Happy Valentine's Day

Batman Breakfast

Day three in which Batman must reside over Anders' breakfast plate. Not lunch. Not dinner. Just breakfast, on the left hand side.

Also: I don't recommend teaching your kids the "Nananananananana, Batman!!!" song unless you want a guaranteed headache.

Waking Up

"I'm dreaming, I'm dreaming, someone is poking me, someone is poking me. What the...?"

"I might punch you."

"Alright, just give me a moment."

"I'm listening."

"I'm pickin' up what you're puttin' down."

"Let's do this!"

Anders' First Year Video Montage

Anders has officially been one for a little while now. He is walking on his own like a professional and sharing his personality like the budding toddler that he is. Lest I forget what a sweetie pie he has been as an infant, here is his first year roundup video!

Going, Going... Gone.

Anders 12 Months

Well, Anders, you made it through your first year. Congratulations. To all of us! There were times in the beginning when I wasn't sure what we were doing, but we found our groove, didn't we? You're my little sweetie pie, still tucking your head into my shoulder when I hold you close, but also emerging in your independence as you try to dive out of my arms so you can truck around the house full speed on your walker.

I suppose you'll start walking on your own within the next month or two, eager to transport yourself on something besides your knees or the walker that brother so determinedly swipes from you every morning.

You have a voice, little one. A big voice. I'm not sure exactly what you're saying yet, but Daddy and I get a kick out of the sounds you put together. I can't wait to hear how it all comes together in the coming years. I think you may even be saying Landon's name this week ("nun-nun"); I wouldn't be surprised if its one of your first official words, I certainly yell it enough these days.

Folks around town always comment on your sweet blue eyes and you give them a shy smile. Sometimes you toss a "hi!" and wave at them to demonstrate your friendly personality. I beam like the proud momma that I am.

Still rocking only two bottom teeth, but I think the top ones are coming soon!

Official 12 month photo. Those belly stickers are a farce after month 4.

"Hey, girlfriend!"

Joy.

Smiles.

I think I have kissed those cheeks a million times, and we're only one year in.

A potential puzzle man, like brother. Monkey see, monkey do!

Likes
 - Zucchini, peas, meatballs, anything smothered with tomato sauce or curry
 - Playing with brother's cars. Although I'm not sure if its the cars you like as much as trying to get a rise out of your brother ;o)
 - Being dipped backwards really fast with some tummy snuggles
 - Remote control
 - Climbing stairs
 - Being outdoors
 - Tequila Terry (singing cactus that Grandma sent)
 - Tupperware cups (assortment that Aunt Jill sent)

Dislikes
 - Gates on the stairs
 - Being in a car seat without a snack available
 - Contending with brother for toys

Another Fan of the Dishwasher

Unlike his brother, Anders is just really good at UNloading the dishwasher at this point.

I'm Stuck

I love how this little guy gets into sticky situations.

Slowly falling down into a split. Superstah!

Realizing he may be on the wrong side of the walker.

Swooshing the tush a little too far and now holding on for dear life.

 Trying to stand up from a sideways position. Peek-a-boo!

Anders 10 Months

Who loves cruisin' along furniture and is ten months old? The A Man. Mister Andereeno. The Poopmaster. The little brotha with the same motha. The... well, you get it. It's Anders.

Yep, so although he can walk with a push toy and cruise along coffee tables and the like, his preferred mode of transport continues to be commando crawling (with a cute swoosh of the tush while he does it) and of course being carried in mommy's arms. The latter being rather frequent these days as he tries to escape big brother's energetic "hugs."
 
There has been some evolution the last few weeks in the brother department. Perhaps because Anders is now mobile, Landon is intrigued more than ever. Kind of like he's thinking, "Wait a minute, he can hand me puzzle pieces?!?! I have my own personal slave available?! Score!" But of course said personal slave is still quite young and likes to do his own thing, such as chew on puzzle pieces. Soooo, it's a lot of love one moment and whining the next. Mostly whining, if I'm being honest. I suspect this trend continues until aboooouuut... age 18.

No toofies yet, but I think I see one trying to poke through. Until then, he doesn't mind flashing his gummy smile to strangers at the grocery store before he tucks his head back into my shoulder - a rather shy maneuver. Friendly AND shy? Can someone say sweetheart?!

Making mommy a gourmet meal of dinosaurs and cheerios.

Exploring.

Official 10 month photo, presumably flashing an unknown gang sign.

Yeah, the aerial capture didn't go so smoothly this month.

This captures their current relationship PERFECTLY.

Smooshy tush!

 

Picking out some night night books with brother.

Another snapshot of brotherly status these days.

Loves sweetly sitting in the grass at the park, inspecting each piece one by one.

Likes
- Cheerios (even better if found on floor)
- Going after brother's toys (even better if it's an elaborate train track set up)
- Wheat puff cereal and rice milk treats
- Sitting in the grass

Dislikes
- Having toys swiped from hands
- Being smushed by brother

Anders 9 Months

Well the nine month photo session slowly morphed into a nine and a half months photo session as I kept saying "I'll take the photos tomorrow" in my head. Well several tomorrows later, here we are. Better late than never, right?

Let's see, let's see... Well this month we've been exposed to "separation anxiety" in which the sounds of an anxious baby echo through the rooms and halls of the house until Mama appears and holds baby in her arms. It. Is. Exhausting. Especially mentally. And I know it's really hard for others, too, to have a baby constantly trying to wretch out of their arms each time I'm in view. I think it's getting a little better each week, though.

