My Little 14th Month Old (And Happy Birthday Aunt Jenn!)

Dearest Andrew,

Today you are 14 months old.  Wait…didn’t you just turn 13 months old, yesterday???  I’m pretty sure you did.  Sigh… Well, this has been a big month for you little man.  You have done so much, that I am going to put it in a list format instead of paragraph, otherwise we’ll be here forever!  Hehe!  Some of these things have already been mentioned in previous posts, but this has what has happened the past month in a nut shell.

• You have started pointing to things you want.  It is so cute and SO helpful!  When you want yogurt, you point to yogurt.  When you want a drink, you point to your drink.  No more guessing games for Mommy.  You are communicating with me!  I love this!
• You had your very first haircut!  Oh my, I was so (beyond!!!) nervous, but you look ADORABLE with your new haircut!  Grandma and Mimi were not too thrilled that we cut off all your curls, but it needed to be done.  As Mimi says, you no longer look like a baby.  You did right up until your hair was cut, but it instantly aged you.  Nonetheless, you are one handsome little dude.
• With your first haircut came your very first sucker.  The stylist asked if you wanted a sucker and I was like, “Uh, well…he’s never had one.”  Daddy and I agreed you could have one under a very watchful eye and if you started to crunch on it, it would have to go.  As soon as you put that sucker in your mouth (it was a cherry Dum Dum) you were in L-O-V-E!!!  You didn’t dare try to bite that thing, you couldn’t get enough of it!  You sucked that thing out of existence!  When I pulled it out of your mouth, it was no bigger than a pencil eraser.  You haven’t had one since (the idea of that sugar sitting on your teeth bugs me), but it was a rare treat you thoroughly enjoyed!
• You celebrated birthdays with Mommy and Daddy.  We had such a great time celebrating with just our little family.
• You got to draw for the first time, with help of course.  Mimi helped you make three signs for Mommy’s birthday that simply melted my heart.  It was so beautiful!  Then I helped you draw all over Daddy’s birthday card and I think his heart melted too.  Hehe!
• You said your 4^th and 5^th words.  First came “hello” where you put an object that looks similar to a phone up to your ear and say hello!  SOOO cute!    Your 5^th word was “light”.  You say this one ALL the time!  You point to lights and light fixtures that aren’t even turned on (even some lamps) and say “ight”.  Okay, that is SOOO cute too!  Hehe!
• You…started…dancing!!!  Oh help me Rhonda!  That has got to be the CUTEST thing I have ever seen.  I can’t even describe the cuteness factor here, it is off the charts!  Sigh…
• You started drinking from a straw and can now drink all by yourself!  What a milestone!  We switched to sippy cups with straws in them and you are doing such a great job with them.
• Your walking has improved so much, I can now walk with you while holding your hand.  This includes walking to the car.  This is super helpful because I usually have a few things I am carrying to the car.  You are slow, but you are very steady on your feet.  On your own though, you are one fast little guy!  I swear any day now, you are going to take off running!

Okay, well I think that is it…I think.  I may think of something else, but like I said, it was a big month for you!  You are growing up so very fast!  I always post a picture of you on the day you turned another month older and today I took pictures of you holding a sign for Mommy's best friend Jennifer's birthday.  As you can see, you are very good at sitting still (NOT!).  Hehe!  Fortunately, Super Grover was willing to step in and save the day!  He was able to sit very still!  I guess he is a super hero after all.  Anyway, we call her Aunt Jenn (well, you don't, not yet anyway), even though she is technically not your aunt.  However, Jenn and I are very close and it feels like she is my sister.  I love her so much and I can tell you do too.  

Okay, well here’s looking forward to a great 14^th month!  I love you Andrew!

Love,

Mommy

Happy Bloggy Birthday!

Dearest Andrew,

Your blog officially turns one today!  Mommy has been writing all about wonderful little you for a year now!  Pretty cool, huh?  I can't believe that I did it!  I hope that you will enjoy reading all about little you when you are older.  I really enjoy writing it and am so glad to be doing something that will preserve memories for a lifetime.  You have your baby book too, but this is just a little more informative, and let's face it, cooler!  Hehe!  I sure have enjoyed this past year with you and can't wait for all the wonderful years ahead!  I love you little bug!

Love,
Mommy

Happy Birthday Dada!!!



The pictures a bit blurry...because someone couldn't
 keep still. :)



Dearest Andrew,

Well today we celebrate two things.  First of all, and most importantly, today was your Daddy’s 35^th birthday.  Woo-hoo!   The second reason I will write in another quick blog, I want this one to be all about Daddy! 

