The Hundred Acre Wood

When we first moved into our house Grammy and Grampy came up to visit and help us get settled in. And while they were up they also did some exploring in our neighborhood. And on a walk one day Grammy found a forest... just a couple blocks from our house! I suppose I shouldn't be surprised since we live in Oregon... it just seemed a little surprising to find it in the middle of a neighborhood. The forest is pretty untouched, other than a little bridge across a sometimes-stream. Grammy and Noah named it the "Hundred Acre Wood" just like the forest in Winnie the Pooh... and it has become of of our favorite places to go.

We have been getting antsy to see some blue sky and sunshine with all the rain, and today was that day! So we packed up our little red wagon, threw the boy's bears inside and headed out to the forest. 

I'm so glad that we had a camera... I don't want to forget our trips to the forest!

Last spring Levi was too little to be doing this... so much changes in a year!

Levi refused to hold Drew's other hand. He needed to hold "Noey's" hand because he "Wuves him so much." to which Noah responded "Yeah, I love you too because I am your big brother."  *swoon*

I love these three adventurers!

Of course we needed to stop along the way and get some rocks.

And then share some rocks...

And then show off his collection.

 

One thing that is so fun about our forest is that on the other side of it is a duck pond. It's always fun when they come out to say hi.

And then hilarious to watch the boys greet them... by waving :)

 

Oh my heart. It is so full!

Batman and Robin

Tonight was the first Halloween that these two will remember... and it was a good one. We started off at one of our neighbors houses showing  off their costumes, then we all got grilled cheese sandwiches at Dee's (where Nana and Papa used to take everyone after trick or treating), and we ended the night at Jack and Sam's neighborhood filling their bags with yummy treats from nice neighbors, it was a really fun night.

The gang.

Anxious anticipation at the very first door knocked at.

Picking what was going to go in your bag was the hardest part...

And, I loved over hearing the conversation between these two buddies. They chatted the whole time and gave themselves pep talks when they saw older kids in scary costumes...

Noah: there are some yucky costumes over there.

Jack: Yeah, but they are just pretend.

Noah: Yeah, I know. And we're brave.

Jack: Yeah, we are. But if we saw real monsters, we would hurt them.

Later on... we were asked to go up to a door with some really creepy decorations. We tried to avoid the house, but the neighbor was standing in his yard inviting us to walk up. We didn't feel that we could turn the neighbor down because we didn't want to offend him so we went... but we gave the boys a super quick pep talk on how everything is just pretend, and that they are brave and scary guys are always afraid of the good guys because they know the good guys are always bigger and stronger. We told them to just say "BOO!" to anything they thought was scary... so the whole way up to the door we heard Noah saying, "BOO! BOO! BOO!... BOO!" He was so proud of himself for scaring all the bad guys :)

I love my brave boys. 

Two sweet boys

lucky me :)

Our mornings

Sometimes it's hard for Mommy to get out of bed the morning... but then I remember we get to do this :)

And I'm usually greeted with such a cheerful "Hi guys!" that I would much rather be watching cartoons and snuggling than be in bed. I will miss these mornings when you decide you're too old for snuggles and cartoons.

What's my name?

You finally named me. You have known who to point to for a while when people say "where's Mommy?"... but you finally gave me a name. It's "Mom-o" and I couldn't be more tickled. Hearing you yell that from your crib when you're ready to get up, or when you're doing something that you want me to see or be a part of makes me melt. I hope that this name sticks, becasue I like being your Mom-o.

Comedic timing

This morning you were a little bit fussy after daddy got you up. Usually you're happy to get up and hang out in your crib for about an hour playing with toys and talking to yourself, but today you were not content to do that... at all. Which is fine, since I know it's not the normal.

So I went in to get you figuring that you were just really hungry and brought you downstairs and started getting you your breakfast. But you weren't happy to be downstairs and started being naughty to prove that. Daddy put you in your chair and I handed you a bagel (your favorite), then you folded your hands and looked at me to pray. My prayer went something like this:

"Dear Jesus, thank you for our food, our family, and for a beautiful day. Please help us to all have good attitudes today and for Noah to take a wonderful nap. Amen."

Then I looked at you and said, "I sure hope that Jesus answers my prayer about us having good attitudes..." and took a sip of my coffee, and you VERY seriously leaned forward toward me and said, "No."

Your dad, who was standing behind me, shoved his head into the pantry (so as not to show you he was laughing) and started shaking all over... which meant he was laughing pretty hard. I almost spit coffee out all over the table because I started laughing, and when you noticed how hard we were laughing you started laughing.

