Snow!

12.30.09

On Tuesday it snowed a lot! Unfortunately the weather man did not predict the snow and it made for a nasty commute. I ran to the mall in the afternoon to do a few errands while Nate worked from home while Andrew was napping. Nate called me right when I got there and told me it was snowing, so I started to get ready to leave, then he called back and said that it stopped. I only had a few things to do and I was only there for about 45 minutes, but when I went to get in my car it was snowing hard! Once I got to the freeway the snow had stopped but there was so much traffic. As soon as I got off at our exit it was snowing again. It took me 20 minutes to get from the exit off the freeway to a little ways down the road. I was going about 5 miles/hour and I was starting to panic since my car was sliding a bit, so I decided to head to my parents. It was a little scary getting to their house (which is on the way to our house) because I slid a few times, but thankfully I made it their safe. I was stuck there for several hours and missed getting to see Andrew's reaction to all of the snow. Luckily Nate recorded it for me, but I was still really bummed out! My dad drove me home later that night and I was greeted with lots of hugs and kisses from Andrew. I think he missed me just as much as I missed him in the few hours we were apart. The next morning there was still a little bit of snow left so Andrew and I took a walk in the snow and I was able to capture a few pictures. I think he was more entertained with the snow that had melted because he kept pointing at all the water flowing down the street and saying "waterfall."

I have a super cute video of Andrew in the snow with Daddy, but for some reason it won't post right now. I will try and post it another time!

Baby #2 update

Here's a picture of me at my in-laws on Christmas at 19 weeks. We have one week left until we find out the sex of the baby....I'm so excited! I have no idea if it will be a boy or a girl but I will be excited either way. It would be fun for Andrew to have a brother, but it would also be fun to have a girl....so either way, I am happy. I'm just praying for a healthy baby! On Sunday night Nate and I were sitting watching a movie and the baby was kicking. So I put Nate's hand on my stomach and he felt the baby kick twice. It was the first time he felt the baby kick!

12.25.09-19 weeks

A Gift from Santa

Here's the video of Andrew opening his Lightening McQueen remote control car from Santa. He was so excited!!!

12.25.09- 2 years old

Zoo Lights

Waiting in line for the train

So excited to finally see the train!

On the train with Mommy & Daddy

Tonight we ventured out to zoo lights. It was absolutely freezing, but we bundled up and braved the cold. We were told that it wasn't as busy after Christmas, but it sure seemed busy! We stood in line to get into the zoo, then went right to the train and stood in line for another 45 minutes to ride the train. Andrew was a trooper. He didn't whine or complain the whole time. We took turns holding him (although Nate did most of the holding since my stomach now gets in the way) and Andrew even walked for a little bit. He was so excited to ride the train. He kept saying "train track" which is what he calls a train :) We finally got on the train and took a 15 minute ride around the zoo. Andrew loved it, but Nate & I didn't think it was very impressive. The lights around the zoo looked cooler than the ones on the train ride. Oh well, it made Andrew happy and he had a smile on his face most of the time. We were so cold that we didn't go walk around the zoo....we headed straight towards the car to get warm and then off to dinner. We made a quick stop at Baja Fresh and then home just in time for bed. Andrew must have been exhausted because he went right to sleep!

I forgot to mention that we got our train tickets for free! Just as we were standing in line to get tickets a family came up to us and said that they weren't going to use there tickets. So our whole night only costs $2.50 for the hot cocoa! We have a membership so we were able to get in free to the zoo :)

