Firsts

The past two weeks have had a lot of firsts - chores, toothbrushing, cows milk only, birthday, steps, and ear infection. It has been a very busy time for us! And still cannot believe that it has been a year!

Andrew being the sweet child that he is, decided to help me vacuum the steps. He climbed up beside me and held onto the vaccum. he definately takes after his dad!! Maybe we can start chores earlier than we thought??



We also had our first "toothbrushing". I laugh since he has no teeth but we thought we would get him used to it. He loves to eat the toothpaste and tolerates the brushing. The doctor said that it is normal up to 15 months for kids not to have teeth, lets hope he gets some by then!



I had a test done on her gallbladder on the last Thrusday in February. I was not allowed to nurse Andrew for 24 hours which I learned when I got there. So, we went cold turkey and transistioned to whole milk. Andrew had had some milk a few times, trying to get him used to it. Other than a little confusion on his part, he took the transition very well and is drinking whole milk out of a sippy cup everyday. We are done with botttles - YEAH!

We celebrated Andrew's first birthday on the 28th. Lee and I are still debating when to celebrate in the future. My family came to town and Lee's came over for the celebration. Andrew was tired but did actual open some of his gifts. Mommy accidentially scared him when he reached for the candle but he eventually at his cake. He was remarkably clean which is odd since he can get dirty eating something like a piece of turkey. I had fun making his cake! Andrew made out like a bandit and got many cool gifts, most which make noise. Mommy and Daddy got him a tricycle that he likes to push around the house.













Andrew has taken a few steps. I am not able to get pictures since it is only 2 or 3 at a time. He does not quite have his confidence yet, otherwise he would be off. Once he figures out he can really walk, we will be playing a lot of chase!

This week we went for Andrew's 1 year check up. He was fussy the night before and we figured teeth (not even close). Turns out he has his first ear infection. Figured a year before the first one is pretty good. He is on antibiotics and is much happier!

Nowadays, he plays with Maggie and Max a lot more. He loves to give Maggie things, her bone, rope, food, his food. Andrew has also started pointing. It is very cute and boy he know what he wants! When it is food - he pretty much demands as my mother found out!







I want to give him a mohowk when he gets more hair - what do you think?

Climbing and Balloons

This past week, Andrew has been a very hungry boy. He loves and eats pretty much anything we eat. He even tried some whole milk for the first time. He would take sips of it...and then spit it out! But at least he keeps trying to drink it!

Our friend Tammy was nice enough to bring Andrew a football balloon on Superbowl Sunday. Well Andrew wanted NOTHING to do with the balloons. He would back away from them if he was near or crawl as far away as he could. Well over the last 2 weeks he has changed his opinion. The football is partially deflated but he brings it with him around the house. As you can see, he figured out how to take it upstairs.

Mommy and Daddy got him a monkey balloon for Valentine's and he has loved banging it on himself and what ever is around him.

We have begun climbing anything we can find including boxes.

Something else new this week is Andrew has discovered his tongue. He sticks it out and makes funny faces. It is very amusing since he really has no idea what he is doing. He also found a fake rose and loves playing with it. He will give it to Mommy and Daddy, and then take it back. I keep telling Lee he is practicing for the Bachelor.

Andrew loves bath time! He plays in the water and loves to stand up (not the safest place for that)! Even when he gets his face wet, he does not mind. Hopefully that will keep up for the pool this summer! He likes to knock all of the bottles in or just hold onto the drain while he plays with his toys.

In other news, Lee and Tera got our new TV hung over the fireplace, it is like a new family room!! Oh, and I finally got a picture of Andrew playing peek a boo with the strainer...

The First Month

Mommy has been a slacker and has not uploaded the recent pictures yet. I will update again soon! This week we have been looking for gates to keep someone off the steps. Hopefully we will have some by his birthday!

Mommy has been busy planning for Andrew's 1st birthday. We are celebrating on the 28th this year since it is a Saturday. We are doing a small family celebration, meaning Tera's family is coming to town for the weekend and Lee's will come over.

