Halloween

 Since last year Anika had to be carried and couldn't say "trick or treat', this was her first Halloween.  She did great.

The day started with a little pumpkin carving.  Both sets of grandparents came over as well as Pau, Sue, Sam and Theo.

After we finished dinner we headed out for trick or treating.  Anika went as a lady bug.  We weren't sure what to expect, since in the past she has been real shy around people she doesn't know.  She loved it from the very first minute.  We stopped at our neighbor Ornell's house first.  When Ornell opened the door  she said "trick or treat" and her face just lit up when candy was put in her basket.  

After she said thank you and walked away, she yelled to my dad, who was handing out candy at our house, "Grandpa, look I got candy for me!"  She was excited the whole time. After a while we had to carry her pumpkin because it was so heavy.

We were going to hit one final house, figuring she was tired and done, when came down the walk and turned to head home, she wouldn't let us go.  She wanted to keep heading down the street.  Finally about 5 houses later she willing to go home, even though it wasn't her idea.

Once we were home, she loved helping hand out candy to the trick or treaters coming to our door, and was dissapointed when they stopped showing up.

Mary and I (and Anika) couldn't have asked for the night to go any better than it did.

Anikas Birthday and her 2 year check up

Anika turned two on the 6th of October. The family came over for a Dora and Boots filled day.


Here's the birthday girl blowing out her candle.

Enjoying the fruits of her labor.
Of course what would a birthday party be without hats. Here is grandpa Tom wearing his, I am sure this will replace his Norseman's baseball hat as his favorite.


Cousin Sam looking sharp with a combination hat.

I think great uncle Scott is enjoying his hat a little too much.


So along with turning two comes the two year checkup. Neither Mary or I were looking forward to this.

From about 6 months on, anytime Anika had to go to the doctors office it has been a nightmare. She would go into full out melt down mode. As soon as Becca the nurse would come out she would just start screaming and crying. She would flop like a fish when trying to get her weight and height. When Dr. Gobel would do the routine checks Anika's screaming would be as loud as when she got her shots.

So we went in expecting the worst and got the best. She didn't cry once until the end when she got three shots. In fact before her shots they gave her a finger prick to draw blood, I was preparing for the crying, but nothing came. She just kept watching, interested in what was going on.

So here are the final stats: height 37", weight 33lbs. Both above the 97%.

Two going on...

Today Anika needed a timeout. So I brought her up to her room and waited outside the open door. After a few seconds the whimpering stopped and the charm was turned on. She kept repeating "Daddy, I cute!". When that didn't work she held out her arms and said "Daddy can I get hug".

We are in soooo much trouble when she becomes a teenager.