I is For...

Other 8 Week Pictures:

 Always so intently watching.

Oh, how I love me some naked baby!!

I'm sorry if this will be embarressing when you're older.  You just have the cutest tush!

"ugh, seriously mom.  Are you done yet?!"

Always so handsome.
 
Two months old!

 

Terrible Two's... years or months?!  JUST Kidding.  You're still a wonderful baby. :)

 You look like such a little dude in this jacket!

9 Week Stats - March 31, 2011

• This week, I've sometimes put you in your car seat sitting in front of the pellet stove for naps.  You seem to really love this.  You just sit quietly or coo a little bit and stare at the fire until you drift off warmly into sleep. :)
• Your fingers are starting to look more like Daddy's - your pointer finger gets small towards the tip.  Your thumb looks like Grandpa Anderson's though!
• One day, you were pretty mellow and just sitting contently in my arms, and as soon as Daddy got home from work and walked through the door, you gave him the BIGGEST grin ever!  You love your Daddy. :)
• When I pick you up, you've started putting your arm around my shoulder like a real "big kid"!  I love it. 
• I think you might have your mama's drinking problem... often when you are eating, you stop to cough a few times... like you're choking...you also do this randomly, like maybe choking on your slobber?  Sorry lil guy.  I'll buy you a thermos with a straw someday. :)
• When you wake up in the middle of the night with a wet diaper or you're hungry, you don't cry or fuss at all.  You just kick your legs and flail your arms until I wake up.  This is a much more pleasant way to wake up than to a screaming baby.  Thank you
• Mommy's gotten better about laying you down to sleep at around 8 o'clock in your cradle in our bedroom and having you sleep there until you wake up to eat (usually around midnight or one) and then snuggling with you in bed for the rest of the night.  It's nice to stretch out and sleep by myself some, but sleeping with you is my most favorite part of my day.  I just love snuggling with you...even though you sleep just fine by yourself too. :)
• You snuggled with cousin Andrea and her growing baby bump this week.  You'll get to have another baby boy playmate in August!  You are going to have so many buddies to hang out with while you're growing up! 
• You roll over from your tummy to your back all the time now.  You don't mind being on your tummy, but you just always end up on your back again.
• You are seriously so strong.  Yesterday while I was holding you, you seemed to want to "stand" on me, so I just leaned you up against my chest and let you stand on my legs and you held yourself up (with just leaning on me) for about 5 minutes!!  Aren't you supposed to be a few months older before you do that?!  You obviously got the "freakishly strong" Anderson genes...
• Remember how I said your fingernails grow super fast and I can hardly keep up with cutting them? (At least twice a week...) Well, this week Daddy said that your hands look like your future sister Ellery's... I'm sorry he called you that. ;)
• I keep thinking that your feet haven't grown at all but that I must just not realize that they have. But this week I came across your pretty birth cert with your footprints on it, and it really does look like your feet are the same length still...
• When you were first born, people would always hold you and look to their spouse and say, "I can't remember when ours were this small!"  I thought they were crazy!  As I was putting away some of your newborn clothes this week, I held up the little tiny white onesie that used to be the only thing that fit you, and thought to myself, "how was he that small!?" ... :(  You are growing sooo fast!
• You turned 2 months old on Sunday the 27th!!! gah!  I already feel like your birthday will be here before we know it.
• We went to Sammy's birthday party on Friday night and you got to experience your first bunko party ever!  You slept through most of it... Someday you'll be more ecstatic. :)
• You met our friend Katie this week and fell asleep in her arms.
• You have started sucking on your fingers a lot.
• You've also started drooling a lot more in the last couple days... teething already?? eek.
• A little boy came up to me this week and asked if he could "pet my baby"... :)  He gave you a couple nice pats on the head and walked off without another word.
• You saw the new house we'll be living in for the next 4 or 5 years!  

