Sunflowers

Toby "grew" sunflowers this year! By "grew" I mean he didn't let me mistake them for weeds and pull them out of the ground when they started sprouting beneath the bird feeder. We have had several come up, some very tall.

Annie has them in her sights!

Annie loves to smell flowers, though sometimes she also takes a big bite of them at the same time, or at least licks them. :)

Aaah, savoring the sweet smell.  Or perhaps about the sneeze.  But cute either way.

More evidence...

...that I have one extra-cute child.  The photographer who did her 6 month photos - Krista Lee of Krista Lee Photography - asked if she could use some of Annie's pictures for her portfolio.  In return she would send us a copy of the portfolio.  I was not terribly interested in getting the portfolio, because who really wants a coffee-table book full of other folks' kids? 

Surprise - the book is entirely of our cutie-patootie!  (The fuzziness is because Toby just sent me this photo from his phone, as I am still. at. work. At 9:27pm. Ugh.)

Incentive, I suppose, to get my work done and get the heck out of here!

Welcome Julia Lake Harris!

Today was the best day!  Julie Lake Harris has arrived and is healthy and well.  I don't think her parents will mind me saying that she was a very long time coming, and her birth makes for one extremely happy and content family, and many thrilled friends.  Congratulations especially to big brother Austin. 

We also learned today that our extended family is growing!  I won't name names until I receive official approval, but we are super excited that future family reunions will be even larger. 

What a great news day!

Much Belated Happy Fathers Day!

The Thornton triplets are in town (more on that later), contributing to my failure to timely express my appreciation to Toby for being such a wondeful father.  He is truly an amazing dad, and out-parents me in so many ways, including:

Patience - Toby has the patience of a saint. When Annie is putting on a major show of toddlerhood, Toby remains cool as a cucumber.  Not sleeping?  Toby sings as long as it takes.  The harshest thing he's said to her?  "Oh, Annie..."

Playfulness - Toby romps and plays chase and builds towers.  He also builds toys, and will read the same book 50 times over.

Positivity - I actually knew about this one before Annie was born, unlike the other two.  Right now, Toby's preternatural positivity helps me more than Annie, but I hope she grows up to be just like him.

15 months

Toby took some cute photos of Annie while I was working a little late today.  I just had to share, but I'm a bit tired so I'm afraid my wit has left me.  All I know is that sometime between her birthday and today, she became a little kid, rather than baby.

 Here she is enjoying the British Bobby hat that Toby picked up for her last month in England.

And using her water funnel as a megaphone - perhaps she has a career in law enforcement ahead.

And here looking more like a character from Spaceballs.

Note the devilish look in her eyes while trying to eat rocks.

And finally wondering where all the birds went.  Probably somewhere that Annie couldn't touch them.

Stats from her well-child checkup indicate that she is growing well, even though she has started refusing to eat.  She's still in the 50th percentile for height and weight, and continues to have the world's largest baby head - 95th percentile, anyway. :)  There must be a big brain in that noggin.

Catch up - The Beach (in April)

Annie loved her first trip to the beach! The girl can't get enough sand and water!

She did, however, discover that salt water tastes yucky.

Happy Anniversary, Toby!

After three years, you're still the brightest star in my sky.  I love you!