It's Andrew's World - 2nd Birthday Party with Elmo

This past Sunday - December 11, 2011, we celebrated Andrew's birthday with family and friends. I was really excited to plan an Elmo party/dessert party for Andrew b/c he loves Elmo and is at an age where he knew this party was for him. The week of the party I got a little overwhelmed but I think that is b/c I am 9 months pregnant! The actual party went perfectly and I think the kids had a good time. I know Andrew did. He smiled the whole time and would bounce back and forth from group to group. Here is the party in pictures:

Andrew's "cupcake"


The cupcake decorating station


Jump Jump and slide to burn our sugar energy :)


Elmo Coloring Station


Andrew with his cousins Madalene and Catherine


Mommy and Andrew decorating a cupcake


Andrew's cupcake - the finished product


Andrew with his cousins Alex and Carson


Singing "Happy Birthday to Andrew"


Group picture of Andrew and his friends


Andrew sitting on Elmo's lap for the first time


Party Favors!!


Family Picture with Elmo


Opening presents. Andrew opened the first present without anyone around and was so excited to see it was a firetruck. We asked him to put the paper back in the bag so we could wait for all of the grandparents. He actually did a good job waiting but he kept coming up to us saying "firetruck". Then when everyone was ready he opened up that gift (a gift from Aunt Abby) and didn't look or want to open any other gifts. He was so happy about his firetruck.


It was really a great day and great memory for our family. I love seeing Andrew so happy and he was very happy that day! What will the 2nd year bring for Andrew?? Exciting to think about and to be able to watch this little man grow up.

Santa comes to town

Santa visited Andrew this past Friday - 12/10/2011. This was the 2nd year in a row that Santa came to see Andrew. Last year Andrew was all tears. This year he was nervously shy about Santa. He did not want to let go of Aha! Santa was great. He talked to Andrew about Sam and gave Andrew a gift! He got a reindeer pillow pet. Andrew loved the present but was still unsure of the situation. Maybe next year will be the year of full joy and excited for Santa. All in all it was a great memory.

24 months - 2 years old

Andrew is now a 2 year old. I will say it for the 24th time - WOW! I can't believe my baby is 24 months old. He is a pure joy. Owen and I are so lucky to have him as our little man. Some things he is doing right now are:

* He love trucks, firetrucks, trains, and balls
* He doesn't really have a favorite food but likes basic type food. He does like hummus and will eat any kind of fruit. He is still picky about vegetables.
* TV Shows he likes to watch are Thomas the Train, Bob the Builder and a new one - Fireman Sam.
* He is very verbal and is great at giving out instructions. For example..."mommy move", "mommy sit", "daddy do it", "mommy read" and so on...
* He can say his last name and knows what Owen's and my name are. He is shy when you ask him to say these things in front of other people.
* He is such a talker at the house but when we are around others he gets shy
* He fits in so well with his new class. All the kids seem to get along great with each other and I am so thankful for that.
* He is learning how to sip from a cup and is pretty good at it.
* He doesn't use a booster sit at restaurants anymore and He is actually pretty good at eating out.
* He does not wake up starving right now. He can wait 30 minutes or so before wanting breakfast. I actually like this b/c we can be a little slow to get started on the weekends.

His birthday was on a Saturday this year. We woke up at our normal time for weekends - around 7 am. Andrew opened his gifts which were Elmo themed and he got a toddler bounce house. We blew up the bounce house for him to play in it for a while. Then we went to breakfast at I Hop for pancakes. Andrew loves pancakes and their chocolate milk. After breakfast we came home and played, took naps (Andrew did) and then Aha and Mick brought pizza over for lunch. Then our friends Ms. Amanda, Brantley and Emery came over for cake and ice cream and to play in the jump jump. Aha and Mick got Andrew a slide for outside and Brantley and Andrew enjoyed every minute of going back and forth from the slide to the jump jump. It was actually the perfect Saturday and a wonderful birthday.

We just love him and love watching him grow up.

36 weeks pregnant with Sam

I am 36 weeks pregnant with Sam. I feel like I am definitely at the end of the pregnancy. He is still pretty high, but have noticed him moving down a little each day. I am not dilated but his head is low.

