The Baker Family Blog

It's back!

2010-04-04T15:09:00.004-05:00

Our camera has been on vacation in Florida since Christmas, but now it's back home, safe and sound. Here are some pics to get you started.

It's been awhile since this picture was taken, but I'm guessing that this is an after-church special lunch for the kids.

Kids with Daddy

2009-11-06T01:00:00.001-05:00

The kids didn't see Doug for much of October--we traveled up to NY to visit my mother for two weeks, and then they were in LA visiting grandparents. Needless to say, they clung to Doug for awhile after we returned!

Silly Kids

2009-11-05T01:00:00.001-05:00

Dad came to visit this weekend, which, by the way, was the nicest visit we've had together in years, and took these pics of my silly kids.

I think it was the first visit he came by himself and stayed with us (usually he's with another family member or he stays with his mother, my Oma). I'm sure he appreciated being awakened every morning by an exuberant five-year-old.

Fun on the Swingset

2009-11-03T17:50:00.002-05:00

Grandma and Grandpa bought the kids an early Christmas present: a new swing set! The kids, needless to say, are thrilled to death. Grandpa finished building it just as the sun was going down and the kids were awake at the crack of dawn the next morning wanting to get back outside.

The kids love to ride on this, and I love seeing them working together to make it go higher and faster!

Halloween

2009-11-02T01:00:00.000-05:00

Cinderella had to wear a turtleneck under her ball gown...she didn't mind, though!

Brad went as Woody from Toy Story.

Last Museum Pics

2009-09-19T01:00:00.000-05:00

There is a beautiful train section at the museum. It is a beautifully restored coach car on which Bradford and Anne love to climb.

This is the actual ship's bell from the USS Oklahoma, sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. There is a beautiful area devoted to the Navy and the USS Oklahoma. It is very useful as I teach Bradford about the United States Navy.

Seesaw

2009-09-18T01:00:00.001-05:00

There is a wonderful play area for the kids at the Science Museum. They both love the seesaw. Great fun for them and for me as I watch them.

Weatherman

2009-09-17T01:00:00.000-05:00

This is a blue screen which simulates the way meteorologists forecast the weather on television. When Bradford saw himself on the monitor, he began to forecast the weather just like the weatherman! He is a natural in front of the camera. Other adults who were watching him do this remarked that he was a future public speaker. You never know!

My favorite pose as Bradford forecasts the weather!

Brad the Pilot

2009-09-15T22:49:00.002-05:00

OK Science Museum

2009-09-15T22:47:00.001-05:00

We have found a wonderful museum in Oklahoma City, OK - the Science Museum of Oklahoma. It is second to none among those we have seen. Having lived in DC, we think that this place actually rivals some we have seen in the nation's capitol. Bradford is fascinated with becoming an astronaut. Here he is preparing for his uniform.
We miss Nathan and Leah Finn terribly. Our children do as well. Here is Anne picking up the phone and talking. She asked for "Georgia." Georgia Finn is Nathan and Leah's daughter. We really miss them and our friends in North Carolina.
Bradford loves tractors. He loves to climb up and drive the tractor every time we visit the museum. He always tells me that "Papa Frank" let's him drive the tractor in Louisiana.
Bradford loves this little spin machine at the museum. He will spin himself until he becomes quite dizzy.
And not to be outdone - Anne gets into the action!

Ballet

2009-09-08T01:00:00.000-05:00

The kids start ballet next Monday, and they are so excited!

This is Anne in her I'm-pretending-to-look-mad-but-I'm-going-to-laugh-in-two-seconds pose.

Dance, Ballerina, Dance!

Goof

2009-09-08T00:30:00.000-05:00

Bradford's here in his ballet outfit. I don't know why he makes this face every time I take a picture!

Take a Picture!

2009-09-07T22:39:00.003-05:00

Bradford wanted me to take a picture of him doing his thumbs up.

Then Anne had to get in on the action, of course.

Look Familiar?

2009-08-27T15:25:00.000-05:00

Look, it's Aunt Kelly!

The New Anne

2009-08-04T20:49:00.002-05:00

A trip to the hairdresser after Bradford's...handiwork...resulted in much shorter hair.

RIde 'em Horsey

2009-08-04T01:00:00.000-05:00

Not quite the right way, baby girl!

That's more like it!

You can tell by the mouth that someone swiped a sip of my Crystal Light.

Goodbye, Pullen!

2009-08-03T01:00:00.001-05:00

Anne on the train--can you tell she likes it?

