Annika is developing by leaps and bounds lately. Yesterday Gramme taught her to say "sshh" with her finger over her mouth. They were playing with Annika's baby and Gramme told Annika it was sleeping so they had to be quiet and then they "sshh"'ed. When I got home, Gramme told Annika to "sshh" and then Annika put her fingers up to my lips to tell me to "sshh". It was too cute!

Gramme said that Annika doesn't seem very ticklish, so I showed her how I really get Annika going. I turn her so that she's standing on my lap facing away from me and then I put my chin in her rib cage and move it around. Annika shrieks with glee and laughter. I stop and then Annika stands there and slightly leans back to find my chin and we do it all over again, many times,until Annika has had enough.

Monday night during dinner, Annika used a fork for the first time. She stabbed a piece of fruit (peach, actually) and put it in her mouth. I was so excited for her and clapped and cheered. Annika thought I was nuts. She practiced with her fork last night too. Yay big girl!

I think Annika said "kitty" last night. She was in her high chair eating dinner when Tigger came down the stairs. She pointed to Tigger, said what sounded like "kitty" and then went "tst, tst". "Tst" is a noise we make at Tigger when he's doing something bad like jumping up on the dining room table. Annika has apparently associated this sound with Tigger and now makes the sound whenever she sees Tigger. Too funny. She is so smart!

Last night, Annika went to sleep shortly after 8pm, woke up around 1:30 and then didn't wake up again until almost 8am! And when she did wake up at 8am, she babbled and played in her crib until Kris went to go get her. How lovely! And perfect! Now, if she'll stop with the waking up during the night entirely, I'll be in heaven. I did hear her wake up this morning around 6:30am but she put herself back to sleep. I about jumped out of bed to do a happy dance but instead snuggled with Kris and went back to sleep. :)

Annika has figured out which button is the "off" button on Kris's computer and she likes to use it. Little stinker.

Yesterday, they did some landscaping around our house. We now have bushes in front of the garage and on the side of the house facing our neighbors. It looks really good. The only problem is the rock they used is a different color than the rock they put in the hole between the front door and garage. If they don't switch one of them out this week, we'll talk to the contractor about it on the 18th, when we have another walk through with them. Wow, that was a long sentence. Sorry.

Next week is Kris's last week of coaching. I think it ends with Tuesday's last game. I hope he enjoyed it (I think he did). It will be life back to normal for us then. No more babysitters in the afternoons for Annika. I wonder if she'll miss her time away from Mommy & Daddy.

And with that, I'll wrap up today's update. I'm off to freshen up so we can go have lunch with Auntie Krystle today!