One winter night...

...we decided to have a family outing to the mall.  It's a good way to get a little exercise when it's cold, so why not.  We always stop at the pet store and look at the little animals.  Grace loves the "bunnies" AKA mice.  Mommy, not so much.  Well Daddy thought it would be a great time to get Grace a fish, so we decided to get her a Betta since you only have to clean the bowl once every 3-4 weeks (not true but OK).  So Daddy lifts her up to choose her very own fish.  There were about 25 to choose from and many were beautiful, purple and green with long flowing fins that almost glittered in certain lights.  There was also another fish...a tiny, not so beautiful, red one.  We asked Grace numerous times, which one she wanted and she insisted on the red one.  So when the lady came over to get it for us, she looked at us and said, "That one???"  We both laughed and said "Yep, she's chosen it four times, that's her fish."  So we get all the stuff and leave the store.  Grace would not let go of her fish for anything.  We began to ask her about naming the fish.  She didn't have any ideas, she said she would ask daddy.  We began to suggest names, thinking, perhaps she doesn't understand what naming something is.  So we suggest Spongebob, Nemo, Mickey Mouse, anything to get here thinking.  All were answered with a very secure NO.  As we were approaching home, we asked one more time, "Grace, what is your fishy's name?" She said, "How about.......... Guy." "GUY?"  We could not control our laughter, so Guy it is.  Guy the ugliest, red, male Betta fish in the store! I love Guy for that very reason and this makes me love my daughter even more!

Time to Eat!

Well after a few weeks of Andrew pooping once a week (AHHH) and nursing every 45min-1hr, a wise woman (my mother) said, "that boy is hungry."  Amazing how you can miss something so huge because you are living in such a sleep deprived fog! That's why God puts other women in our lives to help us along this journey!  So on February 4th, Andrew had his first taste of cereal.  He was one happy boy!  By the time we were done, he was kicking his feet and smiling... poor kid. He was just hungry! Sometimes, (often times) you can't follow the "books".  If you're baby is only 3 months 3 weeks, but the size of a 9 month old, he needs food! I can not believe I waited until 6 months to feed Grace.  At 6 months she was already like 20+ lbs! What was I thinking??? I wasn't, I was tired.  The food has been a great success. So far we've done rice, pears, carrots, and sweet potatoes.  All with great success.  In a few weeks we're already up to 2-3 mini meals a day. I'm so proud of him!

Andrew's Dedication...

On Jaunary 31st, we had Andrew's dedication.  It was a lovely service and

we were so blessed to have both sets of grandparent's there!

Such a joy!

Andrew's 3 months!

Andrew at 3 months.  He's enjoying some Curious George with his sister.  Amazing how fast time goes with the second baby.  I can't believe how fast he's growing and changing.  At three months we've transitioned into his crib and some nights are good, other's not so much.  He's fallen into his own little routine in the day though and is happy most of the time.  We went through a little spell of him getting really angry in the evenings, when no one could do anything for him.  I would just lay him in his bed and let him cry while I took a shower...then he'd be done.  Don't know what it was and it went on for a few weeks, but thankfully he grew out of that fast.  He is such a love, so calm and happy!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2010!

My precious little man...

Grace and Daddy all ready to go out on their "date." They've had a few dates this winter.  Sometimes they go to breakfast and have sausage, toast, and juice.  Sometimes they go for ice cream! They even went to Walmart one night and Grace got to choose a gift.  She brought home a package of cars, which Rick said he had to talk her in to because what she really wanted was a rubber snake and Daddy knew Mommy would NOT have a snake hanging around the house!

My children enjoy a little tv time! So do I!

Ready to head outside. Look at that face!

All smiles, my happy little man!

Andrew's 2 months!

My little man at two months. 

At two months he is beginning to smile and still sleeping in the swing at night...

loves his pacifier, his sister, dog and being where everyone else is.

Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas 2009!

My sweet little Santa!

Grace loved her first gingerbread house experience!

I so enjoyed looking at it that I didn't actually throw it out until late January!

Christmas 2009

Grace, Andrew and Auntie Erica.  We had a lot of fun the week before Christmas when Auntie Erica came to visit.  We made lots and lots of yummy cookies, built our first snowman, Mommy and Daddy actually went to a Christmas party, and we got to open a few early gifts! Once Grace got the taste in her mouth, she said, "I want to open those too!" as she pointed under the tree.  She had been patiently watching the pile grow over the course of December and was very patient.  I didn't think she'd do so well after opening a few, but she didn't touch any until Christmas morning.  A few weeks later we were at a party and someone gave her a gift to open.  She innocently looked up at me and said, "Is it OK now Mommy?"

Christmas Morning and Grace's new recorder from Santa!

Andrew relaxing on Christmas morning with his "new" toys.  I realized on Christmas Eve that Santa had not gotten anything to put into Andrew's stocking.  Not an issue with my oldest child since she was the only one and didn't know that Santa buys savings bonds when you're a baby.  But Santa thought, "My two year old will not understand why her stocking is full and Andrew has nothing....so we recycled a few toys." On Christmas morning Grace opened his stocking gifts and exclaimed, "Mommy, that's like mine!" Too funny.