An interview with Anna...

Mom (M): So Anna, does it feel any different to be 5 months old?

Anna (A): You bet! All of a sudden, I've been seeing so much less of the ceiling:


M: It looks like you are enjoying your new ability to "sit." Is it hard?

A: sometimes...


M: What is it that you're inspecting so carefully in that picture?

A: I'm not sure. It turns out there is this little white thing on each of my toys. I can't believe I never noticed it before, but it is way cooler than the toy itself:


M: So what else is new now that you are 5 months old?

A: My cereal has been turning green at the end of every meal. I'm not sure if I like it:

M: Wow, you're eating peas! Sounds like you're living a whole new life. Is there anything in your life that is the same as when you were 4 months old?

A: Ummmm, let's see:

I guess some things never change :)

Happy Birthday Anna

For Anna's 5 month birthday we said she could have whatever she wanted. She asked for a trip around the world - so that's what we did today. We went to Hawaii:


and to Brazil:

and the Sahara desert:

and to Japan:
Okay, so maybe we just went to the United States Botanical Gardens, but don't tell Anna.

Night time gymnastics

Last night I put Anna to sleep in the middle of her crib on her tummy with her head on the left side. This morning I found her on her back, still in the middle of the crib, but with her head on the right side. The only explanation is that she stood up, walked forward, and did a back flop.

A new view for dinner...

Dad put Anna's high chair together a few weeks ago, but she wasn't quite ready to sit in it yet. On Tuesday we gave it a second try:

She actually didn't stay happy here for too long, but I think that had more to do with missing her evening nap and being ready for bed. Overall, she just did much better sitting there than a few weeks ago. We didn't end up feeding her there, but I think we will soon!

Expanding Anna's palate

On Saturday Mom, Dad, Anna, and Corinne headed west for a little wine tasting. We found an awesome vineyard called Vintage Ridge, which had excellent wine, amazing scenery:

and incredible food:

Anna had been getting bored of just rice cereal, but she was much more satisfied with her eating and drinking options at the winery...just kidding. We actually haven't added any new foods to Anna's palate. Well, we did try to give her oatmeal, but she didn't really like it so we've just been sticking with the rice cereal, which she does really like. She opens her mouth wide as soon as she swallows each bite and sometimes seems a little upset when we take the bowl away because it's gone!

This works...

This is comfy - no wonder you guys sleep through the night

The next generation of Glassmans!

This past weekend we were in Albany, NY. On Saturday we spent the day at Nana's house where the next generation of Glassmans all met. It's a good thing we have pictures because the only next generation Glassman who will remember this weekend is Sam.

Scott & Shari with their kids, Sofie and Sam, Becky & Jeff with Liam, and Matt & Sarah with Anna. There were lots of cameras flashing during this moment so this picture may soon be replaced with a better version. Is there a picture out there with everyone looking at the camera?

Sam is great with babies! He gave Anna lots of sweet attention :)

Anna with Aunt Mary

Scott, Sam, and Sofie

Nana and Anna

Aunt Becky and Liam

A break from "dizzy sticks" to visit the cheerleader

It was wonderful to catch up with everyone. We only wished that we could have stayed longer! Besides seeing everyone above, Anna also got to meet her Aunt Adrea and Uncle Bruce and see her Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle David, and her friends, the Sherwins - just a wonderful weekend :)

Mmmmm....

After two meals in a row of Anna going nuts trying to eat our food, we thought it was time to break out some rice cereal. With the first few bites she didn't really understand what to do and pushed the spoon our of her mouth with her tongue. But pretty soon she seemed to catch on that she might like to eat what was on the spoon - or at least she realized that the spoon tasted good. She didn't seem to understand that she was eating what was on the spoon opposed to the spoon itself as she continually wanted to keep putting the empty spoon back in her mouth. Overall, she seemed to like it and we're looking forward to her next meal of "porage."

Other new tricks this week include: playing with her exersaucer (we'll have to get a picture up of this), playing with her toys while she's laying on her tummy, and picking up toys that fall to her side when she is laying on her back.

Learning to share

When Clara changed into this cute dress at our house yesterday, I couldn't resist getting Anna's matching dress out of the closet for some twin pictures. This was my favorite:

I've got to get myself one of these.

Cute pic

I love this picture. It kind of looks similar to when she sticks her lower lip out right before she cries, but she was no where near crying, which I think you can tell from her expression - just sticking her lip out for fun.

I'm coming, Liam...

