Jack-o'-Lanterns!

Tonight we made Jack-o'-Lanterns with Anne.  We made kitties instead of scary faces so that Anne would appreciate them more.

Anne helps Mommy draw the design on the pumpkin.

Daddy and Anne put on their aprons.

Daddy and Anne clean out a pumpkin.

Mommy and Anne clean out a pumpkin.

Final pumpkin.

Boppa!

Anne looked at the computer today and said, "Boppa!" (Grampa).  This is what was on the screen:

18-Month Mark

On September 27th we took Anne to the doctor's for her 18-month checkup and immunization shots.  She took the shots like a champ, and now doesn't have to get any more immunizations until she is four years old.  She weighs 27 lbs (between 75th and 90th percentile), is 34.5 inches long (above 95th percentile), and has a head circumference of 49.5 cm (above 95th percentile).  She's a pretty big girl.

Anne really seems to be liking her new home.  We have finally gotten settled to the point where there are no more boxes (as long as you don't look in the basement).  Anne seems to like all of the space, and she really likes playing outside in the yard.  It is really nice to be so close to Gramma and Grampa G as well as Aunt Greta, Uncle Gus, Cousin Max, and Cousin Darwyn.  Anne now calls Darwyn "ahe ahe, baby" in imitation of a crying baby.  This is kind of funny since Darwyn seems to barely ever cry.  Anne seems to be obsessed with crying babies.

Anne-isms:

• When Anne has a sip of chocolate milk she cackles afterward as if she just tricked you into giving it to her. She does this every time.
• Anne can say all sorts of words now.  The trouble is, they sound a lot alike.  So when we're in the car and Anne says, "Ba!" we say "Bus?  Book?  Bike?  Ball?" until she says, "Yeah!"  Anne is particularly fond of pointing out buses.  
• Anne can now use two words together.  For example, "Help, please." or "Boppa, stuck" or "ahe ahe, baby".  
• Anne "jumps" by leaning forward on her tippy toes until she loses her balance and steps forward a step or two.
• Anne started her second round of swimming lessons a few weeks ago.  She just LOVES being in the water.  She has learned to jump (actually, just to fall forward) off of the edge of the pool into the water, which she loves.  She talks about "wawa" (water), "baby" (babies), "ba" (ball), and "duh" (duck) the whole drive home.

Photos at the pumpkin farm with Gramma B:

Anne and Gramma chase sea gulls.

Anne walks on hay bales.

Anne goes on a hay ride.... with no hay.

Photos from today of Anne, Max, and friends Fiona and Elliot playing in the leaves

Anne sees the camera and wants to see photos of babies.

Anne hides behind a leaf.

Aunt Greta hides behind a leaf.

Throwing leaves in the air.

Anne throws leaves.

Max throws leaves.

Max in the leaves.