Cuteness Overload?

I meant to post these pictures a REALLY long time ago, but just didn't. For Christmas (see?), my sister Amy gave Andrew these amazingly cute monsters for his room. (And yes, the new little baby will be sharing Andrew's monster themed room. I kinda love it, actually.) And yes, she painted them. AMAZING!

Andrew always asks me to pick him up after his nap and look at his "monsahs."

I love the eyeball balloon. A lot.
I also love how it's parent monsters with their kid monsters. It's so sweet.

Here they are on his wall.

Andrew reading the Friend and eating his PB&J. Cute. Really cute.

Andrew helped me chop up veggies for dinner. Everytime we'd make a cut he'd say, "Oooooh......yeah!"

Pretty cute little guy.

Growing up

It's official. My little guy is growing up. Within the last week, he learned how to turn a somersault, pull up his own shorts (unless they get stuck on his diapered bum), and how to pedal a tricycle. I guess it makes sense - he'll turn 2 on Thursday. But it's a little bittersweet to see him becoming his own little person.

I'm just grateful for the moments when he wants to snuggle, for the moments when he asks for a hug, for those little moments when he says "Sank ya Mommy." I love when he asks for a "backpack" when he wants a piggy-back ride. I love when he is proud of himself and makes his smug little face or says yay and claps for himself. I love when he plays with his daddy, and when he sings and dances.

I really really love this kid. He's quickly becoming a real-life toddler, rather than my little baby. And I'm excited to see what he turns out to be as he gets older. Cause I'm really loving who he is everyday.

Keep It Together, Man!

I think I'm losing my mind.

1. I was going through the newborn baby clothes, trying to get a couple outfits to bring to the hospital. I got so stressed out trying to narrow it down, because I kept thinking things like, "But this one is really cute, too! I really want to put this on her!!" I had to keep reminding myself that I would be bringing her home with me...thus I would be able to dress her for many years to come.

2. Mike works with a guy named Patrick. The first time he mentioned him, my mind immediately went to Patrick Star from Spongebob Square Pants. I don't really watch the show, but have seen a few episodes. For some reason, anytime Mike mentions his coworker Patrick, I can't help but laugh straight out loud thinking about him working with Patrick Star. I seriously, seriously can't keep it together. Nice little Michael puts up with his crazy wife.

3. I had a funny thought yesterday. I have definitely gotten into the nesting stage. I am going crazy trying to clean and organize the house before the baby comes. While vacumming, I thought that nesting was nature's way of making sure DFS doesn't come take away my kid before it's even born. Not seriously, of course - my house may get messy but it's nothing nasty. The thought just made me laugh.

4. I kind of think this blog post is evidence in and of itself that I'm losing my mind. I'm not even going to go back and read it, because I think my brain will explode. Thanks for reading the whole thing and indulging my crazy pregnancy brain. :)

Tornadoes

I am scared of tornadoes. Terrified. So this week has been pretty sad and scary. My heart and thoughts are with all the people around this area who have lost property, loved ones, and their sense of normalcy.

Flipz

So here's something awesome we discovered this week. There's a gymnastics place here in town called Flipz and occasionally they have days where there's free play for kids under 6. It only costs $5 per kid and adults are free. It was so awesome. Andrew pretty much thought it was the best thing he'd ever done. They had balance beams of all sizes, floor trampolines, rock climbing, swinging ropes, big balls, and a huge foam block pit. Baby girl was doing her own gymnastics inside me the whole time. I took care of her while Mike helped Andrew explore. :)

After about an hour, he was so worn out. He opted to just sit on the trampoline while the other kids bounced him. He'd sit there and if he got high, he'd start clapping and saying, "Yay!"

Andrew making his proud face while walking on a high balance beam. He actually did a really good job staying up there with just a little help from Daddy.

Daddy and Andrew getting ready to jump in the pit!

In they go!

And they're in! It is 5 feet deep, so kids basically just float on the top while the adults sink. Mike said it was a real workout, but lots of fun.

