Gorgeous sunset from the airplane on the flight to PHX.
Gorgeous sunset from the airplane on the flight to PHX.
Gorgeous sunset from the airplane on the flight to PHX.
Gorgeous sunset from the airplane on the flight to PHX.
At the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park.
At the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park.
At the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park.
On the carousel at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park.
On the carousel at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park.
On the carousel at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park.
Model train building at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. It seems like a new-ish building, and the clubs that run the three different train sets are actively building out their miniature towns.
My road-trip partner across the desert, traveling in style.
This is what much of the drive from PHX to Los Angeles looks like.
Annie was a trooper on the trip, and refrained from being too whiny until around an hour out of Ontario.
An oasis in the middle of the desert.
Running off excess energy after a long drive.
Hopping!
Skipping!
Reading her new books from Aunt Cathy and Uncle Lucky.
Reading her new books from Aunt Cathy and Uncle Lucky.
Reading her new books from Aunt Cathy and Uncle Lucky.
Reading her new books from Aunt Cathy and Uncle Lucky.
Reading her new books from Aunt Cathy and Uncle Lucky.
Happy girl!
Reading her new books from Aunt Cathy and Uncle Lucky.
Happy girl with TOOFIES!
Toofies less visible here…
Me and my girls.
Fingers in the mouth because TOOFIES are coming in!
Reading her new books from Aunt Cathy and Uncle Lucky.
Kristie and Annie.
Getting tired…
The birthday boy blows out his candles. The fire danger in town was elevated, so we chose not to go with a full 60 candles.
The many faces of Aria.
The many faces of Aria.
The many faces of Aria.
The many faces of Aria.
Mmm…. chocolate mayonnaise cake!
Chocolate mayonnaise cake is acceptable.
Goofball.
Eating a cupcake she helped frost.
Oh no! Chocolate mayonnaise cake is almost gone!
That’s alright, I’ll just do what mommy does!
We have a process for eating a cupcake: sprinkles, then icing, then possibly some of the cupcake itself.
She looks so old in this picture…
Yum!
Multitasking…
Always observing.
Peekaboo!
The many faces of Aria.
Aria and mommy laying next to the pool.
Mommy has a death grip on Aria. Aria is rocking the 80s hair.
Splashing!
Splashing
Running some more…
It was only around 60 and quite breezy, but it felt awesome to be outside in the sun.
Beautiful sunny Lake Elsinore day.
Kissing the bunny.
Nice sunset/moonrise on our last evening in Elsinore.
Nice sunset/moonrise on our last evening in Elsinore.
On the way to our seats for the SEA vs. MIL game in Maryvale!
Hangin’ out on mommy’s back.
Sisters
A really nice guy randomly stopped on his way up the aisle and gave the girls this baseball. I love spring training!
Our big girl.
Michael Saunders begins his swing that will send the ball, mere miliseconds from being hit, over the outfield wall.
Climbing!
Climbing! (Face decorated with peanut butter)
Enjoying her 5th spring training.
Snuggles!
Happy girl. :-)
Artsy shot of Annie.
Happy girl. :-)
Spring training, through the eyes of a child.
Happy girl! :-)
TOOFIES!
TOOFIES!
TOOFIES… and drool.
Kristie watches the game.
Kristie watches the game and is distracted by a goofball.
Said goofball.
Hangin’ out, trying not to fall asleep.
Annie gives Chorizo a congratulatory high five after he won the sausage races.
Getting autographs…
Giving more high fives.
Annie shows off her autographs.
Posing with the sausages.
Obligatory landmark photograph.
Kristie and her girls.
Aria wearing hat from Nana.
Girls ready to go to the playground, wearing hats from Nana.
Girls wearing hats from Nana.
Aria, Little Miss Pleased With Herself.
On the way to the park!
Playing on the play structure at Park #1.
Intently playing.
Figuring out where to go next.
Her eyes are so intense!
Happily playing… wearing hat from Nana.
