The Catch Up. Part One.

It's been a while. Life has been full lately, so this little update has, regretfully, taken a backseat. However, it's also Anderson's digital babybook (the paper one got soaked when our neighbor powerwashed our house--it will be revived, but not for a while).

In the spirit of updating with brevity and facing the reality that no one (except grandparents) is nearly as interested in our kid as we are, I will do a speed blog--giving you the highlight/lowlight/development or something we learned with each month since you last heard from us.

15 Months--July

Highlight: Seeing friends and family.

Lowlight: Riding in the car with Anderson for eight hours.

Something we learned: Despite the trouble, it's totally worth it to travel with a baby.

We got a weekend away (Thanks to Mimi and Papa) to go to a great wedding in Washington.

Anderson and Ramona playing in Shingle Springs

Anderson and his dad at Mossbrae Falls

Louie and Anderson hanging out.

16 Months: August

Highlight: Playing in parks and seeing cousins in Eugene (see photos below)

Lowlight: Anderson contracting roseola after having just weaned. He was a monster for a week.

What we learned: The mantra "this too shall pass" helps.

Anderson, Joseph and Bear dining at Mimi and Papa's house

Anderson at the County Fair

Anderson and Erin

My former students stopping by on their roadtrip

17 Months: September

Highlight: Our new jobs! We are very grateful to be working at the same school

Lowlight: Leaving Anderson everyday for work! It was hard, but we survived

Something I learned: Working moms are their own kind of warrior.

Last minute trip to the coast Labor Day weekend.

We sold our beloved Vespa, so Anderson got his last "ride."

18 Months: October

Highlight: Anderson's first time Trick-or-Treating and our family trip to the pumpkin patch

Lowlight: Anderson's costume (same as last year: skeleton)

Something we learned: Kids love knocking on the door for Trick-or-Treating.

Pumpkin Patch

Some naked reading time with Nico

19 Months: November

Highlight: Great fall in Oregon--cool and dry! AND sitting in a luxury box for a Duck's Football game.

Lowlight: The drive back from Portland after a sugar-induced experience at Thanksgiving

Something we learned: Anderson loves desserts--you really should have seen him at Thanksgiving.

Go Ducks!

Anderson and (the reluctant) Maggie cuddling before bed.

14 Months: A Tale of Two Walkers

So, despite much effort and concentration. Anderson is still not walking. However, if there were college scholarships for very fast crawling, boy, would be encouraged right now. He has been crawling for over seven months, so he pretty much considers himself a "pro" in that department. I can't blame him, the kid is fast. In contrast, his best friend, Nico (pictured below), who is ten months old, has been walking for a couple of weeks. Nico attacks walking with vigor. He doesn't care how many bruises on his forehead needs to endure, he will walk. Anderson, in contrast, can stand solidly for minutes on end, and takes one very (possibly too) cautious step at a time. The difference between the two of them is hysterical. We know that eventually, when he is solid and ready, Anderson will walk. For now, we will just continue washing hands and changing his clothes 3-4 times/day

Anderson knows the signs for more, food, banana, help, all done, and doggy. It's fun to communicate with him, even when there are times I am not 100% sure what exactly he needs help with. . .

I will be heading back to work at a local private school in the fall, which I am excited about, so I am looking forward to lots of playtime with Anderson and Court this summer. And, one of these days, the sun will come out! This has been a pretty miserable Spring.

Here are photos of our big boy.

Anderon's first whole pear

We get to play with Nico almost everyday at the park

Their love for each other knows no bounds. They are so affectionate, and it's adorable.

So, this is a blurry photo, but one of Anderson's favorite things is sitting in this chair at my parents' house. He feels like a pretty big kid when he gets up there.

We got to attend the amazing "Pre Track Meet" at Hayward field. Anderson enjoyed the running, and it was a little sunny out.

Dancing King

Thirteen Months

Anderson is now thirteen months.

