Annah at home in August 2001

 Annah likes to look out the front window of our music room to see what's happening on Main Street in Arrowsmith. 

 "I will wear the hat just long enough for the picture. Hurry up." 

 Grandma came to visit for a few days. Here she's taking a break from painting Annah's new room. This is Annah's first time sitting in the grass. She thinks it's pretty cool. 

 Mommy on a painting break with Annah. Daddy is making her laugh.

What's up, Doc?

Annah and I made a trip to Indiana by ourselves from Thursday to Monday.  Jeremy stayed home to study for his third C.L.U. exam, which he had yesterday.  (Results are still pending.)  He thought he would like being a "bachelor" again for a few days, but admits it was pretty dull, and he'd rather have us at home. 
    
We girls had a nice time in Indiana.  We attended a nice morning bridal shower for Erin and Travis at the 'Busco Nazarene Church on Saturday morning.  And, that night Mom and I threw a shower for them too.  Erin impressed everyone by baking a very tasty cake from scratch without a recipe!  Sunday Annah and I went to church at 'Busco Naz and heard Travis sing the special music.  He did an excellent job on a beautiful song, as always!  We also visited Grandma and Grandpa Lopshire and Great Grandma DeHaven for a while.  It was so nice to see them and Amy and Brock, Donna and Darrell, lots of McEowen and Crabill relatives and lots of other friends from the church over the weekend! 
    
A funny story...(Well, it's funny now.)  As you read above, Annah and I went to Indiana on Thursday.  When Jeremy got home from work on Friday, there was a message on our answering machine from his parents saying they were thinking about visiting for the weekend.  He tried calling them to tell them not to come, but got no answer.  Later that evening, his parents pulled up our driveway!  What a bummer; they made the trip to see Annah, and she was in Indiana!  They stayed the night, and got to see where Jeremy works, and went home so they could see Annah on Sunday. 
    
Today Annah met her new pediatrician, Dr. Kramer.  I was more nervous about the new doctor than Annah, but he seems very nice and caring.  Annah now weighs 17 pounds, 11 ounces, and is 29 3/4 inches tall.  Dr. said that she is "advanced" for her age.  He was impressed that she can say so many words (mama, dada, dog, hi, baby), wave hi and bye, and she responds to "no."  (And she does other things too! ;)  Annah didn't need any immunizations today, but she did have her finger poked to collect blood to test for iron and lead.  She didn't cry a tear or even whimper!  The nurse could not believe it. 
    
Annah can also point to some things when she's asked to.  And, over the weekend she learned how to make the "hoo-hoo-hoo" noise of a monkey when asked what sound a monkey makes!

Annah and Mommy's Trip

Annah and Mommy went on a little "just us" trip to visit our family in Indiana.

We hung out with Erin and Travis.

Grandpa and Grandma say Annah reminds them of her mommy--especially when she wears her dresses!

 Annah likes to play with Grandma's Noah's ark toys.

Cousin Mindy kept an eye on Annah during the shower for Travis and Erin.

We visited Grandma Lopshire and played See 'N' Say with her!

And Grandpa too!

We relaxed on the deck with Great Grandma DeHaven.

Annah and Bear "ham it up"

at Grandpa and Grandma McEowen's house

(Annah is wearing Mommy's dress from when she was a baby.)

"Oh, I think Bear and I will read this magazine!"

"Hmmm, that was an interesting article."

"Ooh, what does it taste like?"

"I can wave at myself while I'm reading."

"I can wave at myself with both hands too."

"And, I can wave at YOU!"

"This magazine isn't so interesting anymore."

"A remote control--cool!"

"What does this button do...?"

"Pattycake, pattycake."

"Bear tried to get a way, so I trapped him!"

"I'm coming to gitchya!"

Applause! Applause!

Today has been an exciting day!  This morning Taryn heard Annah laughing in her room after she woke up from her nap.  She was just cracking up out loud like someone was tickling her!  So, Taryn crept up to the door and opened it silently and saw Annah looking in the mirror on her crib laughing at herself!  Mirrors have been her favorite thing since she was just a few weeks old, but we've never caught her laughing on her own like that.  It was hilarious. 
    
Annah has also been a bit fussy for the past week or so, cutting a tooth.  Her third came in last week, and today we found her fourth right next to it!  The top 2 have just barely popped through, but she has been gritting the four of them together a bit. (Ugh!) 
    