This weekend I started thinking about the week of his birth. I can't believe it is in 3 weeks (22 days to be exact). I have been going back and forth with my thoughts in December b/c of Andrew's birthday, party and Sam. I guess this is how it will be for the rest of my life. Worried and thinking about the two of them. To say I am emotional is an understatement. I have wanted two children (well...really I wanted 5 children...but have since changed my views on that) so being blessed with a second child overwhelms me. I can't wait to meet him. Love him. Kiss him. Cuddle with him. I am even looking forward to him needing me so much in the beginning. What I am having a hard time with is wanting to give him all of this attention and giving all the same attention to Andrew. I try to visualize what my day will look like when Sam is here and Andrew needs me. I never put Andrew down as a baby. I did most everything for him. Sure, Owen helped - when I let him. I was definitely a little controlling when it came to feeding, bath, bed time, etc...I am better now...but have a feeling it will kick in again with Sam. But I am scared to death about that b/c Andrew will need me too. I am so nervous and overwhelmed about how to balance it all.

In other news...Sam's room is complete. I need to take a picture of it. It turned out cute. I have packed his bag for the hospital, but not mine. I guess knowing when he will be born I don't feel the rush to pack mine b/c the mystery is gone. Sure, something could come up...but I just don't have that gut feeling that it will.

In closing...I am very anxious about the unknown yet super excited for my family to be complete. I am not sure how I deserved this good life...but it is times like these that I am so very thankful for the opportunity to be a mom and look forward to seeing Andrew and Sam grow into little boys and men...and praying they are best friends along the way.

Thanksgiving 2011

Another fun and festive Thanksgiving has come and gone! I love Thanksgiving. I love the food, spending time with family and watching football (well watching MSU vs Ole Miss). This year did not disappoint. My parents came into town and we all went to Owen's cousins house (Connie) for Thanksgiving lunch. The kids had so much fun. Andrew played with the big kids and had the best time. His 2nd cousins range in age from 5-15. They played so well with Andrew and he loved every minute of it. Connie's family raise and show pigs and goats so we got to see their barn and the animals. Another favorite of Andrew's.







Grandmom and Granddad brought Andrew some of the brio train set that Uncle Adam used to play with as a child. Andrew LOVES this train set and has played with it every day.



As you can see...Andrew was not the only one who enjoyed playing choo choo trains.

Friday we went to the Munton's for the Annual Italian Night. Owen's mom started doing this after their trip to Italy and it has stuck. Italian food is always good so it is a favorite of ours.

Also on Friday we put up our Christmas decorations. This is the 3rd year we have decorated after Thanksgiving. Having the long weekend makes it easier to decorate before all of our birthday and Christmas celebrations. We also had my parents in town to help - and they were such a big help!

The rest of the weekend we relaxed and did things around the house.

Ralphie enjoyed the company of all of us being home most of the week. I wanted to make sure I put a picture of my first baby boy. He turns 4 this New Year's Eve.

34 weeks Pregnant

I am 34 weeks today! 43 days to go! So there are 41 days until Christmas.

I have been feeling pretty good. This pregnancy has been different in a way where little things have happened that have caused pain or discomfort. Like the sciatic nerve and the iron issues. But other than that I have felt good. I have felt like I can move around and keep up with Andrew. However this weekend - not so much. It is hard to walk. I feel like Sam is going to fall out of me. He is moving around all the time - which I love but he hits my ribs and my bladder a lot. Apparently my nasal passage is very blocked b/c my snoring has been compared to a lumbar jack - personally, I think the jury is still out on that :) This weekend I became extremely tired. I took two naps on Saturday and fell asleep watching the State and Alabama game during the 2nd quarter. Basically when I sit down - I want to sleep.

We got his two Walter Anderson prints and I am going to look at frames today for them. Once we get those in we will start hanging items on his wall.

I have personally been overwhelmed with welcoming a new baby into our life. I know it sounds crazy because I am over joyed with love that we will have a 2nd son but scared to death at the same time. To say I have been stressed about this is an understatement. It consumes most of my thoughts during the day and night. But this weekend while in church I got an overwhelming sense of peace and clarity that everything will work out. I am taking that peace and running with it. We have so much to be thankful for and having Thanksgiving and Christmas in the same season as our new baby is a blessing. I am making an effort to stop and look at the big picture of our life and am so thankful for everything we have, for our families, for our sweet Andrew and for the moment when we get to meet Samuel. I can't wait to hear his cry, see his face, hold him, nurse him, and love him. I can't wait for Andrew to meet Sam and hopefully watch those two have friendship like no other. I would be lying if I didn't say I am still uneasy about the unknown but I am no longer stressed by it. I am so thankful that I can listen to God and that I know he does speak to me in little ways. He is behind this miracle and is trusting me with another human being. I am grateful for his confidence in Owen and me.

