Here is Shannon showing off her new skill: clapping!

Shannon and her friend Megan in the kiddie pool. Shannon isn't very happy because there are big water fountains spraying water and making more noise than she likes. She really liked the deep water though and floated all over the place.

Shannon went to the "beach" today. She seemed to get a lot of splashes on the bird...

Shannon’s new thing is running around sneaking up on people.

Just a day of hanging around at the park. Weeeeeeee.

Shannon met here new cousin Levi this last weekend. She thinks they are going to be best friends… besides his fingers are tasty.

Bath time was never Shannon's favorite until now. She just loves her duck bathtub. Of course, I am not always so excited about it - Tom likes to hang it on the shower wall by it's suction cups so that when I open the curtain for a shower of my own I am face to face with a blow-up duck.

Wow, I think Porthos is tired of getting his picture taken.

Dr Seuss had waskets in his baskets in one of his stories. I wonder what he would call this?

Playtime in the bouncer! Tom thinks Shannon is so cute in her hat!

Playtime!

Don't be fooled by the picture. She isn't crawling yet. She will hold herself in a crawling position but after about 2 seconds she starts crying.

Daddy came home!

Look, Shannon can ride her airplane all by herself!

Hurry home Daddy!

Shannon's favorite new toy!

Shannon and her friend Abby.

Shannon loves petting her puppies!

Shannon can stand by herself if she is holding onto something. That hand is just to make sure she doesn't fall!

Playing airplane with Mom.

Mmmmmm, rice cereal!

Hey, a bouncer! Okay, so she doesn't quite have the idea down yet but she will. And the best part is that Alex the bird really doesn't like the bouncer so maybe he will stay clear for a while. The other day he flew and landed right next to Shannon and to my horror started climbing over her. I kept yelling at him to get away as I rushed towards her. He didn't bite her or anything and when I got closer I found out why he was still next to her. She had his whole foot gripped tightly in her hand! So Alex was a good bird for a change. I think maybe he will stay away from her now.

She's really starting to interact more with her toys now. Look at her trying to get her shapes sorted properly!

Look at the turtle outfit that Shannon's Nana made her. Isn't it cute? Unfortuanately Shannon has decided that she doesn't like having her picture taken anymore and keeps closing her eyes.

Shannon now has a high chair. We are hoping if she can see us while we eat maybe she won't insist on being held during meals. I wouldn't mind but it is getting increasingly hard to keep my plate where I can reach it but her little fingers can't. Still, I'm not sure she really knows what a high chair is for yet. She was more interested in conducting experiments to see what happens when she drops Dino from the tray.

My dad made a couple of small perches for Alex so that he could have one in Shannon's room (with the idea that maybe he'll sit on it instead of destroying everything he can get his beak on). They reminded me of a Sit and Spin so I though Shannon could try it out. She sat very nicely on it, too.

Gecko Girl and her Grumpa!

The girl giving Shannon her bottle is named Allison. When I was about that age I gave her a bottle or two - when she was Shannon's age! And now she is a junior in high school.

Shannon has graduated from the bath sling to the ring. She still tends to ooze down the side of the tub a little though. And before you ask, Alex is actually sitting on the edge of the tub. It only looks like he is sitting on her head.

We miss you Tom!