Not one of our better parenting moments. We're trying to figure out how to be more effective next time...

Old McDonald had an I-YA... ei ei oh.

Lately, you have been super into making all kinds of sounds. Animal sounds, car sounds, so many. I had to document this, because we've never been able to capture it on our camera. The second you see a camera you turn into this little ham and will never do what we're trying to get you to do... you turn into a little comedian instead. So here are your current animal sounds (we're working on trying to correct some of them...)

Bear & Lion: RAAA!!

Sheep & Goat: Baa

Dog: voof voof (your absolute favorite animal ever)

Cat: I-YA (not sure why...)

Goldfish (out of one of your books): BAAA

Cow: MM MMM

Car: BVVVV

We're ready for you to start talking dude. Any day now. We can't wait to hear what your little mind is thinking!

Our trip to the mountians

This weekend we were lucky to get away with our friends the Stewarts. We rented a cabin down in Tennessee and stayed for a couple nights. It was a lot of fun, and I hope that we can do it again as all you boys get older. Here are some pics from our trip...

The crew

This is a hike we went on to Laurel Falls. You were amazing and wanted to 

walk most of it...and it was a long hike for someone your size - 2.6 miles!

This picture doesn't do the falls justice at all. It was beautiful and 

much bigger than the trickle that's showing in this picture.

All you boys

The weather could not have been more perfect- 

being outside was so much fun, we're ready for spring!

The camera adds 10 pounds

When you have a kid... you'll understand. And you will also be justified  in doing things like this...

I prayed a lot today

Yesterday you discovered the word "no" and today you perfected it. Not only that, but you have been delivering it in a way that makes me cringe becasue you scream it, in a very rude way.

Let's have some dinner, Noah. "NO!"

Ok, let's pick up our toys. "NAH!"

Do you think you could have a good attitude at church tonight so that Mommy and Daddy can sit through the service for once in 2 months? "NO NO NO!"

So, I guess we're there. At the place where most people would say the "terrible two's" (although you are quite a few months from actually being two). I hate that phrase and I will never say that about you, because I don't think that there is anything terrible about you. But I will say that we're at a challenging stage where your dad and I have just started scratching our heads thinking "ok, what now?".

You have been an incredible baby, and I am so grateful that God gave me you to ease me into Mommyhood. And now we're entering a different stage where there are some new challenges, and that's ok. I'm glad that you're learning boundaries, and I'm glad that we're going through some of this now before your new brother or sister shows up. I'm also glad that you have a strong personality because I know that will protect you one day.

But today was rough. I prayed a lot. It's hard being screamed at all day over silly things and listening to you just walk around and practice saying "NO!" in different inflections and then hear you use them later when you're being defiant.

We'll make it through, and I hold tight to believing that you're an amazing little guy who is going to do big things and love Jesus. Your dad and I love you so much, and I know that we have many battles and challenges ahead of us, but we never want to set you up for failure by giving into these tantrums. So just know that on the days that your bottom is a little sore, or your hand is kind of red... it's because we love you and we want to train you to be a good boy who respects people and is kind in his responses.

Oh, and also know, your dad and I will ALWAYS win.

I love...

 

- that you know how to pray (fold your hands) and will remind us when we forget at a meal.

- that when you're laid down for a nap, but not tired, you will run laps in your crib and giggle.

- that you're hopelessly addicted to graham crackers and that you hide them whenever you get them so you can pull them out when you need a fix. I still haven't discovered your hiding spot... but I'm a little nervous to.

- that you love being around other kids and think it's so awesome to be a part of whatever they're doing.

- that you can have food ALL over your face, in your hair, and on your clothes, but the second your hands get dirty you flip out a little.

- that there is a splash zone in the bathroom when you're in the bathtub because splashing is your most favorite thing ever.

- that whenever we're out you smile and wave at anyone who looks at you.

Learning to use a spoon...

is an art. At least the way you do it. You managed you paint your whole face with it, plus the front of your jammies in about 5 min. Just enough time for me to put your yogurt in front of you and walk away to check my email. I came back to you looking like this:

*sigh* I just love you. You're just the cutest messiest little guy I know.

Spaghetti night!

You are so into being a big boy... which means the glory days of your dad and I feeding you to avoid huge messes are over. But you know what? I'm totally ok with that, becasue I get pictures like this:

I don't want to forget...

- You know how to say please and thank you and do it without being asked. I love that you're polite.

- You are almost always kind to people in stores or restaurants when they smile at you or talk to you. You will even give a courtesy laugh sometimes.

- You love books and when you want someone to read to you: you will grab a book, turn your back to them, start backing up towards them and then do a booty drop and hand them the book.