So here is to 43 days of waiting and praying for continued peace, love and harmony as we enter into the 2011 holiday season and Sam's birthday.

Game Day Attire

I like to put Andrew in MSU attire on game day. This Saturday was actually a little cool so he got to wear his dog outfit! I think he really liked it and he liked wearing the hood. We are still getting dressed to Bob the Builder and it is working like magic! Thank goodness :)

Charity Ball 2011

This past Friday was my first Charity Ball as a member of Hattiesburg's Junior Auxiliary. I had such a great time. It was fun being at an event that I loved to go to before and this year being there as a working member. Owen and I both had a great time.


My friend Kelly and me


This is a picture of my provisional class - with 2 people missing.

So I don't forget

Well...since I bragged earlier this week that the time change did not effect Andrew, I decided to give a little update. The time change HAS effected him - I hope or we are in the begging stages of the terrible twos. He comes home from day care so tired, cranky and hungry but is so emotional about all of it he just cries. Trembling crying. I am at a loss...this is not typical of him. He did start the new class this week and the time change was this week so I think those are two really big things in his world. I do realize that I am not good at going with the flow. I tried to be funny with him and to change to subject, but that did not work. So I am in uncharted territory but I am telling myself this is a phase. We will both get the new routine down once he gets used to the new class. With all of that said I am glad we are going through this change now instead of in 2 months when he would have been moved. I can't imagine a newborn and a 2 year old in uncharted territory.

23 Months

My baby is 23 months old. In just 3 weeks he will be 2 years old! Andrew is so fun. Some things that are new this month are:

* The time change did not effect him at all - He just picked up with our schedule like nothing had changed.
* He is in a new class now. Today is his first day. I think he will do well in the class. He is the youngest but only by a couple of months. This class they sit in chairs (not in an enclosed table) and they start drinking out of big kid cups.
* He is very verbal. He repeats and learns new words daily. He can tell you what he wants to drink, what cup he wants to use and if he wants ice.
* He is very opinionated and when he wants something he does not say it once. He says it multiple times until you give it to him. This is not good when the answer is no. He does not forget as easily as he used to.
* He likes to scream on demand.
* He LOVES playing outside and is becoming a fast runner.
* He likes to watch the sprout channel and has just discovered Bob the Builder.
* I have started to use Bob the Builder as my morning time distraction. Andrew has been very opinionated what "outfit" he wears - so opinionated that we were having full blown out Oscar winning temper tantrums about it. But now that I use Bob the Builder as my distraction I can put on the clothes I want Andrew to wear. This has been going quite well for us.
* We think he is going through a growth spurt right now. His appetite is great and he is sleeping great. He used to wake up around 5 or 5:30 and stay awake, but now he sleeps until 6 maybe even 6:30. This weekend he slept until 7! I couldn't believe it. I know that schedule will change again.
* He is becoming very good at saying please and thank you. He will even say please and thank you with out us prompting him. Again...it is hard to tell him no when he says please. I am just happy that he is learning to be polite.

We will have his birthday party on Dec 11. It is going to be an Elmo party! I am looking forward to it and hope Andrew enjoys it.

Halloween 2011

Yesterday Andrew trick or treated for the first time. We practiced saying "trick or treat" and he would say it quietly. Brantley and her mom and sister came over to go trick or treating with us. It was so much fun to have friends share the night with us. We walked up and down our street. There are 38 kids that live on our street so it felt fun and festive with everyone out. Andrew and Brantley were just too cute! This Halloween was definitely a memory maker.

My 1st Pinterest craft

Along with every other lady at the moment I like browsing Pinterest to get ideas for the home. This is my 1st craft and I already have another one brewing :)





The top picture was the idea from Pinterest and the bottom picture is my creation. The window comes from my parents house in Selma. I really wanted a picture wall but also wanted something that I could change out the pictures. So this is what I came up with. I am happy with it.

A night in at Aha and Mick's

Owen and I went to a halloween party Saturday night and Andrew hung out with Aha and Mick. He went over there for dinner, played, had a bath and then feel asleep on their couch. I think he had a great time.





