It makes a mother cry when...

your little girl rubs and scratches your back!!!! Yesterday, Annie woke up from her nap and I had the tv on because I was watching my pvr'd Eastenders - I am addicted!!!!! Anyway, it went back to HBO and there was a program on where a lady was sad and her husband was rubbing her back. I said "Daddy gives Mommy and Annie back scratches just like that". Annie was on the couch with me, she stood up behind me and I felt this little hand start to rub my back and then she started to scratch it. I was speechless and in tears. It was such a wonderful moment I had to record it here. Annie gives hugs and kisses but this form of affection is new and I hope that she keeps it up.
In other news, Annie will complete her "Starfish" class tomorrow and next Tuesday she will become a "Duck" at swimming lessons!!!! She is a real little fish.
Oh and this afternoon she was saying "Gampa" because she talked to her Grandpa this morning. Just thought you would like to hear that Dad because she says Nana so well. Still waiting for her to say Joma but that is a little harder.

Brilliant Child!!!

Annie loves animals. She is very gentle when petting them, holds out her hands for the little dogs to sniff and LOVES to watch the four chickens in our neighbour's yard. The city just created a bylaw that allows chickens in the city!!!! Anyway, when Erin was visiting she gave Annie a chicken. The other day we turned around and Annie had her chicken sitting on the little tupperware with the hay and eggs in it. Brilliant child!!! Just had to snap a photo of it. Oh and she loves her chicken!! Yesterday while "watching" her favorite show "Comfy Couch" she watched Loonette put Molly on the couch and she then she put her chicken on the couch and said "up"!!

I also had to post this photo of our little cutie, ready for swimming lessons. Thank you Joma for my cute suit and cover up!! Annie is reaching for her "Quachi" that she loves - you can tell by the smile!!!

I also wanted to thank Kathy for having us over with Shirley today. We had a lovely afternoon tea in Kathy's beautiful backyard which is on a cliff by the ocean. She laid a beautiful table with gluten free goodies and her special china. I forgot the camera or I would have posted a photo. Annie wore her new dress that Joma sent and she looked perfect!!! It was a wonderful afternoon full of fun and laughter but we missed Stella.

Ah, I love summer...

and so does Annie!!! We had a busy weekend visiting friends. Thank you Lisa and David for a wonderful time on Saturday!!! The lunch was delicious and the company was super!! Our turn next time. Here is Annie climbing up the stairs. She had to have help from Daddy and David to get down though!!!

We went to breakfast and then to the park with Glenn and Baxter on Sunday morning and then to Angela and Gary's for the afternoon. They live around the corner and Shawn and Brad were embarrased by me lugging Annie's ( well I actually love it more I think) pool down the road!! Too funny.

Annie also had her first swimming lesson this morning. It was a blast but it was during her nap time so she was a little cranky at the end - who am I kidding, it was for half the class!!! Oh well, we go every day this week and next so I am HOPING that this will REALLY kickstart the one loooonnng afternoon nap I have been dreaming about!!!

Anyway, here are some photos of our little climber!!!

Thank you to Susan and Bill for the gift certificate - we bought the easle with it!!! Oh and please try and disregard the spit in the swing picture - Annie's joy was just so real in this photo that I had to post it.

Walking...

Annie has started to walk everywhere these days. I noticed yesterday that she has stopped crawling. She crawled on Sunday, mainly the bear crawl but then yesterday she didn't crawl at all. We really wanted her to walk but she worked soooo hard to learn to crawl that I feel a little sad that she is through this stage. I am going to watch today to see if there is any crawling at all. Our little baby is growing up and it is happening so fast.

Shawn is working nights to cover another supervisor's vacation so we have the car for a few weeks!! This is great timing because my funny knee is causing me some pain. Anyway, yesterday we went to the mall and to the bank. Annie held my hand and walked everywhere. It was really cute!!! She slept 12 hours last night when she usually sleeps between 11 to 11 1/2 so I think it tired her out!! It also may have been the stress of a 2 1/2 year old in the play area that stole her toy and hit her in the face!! Poor babe but she weathered it well. She is at such a kind age where she shares toys and plays.

I also have to note here that last night Annie and I put up a piece of art in the bedroom. Annie pointed at it, nodded and said "yeshhh" after it was on the wall, which I think means she likes it. So this morning when Shawn came home, she pointed at it and showed him that we had put it up with the hammer!!! This child really does appreciate art. She loves to look at the paintings in our home. We were at the mall yesterday so that I could use a few gift certificates to purchase an easle for her. It is red, her favorite colour and soon we will have our little artist at work!! Annie loves music and art - she fits in well with our family.

Beach....

It has been a very busy week!! We enjoyed Annie's first Canada Day as a family - walking down to the Ocean and having a special BBQ dinner together. She had her little "Happy Canada Day" t-shirt on that Daddy picked out for her and we had a wonderful time. It was a gorgeous day.
On the 2nd we had a lovely visit with our friends Dorothy and Norm. Then on the 3rd, Erin flew in from Toronto and we had a great time visiting, going for tea and Annie visited Butchart Gardens for the first time. This child definitely knows how to smell the roses!!!! Erin is sending photos which I will post and she is posting some on facebook too. If you are my "friend" you can check them out there.

Whew, a bit of a whirlwind. So yesterday we decided to relax a little and go the the beach. Here are some photos of our day out. It was hard to walk in the sand but Annie even went in the very cold ocean!!!