Advent Day 1

 A Christmas Tree of His Own 

(a photo story)

 

 

 

Each day for 25 days of Christmas, Anderson will have an envelop on the refrigerator to open.  Inside will be a simple thing that we will do together as a family.  Some activities are small- like eat a candy cane or drink a mug of hot chocolate.  Others are big- like go to the mountains to pick out a Christmas tree.  Some are religious- an advent wreath or a nativity set.  And some are secular- photo with Santa.  But all are for us to do together as a family.  Because becoming a family of three has been the best gift we have received this year!

Legos+Train=1 Happy Toddler

I am not really a parade person but...

 but my son is! So that explains why we have been to 2 Christmas parades in the month of November.  What can I say, some things are just more enjoyable when you have the right person to experience them with.  And Anderson is just the right person to go to a parade with.  Because he loves tractors, firetrucks, pickup trucks, motorcycles, lawnmowers, cars and golf carts. With each approaching vehicle, he points, or claps, or says his signature, "Whoa!"  And so it is all just a little more exciting because it is like I am seeing these things through his eyes too. 

My personal favorite firetruck of the Concord parade.

 We discovered that Anderson LOVES candy canes at the Concord parade.  He couldn't even be bothered to smile for the photo. 

 Umm, this is good.

 Really good!

 Wow a big truck!

 Now this is the best seat on the block for watching a parade!

We watched the Concord parade for 2 hours! That is a long time for a 20 month old.  And we still didn't see the end (AKA Santa).  But after 2 hours, we were cold, hungry, and ready to head to Midland to welcome home some friends from their mission trip.  Perhaps next year we'll make it to the end of the Concord parade.

After the success of the Concord parade, Pa and Lovie wanted to get in on the parade action.  So the next weekend we bundled up and headed to the Locust parade.  Luckily, this parade only lasted about 50 minutes (that's what I'm talking about!). And we came home with a bag full of candy. 

 Taking it all in with Pa and Lovie. 

 Seeing Santa

 

Despite the bag full of candy that we came home with, Anderson's favorite thing was the horse figurine that one of the float what throwing to the crowd. 

A Sunday Worth Remembering...

Sunday was one of those days that I never want to forget.  However, due to the fact that I don’t have a photo to commemorate it, I am afraid I will.  So I am going to have to paint a word picture to help this memory from getting lost in the shuffle. I don’t have a photo of the event because I was too busy living the moments and soaking up the experience to stop and run inside to find a camera (for as sure as I did that the moments would cease). 

It was a Sunday afternoon in November that felt more like a September afternoon.  The sun was warm shining down on us. The sky was that gorgeous Carolina blue without a cloud in sight.  And the leaves from my parents’ oak trees were blowing in the cool breeze.  The five of us (plus Jake) had all gradually made our way outside to my parents’ backyard.  We started on the brick steps but the green grass tempted us all to sit/lay down (and the fact that brick steps and a 20 month old are a heart-stopping combination). 

As we all sat/lay spread out in the grass, Anderson ran from adult to adult.  Sometimes he stopped only long enough to give a big hug other times he would linger on a lap.  He petted Jake (He is very comfortable around Jake now).  He even sat on Jake’s back and petted his head. Jake was also enjoying the nice green grass, and he is becoming very tolerant of Anderson. 

There was one moment with Anderson that I want to burn into my brain.  He and I were lying on our backs looking up at the sky and the breeze started to blowing sending a shower of leaves our way.  He held both of his arms up outstretched to the sky and said, “Whoooaaa!”  with the biggest smile on his face.

When I was little my mom told my sister and I that if you catch a falling leaf you will have good luck.  As a kid I used to run around franticly trying to catch this or that falling leaf.  I have even tried to catch the occasional leaf as an adult.  It is much harder than it sounds (or at least I thought so). But on this Sunday, I think God was reminding me that I am the luckiest girl in the world.  I have great parents who are wonderful role models for my son and me.  They adore Anderson, and he adores them.  I have an amazing husband who is my best friend.  He is the best father that Anderson could have asked for.  And I have a son who is loving, smart, funny, and my heart’s joy.  I am clearly blessed.  But how was God reminding me on this on Sunday afternoon?  Well, instead of running around chasing falling leaves they chose to come to me.  While lying in the grass, four falling leaves landed in my hands.  Like God’s blessings, some times we just need to hold out our hands and receive them.

Happy Halloween Y'all

As first time parents, Andy and I are constantly amazed at how much Anderson has learned to do in the short time that he has been here.  I have often heard people talk of children at this age as being like a sponge soaking up knowledge.  Well, that is a very good description of Anderson.  He is sooo smart.  He watches everything that we do (and mimics a lot of what we do).  Since arriving in the US on July 20th the speed at which he has learned to understand and begin speaking English is amazing.  At 19 months old here of some of his accomplishments:

Animals sounds he can make:

Cow

Duck

Horse

Crow

Chicken

Donkey

Beaver

Bee

Cuckoo Bird

Lion

Bear

Tiger

Dog

Words he says (some more clearly than other)

Up 

Help

Bus

Keys

Teeth

Car

Truck

Kitty Kitty

Momma 

Dadda

Anderson

More

Also, he is really good at controlling the iPad.  He can unlock the screen, choose the app he wants, run the app, and then close it out and select a new app when he is tired of the first app.  And if that wasn't enough, he is really good (like genius good) and touch and drag.  He has above average fine motor skills.  I am not sharing all this to brag (although I do think he is a genius ;) and I am very proud of him).  I share this because I don't want to forgot how far he has come in such a short amoutn of time.  He is my amazing little man.  And I love him so much!

Maple Leaves and a Toddler are meant to go together

I am going to let these photos speak for themselves.  

All I am going to say is that I wish you could have heard the giggles that accompanied that smile!