Holiday Cheer: Round I

Guests: Nana, Papa, Aunt Brandi, Mimi, Ginger, and Kirby.

December 23rd:

Trail of Lights (a continuous 1.25 mile long display of 41 lighted scenes) in Austin’s Zilker Metropolitan Park. Andrea didn’t nap plus she chased Kirby (Aunt Brandi’s Chihuahua) non-stop after they arrived. So I was scared that she would have a break down, but she did really well. She ran through most of the mile.

Nana styling & showing off her modeling skills in line for the shuttle.

24th: Surprise Birthday party for Papa.

Mimi made his favorite dessert for him. We gave him an indoor remote control helicopter. He made everyone laugh the first time he flew it. He flew it straight at the ceiling & crashed it at full force. It was fun to play with. I hope he really plays with it.

Andrea made Christmas cookies with her Nana. She rolled the dough, cut out shapes, mixed icing, and sprinkled on the sprinkles. She sneezed in the icing when she was mixing it, but we didn’t tell papa. That’s what he gets for napping. (Ha! Ha!)

Santa brought Andrea a kitchen, which she loved. He left dress up accessories for Mr. Potato Head in her stocking.

Thanksgiving Week 2008

Happy Birthday to my brother Aric!

This is how Aric looked 24 years ago on his first day at home. A beautiful baby to say the least. Aric, I wish I had been there with you to celebrate this year. I could have given you one of my big kisses that annoyed you when you were a baby!

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Brian, Hilary, and Brandi on their way to see the Broadway "Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy" show at the Long Center.

Andrea making her first "real" pie with Nana & Papa. Her daddy loved her fudge pie. He ate nearly the whole thing. I believe Nana had a piece.

Nana, Andie, & Aunt Brandi

Nana's favorite things Andie said over the week were:

"Oh no, I can't believe it."

"That's a good idea."

She was the director of where the ornaments should be placed. "Right there."

1st Picture with Santa. She wouldn't go near him. Santa being the wise one he is let her daddy hold her in the chair & then he snuck around from behind to get in the shot.

Andie's 2 Yr Old Wellness Check

So I finally got around to taking Andie in for her 2 year old wellness check today. Here are her stats:

Weight: 31 lbs. 10 oz. (93%)

Height: 38.5 in. (>97%)

Head Circumference: 50 cm. (96%)

She did great at this appointment, complete opposite from her 18 month one. This time I had talked with her about what all was going at to happen at the doctor's the day before and morning of her appointment. I got my flu shot first while she watched. I explained the shot was medicine and it would hurt for a second, but then we would rub it. She didn't even cry when it was her turn! The nurse was amazed.

Adult Masters Championship 11/7-11/9

Brian finished #8 in the USTA Texas Division Men's 4.0 for the 2008 year, which was his goal!
As a result he played in the Adult Masters Championship for the Top 8 this weekend. The final standings for it haven't been posted yet.

I was sneaking pictures because I didn't want to distract him. Here is the best action one.

Andie enjoyed watching her daddy.

Trick or Treat

The inspiration behind the costume. Mimi's nickname for Andrea is "Tinkerbell." She started calling her that when I was pregnant. Even though Andie wasn't born with blonde hair and blue eyes like expected, she is still Mimi's Tinkerbell.

Taken week before Halloween since I wasn't sure what time we would return from our vacation.

This was Andrea's first year to go trick or treating. A month prior, we went to a princess/ superhero costume event at a local restaurant, and Andie was so terrified, she was shaking, and clinging to me. Despite that we decided to take her to a few houses this year.

She loved it! Even though she could say "Trick or Treat," she wouldn't when at people's doors. At least, after receiving her treats she would tell them "thank you." Then turned to us and would say, "That's a bunch."

Here she is eating her first piece of candy, a Twizzler.

Here she is running around after the sugar kicked in.

The following day, she insisted on wearing her costume and walking down the street. The only treat she received was petting a neighbor's dog. Now she carries her pumpkin around the house trick or treating for toys and hair ties.

This was also her first year cleaning out a pumpkin.

Lake Palestine Vacation

We had a blast on our vacation. Our cells didn't work out by the lake, so no calls. The suite didn't have internet, which was a blessing. The resort we stayed at had plenty to entertain us (arcade, putt-putt, ping pong tables.) Nana & Papa joined us for a few days.

One of Andie's favorite activities was climbing a hill and filling a cup with nature's treasures.

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Caldwell Zoo: Tyler, Texas

On Tuesday, we went to the zoo. Andrea's favorite animal was the rhino. She talked about it the rest of the trip. She even now sleeps with a stuffed rhino in addition to her two seals, bear blanket, and regular blanket.

Here she is petting a leopard.

Had lunch with giraffes & elephants.

Papa, Nana, and Andie watching the squirrel monkeys, which were very entertaining swinging from branch to branch and performing other acrobatic tricks.

