Andrew is Walking...& few of his favorite things!

Andrew is officially walking now! for the last 3 weeks or so he has been standing up on his own and taking 1-2 steps, but then just this past week he took more and more and now 90% walking and every once in a while will get down and crawl. He loves to walk. You can see a sense of pride and accomplishment in his eyes when he looks at you while walking, it is the sweetest thing!! I just got some soft soled shoes for him and now he can walk anywhere. He even walked on the grass for the first time yesterday and had no trouble. When he falls, he gets right back up! He is 11 months old. Delia was walking a little steadier than he is now at this same age, but they are pretty much doing it all around the same age. so exciting. Rather than wait for Andrew's first b-day I decided just to post this little milestone and couple of his favorite things as of yet. As you can see in the picture he is holding Delia's play stethoscope, he likes to suck on the foam part. the other objects below are his favorite things, you can almost always see him with these. They are: toy car
-lego steak(one of the only legos he likes)
-DQ icecream treat
-metal keys(either these or the real things)
-ball(big and small) he looooooves to play with balls of all sizes. You will have to wait and see one of my ideas for his birthday present!

and yes, the basket lid is one of his favorite things. He likes to hold it while walking and it looks like a shield, too funny! He likes to hold things while walking. I think it gives him a sense of balance.

Missing from the picture is the Clown fish bath toy. That one in particular is the toy of choice when taking his bath. He might play a little with the others, but if you take the clown fish away, you better watch out. So fun to see his personality shining through.

He is just a little piece of Heaven and I am totally in love with this boy!!

Day 3 on Walk with Christ

So I was a slacker yesterday and didn't post my Day 3...so here is Day 3 & 4

Day 3

Am I seeking Christ's help in all that I think or do? I think that I am constantly seeking his help in my heart throughout the day, but I must also get down on my knees and diligently seek him for the things that are truly important to me. I do not pray near enough, I need to do better. I never thought about praying with “integrity” but it is important that we pray with a true sincere heart, that we have developed that relationship with our Savior to be able to pour our hearts out with all that we need. Prayer is like a daily spiritual nourishment, just like our bodies need food, water, rest, and exercise, our spirits need prayer, scripture study, church attendance, service and constant replenishment of good thoughts and keeping the commandments. I never 'really” thought about it in this sense, but it is very important!

Day 4

I think I really do rely on my Savior a lot for strength. I need to step back and look at the time I have in the day and use it wiser than I have been. I need to decide what things take priority over others. It seems that in our society today we are all much busier and stressed out than it was 100 yrs ago and it supposed to be more convenient for us to accomplish things, it has mad things easier, but at the same time brought more complications and stresses with it, so it seems we have not “really” solved anything. It is important to make our families, and the gospel and our Savior top priorities before making anything else a priority over these. Yes, we all have known this before, but we need to be reminded again and again.

Day 2 on Walk with Christ

Day 2

I can follow my Savior's steps today by just following his example. To be be aware every single day of what I should be doing. When faced with a decision to make can I ask myself, “what would Christ do?” Yes, as often time when faced with difficult decisions I do, but with everything big or small I should always be aware of what my Savior would so in my shoes.

I need to follow the promptings the spirit sends me, but I need to make sure that I am worthy and aware of his presence. I need to think of Christ as not only my savior and redeemer, but as my brother who is always there when I need him. I know that he will help guide me toward what I need to do to become more like him...he has paved the way and paid the ultimate sacrifice. He is our way back! I know that I need to stay focused on my journey home and not be deceived on the world's perception of what we should do/be. It can and is hard, but the Savior has promised to be there every minute of our lives, he will never leave us and knowing that comforts me to with stand all the the things that are thrown at me everyday.

On another note. Despite finding out we owe the Gov. mucho money(through our business) it was a pretty good day. I even found a long lost friend who I've been searching for , for years! I hope to contact her soon! I am so excited!!!

14 Day Walk with Christ

For Young women's as part of personal progress they are given some activities or challenges to help progress toward completing each Value. I am not sure if they are still doing the necklaces as awards in addition to the new things, but for each value that is completed you get a ribbon of that value color to go on your YW scripture marker. The leaders are also invited to do it, so I took on the "challenge" but it has definitely been a challenge with 2 kids and many other responsibilities. Today in church the sister who is in charge of personal progress handed out one of these activities. I'm not sure which value this goes toward(many multiple ones) but she asked if I would like to do it, so I am! It is a "14 Day Walk with christ" where for each day there are different questions relating to christ or his example. we are to record these in a journal. Since my blog is like my online journal I though I would post my "answers" on here everyday during the 14 day challenge. I am also recording it in a separate file on my computer. I am not going to post the questions, I'm going to do it in more of a "random thoughts on christ" style. so here is the first day, today

Day 1

The members of the God Head are their to help us succeed on our path back to them, they being, Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Each has a significant role in our Salvation. They want us to learn from mistakes that we make from trials that we will face and most importantly they want us to have faith in them for we have not seen them during our time on this Earth and want us to show the ultimate faith in their love and support for our return.