On Friday we're headed to Albany for the weekend so I can meet my nephew & Anna can meet her cousin! Anna will also get to meet her second cousins, Sam and Sophie, as well, as they are coming to visit from Long Island!

I'm coming, Liam! I've got a lot to tell you...

The sun will come out...

After the rain cleared, Sunday was a beautiful day in Virginia. We took lots of walks - a few with the purpose of getting Anna to go to sleep - which was a little challenging yesterday. Apparently naps are no fun on beautiful sunny weekend days when you have your mommy and your daddy to play with. For instance, who would want to forgo this tickle session to take nap:

Rain, rain go away...

As the effects of hurricane Hannah passed through on Saturday we got rain, rain, and more rain. Since it was a little cold, Anna was able to sport some more of her fall wear. Matt & I just thought this sweater was soooo cute. It just seems like the type of sweater you would wear to a pumpkin patch.

Go Giants!

You've got no chance, Redskins!
I'm staying up for the end of the game, right Mom?

I told you I would grow...

Today we had lunch in Bethesda with Lindsey & Clara. As Clara recently had her 6th month appointment and Anna recently had her 4 month appointment, we could compare stats...Anna is 1/2 pound heavier, and 2 inches shorter. Anna says, "I told you I would grow! Now I just have to figure out how it is that you can move yourself backwards..."

Also, check out the bibs on these sporty girls: a little golfer & a little Giant's fan!

I'm so thankful...

that, knock on wood, Anna has been so healthy since she was born.

Last night as I was going to bed I realized that my upper back and neck were really sore. I wasn't really sure why, but this morning I figured it out. I'm pretty sure it's from being so tense yesterday while Anna was getting her shots. This is just from 2 minutes of Anna in pain! Having your children in pain has to be just about the worst thing in the world. I'm so thankful she's such a healthy little girl :)

The "expert" definition

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the definition of "sleeping through the night." While I was kind of kidding about the phrase having a technical definition, I guess I was wrong. The following quote is from a babycenter article about sleeping through the night:

Not that "sleeping through the night" means a full night of uninterrupted sleep for you. "'Through the night' is defined as from midnight until five o'clock in the morning," says Judith Owens, a pediatrician and director of the Pediatric Sleep Disorders Clinic at Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island.

As I said before, I don't think I'll ever wake up that thrilled after a midnight to 5 am snooze...

Doctor's Visit

We just got back from Anna's 4 month appointment. Anna is now 15 pounds, 12 ounces and 26 1/4 inches. This puts in her in the 90th percentile for weight and 95th percentile for height!

Pretty dresses & fancy hotels

So now that our regular DC summer weather is back, Anna decided she wanted to get her sundresses back on:

after church on Sunday

dressed up for the Labor Day barbecue at our house today...

which apparently tired Anna out because she feel asleep (in her bouncy seat on the deck) 45 min. after people got here and stayed asleep for the rest of the party! Anna thought it was fun to chill on the deck for 45 min., though :)

Now, what's this about fancy hotels?? Last night Mom & Dad went to a wedding in Alexandria, Virginia & Anna was actually at the hotel with Grandma during the wedding!! Grandma was going to stay with Anna at our house, but Anna decided she was not so hot on bottles this weekend (we think she just wanted to go to the hotel). So we ended up booking a hotel room right at the hotel where the wedding was so that Mom could just pop upstairs and feed Anna. The whole night went pretty well - except for one little meltdown, which started 5 min. after Anna got fed one time- meaning that Mom & Dad were not monitoring the cell phone super well (whoops) so Mom didn't quite make it to the rescue for 25 min. (poor Grandma!) We're not really sure why Anna got so upset after she had just eaten - maybe some combination of still being hungry (she ate a ton more!), feeling tired (she then zonked out for the night), and being a little scared of her new surroundings. Here's the little sweet pea lounging at the hotel:

I'd like to order some milk delivered to the room, please.

And one more cute picture from today:

Mommy & her little pumpkin :)

Where's the DC swamp?

We had a little cold spell in DC this week - Thursday and Friday were in the 60's and rainy (very atypial for this time of year!). On Thursday I pulled out the only long-sleeve outfit in Anna's dresser and realized it was a little small:

Check out my capri pants!

So, Thursday involved washing a new set of clothes - Anna is now prepared for the fall! However, because of her looong legs, Anna may be moving into 9 month pants soon! Here's a look at one of her new fall fashions:

I'm stylin'