Had a lovely day with my parents in Harrisonburg yesterday, which is about halfway between their home in northern Virginia and my home in southwestern Virginia. We each left in the morning at about 9, took one pit stop, and arrived at our designated meeting Starbucks, within about 45 seconds of each other. Mom took me to Walmart and bought me, among other things, the slippers pictured to the right. Nikita was such a good girl even though she wanted to crawl around and we didn't have a place for her to do so all day!

Also would like to share with you about our walk on a gorgeous Thursday. There's a cute little duck pond in Foxridge, a neighboring apartment complex. Had fun taking pictures there! Nikita was so easy to contain and photograph since she would stop at the edge of the blanket because she didn't like the feeling of the prickly grass on her legs and feet.

Dear Zoo

When my daughter was born I thought I'd remember every detail of what she did at what times, and just give her the verbal version of a baby book, but she's a year old now, and I've already forgotten a lot of stuff. Maybe I should write it down, maybe when she's older she'll enjoy reading what she did and how she grew up.

Nikita just turned one year old a week ago, she's sitting on the floor in front of me reading Dear Zoo to herself, still in her pajamas because we both slept in till 9. She makes her elephant noise when she sees the elephant on the first page, or when she wants me to read the book to her. While she's "reading" it she also says, "a-di-daw" "a-dee" and other sing-song noises. When the cats walk by, she says, "dzi-dzee" or "daddy!" for kitty.

Jon's parents are coming over in an hour to watch her while I work. They want to be called Ganny and Papaw but I can't stand those names!