Where Did May Go?!

Just a quick post to keep things fresh! We had a great visit with Jeanne & Dirk last week and they are planning to send a recap for the blog in the next few days. Freja is growing like a weed - she's up 2 inches in the last 3 months! - and walking all over the place these days. We've been having a lot of fun at music class, hiking & biking, and meeting friends at the playground in our neighborhood. Hope you all have a great Memorial Day!

The Good Life, Florida Style

Freja & I got to spend a week with my mom & Dennis in Florida last week, and we both really enjoyed the easy living! Those retired folks know how to have a good time.

The week flew by, with us doing a whole lot of nothing, but somehow still feeling busy. We spent time at the pool working on our (my) tan, and Freja loved splashing around. One evening we went to the neighbors for happy hour, and on Friday had happy hour at the Wilhelms. Freja warmed up to the crowds and we both enjoyed meeting Mom & Dennis's friends.

On Thursday Dennis took us out to Cayo Costa, an island/state park in the bay. It was a beautiful boat ride, although Freja slept through most of it, both ways. We had a picnic on the boat then walked along the beach getting our feet wet. This was a big adventure, especially for a one-year-old, and definitely a highlight of our trip.

This video clip is Freja watching a boat go by. She is really missing the low windows and great views now that we're back home!

She Walks!

I can only hope that the thrill of seeing Freja walking makes you all forget how long it's been since the last blog post! And that no one notices she's wearing the exact same PJs today that she was nearly a month ago (I swear she's been in different clothes in the interim).

Freja turned 14 months old on Wednesday, and that was the day she really started taking her first steps without holding on to anything. Since then she's made quick progress moving across the room and then some. She's pretty proud of herself when she's on the move. Needless to say, we are too. 

Social Climber

Freja is really in to climbing on everything these days. Everything. We'll rearrange pillows & toys in her room so she can't climb up to one thing, and she finds something else to get to. The little music drum from the Vonderschmidts is by the window now, and she gets herself right up on top of it so she can peer out the window.

Other things she enjoys climbing on include pillows, stuffed animals, her car, Jan, me, etc. We think she's thisclose to walking, but who knows. Honestly we're not in a hurry for that milestone - she's mobile enough with the crawling & climbing!

Giggle Box

Sometimes Freja & I play this little game when she's in her high chair, where she puts her head back and sort of arches her back, and waits for me to tickle her tummy. Yesterday she was really hamming it up, and for once ignored the camera and just kept it up. Anything for a laugh!

This clip also gives a good view of all those crazy teeth coming in on top. There are four you can see and two more about to come through. Chompers!

Freja's First Birthday!

Guest post for the birthday girl from Grandma Marsha & Grandpa Gene!

Wow!  A birthday party for Freja!  With balloons and cupcakes and everything, including other children and their mommies and daddies.  She likes balloons.

Our little birthday girl has been so special and fun to be with this week.  From talking on her pretend cell phone saying "Hello, hello!" to cuddling before bedtime.  She has been a pleasure to be with--many smiles, much jabbering, and even some words.

One highlight was our trip to her music class.  Many little ones and their mommies and one grandma and one grandpa (us) beating on drums and dancing and swaying to the music, singing songs.  We all had a lot of fun.

Just waking up and hearing her jabbering, and then being the first to chat with her in the AM.  And you all know how much I  (Grandpa Gene) like to chat in the morning.  A special trip.  

We will miss her very much until the next visit.

Dirk & Jeanne, you all need to join us in Indiana the next time that Freja comes to visit.  We have two extra bedrooms.  So get with Kelly and Jan and let's geterdone.

Grandma Marsha and Grandpa Gene

Note: it looks like we lost the Flickr photostream gadget on Sweet Koorn, but you can check out some new pictures I put on Flickr by following this link.  The video below is a little long, but it took Freja a while to warm up to the cupcake! 

Guest Blogger: Grandma Cecilia!

Grandma Cecilia here… what a fun time I have had these past several days visiting Freja (Jan & Kelly have been pretty busy celebrating Kellly’s BIG birthday, so I’ve had a LOT of quality time with the baby).  It has been such fun watching Freja – it seems she learns something new every day.  She has lots of toys that have buttons and switches and she has figured how to turn them all on and off and knows which ones have music – she starts “dancing” almost before they start.  She’s also quite the reader; she LOVES books and spends a lot of quiet time every day looking through her “stash.”  She isn’t quite ready to walk but gets around pretty fast crawling.  A third tooth appeared about the time I got here and two more are quite visible.  She’s discovered her voice and I’m sure she says “thank you” at the appropriate times.  One of her favorite things is playing peek-a-boo, anywhere and everywhere.  She is just lots of fun! Check Facebook for more pictures!