Tonight Taryn put Annah in her feeding seat and Annah started clapping!  And she knows what it means too!  We tell her, "clap," and she does it!  She's just learning and growing so quickly!

chomp, chomp

Grandma Vonda came to visit last Friday and stayed until Monday.  She painted Annah's room and put up her "Over the Moon" wallpaper border with a little assistance from me.  It looks great!!!  Annah is excited to have a pretty room again. 
    
On Saturday we (Mom, Annah and I) made a short trip up to Ottawa to attend an awesome bridal shower for Erin and Travis.  Erin's church really went all out for them, and we were so glad we could be there for it. 
    
Sunday we visited Morningstar United Methodist Church in Normal.  It is the second church we have visited in our search for a new church home.  We've decided to keep visiting churches and then re-visit ones we like before we make a decision where to stay. 
    
Annah is working on learning to say, "baby," and will whisper it but not say it out loud.  She waves when anyone says, "hi" or "bye," 
 and can even say, "hi" herself.  She is also starting to chew soft foods! 
    
We finally got 2 rolls of film developed which included these pictures of Annah eating creamed spinach...

getting around

Annah has been working on getting her 3rd tooth (top right center one) this week, and it finally came through a bit today.  She has actually been a little fussy about this one, so it must really hurt.  She's still our little angel though. ;)  On Tuesday Annah started pushing a big basket around the living room and walking behind it.  We told her she's not allowed to start walking yet. ;) 

Today Annah and I had a play day with some other kids and mommies.  Yesterday our neighbors Carlene and her kids Jacob and Ashley came to visit and invited us to go to the park and zoo with them today.  We met Kim and her boys Colin and Sam and Amy and her girls Madison and Colby there, but it was a gray day and wet at the park, so we decided to go to Kim's house instead.  All the kids played and had fun together.  It was good for Annah to be around other kids again, and also good for me to actually get out of the house and meet some people.  We had a fun time. 

    

Jeremy is busy studying for another test towards his C.L.U. designation.  He'll take it on the 28th.  He also has one near the end of  September. 
    

We are extremely thankful for the beautiful cool weather we've had this week.  It's been in the 70's or low 80's and breezy.  Hope it stays this way, and hope it's cool where you are! 
    

Check out the new pictures of the DeHaven gathering that Aunt Joyce sent us!  

A Gathering of the DeHaven Family 

 Sunday, August 12, 2001

 L to R: Great Aunt Joyce, Paulette w/ Annah, Taryn 

 baby Charlie w/ Danielle, Seth w/ Annah 

 Great Uncle Walt and Annah 

 Paulette  Annah

August updates

We still have 2 rolls of film from July to get developed.  Hopefully we'll be able to add those within the week. 
    
We spent the weekend in Indiana, much of it with the Lopshire side of the family this time.  Saturday we  saw Great Grandmas McEowen and DeHaven and went out to dinner with Jeremy's parents at Carlos O'Kelly's, where Eric works.  Sunday we spent time with the whole DeHaven clan at the lake, and also visited Great Grandmas Crabill and Fulk.  So many people to see in such a short time.  We'll have to go back again soon. 
    
Jeremy is really enjoying his job!  Today he even happened to see the C.E.O. of  SF, while he was at the main Corporate Office.  

Annah and I went to Gibson City to ALCO and the County Market today.  It took most of the day.  It's funny how a simple trip to the store can still feel like a busy day. 
    
Annah pulls up to standing very easily on her own now.  She can squat back down to sitting easily and then pop back up to standing again, as long as she's holding on to something.  She can say, "dog," and calls every furry animal-like looking thing "dog" too.  She loves to shake her head no, and can sort of say, "uh-oh," "no, no, no," and "wow" when she feels like it.  She can also wave, but won't usually do it when people other than Mommy and Daddy are watching.  She has some really funny faces now, including one where she makes a little "o" with her mouth, and one where she scrunches up her nose and eyebrows and breaths in and out loudly through her teeth.  It's somewhat mean looking, but sometimes she's smiling when she does it, so we're not exactly sure what she means by it.  She makes us laugh! 
    
We're doing well in Illinois; how are you all?  E-mail us!  We miss you!

Hhhhhhot!!!

Since we returned from vacation, life has been pretty uneventful.  At the beginning of the week, temperatures were unbearable.  We don't have a thermometer to know exactly what they were, but they were at least in the upper 90's with humidity reaching insane levels.  Our house does not have air conditioning.  Ughhhhh.  BUT!  We have been the very fortunate beneficiaries of 2 window air conditioning units.  We put one in the living room and closed all the doors, and one in Annah's room.  We've been spending almost the entire day in the living room because it's just too hot to be anywhere else.