As a daughter of God I have never really thought in depth about my heavenly home and what it means to me that I come from a Royal heavenly line! As with any “earthly” royal part of a family, there is much to learn about being a part of Heavenly Father's plan for all us. It is important that we step back and look at our earthly journey's as part of a greater piece to being with our Father again. We are all unique in what we have to offer and need to use these divine qualities to help our children and others to return to their Heavenly home with the knowledge, experience, and extended faith we have gained.

Understanding my place in God's Kingdom will help me to accept the qualities and talents as inherited by my Heavenly Father and that it is my purpose to nurture those into a way of life and of course having my savior as the ultimate example of how to grow. To remember that my/our ultimate goal to to return to Heavenly Father with the best job done to offer and knowing that my best will be graciously accepted as long as it was done with a full and honest heart.

Oh the Week I've had...!!

So to start my week off... my treadmill breaks, apparently the motor went ca-poot, which almost never happens and it why it is warrantied for 25 yrs! Great..looks like I got the one-in-a-million dud. so they shipped me a new one..(you mean "I" have to put it back on??) yep! Then later that night, Delia goes to grab some food off a hot pan from the oven and burns herself..pretty bad!

Then tues morning it is evident that the kiddos are sick with a cold. it's been affecting Andrew more than Delia. so preshcool...and my hair appt is cancelled!

Then later that night my sweet visiting teacher calls to ask if she can come visit, I tell her mornings work best and she says "okay, what about 9 am?" sure I say, but quickly regret it because 1) I usually don't get up until 8:45-9 am( I know...lucky me) and the kids are sick and will most likely be up during the night(which they were) so that will kill me. I consider calling her when my alarm goes off at 8 am to push the time back to 10:30 am, but I talk myself out of it and drag my tired body out of bed. I'm ready the kids are ready, and at 9:25 am, she calls to tell me she forgot and was in a city about 30 mins away. okay, that's alright, I've been there!

Then I decide to check Delia's burn since I let her keep the guaze pad I had taped over it. As I peel it off, a large chunk of skin comes with it!! No she has an open would that I do not want to get infected and we have no more "large bandages" to cover it...oh, and Delia is having a conniption fit over it all!!

So I decide to take advantage of the morning that I have and run to target to get some things(including bandages). Of course when I walk into the store I see their springs line clothing..so I have to try some things on. while in the dressing room, Delia tells me she has to go #2...so I tell her hold it for a little longer I have 2 more shirts to try on. so as I'm rounding up everything, she then tells me..."but mom, I already went!" what??!! greeeeeaaat! By this time Andrew is really getting fussy and cries the whole way to the end of the store for the bathrooms smelling stinky the whole way. Yes! Wonderful! I grab Andrew and my wallet and keys and go into the family bathroom. I hoped it would be just a simple plop and go...nope...it was messy! So there I am, Andrew on the dirty floor screaming, me yelling at Delia, Delia crying also, washing her underwear in the toilet. What a glorious day this has turned out to be! And to make matter worse, when everything is seemingly taken care of I go to grab my keys(angrily mind you) and smack my knee so hard I almost passed out! it hurt like nothing else!

Friday...my treadmill motor came. Wow! They told me 7-10 business days! Sweet! So Christian "offers" to help me put on the new one(how they think it's as easy as picking a flower, I'll never know) needless to say..it took 2 hours of frustration, and arguing, and the sacrifice of christian's smashed finger!!!!(don't ask!) we finally get it back on!

To make matters worse, Andrew has been non-stop cranky this whole week and the 2 lbs I lost at the beginning of the week I gained back( despite my continued exercising and yard work)! Just one of those weeks I guess. Crossing my fingers that this next week brings me just a little luck!

Andrew's New Ride...

Is Andrew a beautiful baby or what??!! Goodness, I love this boy! Some friends of ours were going to throw some toys away and Christian offered to take them. While we were re-sealing our drive-way(another story to come) we were hanging out in the garage. So I decided to put Andrew in the little car and push him around....needless to say, he loved it!! I couldn't let the opportunity pass me by and not take pictures. I then let Delia push him around and every time he passed by I would wave and he would wave back! It was the cutest thing ever! I love times like these when you thoroughly enjoy your children. Although I did get pictures, I wish I would have gotten a little bit on video because it was a very special moment! This summer is going to be soooo fun with him!

Christian's New Toy..

Christian got a new toy! That's right..a riding lawn mower!! He is very excited about it! It's amazing how fast we can mow the lawn..like 10-15 mins tops! It's pretty fun to drive around as a tractor we both took Delia for a ride! It is kind of like a milestone in our life...first lawn mower, first time cutting our own grass!! Is it wrong that we actually look forward to mowing the lawn? :)

Updates...finally!!