He has had a couple of exciting firsts this month:

• Swimming in a nice, cozy 90 degree salt water pool. He liked splashing around with us and the other babies in the water.

• Biking! I got my old Schwinn Cruiser tuned-up and fitted with a great baby seat and Anderson has a killer Snoopy helmet. He is not wild about the helmet, but once we get going, he takes in the view

Other new things:

• He is soaking up words like crazy. He can identify a lot of things (his favorite is still the dog, who wants nothing to do with him), and it's amazing to see his little brain at work.
• Says "buh bye" with an awkward little wave.
• When eating, if he sees better food on the way while he has something in his mouth, he will spit the less-desireable item out to make room for the peanut butter and bread. It's both funny and annoying.

• Does not take food from us anymore. He will only feed himself. . . and he hasn't mastered the spoon quite yet, so most meal times are filthy. We are going through at least three outfits/day.
• He hold real and toy phone up to his ear and squawks. This makes me feel like I talk on the phone too much.
• Dances (and by "dancing" I mean a spastic shaking of his head from right to left with a huge smile on his face) on command. He definitely has his parents rhythm (lack thereof). I have a video that will be up soon.
• Still no walking. . .but I am sure looking forward to the day when I can take him to the park without him eating quite so much dirt.
• He is also getting his first round of molars. . . they are big and painful.

In other news, the sun has been out a bit lately, which is great and we are eagerly anticipating summer!

Our little house in the spring. As some point, an owner went crazy with the perennials, and we love it!

We hope you are all well.

1.

Anderson is one year old. Twelve whole months. I think I am in denial that I am now a mother of a toddler, but the signs are loud and clear: for the first time he is picky about food (as of this morning the only things he would eat are frozen blueberries and yogurt) and his tantrums are packing a little more punch. However, he is also more fun than ever.

Anderson...

Gives sloppy kisses when he feels like it.

Points at everything.

Jabbers away throughout the day.

Identifies Maggie (the dog), balls and monkeys (or at least the stuffed one he got for his birthday).

Sleeps well (sometimes 12 hours)

Got some great play time in with his cousins in San Diego last month.

Continues to be a good traveler.

Crawls like an all-star, but no walking yet.

He has also had a cold for the better part of winter/spring, which is a bummer, but he keeps smiling and playing as if the snail trails of snot don't bother him one bit. We also found out this month that little Anderson is going to have surgery for his undescended testicles (can't wait to tell him about that one when he is 15) on April 25th. Apparently it is a completely routine surgery, but we aren't wild about him going under general anesthesia.

Here are some photos of the last month and his birthday shin-dig.

A's love of baths is one of the few constants in his life.

One of his signature moves is the wide-open mouth. It seems to signify both fascination and joy.

Anderson and cousin Niko at the San Diego Air and Space Museum

Ready to take-off

Cousin Erin literally could not get enough of Anderson, she was so sweet with him

Cousins!

One of my former students is going to be a Duck next year! Molly came to see her future school and we got to hang out with her for a couple of days; Anderson was quite smitten with her.

Big Birthday Boy

Mimi and Anderson

Birthday cupcake: banana with "yummy yam" frosting. . .I'm an admittedly weird mom, but he doesn't even know what he's missing!

Anderson got lots of fun toys for his big day.

Eleven

Anderson is now 11 months old. It's pretty surreal that in one month we will be celebrating his first birthday. Every now and again I look into his face and I get this flash-forward visions of a little boy and young man. It makes me want to put the brakes on a little bit, but every stage is so fun that I know there is lots to look forward to (until he gets a girlfriend).

Here are the big updates for Anderson's eleventh month of life:

He loves crawling into small spaces. Here is on the bottom shelf that we leave clear for his amusement:

We got more snow! Court now gets to experience the sheer joy of the Snow Day. Having lived in Sacramento and Santa Barbara, he never got to have that giddy feeling of looking out the window and just praying that the radio would say "School is Cancelled." It's like a quasi-surprise Christmas. I am glad Oregon can give that to him now. Here are some photos of our walk in the snow:

Why am I wearing this?