Owen and I had a good time as well being "tourist" at the Halloween party. We thought we had an original idea, but there were 3 sets of tourists. But we came up with our idea at 2 pm the day of the party. We weren't originally going to dress up b/c we planned to go out to eat first and then to the party. We didn't want to be dressed up at a restaurant. However a couple of our friends told us that EVERYONE dresses up and we would be out of place if we didn't. So we revamped our plan and became tourists. :)



Our "story" was that we are American Tourists going to Aruba b/c we wanted a scary element to the to costume. No one got it...so then it wasn't funny when you have to explain it - you know b/c if you are an American going to Aruba - somebody isn't coming home...Anyways, I am still laughing at this but do think it is less funny when written down.

Happy Halloween!

Phase 1 of Sam's room

We are in the beginning phases of getting Sam's room ready. We still have to decorate it. We ordered 2 Walter Anderson prints for him already but need to find an end table, mirror and lamp.

Fall Festival

Sunday we went to Canebrake's Fall Festival. Andrew loved it! He got to wear his costume, make smores, jump in the jump-jump, pet farm animals, ride a donkey and run around! He didn't want to leave. Here are some pictures to the start of our Halloween/fall festivities!


Andrew playing with his school friend, Emma


Looking at a pet rabbit


Jumping in the jump jump

Lastly, here is a video of Andrew riding a donkey. He had no fear and didn't even want me to walk next to him.



It was a fun weekend! Grandmom and Granddad came to visit and we had lunch with Aha and Mick as well on Sunday!

Perfect fall weekend.

30 weeks and emotional

I can't remember if I was this emotional while being pregnant with Andrew. I am sure I must have been but I don't remember.

I called the hospital about Andrew getting a sibling tour. I know he is just 2 but he is observant and remembers so much. So I want his first time on the hospital floor to be with both Owen and me. I get so emotional thinking about the hospital and going in there as a family of 3 and leaving as a family of 4.

Today I was out running errands and looked at how dirty the inside of my car is...I thought I need to get this cleaned before we go to the hospital - the moment the thought crossed my mind I was crying.

At breakfast this morning I told Owen I wanted to get a new pair of jeans at lunch. He looked at me funny and I insisted that the other ones I have hurt b/c they are too tight and I still have three months left. His response was I don't know how many weeks you think there are in a month? I said there are 4 weeks in a month and then it hit me...I have two months left - not three! Then I panicked.

I am really overwhelmed right now and I know in my heart of hearts that we will be fine and we will adapt to a family of four - but I am so nervous. I am nervous and excited to see what our new normal will be like.

With all of the emotions...there are happy ones...I get to bring home another little boy who is going to be perfect and I can't wait to see his face on Dec 27th.

Bears

Andrew loves his bears. He sleeps with three of them and has recently added a monkey to the mix. He likes to play with them as well. Lately his entertainment is putting all the bears onto his airplane so they can ride/fly together. He is so funny about this and a little bossy when it comes to where they sit. He also needs help fitting them on the plane and asks for "help" frequently. Watching him play with these bears and plane is very entertaining. He gets so proud of himself when they sit like he asks of them.

Birthday party fun

Last Sunday our sweet friend Brantley had her 2nd birthday. There were so many fun activities for the kids to do and one of them was PUMPKIN PAINTING. Andrew knew just what do to with his paint, paint brush and pumpkin. Here is a video of him painting.

Football Fun at STATE

This past weekend we went to STATE to watch football! It was an 11:00 game which means that Andrew stayed all 4 quarters. He was such a trooper. He played, he ate, he watched the jumbo screen and he cheered. It was a great game (despite the fact that we lost).

Andrew also got to jump in the jump jump before they closed it down. And he had more fun with Emma and Ella.

We plan to go to one more game before the season ends!

MS Children's Museum

On Saturday October 8, 2011 we went to Jackson to get my car serviced and to visit Aunt Abby. Aha and Mick (AKA Grandy and Gramps) came too so we had a fun family day. Abby's birthday is the 4th so we wanted to take her to lunch and she wanted to have a fun day with Andrew. So the six of us went to the Children's Museum. I was unsure how it would go with Andrew b/c I didn't think they would have anything for his age group. But you can touch anything in the museum so even though he didn't understand alot of it he had the best time exploring. It was such a great place and a place that will grow with Andrew so we will definitely be back!

28 & 29 Weeks Pregnant with Sam

I am in my 3rd trimester of pregnancy! WOW!! On one hand I feel like I have been pregnant forever and then on the other hand I feel like we just told our families. I think having Andrew's birthday so close to Sam's that my mind can't process all of the new changes.