On an adventure, across the play structure bridge.
Queen of the play structure observes her territory.
Starting to get tired…
Aria had a great time in the swings! Annie was in her “terrified of these crazy things hanging from chains” stage at her age.
Artistic shot of Aria.
Wheeee!
Great light.
Annie wanted to push Aria… Aria put up with it for a bit.
At the Seattle Gymnastics Academy indoor playground this afternoon. She randomly took a few steps earlier, and did this right before the hour was up. Peer pressure, I tell ya!
June 22, 2012 at 3:58 pm by Kristie · Filed under Aria
Neither of us is exactly on top of it when it comes to writing blog posts anymore. In another year or so, I should be able to turn the task over to Annie, but until then, I figure I should check in every once in awhile!
Anyway, our sweet Aria turned a year old this past Monday! We celebrated the day with a family trip to the Seattle Aquarium and the “Indoor Foam Pit Place,” a local gymnastics gym that has open playtime. Annie got to show Daddy her jumping and flipping skills, and Aria got to practice climbing and crawling on two knees. It was a nice family day together!
A few Ari stats:
* 17lbs even and 27.75″ tall–exactly Annie’s stats at a couple days shy of 11 months. She’s petite and perfect in every way!
* Wears a size 9-12 month clothes and size small diaper cover. We’re mostly using Bum Genius Freetimes anymore, though, to go with our few remaining Fuzzibunz.
* Loves food in any form. Prefers meat (loves fish!), but won’t say no to a nice piece of fresh fruit or pretty much any vegetable. Not really into starches and carbs, but neither was her sister.
* Still nurses all day and several times at night.
* Would probably sleep better, but learning to pull up on things and cutting a whole mouthful of teeth at once are hard on a baby!
* Is currently toothless. It doesn’t seem to slow her down.
* Likes to color! Big sister’s (forbidden) markers are her favorite, but she’ll take crayons or pens as well. If none of those are available, the Magna Doodle will occupy her for a long time.
* LOVES books. She will sit and read for almost as long as Annie will. She looks at the pictures, she turns pages, she chatters away about what she sees. She doesn’t seem to have any particular favorites, except for perhaps whatever Annie is reading.
* Sings. A lot. Loudly. Usually because her sister is doing the same. I guess she’s not named “Aria” for no reason!
* Says a handful of words: “kitty cat,” “dada,” “hi!!!!!,” “Annie,” “uh-oh,” and perhaps funniest (to us, at least), “thank you!!” She says it at the correct time and very consistently, and it sounds something like “gANK OOOOOO!”
* Is currently playing peek-a-boo with me with a napkin she swiped from her big sister and giggling like mad every time I look at her and she pulls it away from her face!
* Loves showers. Dislikes diaper changes and being dressed.
* Doesn’t mind having her hair brushed, happily, and will even sit to have it styled. Phew.
* LOVES the Little People figurines that were handed down to us before Annie was born. She’ll spend 15+ minutes at a time moving things around the little house and barn and chattering to herself.
* Is a little people-specific. Her order of preference is:
1. Mom
2. Mom
3. Mom
4. Mom
If none of those are available, then Dad or Grandpa might be okay.
* Continues to be laid-back and happy, and her own unique person doing things in her own time!
October 19, 2011 at 10:29 pm by Colin · Filed under Annie, Aria
While in Phoenix, we try to make a stop at the Desert Botanical Garden, an absolutely amazing 65-acre slice of desert providing over 50,000 plant displays. One exhibit which is always a treat is the butterfly house. Normally when we come in spring, there are several species of butterflies co-existing in the habitat. During the fall, the exhibit focuses on the Monarch butterfly, its migration patterns, and conservation efforts underway to protect the species.
With the butterflies come a ton of pictures, and this being Aria’s first trip to the Garden, I made sure to get a few more pictures.
Here’s (a very tired) Annie when she was almost 5 months old in the butterfly house:
And here’s (a slightly less tired) Aria at 4 months: