Pender's Game

For the last two weeks, Anne and I were visiting Jeff's family on beautiful Pender Island.  Jeff was there for the first week.  Grandma and Grandpa B rented a beautiful, huge, brand new home on the water with an incredible 180 degree view of the ocean, Gulf Islands, and Vancouver Island.  The house has an entire wall of windows that opens up onto a huge deck about 250 feet above the water.  Just down the cliff is a bald eagle's nest and we got to see the eagles every day.  We were even lucky enough to see them eating other birds and mating (not at the same time).  This morningthe eagles laid an egg in the nest.

It was wonderful to see Anne's Aunt Laura, who lives on the island, as we don't get to see very often.  Uncle Conor and Aunt Lyn also visited the house for a week, so we had the whole B family all together.  It was just lovely.  I can't thank Grandma and Grandpa B enough for putting us up.  It was such a beautiful, relaxing trip.

Over the course of the two weeks Anne went from a few stumbling steps to confident walking all over the place.  She even almost runs sometimes.  She particularly likes to rearrange the furniture, and to throw and chase her ball.

Anne hasn't said any words yet, but we can tell she is close.  She understands a lot though, including the following words/phrases: Grandma, Grandpa, Mommy, Daddy, ceiling fan, coke, sippy cup, ball, baby, firelady (one of her toys), nap, come here, "no, thank you", touchdown, wave, clap, socks, dishwasher, trees, car, bottle, soother, high chair, penguin, and Cheerios.

Last week she started offering things to people.  She will often bring you a toy or her sippy cup.  Also last week, she pointed to Grandpa in a photo as well as in real life.

As usual, here are a bunch of photos and videos:

Anne with Marc (Jeff's cousin's son) at a playgroup before we left for BC.

Anne in the huge house that Grandma and Grandpa parents rented.

Hello, hello?  Anne thinks the remote is a telephone.

A small part of the beautiful view from the house that Grandma and Grandpa B rented.

Is there something on my face?

Jeff playing Scrabble with a bald eagle on the tree in the background.

Beautiful view from the deck.

Grandpa and Dad down by the shore.

Anne on my back at Bricky Beach.

Mom and baby.

One of the many fearless deer on the island.  He is standing on part of the long staircase from the house down to the shore.

Anne with her ball.  She loves to throw her ball and watch it bounce.

Anne on my back and Grandma B in the background.

The beautiful house with the window walls opened up.  (The bench barricade preventa Anne from burning herself on the wood stove.)

Anne cuddling a pillow at Aunt Laura's house.

Anne cuddling Sammy at Aunt Laura's house.

Anne playing with Grandpa's hat on the ferry.

Anne rearranging the furniture.

Anne, the eagle, and the view.