Christmas Festivities

Christmas Eve we went to church however I didn't realize that the nursery would not be open so Andrew sat in church with us. I was surprised at how well he did. They gave all of the kids goody bags with colors, a little coloring book and a candy cane. He was very excited about the candy cane and sat and watched all of the music at church. After about 20 or 30 minutes he got bored. Luckily Nate had his iphone and Andrew was able to watch a movie. After church we went to pizza (a family tradition) at CPK, came home and opened 1 gift....pajamas and then read The Night Before Christmas and a story about the birth of Jesus. After opening his present, Andrew looked at all the other presents and said "more?" We told him that he had to go to bed, but he wasn't excited about that! The next morning we spent just the 3 of us opening stockings, eating Cinnabons, and opening presents...oh yeah, and watching the Disney parade :) Andrew got lots of new cars in his stocking and just wanted to play with them the rest of the morning. He had about 1 bite of his cinnamon roll and didn't want to open presents at first. So Nate and I started opening our presents and then Andrew got excited. It took us a long time to open everything because he wanted to play with each toy! It was so fun to watch his excitement. His favorite gift was his remote control Lightening McQueen car from Santa. I will post a video of his reaction on a later post because it's priceless! After presents we got ready and ventured over to the Bailey's for Christmas dinner and gifts. We tried to put Andrew down for a nap, but he was too excited so he didn't sleep all day! We spent the afternoon opening gifts, hanging out and eating. Andrew had fun playing with all his new toys that Pama & Papa got him. He was so tired that he fell asleep on the way home and slept till 9am the next morning. That next morning we went over to my parents to see my grandparents and uncle who came up from Springfield. We had breakfast and spent the morning with them. Andrew had fun running around with his Great Uncle Gerald. We went back to our house for nap time and to try and reorganize all the toys and then back to my parents for Christmas with my side of the family. Kayla and Cory came up for the weekend and we had a fun time opening gifts, eating and laughing at old pictures of mom and dad :) It was such a wonderful Christmas season and we are so grateful for a healthy family, a baby on the way and all of our many blessings!

Andrew at Christmas Eve service eating his candy cane.

Pizza or as Andrew calls it Peepa!

Grandpa Bud & Grandma Twyla

12.25.09-Christmas with the Baileys

Opening his big box of lots of toys from Grandpa & Grandma.

So excited about all his cars.

Andrew fell off the couch while we were opening gifts and bumped his head pretty bad so Daddy gave him ice cream because he was such a brave boy :)

12.26.09-Christmas with the Mings

p.s. Andrew loved singing Happy Birthday to Jesus the whole week of Christmas and saying "Happy Birfday Jesus." So cute :)

Santa's Village

When Nate and I stayed downtown for the night we saw that Macy's had a Santa Village. We thought it would be fun to bring Andrew to see it so a few days later, we drove downtown and spent the morning as a family. We kept telling Andrew that we were going to see Rudolph and the reindeer and he was so excited. He likes Santa, but the reindeer were a little more exciting to him this year :) He's always saying "Mommy sing me Ruolph!" There was a huge line at Macy's to see Santa, so we just walked into the village area. He loved it! He kept saying "Ruoph" and "Reineer." We didn't spend a lot of time in the village, maybe 15 or 20 minutes, but Andrew loved every minute of it! We then ventured over to Pioneer Place and he had fun riding the escalators up and down with Daddy. We walked by Santa several times and asked him if he wanted to go see him and every time he said no. We didn't want to force him to, so there will be no Santa picture this year. We decided to have some chocolate at Moonstruck and watch Santa from a bench close by. Andrew was very excited about his snowman chocolate that was really a penguin :) He had one bite, loved it, then stuck the whole thing in his mouth. I think he realized it was too much so he spit it out and gave it to me. After wondering around for awhile, watching all of the fire trucks, buses, and train tracks (the MAX bus) we decided to call it a morning and head home. Hopefully we will try to make this a new family tradition!

Watching Santa while eating his chocolate.

12.22.09

Christmas Sunday

I just have to share a few photos of Andrew from Christmas Sunday because he looked so cute all dressed up!

12.20.09

Birthday Week

I am so behind on blogging....so here's some updates!