So it has been waaaaay too long since I have posted on my blog! the longest ever! so here are a couple of updates on what has been happening with the Anderson family!

Andrew: He is now 10 months old!! Holy smokes! He has been crawling since the end of Jan. and is walking along the tables and couches, he also loves to walk with his "walker" hopefully I can figure out how to post the video clip of his new skills! he is doing much better with eating. Since Nov. (which most of you may not know) he has had a difficult time gaining weight. either he was slowing weaning himself from breastfeeding, or my milk supply when down hill, or both. I think his surgery back in sept jump started the whole rollercoaster. he completely stopped nursing in Jan. (7 months old) and went to formula for about a week. since then I can only get him to drink 1 bottle of formula in the mornings, yogert mixed with formula powder, and the heartiest baby foods I can find. I just found him water bottle with a straw and likes to drink water from that. he has since moved from the 3% to the 10% and has continued to stay there the past 2 doctor visits. He is now: 17 lbs 12 oz. (10%) 28.5 in. (50%) and head is (25%) so he is just a little guy! Hopefully he can stay on track with his growth.

He is a great sleeper, he takes 3 naps a day before bedtime(but I think he is slowly moving to just 2 naps). He has no teeth yet. He def. has been working on them since 6 months and probably won't get any until he is at least 1 yr. He is almost always happy! His smile melts my heart every time. He likes his little cars and loves the door stoppers on the door. His recent favorite thing is the TUB! he absolutely looooves it! he makes a beeline for the bathroom when he hears the tub being started, it is the cutest thing! He WILL NOT go to sleep without his soft monkey blanket!!! This summer is going to be really fun with him. He is such a joy in our lives!

Delia: She is growing up fast too! 3.5 yrs! Wow! She loves her little preschool and is doing better everyday. She can count to 20! She knows the alphabet, but we are still working on letter recognition. Leap frog letter factory has really helped. I plan on doing my own little "home preschool" with her this fall. Hopefully that will go well. She now apparently know how to chew gum!! so be it. I may regret it tough, but the child is going to do no matter what I say anyway. she has been saying the funniest things of late. I can't remember them all, but will post more when I think of them. She is always asking questions, particularly WHY. it is driving me nuts to say the least!! She is a pretty good helper when she wants to be. We continue to get her to clean her own room by herself, it continues to be a work in progress.

Gina: Aside from trying to lose this baby weight, cleaning, cooking 3 separate meals, laundry, dusting, grocery shopping, paying bills, making phone calls for various things, business finances, trip plannings, missionary dinner calender supervisor, YW teacher, ...oh and taking care of the kids and the majority of their needs, in my minuscule spare time I like to:

Make Bows (just opened up my etsy store)
Make flower hair clips
READ(really want to make more time for this...I love it and have so many books to read)
Watch movies & my fav TV shows(Fringe, Burn Notice, and Mythbusters) which is all through the DVR now.
Blog (although I have been horrible for the past 5 months)

Since Oct. I have developed a new obsession (another reason why blogging went on a hiatus)

Ju-Ju-Be Bags!!!

It is sort of what I am collecting as of late. The prints are so much fun and the use of the bags are practical. There are so many different designs once you get sucked into the world of JuJuBe it's hard to climb out! hahaha! the "obsession" has now died down, especially since Christian is not too happy about it. but it's all evened out now! I can relax and be happy with my "stash" and not have the urge to get something different/new. It's exciting to be able to have bag/wallet options and switch them every week or 2. it makes being a mom more exciting! I love it!

Christian: Still works very hard for us! He loves making replica pottery and it very happy summer is approaching! we will be doing a lot of camping/recreational trips this summer and one includes a family reunion in Tennessee! he really enjoys working in the yard and has a few projects he plans to work on. 1) he wants to build a large shed from scratch with electricity and possibly putting in a sink. 2) doing stone work on the back of the house to cover up the peeling stucco that never got fixed :( 3) putting down pavers to extend our patio. 4) planting another garden, which we plan to do together.

I will try to post some pictures later and be better about updates!! Sorry everyone!

Halloween

Halloween was a little funner this year because Delia is more aware of the Holiday now! Plus now we have Andrew! Delia was a pumpkin fairy/witch and Andrew was her pumpkin. We went to our Tri-ward "Trunk-or-Treat", which we do every year, but there is getting to be way too many peopleAside from Andrew having a bit of a melt down and Delia getting lost...it was a fun night. I spent too much time on my chili that didn't even get judged and it was THE BOMB!! so I think next year we will just do the trunk or treat. Delia kept saying, "this is so much fun, mom!" Love it!




















This is one silly Girl!!!

Oh, so that's what my shirt says!

I love this one! Delia is so beautiful and grown up!

Andrew is getting big too, but he is starting to get a little cranky here!