Good bye, Pullen--we'll miss you!

Post-Pullen lunch. I was trying to capture the tiredness that showed in his eyes--he just looked exhausted!

On the Carousel

2009-08-02T01:00:00.000-05:00

Last Time at Pullen

2009-08-01T01:00:00.000-05:00

The last time at Pullen Park. So sad.

The kids had a good time, though. Don't you love that cheesy grin on Bradford's face?!

Consignment Sale Goodies

2009-07-31T08:52:00.002-05:00

Bradford was so happy with his Bob the Builder electronic learning device thingie. And I finally had to take Anne's hat and mittens away and hide them, because she never took them off!

That's his pillow he's holding up--with new Cars sheets.

Consignment Sale Goodies

2009-07-25T01:00:00.000-05:00

I promised Bradford I would try to find something with Super Why! on it, but there was nothing at the consignment sale. I settled for a Bob the Builder VTech device ($5), which he was thrilled with.

I brought Anne a 24-piece Cinderella puzzle and a Cinderella pillow but she was preoccupied with her new hat and mittens.

Canal Ride

2009-07-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

We took a ride through OKC's canal when we visited. It was 105 degrees every single day we were there!

Both kids looked like cherry tomatoes by the time the ride was over.

Troublemaker

2009-07-23T20:30:00.002-05:00

What happens when Mommy leaves Anne alone with her purse? She finds the lipstick, of course. (This picture was taken in our hotel room in OKC).

Anne's Big Girl Bed

2009-07-10T20:16:00.002-05:00

The crib has been sold and Anne is in her big girl bed!

Fun in the Sun

2009-06-30T21:27:00.003-05:00

While we were at a wedding the kids stayed with friends of ours and played outside in the sprinkler. They had a blast!

Grandma's Monthly Care Package!

2009-06-30T01:00:00.000-05:00

Grandma found a Tinker Bell hat for Anne as well as a Nascar car for Bradford (and some Cars sunglasses).

New Jammies

2009-06-29T18:30:00.002-05:00

I bought Anne her first nightgown. She just loves it and would wear it all day if I let her!

It was so funny to watch her the first time--she kept pulling it down, trying to cover her legs like her other pj's do!

Playing with the Camera

2009-06-18T21:03:00.000-05:00

New Clothes

2009-06-14T21:34:00.002-05:00

You'll have to check out Counting Sprinkles for the story behind these new outfits.

I made him buy this shirt--doesn't he look great in it? He's listening to Bradford ask a question.

Daddy 'n' Anne

Smokin'

2009-06-14T21:32:00.001-05:00

Doug and I have been married for 5 1/2 years (together for 6 1/2) and this is the first time I have ever seen him in jeans. Ever.

Doesn't he look hot?!

Don't Go!

2009-06-13T09:45:00.001-05:00

Sometimes we don't want Daddy to go to work.

Looking at the picture makes me wonder what happened--wasn't it just yesterday that Bradford fit on my shoulder in a little ball? And now he's all legs and half my size!

Getting Ready for Bed

2009-06-13T09:42:00.001-05:00

Durham Bulls

2009-05-15T01:00:00.000-05:00

Doug took Bradford to a Durham Bulls baseball game Tuesday night. Fun was had by all, but Bradford was very disappointed that Woolly Bully, the mascot, didn't come over to see him. It was a boy's night out, and Mommy and Anne had fun together at home.

These are some of Doug's best friends. John Butler and his wife Kristi were at the game and Doug sat with them. John is a walking miracle as God has healed him and continues to preserve his life. He has been a true friend to Doug and our entire family. Bradford calls him Mr. John and always tells Doug that "we prayed for him when he was sick." Bradford was still recovering a bit from a nasty fall on the pavement as you can see from the red knee in the picture. He is already asking Doug when he can go back to see the bull!

Spoiled

2009-05-14T01:00:00.000-05:00

When I was in college Mom used to send me care packages with cookies and other treats. Now she sends them to her grandkids. I've told her she's in charge of care packages through their college years...

Our latest package included boxes of Cars crackers and Disney princess crackers for each child, a box of Lucky Charms for Bradford, and sunglasses for Miss Anne. 'Cause Mommy doesn't feed her kids, you know--Grandma has to step in.

Here Anne is, modeling the new glasses. We love Grandma!

Triumph!

