Lara's First Year

Happy Birthday 

to our dog-loving, puddle-jumping, 

risk-taking,

determined Lara!

  

A Few Adventures Short of 1 Year (or, 11 Months)

Celebrating the First Day of Spring

A typical answer to the frequent query, "Where's Lara?!"

When I found the sweatshirt Grandma Armbruster had made for me, Lysbeth wanted a reproduction of the picture taken of her.

Lysbeth at 8? months

Lara at 11 months

Dancing, Hammering, and Reading. Sums up the Akers Household these days.

Don't Be Hasty (10 Months)

As soon as this girl took to walking, she hasn't looked back. 

Why wait 'til toddlerhood to run and jump?

Why wait 'til Spring for balmy weather?

(3 weeks ago)

(1 week ago)

We should all take a lesson from Treebeard, or who knows what this blog will be reporting next month. Swimming in Lake Michigan? Babies on Balance Beams?

Just for fun:

She's Off!

Ever since she learned of Sesame the Third, Lysbeth has been eagerly waiting to teach her how to walk. So we shouldn't be surprised that it took the girls only 9 months and 8 days of collaboration to pull this off:

9 Months

 Lara at 9 months.

Where do we begin? She stands, squats, and cruises. She says "uh-oh" and "yucky" (frequently, with good reason). She even took a step (although Meg was the only witness and was sporting a high temp at the time and was possibly delusional. You should still believe her). 

 

She empties the dishwasher and then climbs onto the door to search for water.

As youngest, she inevitably gets the role of infant in all plays put on by her siblings.

She frequently succumbs to the lure of Henry's food bowl. We respond with distractions nearly as hazardous. 

She adores stuffed animals, babies, and dogs.

We love her and can scarcely remember our quieter (and cleaner) house without her, 9 months ago.

Months 7 and 8

Lara was too busy eating pumpkin on her 7 month birthday to pose, so we're skipping right ahead to month 8.

Cruising along the hallway wall!

5th (!) Christmas Tree Cutting Adventure in Spring Lake

Birthday Celebrations for our Blog's First Contributor

Many Happy Returns (a couple weeks late) to our beloved 6 year old!

Whose birthday wish last year was for this baby sister. Which sister is behaving in a manner unfitting for her age.