Before I show the pictures, let me just say that my daughter actually gave me an unsolicited kiss today! I don’t think she’s ever done that before. She’s making real progress, and will now sometimes even come to me if Joe is available. I’d say she still runs to him if she’s afraid or uncomfortable, in unfamiliar surroundings, but for the most part, at home, she’s just as likely to hang out with me. She’ll even let me cuddle her a bit now. We’ve changed up our routine so that I’m almost always the one that puts her to bed, and I get to snuggle with her then. It’s been 4 months and 4 days since we came home with her. Hard to imagine. Seems like she’s been with us forever!
Miss Anna wore a lovely new outfit that Grandma bought her while we were visiting in Oklahoma to church yesterday. She was quite the star, and she knew it, too. She was such a little prima donna during the service that she couldn’t be bothered to sit still or be quiet. I think Baba spent more time out in the foyer than in the sanctuary. Mama was playing the piano, so she didn’t get to add her strong arm of discipline to the proceedings. I didn’t get any photos until we got home, and Anna is having a hard time perfecting her photogenic smile, so she will fit right into the Winter family. We are not known for our photogenicity.
 
Last evening, the Northeast Kingdom Community Orchestra had our spring concert, and Anna came along with her Baba and Auntie Renee. I’m told she behaved amazingly well. They didn’t have to break out the Goldfish until the intermission! I don’t know whether she’s going to be musical or not, but she’s certainly going to have an appreciation for classical music. Poor kid will be dragged to every pitiful concert her mama plays in, just like her Baba!
I was “talking” to some friends online today, and began compiling a list of words Anna can say now. I was pretty impressed after I got them all written down. I know there are others I can’t remember, but it’s a start. Here they are:
Mama and Baba
Grandma and Grandpa
Nono (Italian for grandpa). Grammy is still hard for her.
Nicki (my sister)
Nee (Renee, Joe’s sister)
Uncle
Gao Gao (we started calling them that, too)
Siri, Chip (2 of the dogs; Porter is harder to say)
Kotcha (one of the cats, I have to listen hard to pick this up)
Kitty
Potty, poo poo, pee pee
No, uh-huh (not yes, for some reason)
Apple juice, milk
Grapes
Cereal, Cheerios (hard to distinguish these two), egg
Blankie, binkie
Pencil, crayon
Book, block, backpack (from Dora)
Shoe, sock, diaper, coat
All parts of the face, fingers, thumb, toes, belly button
Counting (1,2,5,6,9,10 – we’re working on 3!)
Bath, teeth (brushing teeth), shampoo, bubbles, chapstick
Goldfish, gummie (gummie bears)
Go ‘way (meaning, we’re going away somewhere, not you go away from me)
Bye bye, hello, hi
High five
Mama ai nee (mama loves you hasn’t made it yet)
Pablo (the Backyardigans), Ming ming (Wonder Pets), Sponge Bob (hmm, do we watch too much TV???)
All gone (or all done, not sure which it is, but she says it when she’s done eating or done pottying)
Sleepy sleepy
Shake shake shake, shake shake shake, shake your baby (instead of groove thing, or whatever the real words are, we liked baby better)
Anna ‘Shari (when we prompt her to say her full name; Joe says he couldn’t say it that well at the age of 2!)
She doesn’t string together many multiple word phrases, but she can ask for more of just about anything! She’s learned peek a boo, and can also say “now I see you”. This afternoon she correctly identified a window!
Here are a few more photos from our trip to Bartlesville. It was so lovely there, we were able to wander around outside in short sleeves. It was 38 degrees and rainy here today. Nice. We only stuck our noses out to go to the post office, and then to band rehearsal.Â
 This is my favorite – the little waif holding up the fence
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