Cam's daily work out

No No baby!

Carter is always trying to tell Camden, No! No! I have no idea where he gets it from.

Please excuse the awful camera work, the audio is funny though.

For those of you not familiar with Cubby talk, I will translate,

Carter: Silly Baby, Silly Baby. SILLY BABY. Hi Baby, Baby NO! NO! Baby NOOOO! Carter's! (Our cat walks by) Thus the Cat noises you now hear.

Camden: Tries to put 4 raisins in his mouth.

Me: No! Baby.

Camden Scootin'

Randomness

Nothing great to post, just the usual happenings around our house.

The boys watching Jeff mow the lawn. Carter was shoveling outside and Jeff started the lawn mower, Carter hightailed it inside away from the "tooo wowed mowwa" 

Camden waves to his Daddy.

So I had some raisins sitting on the counter for a salad I was making. Next thing I knew the raisins were gone. I looked from one counter to the next and no raisins. I even looked back in the cupboard and then realized I didn't misplace them . . . they had been stolen. There was only one possible thief and he was outside . . . chomping down. But he assured me, "I sittin down Mommay" so I guess that makes it ok.

Sunday morning before meeting, all smiles. (Minus a confused looking Camden)

Carter's new trend, upside down shades. he calls himself "coooo dute" when he wears them.

The 4th of July

We had a great time at Lyle and Karen's for the holiday. Camden loves to "chill" in the 110 degree heat with Grandpa.

Camden sits at "Carter's table" for snack time.

Cooling off in the kiddo pool.

Blowing Bubbles

Bocci Ball

My Favorite YouTube

9 months

Prince Camden,

Every month passes faster than the one before. Fitting that you turn 9 months old on Independence Day. You are becoming more independent every second. You have now been in this wide world longer than you were inside my belly. This month you have grown leaps and bounds. Starting with "commando" crawling last Monday. Timid at first and a little agitated that you couldn't keep up with your big brother. By the time you reached one room, Carter would be back in the other and this caused you great concern.  Now you go from our bedroom to the kitchen in seconds. You discovered that cat food looks appetizing, luckily I discovered you before you tried it. You were told "No No!" for the first time the other day, when you scooted to the lamp cord. This broke your heart and you hid from Daddy. This broke Daddy's heart. Quickly forgetting, you didn't avoid him for long, you are buds again and I wish we adults had that same quality to love again so quickly and without reservation or memory of past hurt feelings. As of today, you are trying to pull yourself up on tables. You are trying new foods. Bits of banana, bread and Gerber snacks. Still just 2 teeth on bottom to chew with, but 4 are coming in up top. This has lead to some sleepless nights. Daddy loves to cuddle you back to sleep. We agree that these times will past shortly so we soak up as much of that lovey time as possible, even at 3am.  Today at Grandpa and Grandma's we got your little matching swim trunks on and slathered you in sunscreen. You splashed with Daddy and Kari in the pool. Bree tugged you around in your floaty and you rested your head on the side with pure content.  When Daddy handed you to me, you reached out and I cuddled you in your hooded towel for a while. I wish that moment could last forever. The smell of your sun kissed skin and need for a hug was priceless. At 9 months old, you are charming. You flash your blue eyes and my heart melts like a Popsicle on the 4th of July.

I love you more everyday,

Mommy

23 months

Cubby,

Will you really be 2 years old next month? Is that the point I stop telling people how old you are in months and switch to years? You are x years old? Years my little Cubby? It shows. You are a little man now. You can express almost every wish and want with words that I understand. I say to you, "Use your words, not your whines when you get upset" and you slow down and tell me what you need. Something like, "Juice pees, tank eww, elcome Cawter." All in one sentence. You play with your trains and have started to set people in the seats and take them on, "tips." Where did you learn to take these little people "shoppin"? What will they buy on your "shoppin" trip? "Tweats, suckers, chocolate milk, froggies, fip fops (flip flops), Thomas trains," - all your favorite things right now. Maybe you will take them to get their hair cut. Something you ask me to do almost everyday. You like when I style your hair "pikey" and then show Sandy at daycare your "cool dude" hair. Carter, you are my little helper and follow directions very well.  You can understand reason and consequences. Last week was the start of "Sorry" You broke Daddy's laptop and refused to apologize. In fact, you would say, "Nope!" and turn away when asked to say sorry. It took an hour and 15 minutes but you finally caved in. Now, a week later, you give kisses and apologize without reservation. You play peek a boo and bounce Camden in his Jumperoo just for the fun of it and not because I suggested it. You discovered that you love to play air guitar on the broom and sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Star. You ask for people by name, "what Papa doing?" "where Byin go?" "Cammen wake up." My smart little man, you can say most of your ABC's and also count to "leven" (11) all by yourself. I remember counting the days till you arrived. Then how many days old you were, then months, soon I will be counting years.   Yesterday, you were running "suppy fffast" and I told you to slow down, to which you replied, "Ok, Mommay!" Could you do that with your little life? Could you slow it down for me? Could you stay 23 months old forever?

Love you silly boy,

Mommay

Nora Jo's Meet and Greet Party

We had a little get together to welcome Miss Nora Jo Anderson to . . .  um, the world I guess.

Here are a few pictures of the event. I am sure Amanda will be posting a bazillion of the photos we ended up capturing after everyone left. ! !

The happy group. 

Everyone took turns holding Nora and of course we got in a few good stories and laughs.

She was awake for about 10 minutes of the 2 hours we were together. I don't blame her, I wouldn't be able to stay awake either if I was being rocked and snuggled and cuddled to death.

