Ahh, but it’s all worth it:

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Any suggestions, anyone? Cold turkey? Gradual weaning?

(Of course, I could step it up a notch—the Halo Sleepsack Swaddle. Surely she couldn’t bust out of that…)

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We’ve found them! And they’re great fun!

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Today is one of those happy “anniversary” days. One year ago today, we went to the OB and saw Anna for the first time on the ultrasound. She was this tiny little peanut-looking thing, with a tiny little light pulsing in the middle—her beating heart! And so this baby became more than a blue line on a pregnancy test; we knew for sure that there really was a baby in there, we spread the news to our friends and family, and the adventure began.

Unfortunately, what should have been a joyful day was derailed by another event—we had to take our sweet Sasha to a specialist veterinarian in Little Rock because she has cancer. We found out yesterday that a growth which was removed from her tongue last week, and thought to be benign, was actually a malignant melanoma. Up until just a few short years ago, malignant melanoma in dogs was almost certainly a death sentence. But now, caught early enough, it responds remarkably well to a new type of vaccine. The doctor thinks that Sasha’s cancer was caught very early; she didn’t feel any enlargement in the lymph nodes, and her chest x-ray was clean. So she thinks Sasha is a perfect candidate for this treatment. We are going ahead with it, but it takes a few months to work, so we have to endure a bit of anxious waiting before we know if she’s going to be ok. Fortunately, unlike chemo, this treatment has no side effects. Sasha’s a tough little dog; she’s gotten through a lot already, and I hope she’ll get through this too.

Next July 31, I want to celebrate both of their lives.

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… of my budding musician! She even knows to put it in her mouth—she’s a genius! (What, you say it’s because babies put everything in their mouths? Nah. It’s because she’s a musical prodigy.)

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…and Anna is 4 months old today!

She already knows her colors, of course:

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I think Anna is learning how to splash in the bathtub—on purpose! Up until now, she has just wiggled around and made a splash or two at random. But last night, she pulled her little legs toward her like a froggy and then came down with a big splash. I laughed. She looked at me, then slowly raised her legs again… splash! I laughed. She smiled. Then she did it again… splash!…I laughed again, and she let out a little mini-giggle.

It’s so much fun to see those little wheels turning in her brain and see her learn something new, even if it is just splashing mommy in the bathtub. I know that one day it won’t be quite as cute and I will get very wet and possibly a little annoyed, but right now it’s adorable!

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… and I just wanted to get Anna’s picture in it before she outgrows it. That is all.

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David, Anna, and I traveled to Tulsa this weekend for my niece Addison’s first birthday party. (Sasha had to stay behind, but she had rather nice accommodations.) Happy birthday, Sweetie!

Addie had her own little cake to get into!

She got lots of presents that make lots of noise. (We, however, did not get her anything that makes noise. Andy and Jennie, remember that when Anna turns 1! )

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I bet the engineers at the SwaddleMe Blanket Design and Production Headquarters didn’t count on this:

Ok, so maybe the legs are out, but those arms aren’t going anywhere!

You know, I see the potential to make some money here. I need to offer Anna to test swaddling products. They obviously didn’t pick the right babies.

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