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.