As I write this, you are snuggled up on my chest, sucking on your pacifier and sweetly dreaming.  I can't keep from kissing your slightly sweaty and always salty forehead.  You're wearing your "I love Mommy" pajamas that you wore home from Bella Vie and this might be the last time for they are getting a little snug on you.  These are the moments I hope to always remember.  Your snuggles, your sweaty head and your scent.  Your little snoring sounds.  The way you drape your arm around me.  The weight of your head on my chest.

I love you.
Mama K

A-Z

One of my favorite bloggers, Katie at Cleared for Takeoff posted this today and I smiled because I looooved these things back in Myspace days...so I had to do my own too! :)

A. Age:  25 ...  oy.

B. Bed size: Full...But we are considering Queen or King since we love the baby sleeping in bed with us so much.  But this means new headboard/footboard, frame, mattress, comforter, sheets.....$$$$....So we'll see. :)
 
C. Chore you dislike:  Scrubbing the shower.  I really like keeping a clean house and general cleaning, but I cannot stand to scrub the shower.  Thankfully Skyler is awesome and doesn't mind doing it for me.

D. Dogs: Someday...hopefully sooner than later.  Sky wants a hunting dog. 
 
E. Essential start to your day:  1/2 hour snuggle/cooing session in bed with Zeek and daddy!

F. Favorite color: greens

G. Gold or silver:  Gold

H. Height: 5′2.5" (that .5 is important.)

I. Instruments you play(ed):  Piano, oboe, guitar.  Little bit of flute and clarinet.  Recently purchased violin and mandolin. 

J. Job title: Wife and Mama

K. Kids: Ezekiel Pierce, 2 months!

L. Live for ______: God, Skyler & Ezekiel

M. Most embarrassing moment:  I seriously cannot think of any...that is weird.  I know I have several.

N. Nicknames: Kay, Kertuffle, Kayla Potata, Sexy Mama (Sky), Mamababy (Sky), Little K, French Toast

O. Overnight hospital stays:  None.  Overnight stay at the birth center is all.

P. Pet peeves:  Asking what time it is, and getting a stupid answer instead of the time.  or "hey Kay...hey that rhymes!!" ...  picking up my husbands boxers off the bathroom floor.  :)

Q. Quote from a movie:  "Well gosh, kind of a lot has happened since then."  (Nicholas Cage, The Rock)

S. Siblings: Older sister Krista, older brother Jeremy.  And some in-law's...who I have to claim... ;)

T. Time you wake up: usually wake up about 8:30 when Sky's alarm goes off, but Zeek and I fall back asleep and then get out of bed usually around 10-10:30.  I am blessed. :)

U. University attended:  mmm... spent two years at the community college and stopped 5 classes shy of my associates...will be working on that this fall hopefully.

V. Vegetables: Broccoli!  (Which I used to hate about 5 months ago...odd).  Cucumbers, cauliflower, sweet peppers (or is that a fruit?).

W. What makes you run late:  ....  being an Anderson.  I'm not kidding.  I used to always be on time.  Ever since I married Skyler, I cannot for the life of me get anywhere on time ... (unless I'm by myself, then I have better luck!).  Skyler is notoriously 15 minutes late for everything...which means, I generally am too.  At least now I can blame it on the baby and it's an acceptable excuse. :)

X. X-rays you’ve had: 3 or so for broken bones and a bunch for teeth!

Y. Yummy food you make: cookies! Peanut Butter and Choc. Chip are my fave.

Z. Zoo animal favorites:  penguins! I love watching them dive in the water.

Love, K

Idaho Retreat

This past weekend we were blessed to be able to take a little road-trip to one of my favorite weekend "getaways" in Northern Idaho to visit some dear "family".   It's truly a retreat any time we go.  They have the most beautiful place on the river with gorgeous views and are one of my absolute favorite family's ever!


We drove over on Friday and got there at about 9 pm.  Zeek slept the entire way, except for the time that we stopped for food! Nice work, kid.

When we got up on Saturday, we awoke to this:

 I thought the snow was gone by now!!!  (View from the living room!)