Our very kind neighbor gave Anderson this little bear snowsuit. I can't help but think of Ralphy in A Christmas Story when I stuff him in there.

Covered with snow

It was an exhausting walk

Anderson also celebrated his first Valentine's day:

Here is Grandma finding another excuse to buy something for the boy.

My messy Valentine

Other updates:

He is still napping better (very nice for mom)

Sleeping well at night (around 11 hrs / night. Can't complain)

Almost walking, but crawling is still his fastest mode of movement. I am hoping in a month he will be ready to walk--he needs to burn his energy on something.

Spent a full day away from me while I went skiing with my dad. Court and Anderson had a great time together, and I loved getting up to the mountain!

Gives big sloppy kisses on request--very cute.

Likes to cuddle a bit these days.

He has picked favorite pages in some of his books, so he will race through to certain pages and then joyfully beat on them.

10

Anderson is now into the double digits. Big stuff.

Here are some not-so-exciting firsts:

• Illness. He got his first and second cold this month. Illness has been a bummer in the new year for our family of three. Someone in our family has been sick since Christmas. I think we are on the mend. . .
• Temper Tantrums. Anderson has started doing mild temper tantrums. He will flop backwards, usually hitting his head on the ground and crying hysterically when something doesn't go his way. We are usually taking away something he can't have. I hate object permanence.

Exciting Advancements:

• Friends. Anderson and I spent a weekend in Sacramento with a group of 13 women, Joey and Bear. He was an awesome traveller, even driving up to Portland to fly down to Sacramento. Anderson's Great Auntie Jo got to snuggle him before she took us to the airport. And, to my joy, Anderson slept the entire drive up and did very well on the flight. Here is the most recent photo of Anderson, Joey and Bear. Anderson could not help but attack Joey. Not sure why. . . but it was pretty funny. Bear awkwardly looked away so as not to choose sides. Good move, Bear.
• 
• "Cruising." Anderson is shuffling along the coffee table, couch and ottomans. We just bought a little walker for him, so he can walk around the house. He is definitely interested in walking now, and it's a bit scary. . .
• "Blah." He is talking a lot these days. It mostly sounds like "blah, blah, blah," which also sometimes sounds like he is making fun of us talking. . . Every now and again it sounds like "Mama."
• Food. Although nothing brings him as much joy as the crackle of the Cheerios bag, Anderson is also enjoying feeding himself ultra-steamed carrots, peas, and tofu.
• Two more teeth. Our little teething freak has been holding steady with six teeth for a while, but now he has two more bottom teeth coming in to make it eight.
• Playing. He loves his toys these days. Some of his favorite games are "Destruction"--this is when I put a bunch of toys on our coffee table or ottoman and he mechanically (but not methodically) knocks them all off. Eugene has had a delightfully dry winter, and Anderson has taken to swinging at our local park. We joined an indoor playground co-op that has been a lot of fun for Anderson to crawl around in (and fun for me to take him to a completely baby-proofed environment), and Anderson loves the cars and trains there.
• Signing. We have been showing him how to sign and just this week Anderson started signing "more" with his cute little hands.

Mixed Advancements

• The Arm Reach. He does this mostly cute thing wear he stretches out his hand as far as he can to demonstrate he wants (to him needs) something. So it's pretty cute when he reaching for us or the swing at the park. It is less cute when he reaches for things likes knives. . .then he gets pretty upset that his tense arms won't magically bring him the desired item.
• Mom-a-holic. The "attached" stage has arrived. He watches my every move and gets upset when he is not with me. Leaving him is getting harder and harder. However, when I come home there is nothing like his speedy crawl right to my feet and cuddle once he's in my arms.

Ready for a walk in his "Rocky Balboa" outfit.