Although Anders continues to be adorable, I have to admit this will not go down as our finest month. He is becoming increasingly interested in exploring and is frustrated by his lack of physical abilities such as pulling up, standing, etc. So his frustration is accompanied by this odd, loud, monotone wailing nose which rivals the response to the classic Dumb and Dumber scene in which Lloyd poses the question "Want to hear the most annoying sound in the world?"

The A-man is still commando crawling, but now it's with gusto. His buns lift a little higher in the air each day as he works his way towards a full crawl. He's also learning early lessons in finger jamming in drawers and doors; so heartbreaking as a parent to see but one of those lessons that just needs to be learned. Sorry, buddy. I feel like I'm a professional boo boo kisser these days; Landon has caught on and approaches bumps and bruises with pursed lips, announcing "All better!" after sliming the area with a special salve concocted of runny boogers and milk spit. Only a mother and an unsuspecting baby brother would accept such medical treatment.

Stretching out at nine months.

I really wish this photo turned out!!!

Official nine month portrait. Driving an imaginary car.

eHarmony profile picture? "I like long crawls on the beach and women with large boobs."

Hi.

Ready for kisses and showing some baby cleavage.

Love.

The O's aren't off to a terrible start this season - hooray!

Likes
-Standing up next to tables
-Breaking up brother's jigsaw puzzles and scattering the pieces
-Pulling things out of the bottom of the pantry
-Drawers
-Avocados, peas and pasta

Dislikes
-Jamming fingers in drawers
-Brother bonks

Go Go Gadget Arm

I predict Anders will be able to grab objects off the fireplace ledge within a week or two. He is very intent on accomplishing this feat to grab whatever toy scraps Landon leaves behind.

A for effort.

Anders 8 Months

The little big A man turned 8 months this past week and he's officially on the move, scoot-scoot-scooting his way across a room with a combination method of scrunching and extending like an inchworm while throwing in a few rolls. Perhaps the description gives the impression it is not very fluid or graceful - and this would be true. It's awkward to watch but exciting nonetheless. Plus this baby can pivot on a dime, yo!

Now that he can maneuver a bit more, he's definitely making it known that he prefers to be where the action is. It had been so simple to leave him nearby in the living room while I picked up a couple things in the kitchen or tended to Landon, but now he protests with a loud babble and leans forward in the "go" position, rocks a bit and then hurls himself forward to inch his way to the destination.

He's also eating finger food snacks pretty darn well. He seemed skeptical last month and then one day he was raking them in to his mouth like a puff factory. [Side note: I forgot how much puffs are like catnip for babies.]

Without further ado, here are some photos:

Official 8 month photo!

Stretching out, but still has some good cuddle wuddle chunkiness going on. Look at those wrists!

Hair is growing in a little more each week, but still super soft. Probably going to be a light blond for now.

"Who, me?"

The aerial photos were short lived once he spotted toys within reach. Commence inchworm and roll technique.

Could it have been one of the best photos ever taken of Anders? We'll never know. Thanks, Landon.

"Can you believe that guy? What if that was one of the best photos ever taken of me? Sheesh."

 

Sweetie McSweeterston.

Landon on the prowl nearby.

Parallel play with a little breathing space.

I love how Anders is just doing his own thing in this photo, immune to Landon's shenanigans.

 

Likes:
- Bert and Ernie little people figurines
- Splashing with brother in the tubby 
- Laughing with Daddy
- Chewing on his little crib bunny's ears to go to sleep
- He seems to like everything he's tasted so far

Dislikes:
- Being bonked by brother's head
- Being dressed in too many layers ("It's 40 degrees, Ma, we're not in Antarctica. Sheesh.")
- Adopting every cold germ that brother brings home from school. Another month, another round of antibiotics :(

Sweetie Pie

Your daily does of cuteness. PS: You're welcome.

Anders 7 Months

Gosh, I love this little guy, even though he tries to eat ev.ery.thing.

"Mmm, your camera tastes so camera-y, Mom."

Such is the life of a baby, I suppose. He is definitely our little swiper of the household; if you leave him unattended you will start to hear little rummaging sounds as he works his way into a nearby drawer or nook. How he does it, who knows. He's good at it, though. I know all the first time parents are excited for the day their baby starts to crawl or walk, but I fear the day Anders becomes mobile. Take your time, buddy. Take your time.

For seven months old, Anders is bopping along nicely and continues to be such a sweet guy. Landon played peek-a-boo with him the other night at the dinner table for the first time ever and Anders thought it was the bee's knees and giggled for five minutes straight. I really needed something like that to lift my spirits, so thanks, boys! Other than that, Landon just kind of walks around Anders if he's in the way. Can't quite figure out the sentiments there, but I know they love each other on some elemental level already.

This month, A is trying to babble a little bit and he's trying out a sippy cup, although (as one could surmise) he just chews on it for now. We tried out some finger food like puffs but so far no bueno!

Our sweetie pie!

Loves to take off socks and chew on them.

Something keeps distracting Anders, stage right.

The "distraction" in motion on his trampoline.

Aww, what a sweet moment as they share the sticker... or is it... wait a minute...

"Haha, nerd!" Big brother wins again.

Likes
- Chewing on sippy cup
- Razzies on his tummy and thighs
- Pooping

Dislikes
- Banana puffs
- Being pushed over by brother (Landon's fave line these days: "Uh oh, baby faw down!")
- Not pooping