Here are my favorite pics of Andrew from his first month! He loved falling asleep in your arms and taking a nap that way. He slept well!

Sleeping with Daddy

Napping with Gigi - notice where his arm is, he put it there himself!

He loved to be propped up.

So peaceful

Steeler Week Celebration

Recently Andrew has been laughing, a lot. It is the best sound in the world. Sometimes he is laughing to himself, other times we are making him laugh. He seems to be the giddiest at night. He loves to climb the steps and laugh as he does it.





He also loves helping in the kitchen. He has certain drawers and cabinets that he is allowed to play in (not that that stops him from getting into the others! He found a plastic fork one evening and here is how he carried it around.



He also will carry a pack of Juicy Fruit this way. Looks like a little cigar.

Tonight he had a new trick. He loves to stand by the dishwasher when it is open and touch things. Well, while mommy was putting things away, Andrew decided to take a closer look...



Also, notice the plastic containers that are scattered on the floor....



He also found a funnel so I let him play with it. He was putting it over his face to play peek a boo and then put it on his lap. I was not quick enough to get a good picture of the latter. He was doing the same with a strainer, he would put it on his head and laugh.



I would say that his shirt is becoming more accurate! (BTW - he did match at one point today and when I changed his pants they fell off when he crawled, so I just grabbed a pair that were downstairs.)



This weekend Andrew got a ride from Daddy and loved being up high, though he liked to peek down to see what Mommy was doing. He has to know what is going on around him!



They did get dressed separately, just ended up looking alike!



Last but not least, we were all excited to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday. Andrew was so excited that he stood on his own for a few seconds before he realized, maybe he will walk before a year? We were ready to cheer on the Steelers. Daddy and Andrew even dressed alike in their Big Ben Jerseys. Who know they could get Rothlisberger on an infant jersey?



After almost having heart attacks, we were very excited when Pittsburgh won!!

The First Month

We have been battling a fever here, it finally went away today. There is nothing worse than your child being in pain and not being able to tell you what is wrong.

Since we have been laying low this week, I figured I would post some pictures from when Andrew was born.

He arrived February 29, 2008 at 2:53PM. Almost at his due date of March 1st and on the day his dad said he did not want him born on. All of Tera's friends and co-workers said that this would be the day he would come. Labor and delivery were really not that bad, especially once Tera had the epidural. We got to the hospital at 6:00AM and were admitted by 7:00AM.

The pictures below are my favorite from the hospital. In the beginning he slept a lot and ate. He also watched what was going on around him.





Here are some of my favorite pictures when we came home from the hospital!

So tiny in the car seat and outfit!

Rough St. Patrick's Day!

Just in time for March madness - rooting for Daddy's team!

Andrew likes to sleep with his arms above his head.

Loving his first "bath"!

Andrew's room very colorful and cheery.

Little hands.

Little legs and feet.

Very alert little boy!

Snow Day

So this week they started predicting snow for Raleigh. Whenever they make a big deal about it, we get nothing. So last night when they were talking about snow, we did not think too much of it. But as you can see, Andrew was preparing by wearing daddy's hat.



Well we have about 3 inches on the ground and it is still coming down. Our dog Maggie would not go out this morning so I had to stand outside to get her off the deck. Andrew and I then ventured out front and Maggie decided she would join us. By the way, gloves are very hard to get on someone who is not cooperating...



Andrew seemed to like the snow. Of course he was not quite sure what to do with it but he liked sitting in it. Maggie meanwhile was bouncing around and trying to eat the snow I would throw.





Just as we were getting ready to come in (we were out less than 5 minutes), Andrew started to crawl over to me. About that time Maggie got a little too excited and knocked Andrew face first into the snow. I wish I had gotten a picture but I rescued him instead. When I picked him up, he was not crying but just looked at me like what the??? Maybe we will venture out again when daddy comes home!



It stopped snowing but daddy came home early!!