Anne thinks "boo" is the funniest sound she's ever heard

Best of the 7-month pictures (and we haven't even gotten to Christmas yet)

Monthly birthdays ...

Ho ho ho!

Anne is 8 months old on the 26th, so here is her 7-month picture, just under the wire. We'll post a few more soon -- she looks like a little girl instead of a baby in these photos.

New cup

A girl who loves to step on the scale ...

Anne is all smiles for Dad while he gets her ready for bed, a ritual that includes her nightly weigh-in ...

Christmastime is here

Anne went to her Aunt Beverley's house for her first Christmas party this afternoon. She was especially interested in Beverley's dog, Layla, who is a perfect first dog pal for a baby: Layla is gentle, reserved (so much so, we couldn't get her to pose for a photo) and not interested in babies at all. Anne smiled so much at Layla, she wrinkled her nose. And when Layla leaned toward Anne to investigate a toy, Anne reached out for her.

Erin Nephew Photography, 7 months

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Peas!

Anne has tried lots of yellow and orange veggies, so now it's time for some green ones. First up: peas. Mommy was skeptical. Mommy hates peas. Mommy's mom hates peas. Mommy kept this information to herself, though she did warn Daddy that Anne might spit them out. Nope. Anne wasn't as nuts for peas as she is for sweet potatoes and winter squash, but she happily ate them on Sunday for the first time.

Build-a-baby

Anne met two of her oldest friends for a playdate Saturday at the National Building Museum. She was cranky because, for whatever reason, her morning nap ended too soon. (Sore gums may have awakened her -- Anne's second tooth finally arrived in the five o'clock hour Sunday morning.)

Her pals Ellie and Avery (pictured without Anne) did their best to charm Anne and kept her from melting down for more than an hour. The good news is that Anne fell asleep on the way home, stayed asleep while Mommy and Daddy moved her from her carseat to her crib, and slept for just under three hours.

We still must choose our outings carefully, according to her doctors. It's important to help keep her healthy throughout this first cold and flu season. But now that Anne is sleeping and napping fairly well, we are venturing out more and more. Anne also went to her first story- and song-time this week at the public library in our neighborhood and loved watching the other kids, the songs and the clapping.

She's also getting used to her sunglasses. Of course they are stylish. But if Mommy needs them, then Anne needs them to protect her baby blues, too!