Playing at the airport ~ with planes in the background.
While we were there, we took advantage of the warm weather, so Anjali went the whole weekend without wearing shoes! She still wore her sun hat, long sleeves and pants, and socks sometimes, for sun protection ~ but not for warmth! It was a pleasant change of pace from the everyday-in-jackets weather we had been having in Berkeley.
bare feet!!
We enjoyed lounging on the front porch with a mild (not cool) breeze on a sunny day, a visit to the beach, delicious food, and fun times with Auntie Woo and Uncle Miles. It was obvious to Woo and me that Anjali was growing and changing even in the short amount of time we were there. She began pulling up on things (like my pantleg), and climbing onto things (like pillows), and supporting her weight on her knees in a more upright position. She also chose to sit on her bottom for play, instead of sitting like that for a few minutes because Mommy put her there for the practice. 
In food news, Anjali got to try some baby coconut water on a hot day, and ate banana for the first time. She really liked ripe banana! At the beach, I put some little nibbles of mushed banana in a cup and gave it to her. She reached her hand in there and had a good time feeding herself all that banana. 
The banana cup.
The most exciting event of the weekend was Anjali's introduction to dogs. When we first entered the house, the dogs had been at home for a little while by themselves and so were happy to see us, and also hungry. As Auntie Woo was introducing Anjali to Abbey, Charlie Brown let out a big bark to let Woo know how hungry he was. This startled Anjali. She cried and cried. Later on in the evening, and throughout the next day or so, when we were in the house, Anjali would not take her attention off the dogs. She made scared noises, and then immediately after, friendly squeals. She alternated these noises, very effectively communicating her range of emotions: "I'm scared of the dogs, but also curious and interested in them." Charlie Brown really didn't care one way or the other about Anjali's presence (as long as she didn't pull his hair). Abbey wanted to lick her like a puppy and sit very close, to protect her. With Mommy as a safe zone, Anjali would make her little hooty scared noise while simultaneously attempting to approach a dog. She would dare an inch or two. . and then retreat, over and over again. By the end of the weekend, Anjali felt comfortable playing on the floor with a dog nearby, and eventually got up the courage to crawl over and touch Abbey's foot. She also smoothly endured quite a few face and foot licks. A successful coexistence with dogs!
Where the cats were concerned, she cooed and squealed in her friendly way, as if to say, "Hey, I know about your kind! I like you!" And when we returned home, she seemed to have a renewed interest in our furry family members because of her experience with others.
A fun visit with loved ones! Thank you for letting us visit, Auntie Woo and Uncle Miles!
At the beach with Auntie Woo.
Playing with Uncle Miles.
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