2009-05-13T13:03:00.002-05:00

We have a ridiculously large amount of puzzles for children. I was discussing this with my mother the other day, and I think it's because we eschew electronic toys. We have play-doh and board games and shape-sorters and trains and cars and legos and blocks and puzzles. Because puzzles are the sort of toy that get old after you do them a few times, we have a million of them. And puzzles are toys that don't need parent's supervision or participation (unlike games and play doh). I think we have about 20 puzzles for Bradford's age, and another 15 or so for Anne's age.

What we call the "puppy puzzle" is a puzzle that Bradford picked out at the store about a year ago. It has 100 pieces, and they are mostly shades of gray, so it's a difficult puzzle for a 4-year-old. The first time we put it together it took longer than I expected! Anyway, we've had it for awhile and Bradford has always required help with it. But after watching him complete a different 100-piece puzzle that was a bit easier, I knew he could do the puppy puzzle if he really wanted to. So I encouraged him to try again by himself.

And he did it!

Here he is, celebrating. Yay, Bradford!

Too Cool

2009-05-10T15:41:00.002-05:00

Bradford is the master bike-rider. Every day he goes outside to "practice pedaling." He still has training wheels, but I'm glad he enjoys riding around.

She insists on wearing the glasses upside down...yes, that's a Cinderella in the corner of the glasses.

Our little fashion queen

2009-05-03T01:00:00.003-05:00

Breakfast! Where's my breakfast!

Air show, Part III

2009-05-02T01:00:00.001-05:00

Goofy Bradford.

On the way back to the parking lot.

Air show, Part II

2009-04-30T01:00:00.001-05:00

Enjoying hamburgers under the wing of a plane.

Anne in Daddy's lap.

Windy!

At the Airshow

2009-04-29T01:00:00.003-05:00

While Mommy was at Spring Daze, Daddy and the kids were at an air show. Here Bradford is with a pilot.

Oops

2009-04-28T01:00:00.004-05:00

This is the view from the front of the house when we purchased it in December 2007. Look at the left side of the picture. You'll see some blue rug juniper, which I can't stand. I had the brilliant idea to rip it up and replace it with a small wall and some pretty flowers. I bought the flowers, I bought the mulch, and then I got started...

Easier said than done! This is how it looks now, after I tore most of it up. I don't have a saw or anything like that, and the roots are fairly substantial, so that pulling just isn't working. I finally had to give up and get quotes from some landscaping companies to finish the job.

I decided to do this while Doug was away in Chicago, so when I picked him up at the airport, it went something like this:

Me: Welcome home!

Him: Thanks! I missed you guys.

Me: Remember that blue rug juniper that I don't like in front of our house?

Him: What?

Me: Anyway, it's gone, so you don't have to worry about it any more. Welcome home!

Him: Okay.

Me: Well, it's not entirely gone. You'll see.

Him (it slowly dawns on him that I'm preparing him for something): What have you done?

Me: Don't worry honey! I'll take care of it!

Him: I don't want to know.

While I was doing that, Bradford was collecting acorns and made a present of them to Daddy when he got home.

Actually, this whole thing reminds me of the summer when I was 16, Lyndsey was 14, Kel was 8 and Ben was 7. Mom and Dad were out celebrating their anniversary, and we kids had the brilliant idea to switch bedrooms and surprise them when they came back. We started moving furniture around, but there was too much and eventually it all ended up in the hallway, two kids were blocked in, and we couldn't move it anywhere. Then Mom and Dad came home. Surprise! They were thrilled beyond words. Literally.

Anne's First Headband

2009-04-27T01:00:00.000-05:00

Usually Anne is a "bow-girl" but we found a headband and she insisted on wearing it all day that day. I thought she looked pretty cute!

The kids get water or iced tea or milk to drink--no juice. But you can see by someone's pink mouth that I left my glass too close to the edge of the counter...

Around the House

2009-04-26T01:00:00.001-05:00

Take a closer look at her pajama top. Yep, she's got about 50 stickers on there. Ask me how hard they were to get off...

Doesn't Daddy draw a nice train?

Visit with Grandpa

2009-04-25T18:39:00.001-05:00

I accidentally deleted all of the photos from Dad's visit except this one!

Oops

2009-04-16T19:55:00.002-05:00

I accidentally deleted all of the pictures on my camera when I was trying to change a setting. Here are the only two pictures from Dad's visit (sent to me by Dad).

We took the kids to a neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt. Last year there were a lot of big kids and a good amount of eggs. This year there were far fewer kids and even more eggs--Bradford found a ton!

Anne, however, discovered that there was chocolate in the eggs. So she would find an egg, open it, remove the chocolate, unwrap it, and eat it very slowly before picking up another egg. I think she found about five eggs compared to Bradford's 30+!

