Peek-a-boo!

What's this baby doing?

Madelyn and Sawyer co-bath now even though Sawyer still uses the baby tub. After Sawyer gets out, Madelyn likes to sit in the baby tub and play. Reminds me of our visit to Tiny Town where she was a gentle giant.

Three years old!

This past weekend's big event included the birthday of our very own Mile High Madelyn aka Big Sister aka Sweetums aka Madelyn. Happy 3rd birthday to my sweet, sweet Madelyn!

Although Madelyn started planning her birthday in May, we had a low key celebration this year. The activities began shortly after Christmas and lasted through yesterday. One could probably say her birthday celebration was more of a festival this year. The 2012 festival included - 

• The Muppet Movie in the theater (and popcorn) with Mom and Dad. Sawyer spent the afternoon with Grammy and Grandad since he's too little to go to the movies.
• Birthday girl haircut (3rd ever) on Friday. Not really a true festival activity but worth noting. She got to sit in a yellow Jeep!
• Sunday morning swimming with the family at Southridge Rec Center.
• Pizza and grapes for lunch followed by strawberry ice cream cake with Grammy and Grandad and Honey and Poppie.
 

Monday morning, Madelyn had her three year old check up with Dr Marc. She received a great report and Dr Marc confirmed she's a genius. Those weren't his exact words but it's how I interpreted it.

Thank you all for the birthday cards, gifts, phone calls, and warm wishes. We had a great time celebrating our sweet girl and Madelyn loved every minute of it.

Christmas 2011

After attending Christmas eve service at Bethany Lutheran Church, we went to Grammy and Grandad's house for Christmas eve fun with the Anderson-Gilbert group. Christmas Day was spent at our house and we had everyone (minus Uncle Gabe and Aunt Kari who left for Phoenix on Christmas Day) over for dinner and Wits & "Waggers".

Below is a photographic summary of our family's Christmas celebration -



Team Anderson

Mollie and Sawyer at Grammy and Grandad's.

Ready for Christmas eve fun!

Decorating a gingerbread house with Uncle Gabe (not pictured).

To eat or to decorate...that is the question.

Christmas morning at our house before the little ones came downstairs.

The Little People Zoo Madelyn ordered from Santa.

It IS as much fun as she imagined.

Sawyer's first ride on toy. Wee!

Our family has changed so much in the past year. We moved, welcomed Little Brother Sawyer into the world, and watched Sweet Madelyn turn from a toddler into a little girl. Life moves quickly and I wish I could blog more frequently. But, I know I'm capturing some of the moments in their childhoods that will be looked back on fondly by all of us.

Six months old!

Vital stats from our appointment with Dr Marc -

Height: 26-1/2 in, or 55th percentile
Weight: 17 lb 14 oz, or 55th percentile
Head: 44 cm, or 80th percentile

I can...

* Sit unassisted
* Laugh, coo, gurgle, and say "bah"
* Interact with my big sister
* Roll front to back and back to front.
* Hold an object with my hands and pass it from hand to hand
* Flirt with anyone who'll give me the chance

So, this post is almost a month late BUT better late than never! Happy six month birthday, sweet boy. How did six months go by so quickly?!

Things that go bump in the night

Sawyer is almost ready to sleep through the night. But, we're not quite there yet. At any rate, every little, or not so little, noise wakes me up these days. Last night was particularly goofy night at our house. I'm pretty sure there wasnt a full moon either.

230A. I was awoken by the pitter-patter of little feet running across the tile downstairs and someone yelling, "It's Christmas!" I'm not sure what I was most concerned about -- one of the outside doors being opened and the house alarm going off instantly, the gifts under the tree being torn into and me having to re-wrap them all, or Madelyn injuring herself. I found my sweet little muffin by the kitchen table, brought her back upstairs, and tucked her in bed. There she stayed for the rest of the night.

515A. I was awoken by the sounds of toys falling. Assuming they were falling down the stairs, I got up expecting to find Madelyn headed back downstairs. But, no. I peeked in her room to find two cats. Nemo was under attack! Sadie cat, the look out, had already fled, but Felix was holding his position firmly on the dresser next to Nemo's bowl. The water was sloshing around and the toys on the dresser were all knocked off. When Madelyn and Griff got Nemo a week ago, I swore I would have nothing to do with it. However, I also don't want to clean up dead fish and stinky water. Nemo will be finding a new home within our house so that he can be better protected from cats.

On a side note, Mr Sawyer slept until 615A. Progress!

PS I do have six month pictures and stats to post but afternoon naps haven't been longer than 30 minutes lately so I'm a wee bit delayed.

Yummo

We started solids with Sawyer almost two weeks ago.  At his four month appointment, Dr Andy said we could go ahead at anytime.  So, with spoon and bowl, bib, and high chair ready, Sawyer enjoyed his first bites of solid food on October 17.  The video is from day two of rice cereal.

No one really enjoys rice cereal but, of course, we're all too young to actually remember eating it.  The cereal went fine.  When we switched to oatmeal last weekend, Sawyer really started to like eating.  He now opens W I D E in between each bite as if he wants to say, "Here! Put it in here! I'm ready, Mom!"

Next up, sweet potatoes.  Yum!

Museum

This morning, Madelyn, Sawyer, and I went on a field trip to the Museum of Nature and Science.

On our last visit, we were introduced to the Discovery Center.  This room is awesome.  It's all about fun Mr Wizard-style science tricks children can experience themselves.  While I didn't capture two of Madelyn's favorite activities in the room -- the dancing stage and the floating scarves -- I was able to get a few of them.

"I made an elephant!" Check it out. It actually does look like an elephant.

Archaeologist in training.

She has the dig guide out as well in order to help her identify the fossils she uncovers.

Sometimes I'm not fast enough to get her picture.

However, she was moving very fast in the animal section and yelling, "Mommy! Look at this!"

There's no moose-ing around. This guy's BIG.

Possibly one of my favorite views of Denver.

Ha! I caught her!

I've told Griff (again) that he needs to come to the museum some time with us. Now, the travelling exhibit is "T. Rex Encounter: You vs Sue the T. Rex." They've got robotic dinosaurs which use face recognition technology!  Does this mean the dinosaur might actually eat one of us?  And, something tells me Griff would enjoy the space exhibit much more than me.

At any rate, the museum is awesome and we had a great day.

Fall Fun

With no football games this past weekend, it was a good weekend to partake in some Fall fun.

We visited the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield [http://www.botanicgardens.org/content/our-gardens-chatfield-location] pumpkin patch.  Chatfield State Park is just a short drive from our house and nestled right up against the foothills.  It's a pretty cool place and we plan on returning again some time.

Headed out to the pumpkin patch.

The all important debate over which pumpkin(s) are the best.

Sawyer in his pumpkin cart pondering whether he wants a round or oval, big or small pumpkin.

A girl, a boy, a pumpkin cart, and three pumpkins.

I thought this was cool just because it showed the grandness of the patch.

"I'll do it."

The pumpkin probably weighs half of her weight and is as large as her torso.

Our house is mostly ready for the great Halloween holiday.  All that's left is to pick up our candy and get out for some trick or treating.

Ahhh BOO!