The adults' favorite part was the Pygmy goat petting area. This was our final stop at the zoo. Andrea was tickled to pet them. She kept saying, "Good to see you." and "What are you doing here?" She insisted that all of us petted the goats and all goats received the same amount of affection.
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Back at the Resort

Our Monkey.

Playing ping pong.

At lake shore.

Thanks to Amiee & Josh Mueller for this gift!

Backyardigan Adventure Birthday Party

Andie turns TWO!

Party Guests:

Brian's Parents & Sister (Papa, Nana, & Aunt Brandi)

Hilary's Mom & Niece (Mimi & Lulu)

Andrea enjoyed opening her presents, except she wanted to play with each one before moving on. We kept frustrating her making her go to the next gift.

She loves to jump & climb & saw every box as an opportunity to do so.

Schwinn Roadster Pink Trike. It is so cool! She keeps calling it "motorcycle."

Nana, Papa, & Mimi had taken the girls for a walk while we set up for the party. Andie was surprised when she walked into the kitchen.

If you look closely, you can see the first thing Andie did was stick her fingers in the cake (bottom left corner.) She loved the singing and blowing out the candles; she kept requesting more. So we did that about 4 times.

Looking Back

Couple of days old.

1st Birthday

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Other Weekend Highlights:

All Aboard! Choo Choo!

Jumping on Squares with Papa & Luna

Fairy Princess Lulu

What's Up

So, I haven't posted any updates in a while because our camera is broken, and it isn't as much fun when I don't have pics to share. I included one of my favorite Andie Art pieces from this month.

Brian is preparing for the Austin City Limits Music Festival this coming weekend. I just returned from a weekend get-a-way. No, I didn't go with anyone. I enjoyed having some quite time, reading a few books, and window shopping.

Andrea started showing interest in the potty again. We did have temporary success back in February, but she changed her mind. She actually did #2 on the 14th of September. Hopefully, when her last two molars finally make their way through, she will really get serious.

Last week Andie & I went to the public library for a puppet show. In one of the skits a lion would randomly roar, and every time it did, Andie would say, "That's funny." I am planning on it being a weekly activity for us. It also allows me to check out books, which is great since I love to read.

Andie's language development is speeding right along. Brian and I are thrilled to get an insight into her imaginary play since we now have a running commentary to understand what she is thinking.

The first week of September, her favorite thing to ask was, "What are you doing here?" She would ask her animals, toys, and us all the time.

She can count from 1-10. Plus, we are working on letter and number recognition. She has B, E, N, Q, R, S, T, U, X, 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8 down.

Another one of her new favorite things to do is to look at the National Geographic Kids web page. She loves to hear the noises the animals make and to watch the videos. The polar bear, brown grizzly bear, and dolphins are the ones she requests the most. The grizzly is trying to catch a fish, but keeps missing them,a and cracks her up.

August Action

As you've probably noticed in previous postings, Andie doesn't like hair ties. She wants her hair to be free. The times, I manage to fix her hair, she is so active, the hair ties fall out in no time. However, she has started enjoying playing with the hair bands and looking at herself in the mirror.

As you can see, we managed to get every band (of this kind) in her hair all at once. Every time we added one, she would say, "whoo hoo."


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Nana & Papa came to visit so Brian and I could see Tom Petty & the Heart Breakers' concert in San Antonio on Tuesday. We had tons of fun. Thanks Nana & Papa!


Go Horns Go! Sorry Red Raider fans, it looks like she's a Longhorn.

I just like the smiles on their faces in this pic.

Andie brings the tea party to Papa.

Andie has missed Papa since he returned home on Wednesday. Today, she went and sat in the leather recliner where he always sits, and said over and over, "Papa's chair. Papa sit." Plus, she has been saying, "Bye-Bye Papa, see you later."

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Just a little over a month until Andie's 2nd birthday, and she is already bossy. She is constantly ordering me around, telling me what to play and where.

When driving in the car, she spots a white truck. The order I receive is, "See white truck. Catch it."

The repetive question has began. While listening to music, she will ask at the end of every song, "What's next?" When I don't have the answer, she keeps repeating the question until the song starts & I can give her the answer. Before I know it all I will hear is "Why?"

Some of my favorite things she has said recently are:

"Lots of poop, shew whee."

"Car in Way. Move car."

"Heavy."

"It's funny."

"Baby's turn."

"Yes, of course."

"He's coming."

Aunt Brandi Visits 8/15 - 8/17

Brian's sister, Brandi visited this past weekend. Brian & I thought that Aunt Brandi was too hard to say, so we've been calling her Aunt Bebe. However, Andie does a pretty good job saying Brandi.

Andie liked showing off her skills for her Aunt Bebe.

Andie saying, "cheese" for the camera.

One of Andie's favorite activities is having a tea party. So, she is constantly ordering us to "eat tea" and "sit on floor."

Giving her Aunt Bebe a hug.

Climbing on top of cozy coupe and having mama "catch me."