8 Months Old!

Annika is 8 months old and showing more personality than ever.  She loves to look at new people, especially other children.  Annika prefers to be carried facing outward to see what's going on around her.  We decided to do something different for 8 months, as we did with her 3 month picture by the Eiffel Tower.  As a Seattle baby, we wanted to be by an icon from the city she was born in.  For those fans out there (mom), the pink pig will return in a few weeks :)

8 Month Stats

Weight: 16 lb 9 oz.

New skills: Saying "dada" "oof" (we think she's saying woof like a dog) "mama" "huh" to get people's attention and combining many other sounds with s's and t's

 Scooting backwards and turning in a circle on her tummy

One tooth

Clapping her hands

Reaching out her arms to be picked up

Playing peek-a-boo by covering her own face with a blanket or clothes

Starting to imitate waving

Does "so big"
Giving kisses

New foods: Prunes, butternut squash, carrots, gumming big chunks of apple, mum-mums

Favorite things: Books with flaps that uncover new pictures

Service items such as paper plates, paper cups, items with wrappers, mirrors

Father's Day and Summer Soltice

Annika and her daddy on their first Father's Day.

We are so thankful to have Kyle back with us full-time now and it's fun for me to see Annika and him playing together.  They have such a great time and take joy in each other.  Our plans for the day turned out differently than we had thought they would but we still had a great time.  After church we went to our favorite bakery, Larson's, in Ballard.  We adore this little place and often go there after church.  Then we went to one of the Pastor's houses for a Beer and Brats gathering, which we were invited to just that morning.  Having had other plans fall through, we thought beer and brats would be a great way to celebrate fatherhood :)  It was a fun gathering and we were happy to be there.

Late that night our good friend, Brooke, flew in from Anchorage.  We always love having Brooke visit and it was especially fun because she had never met Annika before.  Brooke and I were roommates in Anchorage for a few years before I moved down to the Seattle area.  We see each other once or twice a year but it's great every time!  The downside of this particular visit is that I still had to go to work, darn snow days that we had to make up.  Brooke, Kyle, and Annika got to hang out while I finished out a stressful end of a school year.  Luckily, it was great weather and we got to get outside together when I got home from work.  The best evening was on the soltice.  What better way to celebrate the longest day of the year than grilling down on the waterfront?

 Kyle's brother Joel drove down from Bellevue to join us.

 It was the perfect evening to be by the water.

Annika's Baptism

Annika was baptized at Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle on June 10th. My mom, dad, step-mom, brother, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew were all able to join us.  Jonathan and Brenda agreed to be Annika's godparents and they gave her a beautiful cross necklace to wear with her baptismal dress.  Her Uncle Jeffrey and Aunt Quinn also sent her a neat cross to hang on her bedroom wall to commemorate her baptism.  It was a very special service and the baptism went well.  Annika was having a great time and kicking her legs like crazy, especially during the music.  She didn't cry at all when the water was poured on her head and was very interested in the baptism candle.

 Annika with her Grandpa and Grandma Bartsch before the service.

 I'm pretty sure this was when Annika was kicking her legs to the music and making the pastor laugh :)

 Totally mesmerized by the candle.

 With my dad, step-mom, and mother

 Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Brenda, aka Godparents

After the service we all went to Golden Gardens park to have a picnic.  It's one of our favorite spots in Seattle and happens to be a few minutes from our church.  We sat on the grass by the playground equipment so that Kayla and Brett could play and then we all walked down to the water to splash around a bit before leaving.

 I forgot to pack a sun hat for Annika so she borrowed one that didn't quite go with her outfit :) Also, plastic cups can keep her entertained for a long time.

 My mom (aka Nana) with her three grandchildren

 In play clothes for some time in the sand.