My birthday week was so much fun! It started out with my surprise party that Nate planned which I already blogged about. Then on my birthday Andrew and I had coffee at Starbucks with my parents in the morning and then I took him to his Gymboree class. We always have so much fun and I love watching him run around and play with other kids. That night we had dinner with my parents at PF Changs and then my in laws joined us for cake at our house that evening. It was such a nice and relaxing birthday. That Friday Nate and I went downtown and stayed at the Benson. We had planned on doing this the week before but Andrew was sick so we decided to postpone it to the following week. Nate wanted to take me downtown for a night away for my birthday. This is a rare treat since Andrew has only been away from us one other night. This time he stayed with his Grandpa & Grandma Bailey (his 1st time staying there). He had a blast and we were told that he was a good boy. Nate and I spent the afternoon shopping, happy hour at El Gaucho, more shopping and then dessert at the Benson's bar. The lobby at the Benson is beautiful this time of year so we decided to just have dessert there and enjoy the Christmas decorations. The next morning we spent at coffee and a little bit more shopping before we picked up Andrew. It was so nice to actually shop without a toddler and spend time with just Nate. Such a fun birthday week!!!!

12.18.09-Our night downtown at the Benson

Andrew helping Mommy blow out her candle.

Birthday dinner at PF Changs.

12.16.09-Starbucks

Newest trick

Andrew is talking so much these days and I don't want to forget any of his cute little phrases, so here are a few of his new ones.

-Sing me mommy (he says this all the time and then usually requests one of his favorite songs: Twinkle Twinkle, Sunshine When Skies Are Grey, Rudolph, Jingle Bells or Row Row Row Your Boat)

- I try (when he wants to try something) & try me (when he wants you to try something....sometimes these are interchangeable)

-Yes (he used to say yeah when you ask him a question, but now it's a firm yes!)

-No thank you (when you ask him if he wants something and he doesn't want it, 9 times out of 10 he will say no thank you....so polite!)

-Go, now or sit, now! (these are the not so nice sayings that he's come up with lately)

-Mommy time out (he's had a lot of time outs lately and sometimes tells me that I need a time out)

-Stop that! or just Stop! or Stop it!

-What's that noise? (the other day we were walking up the stairs at church and he said "what's that noise" and then answered his own question with, "it's peoples!")

-Change biper (Andrew always wants his diaper changed, usually when it's just wet. He will lay down on the ground and say "change biper." This is why we are starting potty training after Christmas!)

-Ok!?- Andrew will tell you to do something or just say something in general and then say "okay" like he's the boss. It's too funny.

-I also have to point out his newest trick. He stands on his pillow in his bed, says "whoa, whoa, whoa," and then proceeds to fall face forward into his bed. He thinks it is so funny and will do it over and over again while saying after each time, "I try again!"

12.19.09

Santa Visit- take 2

On Tuesday I decided to venture out and take Andrew to see Santa. It was the only day of the week that we didn't have anything going on, so I thought it would be our only opportunity. Unfortunately it was pouring down rain! All morning we talked about how we were going to see Santa and Andrew was so excited. We got to Bridgeport and I managed to get him, the umbrella, my bag of returns all from getting drenched. We went to Santa's workshop and Andrew totally freaked out. He clung to me the whole time and wouldn't even look at Santa. We stayed there for about 15 minutes (there was no one else in line) playing with cars and trying to get him to warm up to Santa, but no luck! I couldn't even get a crying picture. So this might be the year of no Santa picture. Kind of a bummer, but oh well!

Big Boy Potty Update & Baby Kicking

I'm so far behind on blogging that it seems that I only really have time on the weekends. So the next few blogs will be about this last week.

Last Monday we had another successful night on the big boy potty. Andrew told me that he wanted to go sit on the big boy potty. We started reading some books and after sitting there for about 5 minutes, he actually went potty! I was shocked and so proud of him. About every other day he tells me that he wants to sit on the big boy potty, but never actually does anything. I think it's progress though...at least he's getting used to being on the potty. After the craziness of the holidays is over, we are going to beginning the "real" potty training!

