Everything I’ve learned at Grandma’s House… in only 2 weeks.

Annabelle and I have spent the last 2 weeks (July 1 – 13) in Minnesota visiting family while Daddy stayed behind to work. While we’ve been here Belle has learned new tricks and grown up so much. Her Daddy will hardly recognize her. For instance:

• 7-UP is fantastic! Apparently, the other day she wanted some of what Grandma had (7-UP), so my mom thought “why not get a straw?” – Belle slurped it up as fast as she could.


• She tried new foods too. We’ve learned that taco dip is very good but venecine sausage, -not so much, beef stroganoff is better with lots of Cheese-Whiz; lasagna is great, but only when picked off of Grandma’s plate; garlic toast is a favorite, but it doesn’t top Cheese-Whiz toast (Grandma’s favorite). So, if you think there is a theme here, there is: Cheese-Whiz is a staple at Grandma’s house – that and Easy Cheese (which we are holding off until next time). Annabelle sits in front of Grandma with her mouth open like a bird, and she pretty much got everything Grandma was eating.



• Belle has new words; Papa (for Grandpa Carpenter), Grandma (sounds like gama), yes, yea, ya ya, hi. These new words are added to the list of Mama, Dada, Daddy, night night, bye bye, ba ba (which is used for “cup” “bath” “baby” and “ball”) and probably some others that I am forgetting.
  
• If you say “outside”, Belle runs to the patio door.
  
• She learned to walk barefoot in grass.



• She was comfortable waving “bye bye” to Mommy leaving her home with Grandma, because Grandma said to her, “once mama leaves, we can play and do things that mama won’t let you do” – hence the 7-UP.




• Belle has started temper tantrums… serious throw her body back, kick her legs and slam her head into anything that is around (including very hard surfaces)…crying and the whole bit. Ahhh…she IS her mother’s daughter
  
• Belle loves cupboards, especially sitting in them and closing the door. Grandma gave her a flashlight so it wouldn’t be so dark. She thinks it is fantastic to hide…I’m not so sure how fantastic this new hiding thing really is.



• She loves babies – real ones like her cousins Ethan (5 months) and Alex (8 weeks) – especially their feet. She kept trying to bite Ethan’s feet. She couldn’t get her mouth close enough to Alex’s piggy toes, but she tried. You can see her here trying to get at Ethan's toes.


• Parades are very fun – even 2 ½ hour long parades. She is learning to pick up the candy. Although she didn’t eat any of the candy (I know, that Mommy is no fun), she did enjoy holding onto the wrappers.
  
  
  
  


• She loves Auntie Angie’s play kitchen and Grandma’s tea set. She played tea-party every day. She would even bring us plates and tea…way too cute.



• She continues to point to everything she wants and has perfected her communication. If she doesn’t want something, she pushes it away.


• Sharing has been a little more challenging. She and Mya (3 years old) have battled it out a few times – especially playing with The Little People house and accessories. If Belle doesn’t get what she wants, she takes it – bad baby, and if that doesn’t work, she throws a temper tantrum – double bad baby. It is a good thing Mya has been very patient with Belle.
  
  


• She’s learning to run, but sometimes her feet get ahead of her and she falls.


• She thinks hiding or running from Papa and Gama is hilarious – so funny, that she would often fall to the floor in an uncontrollable belly laugh.

Annabelle was a wonderful baby on this trip (except for the newly acquired temper tantrums – which started a few days before we left). She slept great in her crib – although we’ll be getting a new bed for her the next time we’re home because she’s getting too long. She has napped right on schedule and continued to nap her regular 3 hours or so. Except for the first couple days where it sprinkled on and off, we’ve had no mosquitoes (seriously, not one bite) and beautiful weather – highs in the low 80’s and cool at night.