A Quick Post

Karen posted these pictures, but didn't get a chance to type a message before she had to head home and put the boy to bed.

Hear those crickets chirping?

I've been without the internet all week, so that's why you haven't heard from me in awhile. Not sure when I'll be getting it again. Ok, stop crying. I'm working on it.

Surgery

Andrew's surgery was this morning. Everything is okay, and he was a real trooper throughout the whole thing. He got pretty hungry and tired right before he went into surgery and was starting to break down, but anytime someone came in, he'd perk right up and give them big smiles. He's such a little sweetie.

Here he is in pre-op.

Here he is with Daddy. That was the smallest gown they had..... He's sporting a little shoulder there. (Can you tell we woke up at 5:00 this morning?)

Taking a stroll around the room. Not quite sure what happened to his other foot.

Snoozing on the way home. Poor little tired guy. It was really strange to see him all drugged up and out of it. He was also all red and puffy from the anesthesia.

We are so grateful that Heavenly Father watched over him, and to all of you for all of your prayers and well-wishes. Yay, it's over! :)

Tomorrow

Tomorrow Andrew is having his surgery. Today I have been a basket case. I'm sure it'll all be okay. I just can't WAIT for it to be over with...

In this picture, please ignore -

1. the snot under his nose.

2. the crazy look in his eyes. Yikes.

3. the cut above his eye - no idea which of his little escapades caused that.

4. the dried food on his nostrils

5. the sticky-up eyebrow

DO notice the little baby tooth. If you look closely you'll see that the one next door is coming in also. I'm going to miss his gummy grin, but those teeth are pretty cute, too!

Hanging out under his crib. Love those baby curls on the sides...

FYI - His vest was puffing out in front, that isn't a huge gut.

I love that baby...a lot.
Don't know if that was obvious.

Coupons........

If you've seen me at at for the last couple of months, I'm sure you've heard me talking about www.coupons.com. It's so great!!! You get some great coupons and can save a bundle. They're all for name brands, but if you can catch it on sale, you can make a pretty great deal. I printed out a $4 coupon for any Monopoly game and a $5 coupon for any Pictureka game. I found the card game versions of both of these for $5.24 at Wal-Mart. That means...

I got this little guy for $.24. An AMAZING deal, even if Mike is freaked out by the "attack udders" on the cover.

And this little guy for $1.24. Not too shabby.

They have a $4 coupon for Scrabble, so I'm going to pick up that card game for $1.24. Woohoo!

Our New Little Arrival

Thanks to the tooth fairy for the little deposit.

It's a lower tooth, and I'm glad for him that it's come through. Sorry about the lack of pictures lately. We're having some camera/computer issues that I'm trying to fix. In the meantime........can someone please explain to me how my newborn became an infant? Wasn't he just born yesterday??? Now he has a tooth, and when you hold his hands, he walks forward...........I'm happy to see him doing all these new things, but am so sad to say goodbye to my tiny one.

February 12

Andrew has to have surgery on February 12. It's a simple surgery, but since he's so little, he has to go under general anethesia, meaning a breathing tube, putting him totally under, etc. I know it'll all be ok, but I am having a tough time. The thought of him lying there knocked out.... it's just too much. I hate thinking of him in any pain. I'm sure everything is going to be fine, but it's still no fun for anyone.

One cute thing though was that at the hospital yesterday, Andrew was getting so angry at us for not letting him crawl around. He would get fussy and upset, but as soon as the door opened and a doctor or nurse would come in, he'd instantly be all smiles and start charming the pants off of them. It was too cute. He's such a little ham.

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends...

Or just friend. Singular. :) Tomorrow I have to take Andrew to the hospital to see if he needs surgery for his hernia and probably get some tests done. I don't really like this. Soooo, my friend Natalie (I think if you've been reading this blog you know who she is.....) is off tomorrow, so she's going to spend the day with me. I am so grateful for the moral support and that she's spending her day off of the hospital with me and the Jellybean at the hospital. Then we're going to play Halo and watch The Bachelor. Because...why not.

A Real Page Turner

This is a book I read for the first time a couple of years ago, but Michael grew up reading. I would say it's probably about right for an 11-12 year old, but is fun no matter how old you are.
And also, Andrew can turn pages when we read to him. He's been doing that for about a month now and it's freaking adorable. Of course, he has to be in the mood for it, but he'll do it. Sooo cute.

In a funk

Kind of feeling in a funk lately. Not sure why or what I can do to pull myself out of it, but there ya go. Not bad, not depressed, just kinda...bleh. In a funk.