Thankfully it melted by afternoon and we were able to go to Coeur D'Alene and walk around the dock and go to the coolest toy store I have ever been in...

 Coeur D'Alene River (Lake??)

 Kathleen, Rachel and Olivia in the toy store.  "OK Rachel, you can pick these toys up now." - Olivia

When we were driving in on Friday night, we saw a Cabela's in Spokane and Skyler said he HAD to go.  Shortly after, I saw a Hobby Lobby and I made him a deal. :D
(I had to see what all this fuss about Hobby Lobby was all about!!)
So Saturday, we ventured out to do this:

 Yes.  We are tourists.

 Sky & Rachel shootin' guns in Cabela's.  They gave us free tokens at Customer Service! oh ya!

 My turn.

 Not so easy with a kid on ya...

 Davey Crockett!

 Ezekiel all bundled up to watch Daddy play paintball with some friends.

  Rachel & Zeek

 

 Fay & Zeek snuggling

Late night of playing Scum with Joel & Kathleen! (Adding up the scores...I won!)

Joel and Kathleen are parents to two awesome kids, Olivia and Jeremiah.  I absolutely just love watching them be parents.  They are some of the best that I have ever seen and are so natural at it.  Joel taught me two things this weekend about parenting.  One, how to swaddle when your kid doesn't want to stay swaddled.  You just roll them up tightly like a burrito and there ain't no escaping!  This works perfect for Zeek, who always works his way out of normal swaddling in a few minutes.  However, he has still Houdini'ed his way out of this burrito rolling a couple times.  One with just his feet and legs out, and the other time he some how managed to squirm his arm from tightly wrapped at his side to having his hand out of the blanket up by his face.... He's magic. :)  The other thing Joel said that gave me a laugh, but is so true:  He was talking about parents who say they cannot get their babies to sleep.  He said, "You just swaddle them and put them in a dark room.  The kid will fall asleep before it dies."  Sounds terrible, but it's so true.  The kid WILL eventually fall asleep.  It's inevitable. :)  Such an obvious idea, but I think it's easy to forget when your kid is fussing and sleep seems no where near.

Sunday evening we also got to visit with my second cousin Missy and her family.  I think it had been at least 10 years since I've seen her last!  She blessed us with some cloth inserts for Zeek's Gdiapers and they have already been well used since we've gotten home. :)  They have AeroGarden light things in their house and I'm so intrigued to look into getting some...because apparently they're really easy to grow things and I cannot seem to keep indoor plants alive for the life of me!  This may be a good solution for me... :)

On our way home, we stopped for lunch with one of Skyler's paintball friends and his wife.  They are an older (than us) couple and I barely knew Dustin even and had never met his wife.  But, lunch with them was one of the most incredible meals I've ever shared with someone.  It truly blessed me to talk with them, or rather, hear what they shared with us.  You never know when something so simple as lunch with someone will change your life and your perspective on it.  :)  It was the perfect ending to a relaxing trip. 

I think God had us take this trip to re-freshen us.  To see great parenting and learn a few new tricks, to unplug from the world (no email or FB or...blogging. sniff), to get back to the roots of enjoying conversation and card games and just relaxing with friends, to turn off "work" temporarily, to learn something about myself that I never knew.  To be encouraged that it doesn't have to be that way. :)

So thankful for these friends and family that always open their homes to us whenever we say we're coming. 

Love, 

K

H is For...

Some "Hat" Outtakes: (cute but unused. :))

You were very patient with me, until the very end... :)

Other 7 Week Pictures:

I absolutely love when you fall asleep on me like this.  Usually this is what we do in the later evening, and I get to cuddle you and still get work done on the laptop. :)

 My lil' Davey Crockett!  In Cabala's with Daddy in Idaho.

Bundled up in your (getting tighter) suit while Daddy played paintball with friends.

Auntie Rachel with you. :)

 

Grandma Fay rocking you to sleep when you just needed to be cuddled by someone!  (She eventually fell asleep with you.  It was the cutest thing.)

