Anika and Bismarck

I've mentioned the relationship between Anika and the dogs before - she's certainly interested in them, and Peli regards her as yet another human to tolerate...and maybe get some treats from (although she always has her eye on Anika!), and Bismarck seems to always be around Anika - she gets lots of attention, so therefore, if he's in the general vicinity, he will get attention too.  And maybe treats :-)

Here are some pictures over the last 2 months or so of the blossoming relationship:

Anika has been wanting to stand and walk (holding our hands) so much lately, so after breakfast, we plop her down and she looks out the back door.  One morning, she was super interested in whatever was outside...then the dogs got excited and that's when we decided to check things out, too.  Lo and behold, Anika spotted 2 deer right outside!  It looks like they were interested in Ben's weather station - there's an anemometer (whirly thing that tells the speed and wind direction) on top of the pole and it was spinning pretty well.

Alas, my furry friends!  There are intruders in the back of the house!

Said intruders...one looking up at the whirly thingy.

Bismarck tolerates alot.  A LOT.  For example, for years, Ben and I thought it has been very funny to put banana stickers on Bismarck's forehead...especially if the sayings on the stickers are humorous (those wacky advertisers!).

This sticker says: "Place sticker on forehead. Smile."
Biz isn't really smiling but...

ANIKA is smiling!

She just thought it was too funny to see Biz with a sticker :-)

To further illustrate Anika's amusement with Bismarck, this series of photos was shot around Halloween:

Awww....isn't she cute?  Showing off her dimples with her cute top and headband on?

Nah...something isn't right, Mommy.  Let's fix it.

Woo-hoo!  Now THAT'S what we're talking about! 
(note: no comments about my dog's masculinity - it takes lots of testosterone to pull off ribbons! 
Plus, it made the baby happy)

Anika even likes to hang out with Biz in Ben's office!

Look at that face!  I wonder what will happen next?

Ahh...yes!  The toe/paw inspection!

Followed by: geez, don't you guys ever brush these dogs?

In an effort to encourage Anika to crawl/walk/become at least somewhat independently mobile, I do strategically place her near Biz at times...and since she's always reaching for his bear-bell, I take his collar off at times (yes, he has ring-around-the-collar...and is okay with it).

Notice Peli in the background on our bed...

Anika and Biz will be friends for quite a while, I'm sure...here she is, reaching for him on a nice brisk fall day:

Okay, so she wants to help Daddy out, too :-)

Official One Year Stats

Anika had her 1-year checkup last week and was a champ, per usual :-)  She wowed the whole facility with her Lance Armstrong-esque lung capacity all the while charming everyone with her vibrant personality.  I wonder where she gets that from?

Here's the nitty gritty:
Length: 28 inches
Weight: 18 lbs 11 oz.

So, she's still facing the rear of the car in the carseat, which is perfectly fine with her, since she talks to the dogs the whole time.  I'm not sure how their relationship will change once she's strapped in facing the front of the car, but I'm sure we'll all get used to it.

I've gotten lots of comments about her "being small" from a variety of people and my standard response is that "she's petite, and enjoying every moment of it."  Funny, though, she's pretty much right on with clothing sizes.  When she was between 3 and 6 months old, she wore...3-6 month old sizes.  Now that she's between 12 and 18 months, she's wearing 12-18 month clothes - rather convenient, if you ask me.  Her feet, however, are still rather petite...more on the 6 month sizing of things - and holy, cow, whomever designed kids shoe sizing must be the same person that came up with women's clothing sizes!  I don't quite see the logic in it.  But, I'm not about to revamp the system, so we're just rolling along with it :-)

Here are a couple of shots on her quilt - she's a bit of a wiggle worm and is trying to become the world's first baby pilates champion by lifting her feet and head off of the ground while staying in the middle of things.  It's quite a feat, you know.  On a side note, a few months ago, I decided to make Anika my workout partner - whenever she raised her feet, I did the same.  Whenever she rolled around, I did it too.  Lets just say, our partnership lasted until naptime, and will never resume.  She's too tough for me!

Pilates Queen

Lizzy Lou, the bunny, is holding her down!

Anika's 1st math problem

So that's the down and dirty on Miss A.  As for BB#2, we heard the heartbeat yesterday!  The due date right now is mid-June, but subject to change, which is typical.  Supposedly the kiddo is 1.5 inches long and is sprouting arms, legs, fingers, toes, and eyes - it blows my mind to think that Anika was in the same boat as this one not too long ago...she looks so...non-Area 51/Roswell!