Proof that Anna is not the center of our world.

Just kidding. She totally is. As much as we are trying to help her have a balanced sense of perspective, we can't help it. Why take pictures of anything else when you have something as cute as that around. So we take any opportunity to take, and have pictures taken of, Anna. We had our friend Ruth take some pictures of her just after her first birthday. She doesn't pose well, so all photos have to be taken covertly, using some of her "friends" (aka, her favorite toy of the moment) to distract her.

Mother Theresa, eat your heart out! There has never been a more innocent or pure face. Unfortunately, as she becomes more conniving and mischievous, that face makes a perfect cover for her true intentions-- getting as many graham crackers and goldfish as she can.
I don't know what she is looking at, but she has a singleness of mind and focus that would make Gandhi jealous.

the days of helping her walk are now in the past. Now I long for those days of limited mobility. Of course, Richard is convinced that in the future one of us will invent time travel. He still looks for himself to come and visit himself. But it may just well be Anna who take the quantum leap.
this was the friend of the moment, which also happened to be one of Richard's toys when he was little. Just a plastic man without arms or legs-- a peg man. She had to have him in sight the whole time. The best toys are often the most simple.
But the bestest toys are the books. We get most of our books from Goodwill these days. Not only are they only .79, but Anna can tare them apart if she wants (and she always wants). Anything with moving parts is fair game to pried, ripped, torn, bent, or eaten off. Someday she will take care of her books, but until then-- we let her go wild. The book pictured above is no longer with us... in one piece.

Anna usually does not allow me to put anything in her hair. She has a sixth sense about it. Even if I trick her and stick the barrette in when she is not looking, she takes it out a few minutes later. But as her hair grows increasingly unruly and hangs in her face, I have started threatening her that I will cut her hair unless she lets me clip it back.
The monkey walk.
If only life could be this exciting for everyone! Anna gets this excited around ducks, dogs, playgrounds, birds, bananas, candy corn/raisinettes/cookies, and Baby signing time.

oh, and when her parents make a fool of themselves trying to make her laugh (a new talent).