Voices of Liberty

2009-04-12T06:30:00.001-05:00

Many years ago when I (Doug) was in college at LSU, Derrick Johnson came to my college church. When I first heard his name, he was introduced as the director of the Voices of Liberty at Epcot Center. Since that time, I have greatly enjoyed this group. They are an a cappella ensemble who sing the Music of America. It was my great delight to hear them three times while at Epcot (many thanks to Nicole and Kelly who allowed me the time to hear them!). Each time they were amazing. The young lady in the light blue dress was one of the finest soprano voices I've ever heard. Her range and agility were absolutely amazing. They sang with excellence, precision, passion, and a depth of professionalism that was inspiring.

The young man pictured to the right is one of the finest bass voices I've ever heard. The group sang Old MacDonald Had a Farm and his range was on full display. These musicians were top level, and I'm grateful that Derrick's legacy continues on with the Voices of Liberty. If you are ever at Epcot, make sure you go and listen to this group.

Shh! Don't Tell Bradford!

2009-04-10T01:00:00.002-05:00

Sometimes Anne likes to play with his cars while he's away. She'll take them out of the red lunch box Bradford keeps them in, and stuff them all in her purse. I don't know about you, but that's how I carry my cars!

Cinderella

2009-04-09T01:00:00.000-05:00

Anne received this outfit for Christmas, but this is the first time she's worn it. After going to Disney, she recognized Cinderella and wanted her Cinderella outfit. The tiara broke after 10 minutes--no surprise there in the gentle hands of a two-year-old.

Nemo

2009-04-08T01:00:00.000-05:00

Here we are at the Living Seas at Epcot (I think it's called something else now).

Here are Bradford and Aunt Kelly investigating the sign. I don't think they're actually supposed to be up on the rocks, but oh well!

Too Funny

2009-04-07T01:00:00.000-05:00

My brother Ben waited with Bradford and I to see Woody and Buzz while the rest of the family and Anne were elsewhere. When we finally got to the end of the line and met Woody and Buzz, the Disney photographer told Bradford to "smile at Mommy and Daddy!" Ben and I just died laughing, which is probably why Bradford is laughing as well. Don't we look anything alike at all?

Waiting to meet Buzz and Woody

2009-04-06T01:00:00.001-05:00

There was a place to meet Buzz and Woody at Hollywood Studios. We must have waited 30 minutes in that line to meet those guys. In the meantime, we got to walk through "the set" of Toy Story and Bradford got his picture taken with the props.

Here he is, strapped to the rocket just like Buzz was.

Anyone want a little boy? He comes with Stinky Pete--mint in the box!

Meeting Lightning and Mater

2009-04-05T01:00:00.002-05:00

These were at Hollywood Studios. The cars didn't talk but did rev their "engines".

Lightning revved his engine a little too loud for some of us!

Here's Mater with Grandma, Anne, and Bradford.

At the Hotel

2009-04-04T01:00:00.001-05:00

Eating toasted peanut butter and bananas.

Reading to her baby dolls.

Meeting Buzz

2009-04-03T01:00:00.001-05:00

We saw Buzz Lightyear near the Carousel of Progress in the Magic Kingdom. Boy, were the kids excited!

Buzz was very excited to see Anne's Jessie doll--if you remember Toy Story 2, Buzz becomes interested in Jessie...

Even More Disney Pics

2009-04-02T01:00:00.002-05:00

Anne and Grandma getting ready to head home for the night.

Uncle Ben and Bradford (who is trying to catch the last bit of the Spectromagic parade).

Grandma and Bradford coming out of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Lunch

2009-04-01T01:00:00.000-05:00

Our first lunch at Disney was...interesting. Mom, Ben, and Kelly decided not to pack a lunch but to buy food at the park. I decided to pack sandwiches. Bradford was less than thrilled when he discovered he would not be getting fries but was stuck with peanut butter and jelly. He smashed his sandwich into bits (and then we "talked" and he ate it), but his mood improved toward the end of lunch. He and Aunt Kelly danced to a song on the speakers.

Uncle Ben and Aunt Kelly.

Uncle Ben's Turn

2009-03-31T01:00:00.000-05:00

Everyone was a big help taking turn with the kids and the stroller.

More Splash Mountain

2009-03-30T01:00:00.000-05:00

Anne was too little to ride Splash Mountain, so she played on a playground with Grandma while we got soaked.

That's her going down the slide on her belly.