Updates so far with Sam are:
* My sciatic nerve is MUCH better. I have been seeing a massage therapist who I think has helped me. Also Sam is bigger now so maybe he moved away from that nerve. I still have back pain, but normal pregnancy pain - not I want to purchase a hove around and never walk again pain.
* His room is slowly (and I mean slowly) coming along. I don't love his bedding but am trying not to think about it. I picked the wrong website to order from. I am hoping with the room decorations that the bedding won't bother me as much. We are still going with a nautical theme.
* He moves all of the time - I LOVE it!

I had my 29th week check up and glucose screening on Tuesday. We also had an ultrasound done. I didn't want to write or verbally talk about this part of my pregnancy with Sam b/c it just made me cry. But at our 20 week ultrasound they saw a choroid plexus cyst in his head. It was small and my OB told me NOT TO WORRY! She said the new ultrasound equipment was extremely sensitive and was picking up things that they were never able to see before. A choroid plexus cyst is related to genetic disorders, specifically trisomy 18. I cried for a week and every time I thought about it I would tear up. Luckily the internet saved me b/c I read many message boards both recent and old postings about this happening to other people and they all the same result - HEALTHY BABIES!! But we would not know for sure until the 28th week ultrasound. Apparently this when the cysts disappear if they are going to disappear. Sam had one cyst. Let me tell you that 20 week ultrasound was odd. Both Owen and I knew something was different. The tech kept looking at his brain. I thought that was odd and kept asking her if he was perfect. She finally said, "I can't tell you, the doctor will inform you if something is wrong". Then when we got back to the doctor's room she came in and was off her normal game with us. Owen said he could tell in her face she had news for us. She was great about it and gave us the do not worry speech but again I worried for 9 weeks. Nine weeks is a long time to not know if you are carrying a healthy baby or a baby that will die with in hours of being born.

So here we are at 29 weeks and our ultrasound was perfect! NO cysts. I knew the tech could not tell us if something was wrong so I made a point not to ask her. However later Owen told me I asked her 4 times if Sam was ok. Just think of how many times I would have asked if I wasn't trying to ask! Not only is he growing right on track but he weighs 2 lbs and 15 ounces which is above average for 29 weeks. Looks like he will be a big boy like his brother.

We are scheduled to give birth on Dec. 27th at 7 am. That means we have to be at the hospital at 5 am! Early morning for all of us :)

The nurse called me today and my blood sugar is fine. It is 106 and 130 is the minimum limit for gestational diabetes. So luckily I don't have to worry with that during this pregnancy. However I am anemic and need to take iron. But the bad part is I have been taking iron pills since my first trimester b/c I was anemic last time. So now I have to take two iron supplements. But I think iron helps my energy level so if taking two pills a day helps with that, I am all on board. :)

That is where we are with Sam! We start going to the doctor every two weeks now. It is go time - which means, I must finish his room :)

22 Months

Andrew is 22 Months Old! I can't believe it!!!

He is a sweet kid who loves his momma :)

He is starting to put two and three words together.

He is VERY opinionated on what he wears to sleep and for the day. This is starting to become a problem. At first it was cute b/c I liked that he had an opinion but he it is becoming difficult if the shirt he wants to wear is dirty or if he just doesn't want to wear anything.

He is throwing a little more fits lately and this is catching me off guard. I can usually distract him or Owen can but that is not happening as easily as it used to. So I am trying to learn a new approach.

At Mommy and Me we talk about transition times. For example, in 5 minutes we are going to get dressed. I started this on Wednesday and it has seemed to help. He has started to really play with his toys so the transition time is helpful b/c he knows play time is about to end.

He gets shy around new people. This isn't a new characteristic but I wanted to mention it b/c he is still like this. If he knows you he will be goofy and play, but it takes him a little while to warm up to you. I guess I have noticed this more with Mommy and me b/c there are new kids and mommies in the class and Andrew doesn't like attention on him like he used to.

He will answer questions when Owen and I ask him but if someone else asks him a question (for example, what is your name?) he doesn't answer.

The only vegetables he likes are corn and lima beans. So this has become challenging in the dinner department. I think he eats more veggies at school but is picky at home.

He has had a stuffy nose this past month and is cutting two new teeth on the bottom. After these teeth, I think all we have left is the 2 year molars.

I am still not sure how Andrew will react when Sam is here. I think he likes his family dynamic of the 3 of us plus Ralphie. I am nervous about all of this.

Overall he is a happy, playful toddler. He loves being outside and playing with Ralphie. He likes a routine and if we stray from it he lets us know through an attitude change.

We love him so much and really enjoy watching him change from a baby to a big kid.