We are sooo excited to have found another fun indoor activity that will tire out our little sweet boy.

Another Goodbye

We had to say goodbye to the Hamiltons this week. Another law student graduating. Lucky stiffs. :) Leave it to me to get pictures of the kids and forgetting entirely to get any pictures of the adults. Sheesh. Anyway. We're really going to miss our amazing friends and all the fun we have together. We're glad they're not moving too far away!

Andrew was not at all interested in eating until Amelia and her little friend started eating. Then he was all for it. I didn't get a good shot of them all cracking up, but they spent the whole time making each other laugh. Andrew will laugh at anything, and found that if he put his foot on the table, the girls would squeal and say "Oh stinky!" and then they'd all laugh until I worried one/all of them would choke. Pretty cute.

Andrew and Amelia hugging. Isn't she such a cutie? I love that little redhead. She's so funny, and such a sweetheart. Andrew loves her.

Hugging Melissa. He loves that family just as much as Mike and I do.

We're so grateful to know the Hamiltons and wish them so much luck in their new home. We're going to miss having them around!

The Barber of Columbia

Aaron recently had a day off work, so we decided to hire him as our barber. It doesn't pay much (ahem...or at all) but he does a great job.

His first task was Andrew, the wiggliest dude ever. That white blob sitting under Aaron is my pasty little son. I think he needs a little sun before we go out swimming this summer.

He then cut Mike's hair. I'd include a picture, but for some reason it's right side up until I post it here and then it's sideways. Driving me crazy...

Then he cut the lawn. And we finally let him have a break on his day off. For a few minutes, then Mike and I went out to dinner while he babysat. Thanks, Aaron! :)

Cha-cha-cha-changes....

It's getting to be summer time. You know what that means, right? Graduations. It's not our turn yet, although that'll come up before we know it. (One more year. WOW!) We are so happy for our friends who are moving on, and sad that they're leaving us! We went to two parties today.

Andrew and his friend Laneia. Everytime they see each other, they hug over and over. It's adorable, even when they accidently knock each other over. I finally got a picture of it today. So sweet. Andrew is definitely going to miss his friend. So will I! I love that little girl.

Mike with his buddy Dan, who graduated today.
And finally me with my beautiful, amazing friend Liesel. She is such an example to me. She always has a positive spin on everything and has helped me so much to remember to be more Christ-like everyday. She's funny, she's talented, and she's just wonderful. I will seriously miss my neighbor, and am so happy for all the people she will meet in her new home. They don't know what a blessing they're getting.

And....I'm grateful that not everyone I love is moving away! :) Change is sad and exciting at the same time.

Like Mommy, Like Baby

Elastic Boy says hello.

He looks weird, but it definitely cracks us up.

34 Weeks...

...and feeling fine!

Choice of Words

Today I was bringing Andrew to his room to change his diaper. (It could have easily been used as a weapon of mass destruction.) He was not excited about this idea - flipping out in a major way. I said, "Hey, Andrew. Why are you freaking out?" He stopped instantly, looked at me, and said, "I fweekin." It was the funniest thing ever, but makes me think I need to be careful about how I phrase things in the future. I love my little fweek.

Zoo

We were able to head to St. Louis this weekend to visit family, go to the temple, and the zoo. Andrew loved the zoo. The animals were fun for him, but he was mostly more excited to see the kids running around. :) We had a fun trip, it was extremely nice out, and I have also decided to never again go to the zoo and walk around for two hours when I'm 33 weeks pregnant. I felt really good until the end and then my ankles, feet, and toes were swollen for the rest of the weekend. Yikes. :) I'm really glad we went, though. It was so fun to spend some time just as our little family.

Andrew was pretty impressed with the bears.

Our family at the penguin habitat. Andrew wanted to get inside and swim with the penguins and climb the rocks. :)

AND he kept trying to open the glass to get in with the monkies.

Andrew loved riding around in his little hiking backpack.

He found some polar bears at the gift shop that we weren't sure he was going to give up easily. Luckily he just snuggled with them for awhile and was happy to go see more animals.