After everyone left, she fell asleep again on Julia's lap and I decided to cut the tops off of the Gerber Daisies I had on the table and place them around her. It was like an Anne Geddes moment. Anne Geddes, except I am sure her camera doesn't die during a photo shoot like mine did. By the time we were done, Nora had 10 daisies surrounding her, I am sure Amanda will post some of those. Here is the one I got. 

The Ocean and Meeting the "Greats"

Carter got to stick his toes in the ocean sand for the first time ever.

He was a little scared at first but after 5 or so minutes he was trying to pull me into the sea.

A California girl and her beach buddies

The next day, we got to go see my Grandparents. A first time for both boys to meet their Great Grandparents, Great Aunts and Cousin.

This picture is out of order (if anyone knows how to move a picture mid-post on a Mac - let me know) Anyway, about the picture. . .  after our visit, Doris predicted Carter would be asleep before we hit the freeway, she was right. He was asleep before we turned off of their street.

This is why he was so tired, a slide! and Bear the dog.

The Paparazzi.  Aka -  Great Aunts Doris and Joan and Cousin Earl.

and A LOT of running.

A Day at the Zoo

Last Sunday, while in San Diego, we took the boys to the Zoo. Carter has been to the Woodland park zoo in Seattle before, and he enjoyed it then at only 13 months old. Now at 22 months old, he was enthralled by all the animals. We couldn't even get him to turn around to pose for photos.

Nor could we keep Camden awake past the elephants and giraffes

Close up of Mr. "POPO"

Just monkeying around.

One quick look at the camera, before . . . 

turning back around to look at the "effant"

Double trouble. Funny thing about this photo is we had just past a couple with 2 sets of twins and they commented, "Oh look, another set of twins." Huh? We continued to get that comment through out the day and then on through most of our trip. Ummm, if these guys were twins, I would feel real sorry for the one who seems to be about 6 inches shorter than his brother, isn't walking yet, and doesn't talk or feed himself.  If they are twins, he obviously got the short end of the stick.

 I said to Carter, "look at the Panda Bear up there" and the rest of the trip when I asked him what he saw he said, we saw a "Panda Bear up der"

Carter and Camden both loved watching the giraffes eating.  Carter kept saying, "Mommay, he's eating trees!"

Dinner and Straws

Maybe some other parents out there can relate, when we eat out, we must have straws.

They provide constant entertainment.

You can sip out of them.

Play with them.

Chew on them.

and tell great stories about them. Forget buying expensive books, toys, games . . . just ask your waiter for straws.

San Diego

Strollin' with Daddy

Boat watching with Mommy

and yep, you guessed it, more boat watching.

Vacation and picture catch up

Carter did this eaxct thing with those little Gerber cereal snacks. They seem to get stuck on their foreheads instead of in their mouths.

Vacation in San Diego. The view from our room at the Hyatt.

Carter loved watching boats in the marina.

He loved it so much he informed me he would be taking "nap nigh night" out there.

Nap time lasted until another boat came into the marina, then both boys decided they better keep an eye out for big "booowwats"

CONGRATS!

Congratulations to Dan and Michelle on their new baby girl. 

Kalia Erika Ratliff  born June 25th, 2008 

at 

12:41pm (give or take a minute) 

She weighed 8lbs 3oz and is 22 inches long. 

Can't wait to see her! 

Sneak peek pictures on their blog. 

We are gone . . .

Jeff whisked me away Saturday for a vacation . . . Ok, what actually happened was he was going to have to be away on business for the second week in a row and we missed him (aka, I needed help!) so we are tagging along. What happened last week is a blur . . . Jeff was gone Mon - Wed on business. Monday, Nora Jo was born and all the anticipation left me zonked. Tuesday, and Wednesday I just had to hold her, so I spent some much needed time with a new baby in my arms. I actually danced in the waiting room when we found out she was a girl, thank heaven no one caught that on camera! Friday was my birthday and the best ever! Great calls from friends, a new mattress (sounds like a silly gift but I was thrilled) and a pending (looming) trip to Anaheim for 5 days with the boys and one fully loaded Ford Expedition. Saturday, we arrived at the nicest Hyatt hotel I have ever stayed at. After 6+ hrs in the car, anything would seem nice but this truly was. We were right on the water and Carter loved watching the boats leave the Marina. Sunday, we went to the San Diego Zoo. The boys did very well, considering the heat and no nap. We hiked it all without fail, we got to see the Pandas (my favorite) the "oooo -ooo- a - a's" (monkeys) , "Pos" (hippos), giraffes, "effants" (elephants) and then it was over. The boys got a much needed nap in the car on the way to Anaheim. We did Downtown Disney. Saw "ICCKY Mouse" We wore them out! Today we are moseying around the hotel until Jeffy gets back, but then it's off to Newport beach to show the boys some sand and surf. Tomorrow, we will go see my grandparents and then my Uncle/Aunt/Cousins. Wednesday, back home. (Thursday and Friday: recovery mode, and posting pictures)

And then there was Nora . . .

Just when it seemed impossible to love another child . . . First there was Bree, Dane followed, Carter and Camden too, Jhett arrived and then there was Nora . . . 

Nora Jo Anderson arrived

at 12:27 pm 

7.4 lbs 19 inches

***dimple in her left cheek

Proud parents, Mike and Amanda Anderson

Amanda is doing very well. 

Was only in recovery for about 2.5 hours, and elated to cuddle her little girl.

She is a bundle of perfection, smells like lavender kisses, already could rip my heart out. 

Proud Daddy

The happy family

Get used to all these photos, Nora and I have an appointment to play dress up.  

All I have to say is "YEAH, PINK!"