Always kicking off your blankets.  You're a "shaker and a mover" according to Gma Fay.

Daddy's silly way of snuggling you.

 Wearing one of Daddy's old sleepers.


8 Week Stats - March 24th

•  You always spit out your binky when you're about to fall asleep.  Other times it just falls out or you spit it out if you are wanting to talk.  When it comes out and I think you want it again, I try to give it to you.  When you really just don't want it, you've learned that if you purse your lips and close your eyes, I'll leave you alone... Smart boy.  Playing like you're asleep. :)
• You went to Idaho this past weekend - you have now been in 3 states! 
• You met some wonderful people in Idaho - all of the Batchelder's!! (And Marisha and Coburn's)
• You slept the entire way to Idaho, except when we stopped for dinner you woke up.  Then after we all ate and hit the road again, you fell asleep until we arrived at their doorstep. The way home, you slept most of the time except we stopped twice to feed you.  Such a good traveler. :)
• You had a pretty rough week.  I really understand why routine is so important!  After a couple days of different routine in Idaho, you were pretty cranky the whole time.  We've been home since Tuesday night and you had much better days since. 
• You rolled over from your tummy to your back again.  Everyone seems to think you'll crawl sooner than later.  You are just so incredibly strong!
• You wore your gDiapers at home today and went through three of them pretty quickly...Mommy is seeing how fast I will have to continue laundry... :)  You were given some inserts from mommy's friend Missy, but I think I'll make some more for you too.
• I think you have been having a major growth spurt for the last week or so because you have been eating a TON (in the afternoon's and evenings especially) and SQUEAL like a little piggy if you are not quite done yet when I think you are...My GOODNESS.  You are your father's son. :)  When you are hungry, you mean serious business.  No one is to interrupt you!!!
• This also means that not only are you fitting into you 0-3 clothes now, but you are barely fitting into some of your 0-3!  And you have outgrown most of your newborn things now.
• You somehow always have lint in between your fingers.  I really have no idea how it gets there.  
• You ripped out a couple fistfuls of hair of mommy's this week... ouch. But I still love you.
•  You always throw your arms up over-head (or rather, on the sides of your head, since your head is so unproportionately big compared to your body!) when you are waking, in a BIG stretch. 
• When you wake up and stretch, you make tight fists and you shake your hands.  (Daddy does this when he wakes up too).
• Daddy noticed that your hands seem to be getting more "useful".  They grip things, feel things, and you use them to rub your face a lot more.
• Your eyes are still blue and I'm hoping they stay this way! Grandpa Anderson has beautiful blue eyes...so maybe you got them too???!! 
• You have developed a new cry.  One for legitimate needs: diaper change, hungry, want to be snuggled.  The other is for when you are mad at me... generally for not responding fast enough or if I accidentally bonk you.  Or if you're not really done eating when I think you are.  Your mad cry is ridiculous!! :) (It most often makes me giggle.)
• You still sleep awesome.  You and I usually get out of bed at about 10-10:30.  I think it makes other mom's hate me. 
• Your nails grow so stinking fast!  I seem to cut them 2-3 times a week.
• Scooter is really seeming to be used to you and like you.  When we got home from Idaho, Daddy was holding you and Scooter rubbed up against your dangling foot with her face.  She usually only does that to Daddy and I. 
• You still grunt every morning for at least 1/2 hr to 2 hours... You're my lil' bear.
• You also rip big farts every morning.  Daddy thinks its because I feed you laying in bed at night and don't burp you... Could very well be.  Either way, it's hilarious to hear big boy farts come from something so cute and precious.
• Mommy has felt like "Mommy" lately, and especially so this week.  As in, I finally feel like I have a really good handle on things.  You and I get each other.  You have a good routine.  You nap easily and for a long time which allows me to get the house together or dinner made or run errands.  (Or all of the above).  I feel good.  :)  I love this new role.  This role that I was meant for and was prepared for, for 25 years!

