and now BIG boy sledding pictures

Sledding...

 Proof that Anders was having fun & not just being dragged down the hill and forced to sled...

 Going down again...

 After 4-6 rides down the hill on the wooden sled that my Dad built, it fell apart.  The sled had been sitting in the attic for more than 25 years, and wasn't prepared for the serious hills of the day.  But it can be fixed for more sledding in the future.  But the sledding did not end -- Todd & I bought a sled at Target in November, just hoping we would have snow this winter!  In the moment, we thought we were a little crazy to do it and laughed a lot about it.  But we packed it for our trip & we already got our money's worth.  Here are Todd & Anders sledding down together...  

 Walking up the hill with Grammie & Papa...note that all of Bella's feet are mid-air (she loves the snow too)!

 It was such a fun afternoon!  So many of MY favorite childhood memories are of playing in the snow and sledding with my Dad, and I think that is why it was so special to see Todd sledding with Anders.  Definitely an afternoon I will always remember!

Santa Baby

Our little Santa baby delivering Christmas presents...

 "I'm not Santa, and I'm not wearing this hat anymore!"

Our White Christmas

We were SO excited to have a snowy, white Christmas!  It was both Todd and Anders' first white Christmas, and they both enjoyed playing in the snow and sledding...while I watched and took pictures.

Anders all bundled up and ready to go outside in the cold...

 Here is Anders being pulled around on a wooden sled that my dad made for my brother, Michael, in 1977.

 His face after sliding down the driveway...

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning Anders woke up and insisted that we go upstairs right away -- it was as if he knew Santa had come, and he wanted to get up there to see.  But once we got upstairs, he was quickly distracted by the new toys that were opened yesterday and just wanted to play with them.  After much coaxing we got him to open his Christmas-morning presents.

Anders in front of his Christmas loot (not showing much excitement or interest)...

 Checking out his activity cube with Daddy...

 Saying goodbye to Aunt Katie, before they headed out to Chip's family breakfast...

 Reaching DEEP into his stocking...

 Looking at his "Curious George" books with Papa...

 Todd sitting by the fire to stay warm on this WHITE CHRISTMAS (more snow pictures to come)...

Christmas Eve night

Little winding down before his bedtime on Christmas Eve...

 Anders was so excited about Santa coming that he did somersaults...

Christmas Eve

We arrived at Grammie & Papa's house late Thursday night for Christmas.  Aunt Katie & Uncle Chip were already there and the next morning, Haley, Uncle Michael & Aunt Julie arrived for us to celebrate Christmas and open gifts.  Anders just wanted to play with each toy that was opened and didn't care about opening more.  He loved his cars, fire truck, golf set, blocks, books, and for two days did not let go of his cell phone. 

 Loving his new phone...

Haley is happy with her Christmas presents...

Opening a T-ball set from Uncle Chip & Aunt Katie...

  Then it was time for family pictures (although the full family pictures were taken on Dad's camera, so I don't have those to post yet)...

Haley with the horse we gave her for Christmas...

 

 

Anders 16 months

This blog is a little late, but Anders turned 16 months this December.  He is 33 inches long and little over 25 pounds.  He is continuing to make us laugh, and he is so much fun.  He loves scaring people by screaming "BOO" and has added other words to his vocabulary.  He says: Bella, ball, up, Papa, fish, shoe, sock, quack-quack, meow, roar, and Mama (still only when upset and wanting something).  He still signs "more" and "please" especially while eating his grown-man portioned meals.  He understands everything you say and follows instructions sometimes.  He nods his head "yes" to answer questions, and if he wants something he'll point to it and nod his head very enthusiastically.  He has continued to do REALLY well on the potty and we are so proud of him.  He loves music, especially songs with a good beat.  He bobs his head to the groove and dances along and tries to snap his fingers.      

Our sweet Christmas baby boy...

Kissing moose...

Our other sweet baby -- Bella dog...

Playing at Grandma & Grandpa's house

This video is a little long, but Anders is SO CUTE each time he pops thru the cabinet doors...

Making cookies with Grammie & Papa

While at Grammie and Papa's house last weekend, Anders made Christmas cookies.  He rolled out the dough, cut out beautiful cookies, and ate a lot of the dough along the way.  

 Grammie show him how to roll out the dough (note that they are using a glass vase, because their rolling pins are still at the house in Lilburn)...Anders looks so focused, doesn't he?

 Then cutting them out...

 Final product...

Christmas tradition - rocking horse pictures

We have YEARS worth of Christmas pictures on the wooden rocking horse that my dad made.  There are many with Katie & I in matching PJs, ones with the whole family piled on & surrounding it, and this is the only rocking horse picture I could find from last year (Katie is going to LOVE me for this one, but in case you are wandering -- that is Katie's signature pose from when she was a very young girl)...

 And now this year Anders can hang on to the horse on his own and he loves to ROCK and ROCK...

 

Reindeer Christmas cookie

Anders loved this Reindeer cookie that I brought home from my work Christmas party.  At first he just loved it, because it was cute... 

 What I can eat this? REALLY?

Then he LOVED it even more once he ate most of it, sharing only a few bites with Mom & me.