 Grandpa and Grandma Bartsch with the grandchildren

7 months

7 Month Stats

Favorite Foods:  Banana-Cereal-Milk combo, sucking on apple chunks, tolerates peas and carrots

New Skills:  Sitting, pointing, laying on her stomach and spinning around in a circle, doing downward dog, saying "babababa" and lots of babbling

Funny moves:  Doing the wiggle dance

New experiences: Swimming and visiting Great Grandma Marcia

Favorite person to come home from Norway:  Her daddy!

Blessed with Family

First of all......Yay, Kyle's home!!  He got back to the US on May 22nd and we have been loving having him here!  I wasn't sure how Annika would react (age of possible stranger fear) with him but she adapted to him being around right away.  We think hearing his voice and seeing his face on skype every week was helpful.  She loves having her daddy read her books, feed her, and to play together.  I'm thrilled to have Kyle back and we're figuring out our new routines around the house.

A few days after Kyle came home, we packed up and went for a visit to Arizona for Memorial Day weekend.  It was a special opportunity to introduce Annika to her great grandma Marcia.  My mom, step-dad, brothers, and their families all traveled to the Phoenix area for the weekend.  My uncle (mom's only brother), my aunt, and all my cousins and their families were also there.  We couldn't remember the last time we were all in one place.  It was a memorable weekend and I felt blessed to be surrounded with family!

4 generations :) 

Annika's first swim.  She loved splashing around! 

 Annika and her great grandma Marcia.

Love being surrounded with family, even if Annika napped through the photo shoot.

Grandma with her 6 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Syttende Mai Celebration

Syttende mai (17th of May) is Norwegian Constitution Day.  While Kyle was at the world's largest celebration in Bergen, Norway, Annika and I participated in the largest celebration outside of Norway.  We're happy to have that be in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle.  I have marched in the parade several times with other St. Olaf alums.  Last year St. Olaf didn't have a group and I was a spectator.  It was fun this year to be walking it again, this time with Annika.  I was prepared to have to cut our participation short if Annika wasn't handling the crowds and noise well but she did great.  The parade started at 6 pm, which is about the time we're usually starting our bedtime routine and I thought that might make her fussy or worse. Instead, Annika happily relaxed while rolling along the parade route.  Our group was in the middle of the parade, so after we finished, I circled back and we found Joel and Jessica and watched most of the rest of the parade.

 We stopped to watch some folk dancing that was taking place in the town square.  Many people were dressed in the traditional folk costumes called bunads.  Each region of Norway has a different design.

 The St. Olaf clothes we have for Annika are too big for her right now.  This gnome onesie was purchased for her in Jackson Hole, WY last summer and my step-mom JoAnn stitched her name on it.  

 Our friend Heather stopped by to say hello on her way to join the UW Norwegian Club students.  She made this traditional bunad herself, which is very impressive.

 Some Um Yah Yah action!

 Flag adorned stroller

I think Joel was excited to see us :)

Bring on the Sun!

Seattle may be rainier than other places but when the sun comes out, it's worth all those cloudy days!  After church last Sunday, Annika and I went to Green Lake to go for a walk.  A couple friends came to meet us for our stroll.  These friends are leaving their teaching positions here and teaching in China next year.  I enjoyed hearing about their plans and having a chance to chat with them.  It was absolutely wonderful to be outside and Annika is really enjoying riding in the stoller facing forward.  I give her toys to play with but she ends up just watching what's going on around us.  I also tried out a new sun hat on her today and I think it looked pretty cute :)

 Feeling the joy of being outside in the sun!

 The Saturday morning run has become one of my favorite routines.  This morning while I was running, I tried to figure out when we started running on Saturday mornings but I couldn't remember exactly.  Maybe it was when I was training for a half-marathon a few years ago?  At some point, Kyle and I started running together and then going out for bagels and coffee afterwards.  While Kyle was in Norway last spring, I continued to run and then would bring my breakfast to eat while skyping with Kyle.  Over the past month, I've restarted the routine and this morning I decided to run along the Tacoma waterfront.  It was fantastic and beautiful!

 The view in front of me.

The view of Mt. Rainier behind me.