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Grandma Warner getting to enjoy
her grandchildren (Anna and Maddie) at a local park. With my
parents living in Iowa right now the trips out to visit are a lot fewer
and further between then we would like.
June |
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Of course they were at the park
during the day, when myself, Adam, and Blaine were at work.
Kristie and her roomate Leah are nurses and have the customary odd
schedules that allow them a day or two off in the middle of the week.
June
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I received an anonymous e-mail the other day from a 'mysterious person'
who expressed a strong desire to see more pictures of "the beautiful and
magnificient Kristie". Well to whoever it was that made that
request, here is the first installment :). Aunt Kristie was hard
at work currying favor with her nieces that day.
June |
Anna and Maddie enjoyed a ride on Maddie's
beautiful solid wood rocking horse.
June |
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For July 4th Shannon & I
took Anna to Saratoga Springs State Park. It was our first time
back to the park since our honeymoon. Anna loved being in the
outdoors and getting to explore all sorts of new things like rocks and
sticks and sticky stuff found on the ground (leftover s'mores from a
previous patron - I hope!). All that exploring left her a little
tired.
The Saratoga park is very neat because it has many springs located
throughout that are open to the public. Some of them are
naturally carbonated mineral water springs. They have a very
unique taste that can be enjoyable once you've gotten used to it.
July |
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We stayed in Saratoga for
fireworks that night, Anna's first exposure to them. She didn't
like it. As you can see, even with Shannon covering her ears she
had an expression that displayed a distinct disaproval of the events.
July |
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You just can't pass up an
opportunity to photograph your child's first reaction to fireworks,
even if they are unhappy with them. Here is another sample of the type
of looks Anna had throughout the fireworks.
July |
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On a happier note: Anna
has taken to emulating her mommy whenever she can. Mommy carries
a purse so Anna should carry one too - preferably mommy's if she can
get a hold of it!
July |
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Shannon's Oma (i.e. grandma
Phillips) picked up toy push-truck for Anna at a garage sale. It
has buttons on it that make all sorts of sounds and say phrases like
"This is mommy, look both ways before crossing the street" and
"Emergency! Emergency! Emergency!". She loves this toy. She
loves to push it, sit on it, press the buttons, and climb on it.
It has been a complete hit!
July |
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What fun!
July |
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The 'gear-shift' on the truck
makes an engine revving noise when it is moved. Anna manages to
hit it with her foot, or hand, or bottom, very frequently whenever she
is playing with the truck. Everyone knows what she is up to when
you hear the 'vroom! vroom! vroom!' sound filling the air.
July
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Shannon replaced the sliding
doors on our bedroom closet with a decorative curtain. Anna loves
the convienient access it provides her with to the closet! At one
point Shannon was working in the bedroom and she noticed that Anna
wasn't around, so she got up to look for her and didn't see her in the
apartment. When she called her Anna popped out from behind the
curtains! She already is showing a special talent for
hide-and-seek.
July |
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This is a common view of Anna
when we are in the bedroom. You can see just the top of her head
as she runs around the bed, and when she stands on her tippy-toes you
can see her eyes.
July |
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The purse won't stay on her
shoulders, but Anna discovered a convienient workaround to the problem!
July
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Anna loves all sorts of action
games. She comes up to me when I am sitting down and wants to be
bounced on my leg. When she is in the backpack she squeals with
delight if I twirl her around, and of course she likes a ride in the
air every now and then!
August |
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Shannon found this old-fashioned
looking bonnet for Anna. We joke about her being a 'prairie baby'
when she wears it.
August
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More exploits of the prairie
baby. She had gotten her mommy's perfume.
August |
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This look is more demure then
the last two - I think if fits the bonnet better.
August
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Blaine and Nycole watch Maddie
as she eats a cupcake at her first birthday party. Maddie didn't
try to use her hands, she just went for it face first!
August |
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For her birthday Anna received a
combination xylophone / piano. She loves to hit the keys with the
hammer.
August
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In mid-August we had an
unusually cold day. We headed to Thatcher State Park and found it
just about empty.
August |
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Shannon & Anna at the park
August |
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Anna loves to come up to us
whenever we sit down at the table and get a bite of whatever we happen
to be eating. Shannon was enjoying some fresh fruit with coconut
milk - a dish they both really like.
August |
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Anna ran off with mommy's
hairbrush and comb and had to be tracked down by mommy. She
thought it was great fun.
August |
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Shannon, Donna (Oma), and I took
Anna to a nearby park with her ride-on toy. We took turns pushing
her around on it and she loved it.
September |
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Anna loves the swing
September |
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Big smiles!
September |
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More fun.
September |
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At one point Anna sat down on
her ride-on toy and just looked off into the distance for a long time
(1+ minutes which is a long time for a 1 year old) as if she were
contemplating a deep mystery. I took this picture just after she
came out of her reverie.
September |
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Our family sitting together on
an old fence.
September |
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Anna got a chance to try
on Shannon's old glasses from fifth grade. No wonder Shannon says
she never wore them!
September |
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Shannon's brother Jeremy gave us
a gift certificate for a free night's stay at Esperanza Mansion, a
hotel located at the tip of Keuka Lake (one of the NY finger lakes).
We had a lot of fun, and as you can see in the picture, the view
was spectacular.
September |
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Adam, Blaine, and I (with the
help of Jamie at the piano) practicing our harmony. We were
preparing for our church's Gospel Music Festival. Anna seemed
quite fascinated with my guitar.
September |