Avocado

The kid hates it. He made this face for a REALLY long time before raking it out of his mouth.

"Mom. Seriously?"

He then refused any food I tried to offer him by shaking his head 'no' and pushing the spoon away. And making the above face. I guess he feels pretty seriously about it...

Adventure Boy

Eating the letters from the fridge. He's actually not allowed to, because he shoves them all the way in his mouth.

Climbing the stairs! He's definitely not allowed to do this....And no worries. He wasn't in danger of falling. And HE WAS ON THE FIFTH STEP. I was following close behind thinking, " Holy cow. This kid is too fast forn me!"

His first injury. It looked even sadder than this picture portrays, but it healed really quickly. His biggest problem was when he was tired, he would rub his eyes and nose and scream! Poor little guy...

And he's sweet as could be!

Invalid

We were watching old videos I had taken on my phone of Andrew. There was one from when he was about 4 1/2 or 5 months and almost crawling. He was laying there like a lump, getting frustrated and yelling, kicking his feet. Michael said, "I don't like it! It's like he's crippled or something. I can't watch this." It was kind of funny, but I understood because he looked almost the same as he does now and he is currently crawling like a maniac, shaking his head no, pulling all the books and DVDs off the shelf, standing up on his own, climbing onto things, and eating everything he can get his little mitts on. Oh, and the other day while he was standing unsupported, he took a step forward (and promptly fell on his face of course). Boy that kid likes to move. I wonder what new things he will do today? :)

I sure love both my guys.

Like Father Like Son

Apparently in Michael's family, "the hair" is kind of notorious every couple of generations or so. Apparently it didn't skip any generation here. It gets increasingly crazy after bed or in this case, naps. Both of my guys had a nap yesterday. Therefore behold....

The Hair...

It has begun....

Sing it with me now. "It's only just begun......"
Guess who can stand without support now? Andrew spent all day yesterday pulling himself up on things, steadying himself, pushing himself back so he's unsupported, and laughing like a wildman any time he stays upright. When he feels himself start to fall, he either leans back on what he was supported on before, or lowers himself slowly to the ground (or occasionally falls). Seriously, 7 months old. What is it with this Teeny Little Super Guy? In any case, we're proud of our little explorer. (And increasingly terrified that he's going to learn to walk any day now.....)

Sheesh.

Driving Mr. Baby

We drove a lot over the holidays and stopping to stretch was always exciting for Andrew. We had a little too much fun pretending he was driving.

Carefully manuevering a tight turn.

10 o'clock and 2 o'clock...

Please don't distract the driver.

"Get outta the road, buster!"

"Is that a handicapped spot, or can I park there?"

Putting it in reverse.

Is it normal to have this much fun with a 7 month old?? And yes, I'm caught up now. Only 4 posts to catch up. Whew.

All About Andrew

A typical mischievous look from Drew.

Fun with Daddy.

Times 2.

He tipped this over, grabbed two socks, and crawled inside and ate the socks. It was adorable. I love that kid.

I love him in hats.

His newest favorite - sticking out his tongue.

Admit it. He's cute.

Not About Andrew

For extending my service agreement, I got a new phone for free. Cute, huh?

And here's a birthday card I made for Mike's grandpa that I thought turned out really cute.

That is all.

Christmas!

We had a very fun, very hectic time this Christmas. We traveled to Salem, then to St. Louis, then back to Salem, then to Arkansas, then back to Salem, and then home. I never want to see a car again as long as I live. Andrew and Michael agree with me. :)

Here's the baby opening/eating his present.

Andrew putting up his stocking. He got a baby spoon and a jar of baby food. :)

Michael hanging up his stocking. He got nothing.

Me hanging up my stocking. Again, Ol' Santy didn't visit the adults in the house.

Drew with his cousin Kaitlin at her house in Arkansas. So cute!

Twins

I turned 28 on December 17th. We celebrated on the 17th here at home by opening presents and organizing the house (hence the mess behind me).We took this one with forced perspective, so my carmel brownie look humongous. Hilarious.

My friend Natalie and I share a birthday. It was kind of fun to find out I had a younger twin. On the 18th, we celebrated by eating out at the 68 Diner, eating carmel brownies and ColdStone cupcakes, playing Guitar Hero with Natalie's parents, going to see the Magic Tree (www.magic-tree.org), and going to the mall to play Glow-in-the-Dark mini-golf. It was a lot of fun. :)

This is hands-down the best group shot we've gotten so far. (taken at the Mini-Golf course)

Happy really, really, really LATE birthday, Natalie! :)