"Now all we need is some snow"

This is what Grandma Hollenbeck said on Christmas Day. I don't think it's going to snow anytime soon here in Florida. I've been having so much fun kissing Grandma H. and I hope she gets better soon.

Grandpa took Mommy Laura and I to the zoo. We had such a good time:

Visiting Florida

I'm visiting Florida at Grandma and Grandpa Wagner's place. Great Grandma Hollenbeck fell and broke her facial bone and banged her knee up so we've been taking care of her (she was unfortunately in the hospital too). We are so happy she's back home and she makes me so happy! Here's a few pictures to share (my mommy laura stupidly left the cord to transfer pictures from her camera in Canada so this is all we have for now).

Very sick this week

Daddy Pat, Mommy Laura, and I are all sick with the flu this week. It's no fun at all but I am one tough baby. This is just a friendly reminder to everyone to get your flu shot- it's still not too late. I was supposed to go in and get mine this morning but we'll just have to wait another time :(

Let it snow... let it snow.. let it snow!

Toronto received it's first *real* snowfall last night! With our $2 sled we trekked over to Christie Pits Park across the street to enjoy the hills.



(in other blogworthy news, I took my first unassisted steps this past Tuesday but haven't felt much like it since as I'm expending all my energy on getting my 4 top teeth all at once, ouch!)

Playing with Cousin Meadow

We went to Ohio for my first Thanksgiving. On Friday, Daddy Pat and Mommy Laura went to play football in the JFL (Joe Football League) Turkey Bowl in Cleveland Heights. While I would have loved to see Mommy Laura score a touchdown, sack the quarterback twice, and win co-MVP: I had fun at Uncle Nate and Aunt Karen's house with my cousin Meadow. Aunt Tessa came to watch us since she is the World's Best Babysitter. And Meadow made sure I was well entertained:

I wonder how this feels?


Meadow, come and push me!


Meadow brushing my hair:

"If you're going to San Francisco..."

You have to play naked on the hotel bed:

And hang out at the aquarium:

Thumbs up to Nonnie Liz and Grandpa Bill for taking us to the aquarium!

What's all this jibberish? (hint: it's Daddy Pat's discovery of the universe)

More exploring

My new favorite activity is playing in the milk/water fridge! It's not a very "environmentally friendly" activity but it's a lot of fun and can occupy my time for up to 20 minutes. A week from now I will have moved on to better things. I'm walking around a lot these days too-- holding on to the furniture. It's only a matter of time that I'll be cruising independently.

Happy Halloween

We enjoyed our visit from Grandma McDonald! We went to the park and celebrated my 1st Halloween by carving a pumpkin, going to the daycare all dressed up, and trick-or-treating in my skunk costume. Don't worry, I didn't spray anyone.

Beautiful Fall Day in Toronto

It was a perfect day to play at the park!




A short video of me sliding down the slide:

Happy Thanksgiving

My first Canadian Thanksgiving. Whoever heard of celebrating it without (vegan) Pumpkin Pie? It ended up being more fun mashing the pie with my fingers. Now if I could only find some turkey.....


I'm getting really good at opening books and turning pages

If you look closely enough you can see my two bottom teeth

Playing in the sand is so much fun (well, until I somehow manage to get sand in my mouth)

A trip to the Apple Orchard

Grandpa and Grandma Wagner are visiting for 4 days and we have been having a good time sprucing up the back yard, fixing things around the apartment, and today we drove the "Apple Route" along Lake Ontario and saw the countryside and stopped at an apple farm. Grandpa got me a pumpkin so stay tuned to see how that turns out. Mommy Laura bought me some apples to make applesauce too. And some fresh sweet corn also which is already a favorite food of mine.

8 months old today :)

I weigh about 20 lbs and eating some solid foods. My favorite food is watermelon. My favorite activity right now is standing in the TV box. I can pull myself up to standing! My mommy Laura got this exersaucer from the neighbor for me to sit in but I'd rather play with the toys from the outside....

This is still a favorite toy. If you go back to when I was 1 week old you'll see a similar picture of me looking in the mirror...

Off to bed after a long day of playing.

Exploring the apartment...

What would Mommy Laura say if I ripped a page out of this Spanish Dictionary?

Thanks to Aunt Sylvia for making this bib for me.

Uh, hello... Can someone come help me? I'm stuck here. I managed to pull the camcorder out but now I don't know what to do and I don't want to let go.

Anya loves to pick up the bowls and "eat" from them

A priceless picture in the bathtub

Those fresh summer veggies sure make your hair grow !

My Mommy Laura was surfing the internet and saw this picture and thought it would be funny to post on my blog just to give you a good laugh. Of course, you aren't fooled by this because I am WAY cuter than this baby. But it does give you a glimpse of what's going to be sprouting from my adorable head (possibly a lighter shade than this). We get stopped by the paparazzi often when we are out on walks for people to admire my beautiful red hair and big blue eyes.

Hangin' out in T.O.

Trying out my new Tripp Trapp wooden highchair!

We went to the Canadian National Exhibition this week. My mommy Laura said I can have a miniature donkey when I grow up (well, she wants one for herself) This was the highlight of the trip to the Ex.

ummmmm. baby fingers are pretty tasty...

taking notes.... (also, Daddy Pat told me about the pigs he had when he was a small baby)

Take me out to the ballgame... This is just across the street from our house at the park. It was fun sitting on the hillside watching the game with Daddy Pat (and watching Mommy Laura blow bubbles)

I like to "help" with my diaper laundry

A note to my friend Emily....

Dear Emily, You have lived through Hurricane Katrina, civil unrest in Africa, and a bad roommate in Atlanta....Keep your head up! That dissertation will be done soon and you'll be married next year and you will live happily ever after. Love, Anya

Back from Ohio.....

I am so happy to be back in Toronto. It was a long week with all the traveling, visiting, and I got sick again--but it was good to get to know my Ohio family better. We're staying put for a while so if anyone wants to see me then they are going to have to come here... A small baby like me has traveled more than most of my relatives ever have in their entire lifetime.



(do i have to eat this entire container of watermelon?!?!)