Oh bother- I cannot keep up with my blog to save my life! Ever since school has started, I've been pretty worthless after Anderson's bedtime (which is back to 7:30-8), and I've rarely stayed up past 9:30 myself. But lots (!!) of exciting things are happening, and we've had a lot of fun weekends lately.
Anderson is quickly becoming a toddler. Well, by quickly I mean he is slowly and steadily progressing towards walking. It must be just around the corner- he loves to push his walker, or a hamper, or his play table around the house. A couple of days ago we took his walker out to the cul-de-sac so he could walk straight for a long time, and he thought that was really cool. He even got his first (slightly) skinned knees. Took it like a champ. :) Mommy will feel better about walking on asphalt once jeans weather has arrived!
Anderson really is the sweetest one. He is so cute and especially snugly in the mornings before school. And he loves books, both "reading" them and being read to. He is also all of a sudden very opinionated, and he does not hesitate to chuck a book out of my hands if it's not the one he wants. He tends to have a few favorites for a week or so, and then the favorites change. Frequent favorites include: "I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean", "But Not the Hippopotamus", "Happy Hippo, Angry Duck", and "Happy Pig Day". He likes the ones where he gets to turn the pages frequently :).
We're going through some grumpy phases, especially at dinnertime, and we're learning the best ways to love and encourage, and sometimes correct, our sweet, sweet (almost) toddler Anderson.
NEW BABY BOY :)
Even as Anderson gets bigger and smarter and funnier, it's still hard to picture him as a big brother. But we pray every night for our hearts to grow bigger and bigger to make room for New Baby, and our prayers are certainly being answered. I'm feeling him move and roll throughout the day. I definitely feel the most moving and shaking when Anderson's on my lap. In fact, the first time I ever felt him for sure was a couple of Saturday mornings ago when Anderson and I were reading "Snuggle Puppy." So I guess that's new baby's favorite book.
I have been so sure our New Baby was a boy ever since our 16 week appointment- everything this time around has been so similar to my pregnancy with Anderson. Anyways, I was right :), and we couldn't be happier! I see visions of bunk beds and baseball games and two (well 3 counting Ryan) precious baby boys to love and to love me. It feels so right- which is saying something, since New Baby was such a shock/ surprise in the first place.
We took a 20 week picture to compare to the 20 wk photo when I was carrying Anderson.
Hard to imagine what 36+ weeks will look like! I ended up nice and big (!) with Anderson, and I'm clearly ahead of the game this time.
GREAT VISITS
Two weekends ago we went to DC to meet cutie Colin and hang out with Liam, Chris and Sarah. Liam is fun as ever- and Anderson noticed more this time around, too. He kept smiling at Liam, who seemd to look at Anderson to say "Well, c'mon- get up and play!" Soon, soon. Colin was a sleepy little guy at only two weeks old. Sunday Liam and Anderson joined Colin for a little nap at the zoo.
The big boys perked up soon, though, and enjoyed checking out the animals. Liam especially got into it. Anderson's still just as interested in the people walking around as the animals.
Then last weekend, Lauren and Kyle came to visit. Kyle was interviewing for a potential residency in DC, and Lauren was claiming her rain check since not being able to fly in for Anderson's birthday. They hadn't seen Anderson since Christmas, so he had changed a lot! Lauren was a cute little auntie and set her alarm for 7:30 so that she could hang out with Anderson and I during our treasured early morning time. Here are some Saturday morning pics-
Anderson was shy on and off throughout the weekend, but he was perfectly himself during the morning. Uncle Kyle had him laughing to the point of snorting. Even when he was being shy with Lauren, he would follow her if she walked somewhere he couldn't see.
Later that day we went to Maymont and admired some other animals that Anderson doesn't quite care about yet. We really enjoyed the Japanese Gardens, where we took a little break.