Here's a cute picture of Andrew. His favorite animal was......

this little guy. Andrew looked at these "gucks" for a long time. He loved it.

They were pretty cute.

I love my little family. So much.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

Lately we've been having some really good days, mixed in with some bad/temper tantrum/sick/defiant-almost-two-year-old moments.

THE GOOD:
1. Playing outside with Andrew today.
2. Singing "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" and having Andrew dance while holding dandelion leaves. I am so grateful he can learn the truth about how special he is and who he is and who God is so early in his little life. It's wonderful.
3. Finding out he knows the alphabet song! He won't sing it on his own but if I sing it and pause, he'll fill in the right letter and usually the right note. Brag brag. It's good to know, though, that all your work and teaching is actually getting through.
4. His response to me telling him we are going to the library tomorrow - "Cool." Also, anytime his response to my questions is sure ("sho"). It's pretty much adorable and hilarious.
5. Mike is done with two of his finals - just two more to go!

THE BAD:
1. Being pregnant isn't so bad, it really isn't. But there are times when you are just definitely ready to not be pregnant anymore.
2. Craving jalepenos. Not good for the heartburn situation. Especially since I pretty much polished off a jar of them today.
3. Independent little 23 month old boys can sometimes make me crazy. He's so sweet, and I really enjoy his company, but since he isn't quite sure what he wants, even when he wants it NOW....it can be kind of taxing on my brain cells. Here's a typical conversation:
Me: Andrew, are you hungry?
Andrew: Hungy? No.
Me: Do you want some lunch?
Andrew: Lunk? No. Yeah, yeah! No. YES!
*Then he laughs hysterically and smiles at me while I try to figure out what just happened here.*
This picture is him when he wasn't feeling well holding the laptop on his lap. He's seen
Mike and Aaron do it, and felt like big stuff.
THE UGLY:
1. My hands are so chapped this winter. If I keep lotion on them, they don't crack and
bleed. However, I've spent most of this winter (and spring apparently) with what
looks like red leather gloves on my hands. It's UGLY and I'm so excited for the
weather change just so I can look like I have normal, non-leprous hands. Have a
good mental image of that? You're welcome.
2. I've gotten to the point where I feel yucky. I'm 33 weeks pregnant, haven't been
wearing makeup, and am exhausted all the time. I don't feel ugly, just like a frumpy
mom. But that's normal.

As you can see, there's a lot more good going on around here. As usual. I'm grateful for a nice life and nice people in it. :)

Goings on...

It's been a while since I've posted, so I thought it was time to do a little update. We have loved Spring so far. Andrew and I have been making daily trips to the park. This has been great for Andrew to get out some of his seemingly limitless energy, as well as getting a little sun. I'm not kidding you when I say I can't really get a good picture of Andrew outside because his skin is so white it messes with the exposure. I wonder where he got that.. :) We've both gotten a little more sunkissed, and are loving it. :)

Mike's been super busy finishing up his 2nd year of law school. He's now finished with classes and is busy with some last minute interviews for summer internships, as well as studying for his finals. We miss him around here, and can't wait for him to be finished with his tests next week!!

Andrew woke up yesterday at 10 am sick as a dog. We've been really blessed with a healthy kid. This is the first illness besides a cold he's ever had. There's nothing more pathetic than having your little guy come in the room covered in throw-up, frowning and saying, "A hug?" We spent a day snuggling, drinking water, and having a combo Blues Clues/Charlie and Lola marathon. Luckily he is much better today. He's not completely better, but much more so. Now we're in the extremely whiny mood. (Both of us, but he's worse. haha) I'm taking him to the doctor a little later, but I'm sure he'll be better by tomorrow or Wednesday.

I'm 32 weeks along, feeling good, feeling very pregnant. Chasing an almost 2 year old around has gotten more difficult for sure. My friend will be having her baby a month after me, and it's her 7th. So I'll stop whining now. :) The baby is healthy, and everything's going great. We're really blessed.

We're busy, but very happy. Hope you are as well!