Sick Mommy

Dear Andrew,

I know you don't understand, but Mommy is sick. She doesn't feel good and she has a fever. Trust me, you don't want to feel like this, so that's why your getting less snuggles and kisses. You really just need to play by yourself.

:(

Sadly, in an attempt to occupy your time without Mommy, you managed to pull the highchair down... on your face... on picture day. At least now, we will have professionally made pictures of the trouble that little boys get in.

:)
Anne

Proud Math Mommy

So, I have to brag... Do you know what this is a picture of? Andrew does!


When Chris and I took Andrew for a walk on Monday, and I took him for a jog on Tuesday, he pointed something out to us. As we passed the yield sign, Andrew sat up in the stroller, pointed, and yelled "triangle"... or at least his approximation of the word, which currently sounds like "unga". He also knows square (skare) and circle (no clue how to type what he calls it but he can pick a circle out of any line up!).

Yay, math-y baby. He may not know what yield means, but he sure knows the sign is shaped like a triangle.

:)
Anne

The Busy Fall Beginning

First, we got a new addition to our backyard a few weeks ago, and we all love it... It's Andrew's Sport Climber. It's a five-in-one play thing that includes a tiny rock wall, slide, football goal, soccer "net", and basketball hoop. He LOVES it. You can throw a football through the hole in and keep score. You can shoot the soccer ball into the plastic net, and it bounces back to you. You can dunk on the super tiny basketball goal. Of all theses awesome posibilities, Andrew just jams the soccer ball in the basketball goal and then slides. He'll figure it our eventually.

Anyway, the day it arrived, we put it together, and it started to rain. Boo! So, like any good parents with a new outdoor toy, we moved all the living room furniture and let the fun begin.

Here's what it looks like when it's outside.

So, yay for the fun of climbing and sliding... and although they have VERY clear weight limits, you better believe that Chris and I have spent our fair share of time on it.

Along with work and the sweet baby, Chris and I have been participating in Corporate Challenge, which is like Olympics for different companies. Each division has 8 companies, and Chris and I have been competing with his company, City of Richardson's City Slickers. We ran the 5K (our team won bronze), I played volleyball (won silver), Chris played flag football (won Bronze), and we played softball together (Chris coached and we won gold). With all the events, we had practices, and I had a pre-tournament league for volleyball. We have been super busy, but we have had so much fun... Sadly, because of the busy schedule and running the Race for the Cure, we chose to drop out of the Corporate Challenge bowling. :( Maybe next year!

In the midst of all the sporting events and sporty things in our backyard, I had my 10 year high school reunion. I had SOOOOOOOO much fun. In fact, I had so much fun at the pregame happy hour Friday evening, we never even made it to the Homecoming game. It felt like high school all over again when I overdid it and wound up playing in the softball tournament the next morning with dark sunglasses and a box of saltines next to me in the dugout. (Yikes.)

Saturday night was a more formal night downtown with dancing and pretty dresses! It was so good to see friends that I haven't seen since high school. Chris finally got to put a name to lots of faces and now I have like tons more Facebook friends... I'm moving up in the world for sure. We stayed out with the Leglers and Barnicles until the wee hours of the morn. We had tons of fun, and the boys developed quite the "bromance". Those three boys are never allowed alone together from this point forward... They think they are hilarious, which is scary.

So, fall began with a bang, and right now Andrew has a stomach bug. He is on day four, so we are hoping he feels better ASAP. The bug doesn't seem to slow him down though. The pictures from above and the ones below are all from his sick days.

Right: Who says pool noodles are just for the pool? They are great for chasing dogs around the yard...

Below: In response to my question Andrew says," No, no, Mommy". Awesome.

Bottom Right: Although it's not the best picture, it's the first time that I have asked Andrew to smile for a picture and he actually did it. So, i guess this is his cheese ball smile.

That's all for now. Hopefully after these past few busy weeks, I will be able to post more regularly... It's almost time to hit the pumpkin patch again! I can't wait.

:)

Anne

Hmmm...

I know for a fact that I told Andrew to put the dog food in the bowl.

Nice try, Bud.

:)

Anne

The Sample Nazi

Everyone knows that grocery shopping is no fun unless you happen upon some delicious samples. They are free, they are food, and that makes them yummy. So, when Andrew and I had to make an impromptu stop at the grocery store on Wednesday, we were pleasantly surprised to see beautiful sample ladies dressed in there aprons and plastic gloves dishing out the goods.

All was well, until we met the meanest sample lady ever....The Sample Nazi... She was at the cookie samples... and she was only giving half cookies... really? A half a cookie?

Let's just say that Andrew didn't agree with The Sample Nazi's half cookie policy.

The ensuing tantrum lasted a record 21 straight minutes. Through all the crying, flailing, kicking, and SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER, I still had to check out (self checkout-no less- which was awesome), unload the groceries, load Andrew, drive home, unload Andrew, unload groceries, try to divert his attention and then... grab my camera.

This will go in the record books... Thank you Sample Nazi.

I hate to show Andrew in such an unfavorable light because he is such a fabulously sweet boy. Here's a video from last month when we celebrated Jason's birthday. Andrew enjoyed some play time with his Uncle Tim, or Te-te as he calls him.

:)

Anne

Mohawk Monday

...and if that's not good enough, here's some fun with Bre- or Beee as Andrew called her.

:)

Anne

Super late is still better than never...

I don't care what anyone says about the Dallas Zoo. I think it is wonderful. Andrew, Grandma Mary, Jodi, Wyatt, and I went for Zoofari Days last week, and it was the best zoo experience I have ever had. (Andrew's been "oo-oo-ooing" like a gorilla ever since!)


Here's the secret to our success:
1. Get there early to beat the heat and the crowd. The animals were very active and many of them were munching on super delicious grass and carrots for breakfast.
2. Read tons of animal books with real pictures so that your baby knows what he's looking for. (If you have ever met Andrew, you know he's obsessed with these books!)
3. Pack lots of water. When you think you have enough water, pack a little more. We were short on water very quickly even though it wasn't that hot.
4. Wear comfy shoes. Duh.
5. Don't let any cute toddler girls distract your son with the excitement of a vending machine... then the zoo loses its luster.




Here are just a few of the wonderful pictures we took at the zoo. The pictures turned out so fun because the babies and animals were equally into each other!

We went to the zoo on August 6... forgive my lateness, but I have been working since August 7th...

:)

Anne