Small changes

Matthew hugs Anna while she sleeps in her chair

He likes to run over and look at her while she sleeps.

Nothing much new is happening here. We are still just getting used to the big changes and noticing little ones as Anna gets bigger and Matthew grows more independent. I put Matthew down for a nap in the middle of the day and that is one of the biggest challenges I am dealing with now. Anna often fusses or cries while I am trying to read Matthew a story or get him to fall asleep. Sometimes I try to nurse her while reading to him. Matthew tries to take advantage of the situation by getting up and running around. He thinks I won't put Anna down to get him...but I DO! This, of course, disturbs Anna, who then cries and fusses more, which disturbs Matthew and keeps him from falling asleep. But usually they both end up falling asleep and I enjoy some solid relaxing time...until they wake up and the fun starts up again.

Sometimes he tries to pick her up. Scary!
Luckily she is a little too heavy for him to do any real harm.

Anna is awake and alert more during the day and is starting to interact with us more. She likes being held and snuggled, especially by Scott. She is losing some of her hair, but what she still has likes to stick straight up. She sometimes laughs in her sleep...she gets a big smile, makes a little giggling sound and her whole body shakes with laughter. Maybe she is laughing at our ridiculous attempts at parenting. :)

Here she is looking awake and wearing her Winnie the Pooh dress from grandma and grandpa Guptill. She is still a pretty mellow girl. She does want to be held a lot, but she is not nearly as fussy as Matthew was. She sleeps really good at night and doesn't really even cry when she wakes up. She makes this quiet squealing sound that sounds like a loose fan belt on a car. It's odd, but a lot easier on the ears than loud crying (which she also does...just not usually at night). It's those little things that we appreciate.