We celebrated Daddy’s birthday by making him dinner and giving him his birthday gifts.  Yesterday was his birthday dinner out and he chose Cheesecake Factory.  Mommy gave you some of her cheesecake (the ONLY kind she likes is the Godiva one because it just tastes like chocolate.  Mommy HATES all other cheesecake) and you were in love!  I shouldn’t be surprised, you are in love with anything sweet.  Hehe!  Anyway, tonight Mommy made Daddy spaghetti, garlic bread, a very yummy salad, and cherry chip cupcakes.  You were also in love with the cupcake I let you try, in case you were wondering.  We decorated with Toy Story (hehe) and Daddy kept on insisting his birthday wasn’t a big deal, but I think he was pretty happy.  When I brought his gifts out, you were right there ripping paper off before Daddy even got a chance to see it.  It was pretty funny.  Your birthday was a little more than a month ago and we could barely get you to open your gifts.  Mommy got Daddy a coffee maker (he wanted one he could program) and you got him a travel coffee mug with pictures of you on it and Madden 13, which doesn’t even come out until the end of the month.  Daddy would have NEVER bought that for himself, but it was something I think he really wanted.  He hardly ever has time to play video games, but when he does, he likes the football ones the best.  You know what one of Daddy’s favorite parts was?  Mommy helped you decorate Daddy’s card and he loved it.  You did a great job! 

Okay little one, that was our day in a nutshell.  We sure had fun wishing Daddy a happy birthday!!!  I love you little man!

Love,

Mommy





Andrew's First Haircut

Dearest Andrew,

Today was a big day, today was your very first haircut.  Mommy was very nervous, but you did a wonderful job!  You didn’t get upset a bit and you were very well behaved.  I couldn't be more proud of you if I tried.  You have your moments, yes, but for the most part you are such a good-natured kid!  The girl that cut your hair was so sweet to you, and the end result was one sharp looking kiddo.  I was sad to see you lose your curls you get at the bottom of your hair, but it needed to be done.  She cut off more hair than I wanted, but at least it will grow back.  Plus, I’m really starting to dig your new ‘do.  One more way you are growing up on me.  You’ll be graduating college before I know it!  Sigh…  I love you little one!

Love,
Mommy

PS - More pics down below. :)

The Many (Cute) Faces of Andrew Part III

Dearest Andrew,

Here is an update of all of your cute little faces, and they are cute!  I love you buggy!

Love,
Mommy

First Words, Cousins, and Straws, Oh My!

Dearest Andrew,

Well, I thought I would write a quick letter to let you know a few things that you have done recently that I think are BIG!   First of all, you now officially say four words.  Your first two of course, were “Dada” and “Mama”.  Your third pretty solid word was “kitty” as I said in the previous post, but today you said a word that you have never said before and you have said it many times since.  You like to take Daddy’s badge from work and put it up to your ear like it’s a phone.  It really is the cutest thing!  We got you your first cell phone the other day (a toy of course, we’re not that wacko! Hehe) and Daddy and I always say “hello” when you have it.  Well today you surprised us and said it back clear as a bell!  We were both so excited!  When you are old enough to read this, you will probably think, “Big deal!”, but to Mommy and Daddy, it really was.  

You are also able to recognize people in pictures.  You have actually been able to do that for a while now (you LOVE pictures and video of yourself, and who wouldn’t?), but when Aunt Amy asked you the other day where she was in her wallet, you actually turned to her driver’s license and pointed to her picture!  What a smart little fella you are!  You can point out yourself and Mommy and Daddy, but I was so thrilled to see you recognize your aunt too.  I don’t know why I’m surprised though, you seem quite taken with her and she loves you to pieces too!

Speaking of Aunt Amy, we found out today that she will be having a boy when she has her baby in December.  Woo-hoo!  You will have a little boy cousin to play with and show the ropes to.  I can only imagine the fun you two will have, you will only be a year and a half apart.  I am so glad you will always be surrounded by family.  I hope you learn early just how very important they are. 

Well, the last thing that you have done recently is learn to drink from a straw (see picture above).  Once again, I am sure you will think in the future how silly your mom was, but let me tell you, every single thing you learn just makes me the happiest mommy ever!  There is nothing I love more than watching you learn new things.  Plus now you are able to drink all by yourself.  What a big boy you are!

Okay, well I guess that is all…not such a quick letter after all.  Next week we are having Chrissy take some pictures of you, so they will be up on here in a few weeks.  I can’t wait to see how wonderful they are!  How do I know they will be wonderful?  Because they will have YOU in them!  I love you my sweet boy!

Love,
Mommy

Happy Birthday Mom!

Dearest Andrew,

Well today was a special day for someone…oh yeah, me!  Today I turned 34!  Woo-hoo!  We sure had a great day too.  I got to spend the day with you and Mimi (two of my very favorite people) and the evening with you, Mimi, Daddy, and Pop.  Pop made an AMAZING dinner (I can’t wait until you are old enough to eat all of his wonderful cooking) and Mommy’s favorite dessert, cherry cobbler.  Not just any cherry cobbler, his mother’s recipe.  Yum-o!  

Mimi helped you make the centerpiece.  She guided your hand and helped you write “Happy Birthday” on one sign, “Mama” on one, and “I Love You” on the last.  She framed them and put them together.  Hands down the BEST decorations Mommy has ever seen.  Your birthday decorations can’t even top that!  I loved it!  Your Mimi sure is clever.

I didn’t get a picture of us together (I forgot, gasp!),  I didn’t even take any of you that day (double gasp!), but I did find this cute little Snoopy picture.  Since we are such big Peanuts fans around here, I thought it would be appropriate. 

Well, that is all.  I just wanted to share with you the sign you and your Mimi worked so hard on and tell you what a wonderful birthday I had.  You were a huge part of that!  I love you more than you could ever, ever know!

Love,
Mommy