- Whenever you are looking at books by yourself you ALWAYS have them upside down. When we try to correct it you just turn it back to the way you had it.

- You love Vegitales and every time you hear the theme song to it you'll stop what you're going and go dance in front of the TV.

- You pop up like a prairie dog and smile in your crib whenever someone walks into your room after a nap or nights sleep.

- "Snuggling" to you means either sitting and allowing us to hold you for a few seconds, or smiling and putting your head on something.

- You're all about sharing right now (at least it seems) and you will go and find random things that seem important to you and bring them to people (trashcans, laundry baskets, full water cups left on the floor, underwear, books...)

- You know when something is out of  place and you will call me out on it to fix it or just do it yourself. Like closing the basement door so you don't fall down the stairs, or shutting the baby gate to the stairs.

A new cousin!

As of yesterday afternoon, you now have another cousin!! You are now one of 5 cousins... and soon to be 6 (Aunt Stephanie is due next year)! His name is Stuart Graham (named after the man who married your Aunt Anna and uncle John, Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Blake, and your daddy and I). And, he is now the 4th boy cousin... how fun!

We all get to go and meet him in January, and we can't wait! It will be so strange to see you next to such a tiny little baby since I feel like I still see you like that sometimes.

Congrats Andersons-- we love you all and are so proud to be a part of this family!

Your first word!

... is ball. I can say that in confidence becasue you only say it when you see one.  It sounds more like "BA!" or sometimes "BOL?" I'm not surprised this is your first word either--balls are your absolute favorite toy ever. They are what you get the most excited to play with... and the thing that you never get bored of.

I'm excited for more words... you talk a lot and always have so much to say, but the only word that we can understand so far is ball. Keep trying though buds, I have a feeling that very soon you'll be talking our ears off--and we can't wait!

Christmas 2010

Here is this years Christmas card that your Amazing dad made. It blows my mind to see how much you have grown just since last year. *sigh*

Your new routine

Since you were teeny-tiny you have been used to getting a bottle in a dark room and then going to bed. So, when your doctor said that I needed to be weening you from formula and your bottle I thought it was going to be more than traumatic. But, as always, you adjusted just fine. It took us a couple weeks to implement new routines and a new bedtime beverage... but you got it. Like a champ you got it. We are so proud.

So now your bedtime routine is to go pick 2 books out of your book bin and either daddy or I will read them to you while you gulp down some milk. Then we brush your teeth and off to bed you go. I just can't get over how big you are. It's crazy to me how much you have changed in just a year. I love it so much, but some days I wish that you would slow down a little so I can soak up more of you being a baby.

I wish this picture wasn't so blurry. It's such a sweet one of you and daddy. He's usually the one who puts you down at night... so I love that I captured this. Sweet dreams tonight buds. We love you so much.

2010 Ornament

Your dad and I have decided that every year we're going to get you an ornament so that by the time you're ready to move out... you will have ornaments for your own tree, as well as some fun memories to go along with them.

This year we decided to get you a Rex (from Toy Story) ornament. He's not only from one of our favorite movies that we hope you love one day, he also reminds us of you. Strong and loud on the outside, but tender and sweet on the inside. We also liked him becasue we found him down in Florida and have such fun memories of our family reunion down there. Notice the amazing Mickey ears he's wearing and how he's eating a Mickey ice cream popsicle.

Tractors, trees and tempers...

We have started a family tradition that the day after Thanksgiving we go and get our Christmas tree. We make the treck up to Indiana and watch as Daddy cuts it down. It was fun watching you run around looking at everything, and it blew my mind thinking back to last year and how tiny you were. You're getting big so fast.

This year was fun, but it was so cold that we were all a little bit miserable... and you were definitely trying to get your point across that you were ready to be somewhere warm. We couldn't blame you though. It was freezing and then taking a freezing tractor ride made it feel like we were in the North Pole. Thankfully we were able to get a few good pictures of you smiling... because that's what I want to remember.

Seeing a big Christmas tree and getting excited that we are going to get to take one home.

 

 You were so sweet touching the ornaments on the tree.

Getting to ride on a big tractor seemed like a lot of fun...

 

... until it started to move and we all froze. Daddy held you in your 

blanket as tight as you would let him...

 Then you came over to see me. But it was cold on my side, too. Sorry buds.

Helping us find the perfect tree. You were such a big helper!

We found it!! Pretty perfect...

You and Daddy right before you cut it down.

 Then we got to go home and decorate it. You were so happy to be in warm clothes and to be surrounded by a bunch of balls-- your favorite thing EVER.