The Fletcher Fenestella: It's the end of the summer...

a co-written post by Rochelle & Adam

As the summer of 2013 winds down we finally find the time...and energy... to update the window into our lives...and what a crazy summer filled with changes it has been. I imagine from the outside the changes seem abrupt and explosive, but to us the hurdles AMF clears periodically bring bright injections of surprise and joy on a day to day basis. We hadn't realized the enormity of the changes both to our lives, and AMF, until we began perusing the thousands of pictures and hours of video amassed over the last 11 months.

Here's what we've been up to:

wiping noses and eyes as she has had every flu/cold going since starting day care
closing doors and barricading stairs as she literally runs around the house with her walker
creating a circuit from all our furniture so she can reach further and further on her own
listening to her babble start to make sense
asking her questions so she will nod her head ferociously to say yes
throwing balls down the hallway so she will play fetch with Abby giggling the whole way
snapping our fingers to keep her awake in the car as we aim to make it home for naptime
holding our stomachs as she experiments with gagging herself repeatedly
trying every possible sleep training to make it more than 2 hours of rest at night (still working on it)
packing up the car for our first family summer vacation on the island
watching her be enthralled with all her big cousins
laughing at her silly dance moves every time she hears music
proudly proclaiming she must be gifted as she beats out a rhythm on the drums or figures out the harmonica (genius really)
waving goodbye to grandparents and siblings after family visits whiz by
reading books over and over and over again (that fluffy kitten has seriously had enough kisses by now)
catching her as she takes her first steps
tabulating a list of all her first words (truck, papa, bye-bye)
anticipating all the next developmental milestones and wishing time would pause/rewind so we can keep watching her all over again

Here's what it all looked like:

Nana and AMF on her "1st day of school". She loved daycare from the very first day! I cried.

Costco shopping with her Papa.

Easy people... it's beets.

AMF watching her big cousin playing some hockey. There was a lot of yelling going on.

A chubby phase... AMF enjoying the pool.

AMF enjoying some shopping again with her Papa... she should be the poster child for Costco... she loves it there!

"What??????"

Nana and Didi take AMF out for her first Chinese food. She loved it so much they took her again on their next visit. She'll be using chopsticks by the time she is 2.

AMF and I sending off Nana and Didi.

Canada Day and AMF is dressed up in an outfit her Papa wore as a baby and handmade by her Grammy.

AMF reads a book to her Grammy.

Before the walker, there was the box.

AMF tried KOD once at home and now we think she has a problem...

Pa and Grams posing with pretty in pink AMF.

visiting the beach at Papa's work

Nom...Nom.

"hi"

Rocking Avonlea old school wood block styles with cousin Ben.

"Who would of thought a woman this cool would be carrying a baby?"

AMF wishing she could take them all home with her!

No caption needed here.

Pigtails and pipes.

dancing at the kitchen party

Rochelle discovering that a potato sac race is not the best place for a recently new mother to be jumping up and down. Sad to come in last but happy to have not peed herself. (note: add Kegels to the work out)