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!

Sunday afternoons

I love Sunday afternoons.  Mostly because they are spent with my family with no agendas.  We just eat lots of good food and have lots of fun.  This Sunday my mom was out of town, so my dad was the cook for the day which means he grilled delicious cheese burgers for us.  After lunch we ended up where we usually end up... on the hill.  

There were rocks to be hauled.  

 

But the real fun was still to come... 

About a year ago my parents bought a go-cart.  Many children have enjoyed making laps around the barn in that go-cart in the last year.  But there was one kid in particular that my parents were eager to get behind the wheel.  Yep, you guessed it.  Anderson!    He has enjoyed sitting on the go-cart, sitting in the go-cart with the front propped up so that he could turn the wheels, and being pushed around the barn without the motor turned on.  

 

But this past Sunday, he enjoyed the go-cart on a whole new level- sitting on daddy's lap with the motor running.  And yes, he was wearing his sunglasses and helmet- safety first.  

 He actually was a little overwhelmed by the whole experience and was wanting off after just to laps.  But I have a sneaking suspicion that in the years to come we are going to have to pry him off that thing!

Luke 2:52

Luke 2:52 is a line of scripture that I have always loved, but now as a mother I feel I am learning to fully understand what it means.  It reads, "and Mary stored these things up in her heart" (Luke 2:52).  One of the reasons I have loved this verse is because it seems so poetic for the author to have included it.  I mean did we really need to know that Mary held on to these special memories of her son to understand the Gospel.  I think probably not, but because the author included these words I think all us mothers (and fathers) can better understand what Mary was experiencing and relate to her.  And I have always believed that relationships are at the heart of sharing the Gospel. 

Now as a mom of a son who does not yet have the capabilities of long-term memories, I am realizing that I am storing up memories in my heart that I will treasure and one day share with Anderson even though he can't remember them for himself.  

So on Friday, in the midst of going some place (I am not really sure now where we were going), Anderson and I experienced one of those moments worth storing up in my heart.  We were walking to the car, and I had scooped Anderson up into my arms.  To get to the car we had to pass our enormous lantana bush.  As we passed the lantana I noticed a swallowtail butterfly right at eye level.  Despite being in a hurry, I stopped and pointed out the butterfly to Anderson.  Because it was so close and at the right level he was able to see the butterfly very easily.  And as most toddlers are quick to do with most things in their lives, he reached out to touch it.  Now it has been my experience that touching a butterfly is like catching a falling leaf.  It seems simpler than it actually is. But to my surprise, he was able to touch it- not with a rough, wild grasp (as he is known to often do) but with a gentle stroke of its wing.  The butterfly was so engrossed in drinking from the lantana flowers that it hardly seemed to pay Anderson any attention.  So we stayed close as it flitted from one clump of flowers to the next.  And Anderson was able to pet the butterfly multiple times.  I found the whole experience so surprising that I actually said aloud to Anderson, "You won't remember this, but this is a very unique and special experience."

Later that day, I told Andy about what had happened, and he asked if I had gotten a picture of it.  I told him know.  It all happened so fast and spontaneously that it would have been hard for me to photograph the moment, but also I think that if I had put Anderson down, tried to find a camera and frame the shot just right, the moment would have vanished. So I am glad I just stayed in the moment with my son.  The butterfly whisperer.  Instead of a photo, I have a visual picture that is now forever stored in my heart. 

Photo taken last week of a different butterfly.  We have had so many to watch this summer.

Mr. Independent

My son is at that "I can do it myself stage", 

and he can do it himself about 60% of the time.  

Other times it looks something like this-

This is not any easy stage for this "Type A personality" mom.

I like to be in control.

I like things neat.

And I like things pretty.

This little guy has a lot to teach me about life.  

I hope I am wise enough to pay attention.

H2O

We have been blessed by friends and family members who have given us so many wonderful new and used toys.  And Anderson has already loved playing with most of those toys, but there are some toys that he gravitates to more often then others.  It is no surprise that the water table is one of those toys that he regularly enjoys because this little fellow loves H20 in whatever form we offer it to him- pool, water table, and bath time.  And as a new SAHM (stay at home mom) I love the water table too.  Not only for the kinetic activity it provides, but because it one of the few toys that will occupy him in independent play.  What I mean is that he is 17 months old.  So from the moment his feet hit the floor, no scratch that, from the moment his eyes open in the morning, he depends on either me or Andy to entertain him.  Which I love doing, but man is that exhausting or what.  All you moms out there know what I am talking about you have been there and done that.  But for this first-time mom, that has been a huge adjustment.  So when he points to the water table and smiles, I gladly oblige! ;) 

After 3 days of playing, there is more toys than water at this point.

There is just something about a water table that screams "pants optional"

"Mommy, did you see how funny that was?" insert thought bubble

All smiles.  Mom is smiling too in case you were wondering.

Soaked to the bone and loving every second.

Thanks Angie and girls for sharing your water table with us!  We love it!