In other news, the baby was kicking like crazy on Monday night! For the last few weeks I've been feeling funny things in my stomach, but thought I was just imagining that the baby was kicking or that my stomach was growling. On Monday night, I was holding Andrew and grabbing the phone and I felt a huge kick. It kind of shocked me! That whole night the baby was kicking like crazy. I haven't felt a lot of activity since, but I'm sure I will in the weeks to come.

Birthday Surprise

I have to start by saying that I have the most thoughtful, amazing, loving, giving (the list goes on) husband in the world! He truly adores me (and I do him) and treats me like a princess everyday. I am so blessed that I get to spend the rest of my life with him.

Yesterday Nate received a phone call from one of our friends. I could tell he was trying to be secretive so I asked him if he had something up his sleeve for my birthday. He denied it but later told me that all he was going to say is that my friend Jessica would be picking me up at 12:30 the following day. I quickly started asking him a million questions...one of the first questions being, what do I wear? Being pregnant, the options are limited. I decided on a dress my mom bought me last year for my birthday that is very holiday-ish. I continued to ask a million questions all yesterday and this morning but he still wouldn't budge. My friend picked me up this afternoon and we started driving downtown. We arrived at the Heathman Hotel for high tea! When I walked up to our table I was so surprised to see that my sister was there...she drove up just for my party. Also in attendance was my mom, mother in law, sister in law and my friends Jessica, Natalie and Erin. It's funny because Natalie and I were talking about a month ago about how we'd love to go to high tea sometime. I guess Nate remembered me telling him about that conversations (such a thoughtful husband). We spent the afternoon sipping on tea, eating wonderful food and talking. It was such a fun afternoon and I'm blessed to have such amazing friends and family. Nate also bought me a wonderful tea pot shaped cake that was amazing! He had it brought to the hotel and it was the centerpiece at our table. LOVED the whole day....thank you Nathan!!!!

Nate bought this amazing cake for my party!

My sister came all the way from Eugene just for my birthday party....I love her and miss her!

My amazing friends

Baby #2- 18 weeks

12.13.09

Christmas Lights

Last Wednesday we ventured out of the house to go look at Christmas lights. Every year since I can remember my family has always gone to the Portland International Raceway Christmas lights. Nathan and I continued this tradition after we got married. We thought Andrew would love the lights this year and since you get to stay in your car while looking at the lights we thought it would be a nice way to get out of the house since he was sick all week. We went with my parents and then met Grandma Twyla at BJ's pizza. Grandpa Bud had to work unfortunately. After pizza we went and saw the lights. Andrew loved them! It took us about 30 minutes or so to get through the lights so he got a little bored at the end, but overall it was a fun time for all of us!

Checking out all the lights!

Waiting for his pizza!

12.9.09

Big Boy Potty

Andrew has had more of an interest in the big boy potty lately. It might be because we were home all last week and I was trying to encourage it. Last Monday night Andrew went #2 in his diaper. Lately he's been hiding when he does this so as soon as I noticed he was hiding and then smelt the lovely smell, I asked him if he wanted to go in the big boy potty. He was very excited and went right in! He sat there for a bit and we read some books and then all of a sudden I hear a little tinkle and he looks at me with big eyes and I said "did you go potty?" He just looks at me with a huge smile and I clapped and cheered and told him what a big boy he was. Daddy even gave him a new toy because he was such a big boy. He hasn't gone potty again in the big boy potty but he has sat on it at least 3 times this week and has told me that he wants to go on the big boy potty, so I'm hoping this is a step in the right directions!

12.10.09

Getting his new toy after going potty on the big boy potty!