Splash Mountain

2009-03-29T01:00:00.000-05:00

Aunt Kelly and Bradford get ready to ride Splash Mountain.

Disney Pics

2009-03-28T01:00:00.000-05:00

Grandma and Anne in the monorail on the way to the Magic Kingdom.

Bradford with Donald, the first character we saw.

These birds were fearless--they walked everywhere in the park amongst the people.

It's a Small World

2009-03-27T01:00:00.000-05:00

Disney closed Small World for renovations and re-opened it, but I can't tell what they did! The kids enjoyed it. Here's Grandma, Anne, and Uncle Ben.

Aunt Kelly and Bradford.

He's entranced.

Sittin' Pretty

2009-03-26T01:00:00.000-05:00

Lounging Around

2009-03-25T01:00:00.000-05:00

Just hanging out after naptime.

Presents from Grandma

2009-03-24T01:00:00.000-05:00

Grandma mailed up some Lightning McQueen cups and pencils and Princess cups for the kids. It was a happy day in the Baker house when they opened that package!

Breakfast

2009-03-23T20:43:00.001-05:00

Anne in one of her cute new hairbows.

Play Doh Time

2009-03-02T01:00:00.000-05:00

Home Again!

2009-03-01T01:00:00.003-05:00

I went to NYC last weekend to visit my father, and was greeted quite joyfully when I returned.

We went to a bookstore, where Dad found a train calendar for $1--Doug always brings something for the kids after he returns from trips, so I thought this was a good purchase. Bradford spent the whole car ride home from the airport admiring it.

Dad 'n' Anne

2009-02-28T01:00:00.000-05:00

She really likes that Mr. Potato Head hand!

The French Braid

2009-02-27T01:00:00.000-05:00

When Lynds and I were growing up, after we got our baths Mom would sit down and wet-French braid our hair. In the morning we'd have beautiful hair for school, and then the next morning we'd take the French braid out and be left with gorgeous curls. I haven't had anyone to practice on, so I really have no idea how to do it! Any volunteers? :)

Mom did this so fast (and made it look so easy!) that Anne wasn't fussy at all.

What a beautiful braid!

Thirsty Girl

2009-02-26T01:00:00.000-05:00

Anne kept stealing Grandma's water bottles.

Silly

2009-02-25T01:00:00.001-05:00

What are they so excited about?

Brad wonders, too.

Tickle time!

Grandma!

2009-02-24T01:00:00.000-05:00

Grandma came to visit us last week, and the kids were so excited to see her.

By the end of the week, Anne did not want me to pick her up any more--she only wanted Grandma! We are going to have a blast at Disney--I can tell already!

Pretty Girl

2009-02-23T13:39:00.002-05:00

This is one of my favorite dresses!

I love the blue and green combination, and the delicate blue ribbon that ties at her back.

Night-night!

2009-02-11T11:13:00.001-05:00

By the way, Uncle Ben, Anne wears that dress about five times a week. Every time she sees it she wants to put it on--if I put something else on her she takes it off and brings me the dress!

Boys

2009-02-06T01:00:00.000-05:00

This is what the boys were doing--bodysurfing down the couch with their "swords". I say "swords" because Brad's was actually Anne's wand!

A Good Mommy

2009-02-05T01:00:00.001-05:00

Anne LOVES her dolls.

We had a playdate this week and she sat and rocked, hugged, kissed, and fed her baby doll while the boys were playing.

Such a good little mommy!

That's MR. Engineer to you!

2009-02-04T01:00:00.000-05:00

That's the box o' stuff I'm selling on Craigslist/eBay.

Cutie!

2009-02-03T16:28:00.001-05:00

I thought she'd rip the the hat off, but she loved it and insisted on wearing it to church!

Dinner

2009-02-02T01:00:00.000-05:00

This is what dinner looks like on nights Daddy works late.

New Skillet

2009-02-01T01:00:00.000-05:00

Mom and Dad gave us Amazon gift cards for Christmas, and we finally used them. I got this cast iron skillet for $19.99 with free shipping. It got incredible reviews, and I tell ya, I would have paid more than that for this baby. It weighs a ton, and Miss Anne is trying to lift it off the floor!

Hi, Mama!

2009-01-31T01:00:00.000-05:00

Anne's helping me blog.

Silly Kid

2009-01-30T01:00:00.000-05:00

He's wearing Woody's hat.

Lightning McQueen!

2009-01-29T19:19:00.001-05:00

I wrote on Counting Sprinkles that we recently bribed Bradford to give up diapers at night and naptimes. It's been almost a week now and we haven't had any accidents--when the kid wants something, he sets his mind to it!

