Anna's 17th Month

Anna is seventeen months old!

Ever since that one day hanging out with her friend who is six months older than she, Anna has been trying so hard to get the hang of running.  She's also been practicing walking on her toes.

We got outside as much as we could this fall before the weather turned kinda miserable.

Man, I wish jacket season were just a little longer.

She has got the number 2 down pat.

It is, in fact, a multipurpose number that can represent all numbers as well as the act of counting.  But in the second half of the month, she started counting all the way up to FOUR! Minus the number one.  I dunno why, but it's always "Two, Free, Four, Two, Two, Two, Free," etc. Occasionally, she says what definitely sounds like five, six, seven, and eight, in correct order, no less.  Counting has been exciting this month.

She's been mimicking a few of our phrases like Oh boy! and I'll be riiiiiiight back! with a dramatic finger waggle.  It's pretty darn cute.

It's wonderful how much her play has developed in the last month.  Here she is "feeding" her baby.

She's also learning to color without eating the crayons (as much).

She can now climb onto most things chair height.

The couch is a challenge, but the window bench is a piece of cake.  We're moments away from her being able to operate the door handles and being able to let herself upstairs.

Anna likes practicing with real cups.  I'll sometimes give her a couple tablespoonfuls of water.  When she's concentrating, she does really well, but the rest inevitable ends up on the floor.

Reading was the thing this month.

Every book, every day, some books multiple times a day.  She looooves her Cookie Monster shapes book.  She got circle a while ago, but she's got star now, too.  She can identify the sun in any picture (if it's not too busy) and she knows the lion and bear.  She can do most parts of the face.

Oh! And it was Halloween last month.

I'm so excited for the holiday season this year!  I love Anna's sparkling laugh and adorable sense of humor, and I can't wait to see what she thinks of the house all in lights and the fun and pretty decorations going up all over town.

Anna, what a dear little person you're turning out to be!  We love you so very, very much.