You're growing quickly, Zeeky!  You'll be TWO MONTHS this Sunday the 27th.  I cannot believe it.  We are loving seeing your personality coming out more and more as you are growing older.


Love you, Monkey Doodle.  Just like Daddy, you're my fave. :)
Love,
Mom.

G is For...

Other 7 Week Pictures:

Holding on to Mama while in your Snugli carrier.

All tuckered out.

I love those cute little feet!

 

I love when you curl up and sleep on me like this!

This is the little outfit you wore home.  You were SWIMMING in it then!  Now you barely fit. :(

First day wearing Gdiapers!  Fitting, since today we're on G's... :)

Daddy and your wrist rattles!

Always sleeping with your hands up.

7 Week Stats - March 17th

• You seem to have had a growth spurt this week and finally are fitting into more of your 0-3 month clothes!! And sadly are growing out of more of your newborn things.  Bittersweet.
• We celebrated Daddy's 25th birthday this weekend.
• On Daddy's birthday, you rolled over from your tummy to your back for the first time!
• You had your very first chiropractic appointment with Dr. Jamey Dyson this week.  We took you in because anytime anyone holds you upright you push your head way back, so we thought maybe you had some tension in your back.  You check out okay, other than a little tension in your lower back but Jamey said you just are a curious kid, that's all! :)
• You are like mommy in that you are just absolutely ravenous anytime you wake up.
• Unfortunately, you seem to wake up just as soon as the car is parked or even as we are only a few minutes from our destination.  This goes hand in hand with the above statement, and you scream your head off the second you wake up because you are so hungry.  This is not the most sweet way to greet people that we are visiting, baby boy.
•  Your hands are getting noticeably chubbier! I love it! You still have not "found" your hands yet, though...
• Your cute little feet are clammy all the time!  I am afraid we are doomed for very very stinky boy feet in a few years.  And then awful teenage boy feet...Oh dear.
• You hung out with your 7 month old cousin Lincoln on Daddy's birthday.  I think Lincoln is finally accepting you and is rather intrigued by you. 
• Daddy held you for the first time in the front carrier this week.  He said he loved holding your feet while you were in it.  I told him he would. :)
• At the SIP Wine and Food Classic this weekend, we had to be very sly about changing you since there really wasn't anywhere to go.  We went upstairs to the balcony/walkway to change you on the floor, but the security guard came over, stood about 15 feet away and just STARED at daddy and I for about 10 minutes at least.  We had to pretend to just be playing with you until he finally gave up and walked away.  He probably would've been mortified to see your blow out... 
• After posting pictures of your naked bunnies last week, it has been decided that you have a Miller behind like Grandpa Miller, Uncle Jeremy and Cousin Kaiden.... Flat.  Sorry love bug!  I promise to buy you lots of belts to help keep your pants up.
• Your noggin has grown and you have graduated from your double head support in you car seat, and now just need the one head support. :)  Good growing brain!
• You sleep SO tense.  You never have your arms at ease, it seems.  You always startle and raise them above your head and I always try to gently put them down by your side and tuck them in the blanket again.  Usually when I do that, you startle again and we start at the beginning.
• You are always SO happy in the mornings!! We just sit in bed and talk to you and kiss you and you grin and coo and shake your arms and legs.
• Your most commonly used nick names right now are Zeeky Baby and Monkey Doodle. 
• Mommy took you to our first "mommy and me" group, and you slept almost the entire time...but we still had fun. :)
• You've been enjoying wearing your wrist rattles this week and shakin' them!
• You grinned when I crinkled the noisy elephant toy (much to daddy's dismay) and seemed to really like it.
• You wore your Gdiapers for the first time today!!! You look so cute in cloth!

Happy first St. Patrick's Day!  No, I did not dress you in green.  And no one pinched you.   See, you don't always have to wear green!!  I never wore green on St. Patrick's Day when I was growing up and I HATED when people thought they could pinch me because of it.  Can't believe you're nearing two months already, little boy.  So crazy.

Love you Monkey.
K