Summer Fun @ Gramma & Grampa's

Linnea's been blessed with two weekends at Gramma & Grampa's house so far this summer, and thoroughly enjoys soaking up the sun around their beautiful pool.

The onesie above reads, "What happens at Gramma's stays at Gramma's."

She even has a cache of toys that wait for her there - a favorite of which is the Radio Flyer wagon pictured above from Great-Gramma Branca. She loves to rattle it all around the house carrying an assortment of random objects.

And try as they might to fatten her up, even at Gramma and Grampa's house, she remains a devoted fan of her favorite food - fruit of any kind. She actually seems to survive on the stuff. It's somewhat of a medical miracle.

First Trip to the Zoo

Linnea's Park

Kitty-corner from our house is a park that Linnea has only recently discovered. She can see it from the bay window in the dining room and has taken to standing there, signing "please" repeatedly - and with vigor.

The expression on her face above could be interpreted positively or negatively, I suppose, but trust me - she LOVES the slide. It inspires excitement rivaled only by balloons at Trader Joe's and/or books of any kind.

New Game

Linnea is in a stage where she likes to play with the shoes Mommy & Daddy leave by the door.
Poor Maya.

Playin' around

Linnea spent some time at her little friend Elle's house last week while Mommy went to an appointment, and Elle's mommy was kind enough to snap these adorable pictures for us.

If you look closely below, you'll see the book is in Russian.... what a genius!Gotta love the strut...

Easter Egg "Hunt"

Okay, so "hunt" might be a bit of an overstatement. Last weekend, Linnea and her little friend Elle wandered around Elle's backyard for a bit and managed to pick up an Easter egg or two here and there. There was a whole lot of coaching/coaxing involved, and they were equally as intrigued by the grass blades as they were by the eggs, but it was an attempt, nonetheless.She looks excited here not because of the candy inside (actually, Elle's mommy Tatiana, below, had filled them with various organic cereals and animal crackers) but because the egg makes a neat sound when she shakes it.

Here she is enjoying a dry Cheerio... a 13-month-old's version of a Peep???

Soon to follow - actual Easter and the **cutest** little dress-up outfit ever...

Big Girl Chair

Gramma and Grampa gave Linnea this fabulous "big girl chair" for her birthday last month and as you can see, she takes her new role as "resident big girl" very seriously.
Here's another shot of her enjoying it. And yes, that is a tear in her eye. That's because moments before, as her father tried valiantly to get a picture of her sitting, she decided to do the opposite and ended up taking a spill.
This may seem sadistic, but I had to post it because I thought it was just so precious and honestly, how often do you think to snap a photo of these moments?