12.7.09- 27 months

Christmas Tree Farm & Decorating

Last Saturday we bundled up and went to the Christmas tree farm to cut down our tree. This year we found out that some of our friends have a farm and were offering a great deal on trees so we took them up on their offer! We made an appointment Saturday morning, because it's not open to the public and we had the best Christmas tree hunting experience ever! As soon as we got there Grant took us around the whole farm on his quad. Andrew thought this was pretty exciting and was smiling the whole way. We told him what size we needed and he took us to a certain area. We found the tree with in minutes and he cut it down for us and hauled it back to the quad! We didn't even have to do any of the work....pretty sweet deal :) When he turned on the chain saw, Andrew got a little scared but was curious at the same time. I think he really enjoyed the whole Christmas tree farm experience, especially the "truck" ride (as he liked to call it. Unfortunately I didn't have time to decorate the tree that day so I finally got it done over a process of about 3 days (it was a very busy weekend!). Andrew has been very excited about all that is Christmas lately. He really likes all the decorations and especially the tree. He has taken many ornaments off the tree, tried to put some back on and broken some. We've had numerous amounts of time outs because of this and I'm hoping that next year this stage will be over. I do love that he is so excited about Christmas though and that he loves all the decorations just like me!

Looking for our tree

Not our tree, but a cute picture :)

12.5.09 - Andrew 27 months

McCulloch Christmas Tree Farm

17 weeks pregnant with baby #2

Andrew trying to help decorate the tree

12.6.09

Visiting Santa- take 1

The Tuesday before last we went to Bridgeport Village to take some pictures for our Christmas card. Since we were there we decided to visit Santa too! Andrew's initial reaction to Santa was timid and shy. When he 1st saw him, as long as he was standing next to Mommy and Daddy, he was fine, but once he was on Santa's lap, he wasn't too sure about him and wouldn't even look at him. We tried to get some pictures but he started crying a bit and we figured that we'd just come back another time for pictures with Santa. We haven't made it back there this week because Andrew has a cold and it's freezing outside, but we are hoping to make it back to see Santa soon!

Jingle Bells Remix

Nate bought himself a new Christmas present yesterday, a flip HD camera, and has been using it ever since. Last night, as we were getting Andrew ready to go to Target, Andrew started singing 'Jingle Bells.' He must think the song sounds like Old MacDonald, because he starts singing it in the middle of Jingle Bells. It's pretty funny!

Andrew 12.4.09 - 2 years old

New Traditions

Last night we went to the arrival of Santa Claus and lighting of the Christmas tree at Bridgeport Village. We went to this last year and I'm hoping that we can make this a family tradition. We arrived just in time for Santa to arrive and Andrew was so excited. He just watched him and tried to get closer. Then the tree lights came on and he kept saying "look, Christmas!" He ran right over to the tree and just wanted to look at it. I think he thought the whole evening was pretty exciting! A band played after the tree lighting and he was front and center to make sure he could hear all the music. We really only listened to them warm up and then we went home because it was getting late. He was not to happy to be leaving though! Such a fun night and the beginning of the Christmas season. We are hoping to do a lot of fun family Christmas activities this year!

11.27.09 - Andrew 27 months

Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving was spent at my parents house this year. It was just the 7 of us, Mom & Dad, Kayla & Cory, and the 3 of us (plus baby). We had a fun and relaxing day spent eating, watching football, playing video games (mainly Grandpa, Daddy & Andrew), and playing with Andrew. However the day did end short because I forgot to bring diapers. I find that I'm so forgetful these days and even had several diapers sitting downstairs, but forgot to put them in his diaper bag. Luckily I had 2 in his bag and my mom had 1 at her house. Andrew had a record number of dirty diapers that day so we ended up leaving around 7, only about 30 minutes shorter than normal, but still a quick ending to the night. I am so thankful for a wonderful family, a loving husband, a funny little boy, and a healthy baby (we find out the sex Jan. 6th). I'm so grateful that all of my family is healthy!

Andrew with Grandpa & Grandma

Andrew playing the piano

Cuddling with Sophie. He really wanted Sophie to sit on his lap, so I had to find Sophie and position her on his lap. She stayed for a few minutes :)

Our only family picture of the day, even though you can't really see Andrew's face.

Having hot chocolate at Starbucks Thanksgiving morning.

11.26.09 - Andrew 27 months old