the LeCuyer summer trip to Maine, and it will be nice to talk in person. And maybe even about something other than numbers of bathrooms and limited water views!