Thomas Game

2009-01-27T01:00:00.001-05:00

One of Bradford's Christmas presents was a Thomas game. We gave it a whirl before bed.

Talking to Grandma

2009-01-26T01:00:00.000-05:00

Anne loves to chat with pretty much anyone on the phone. Here she is, talking with Grandma while eating her afternoon snack.

These shoes are much too big for her, but she found them in her closet and insisted on putting them on.

Hi and Bye

2009-01-25T01:00:00.000-05:00

Anne just came down to say hi!

Snow Day

2009-01-24T01:00:00.000-05:00

This is probably the most snow he's going to see for years down here!

Post-nap You Tube

2009-01-23T01:00:00.000-05:00

They're eating Chex Mix, and Anne insisted on getting a spoon for herself.

Kids at play

2009-01-22T01:00:00.001-05:00

These are the desks my Uncle refinished for my sister and I years ago. Now they're perfect for homeschooling. I'm not sure they'll stay in that exact spot in the house, but I haven't had a chance to think about a better one. Brad has already claimed "his" desk.

She has four purses on her arm in this picture--pretty normal.

Lunch

2009-01-22T00:30:00.001-05:00

Most of the time we sit around the table and eat lunch together, but occasionally I'll let Brad eat at the counter.

I told you they liked Cars...

2009-01-21T01:00:00.000-05:00

This was the kids' favorite position while Ben and Annie were here--on their laps or in between them. Brad even insisted on sitting on Annie's lap while the dentist cleaned his teeth!

Playtime with Ben-n-Annie

2009-01-20T01:00:00.001-05:00

Isn't this the cutest outfit? Uncle Ben brought this sweater for Anne's Christmas present, and the shoes are from our friend Joanna. They're a little big for Miss Anne, but they looked so good with this sweater!

The kids loved watching Cars (our new favorite movie) with Uncle Ben and Annie.

Hangin' Out with Uncle Ben and Annie

2009-01-19T01:00:00.003-05:00

Uncle Ben and his girlfriend Annie came to visit us a couple of weeks ago.

Cooties!

2009-01-18T01:00:00.000-05:00

A post-bath family game (sans Anne).

The Tractor!

2009-01-17T01:00:00.000-05:00

Bradford talked of nothing else leading up to this trip, and every phone call with Nana and Papa Frank would end begin and end with Bradford asking if Papa Frank had the tractor ready!

We come to Louisiana for the tractor riding, you know.

What could it be?

2009-01-16T01:00:00.000-05:00

What on earth would hold a four-year-old's attention so completely? Would make him stand so still?

What could it possibly be? Stay tuned...

The Chairs

2009-01-15T01:00:00.000-05:00

Nana and I found these at Walmart. I knew Bradford, with his new found obsession with Cars, would just die when he saw this. And since Anne would have commandeered it, we got her one too.

He convinced Nana to let him go to bed with this on his bed!

He really, really likes it!

Anne's seat and another new tea set.

She loves hers as well.

Anne

2009-01-14T09:19:00.002-05:00

We went to Anne's two year checkup today--she is 31 lb and 36 1/2 inches, which puts her in the 88th percentile for weight and the 95th for height.

It was an incredibly easy and quick checkup. We live five minutes from the doctor, so we were out the door at 8:35, at the doctor and checking in at 8:40, called back at 8:45, seen, checked out and in the car at 9:04. Home by 9:10. Amazing.

At our previous pediatrician this would have been an all-morning appointment. In the car at 8:15. At the doctor by 8:40. Checked in and waiting....called back at 9:00am. Actually seen at 9:20. Waiting for the nurse to release us....checking out at 9:30. Home by 10am.

Anyway, the doctor thinks Anne is doing great, no shots today (no more until she's four), and that's all there is to report!

More Christmas Presents

2009-01-14T01:00:00.002-05:00

Uncle Jeremy special ordered this hat for Bradford, which Daddy really loved (it's hidden in our closet now!).

A Mr. Potato Head for Anne.

A Cars box!! (Brad is really into Cars right now)

His words when he opened this: "Oh. My. Goodness."

Christmas Presents

2009-01-13T01:00:00.001-05:00

We opened Christmas presents the morning of the 29th, when everyone had arrived from their various destinations visiting other family.

Daddy helped Anne open her presents.

Bradford is very excited!

A Thomas game--always a winner with Bradford!

Another baby doll for Anne.