AAAAAAAAAH

The YELL. I'm hoping this is just a phase. And if so, that it doesn't last until she's 3. Other mothers tell me, "They're just finding their voices."

Flannery has adopted a new form of communication. It goes like this... (Picture very LOUD - as if you never really knew what ear-piercing meant until now.)

(raise arm, point)
AAAAAAAAAAAAH
(pause)
AAAAAAAAAAAAH
(point at something she wants but can't have)
AAAAAAAAAAAAH
(pause)
AAAAAAAAAAAAH
(point at something she CAN have and I will give her as soon as possible)
AAAAAAAAAAAAH
(pause)
AAAAAAAAAAAAH
AAAAAAAAAAAAH

Oh boy!

But then a little later she gives me one of those wet kisses and a choke-me-around-the-neck hug. Ahhhh...


At our backyard Memorial Day BBQ: Flannery loves her dolly. (Thanks, Ellie's Mom.)

Climbing

Flannery has taken her first few steps! Two towards Sedona. And then three from the rocking chair to my leg.

She's also learning to climb. Yesterday I turned around for 5 seconds and she'd climbed up and "over" the rocking chair knocking it to the floor. Once comforted she immediately set to doing it again!

Here are some new pics from the last two weeks.


Flannery loved her friend, Sean's, birthday party and swimming in his grandparents pool.

Beach Day Today

Another wonderful benefit of having a kid. Usually the only time I go to the beach is to walk or jog. Now along with enjoying the sun, I get to dig, build, play chase, and of course, monitor the sand eating.


I love this one -- one of many wonderful, sweet pictures of Gary with Flannery.


Thanks Julie for this great hat! When I put it on her, it covered her face so nicely, she thought we were playing peek-a-boo.

Butterflies

It was one of those days. For starters, Flannery has had a low grade fever the last couple days. I'm convinced its her teeth, hopefully the molars. She's been fussy, clingy and is rubbing her jawline and ear with the palm of her hand. No other symptoms.

We went to the Butterfly Exhibit at the Natural History Museum today. On the way, Flannery fell asleep which I wasn't expecting. I reached back to see what she was doing and she was limp; I couldn't wake her. Finally I stuck my finger in her mouth and swung it around. She cried. Phew. I was shaking the rest of the trip. I don't know why I chose that moment to, for the first time, get scared by her sleeping in the car.

The exhibit was great. Flannery met 4 of her baby friends. I really wanted a picture with a butterfly sitting on the brim of Flannery's hat. Or maybe just one with her and a butterfly in the same shot...



Flannery slept for 20 minutes in the car on the way home. Ugh. Murder on naps. A bit of parental delusion (in spite of her protests) made me think I could get her back to sleep. Once I came to my senses an hour later, she played happily until bed time.

... A disclaimer for kidless friends or friends who have kids but have expanded their thoughts beyond first steps, rice-gummed hair, and diapers; so far this blog is for the grandparents! Maybe soon, I'll tell you what Gary and I are up to also.