The Andersons

Avery at 6 weeks

I measured her today...
24" and 13lbs. At 2 months Zach was 24" and 17.5 lbs. Wonder how it will measure out.

Avery at 2 weeks

Took Avery in for her 2 week checkup today.

she was 10lb 12 oz and 23" long. She and Zach are virtually right on par with one another at this stage. i'll post some pics of her soon.

Things I don't want to forget

I know that Zach is happy when he starts singing "Highway", which, when he first started doing it, sounded like "aahhbay". It is from "Life is a Highway", the Rascal Flatts version. It is kinda weird because it is kind of like his happy sound is "Life".

Katy brought a suprise for me yesterday. I didn't know anything about it. She brought me luch from Costco, and the minute I opened the door to the car, Brayden said, "Don't peek Daddy." I asked him what I wasn't supposed to be peeking at, and he sheepishly said, "Nothing."

Aspermont and Washington Trip

Katy had a conference for Sisters in Service, so the boys and I took the opportunity to go to Aspermont to visit my folks, and then we spent a weekend in Washington DC, stayed one night with K's aunt and uncle, toured the Whitehouse and Capitol, met up with an old friend of mine from the 6th grade, and walked arround the monuments in the rain. Here are some picts in no particular order - you can match the title to the image for fun:

Everyone except for Dad in front of the Whitehouse

Gapcka and Zach at the Place

Zach eating (didn't have to look very far to find a picture of him eating)

Katy and Zach in the rain in front of the Jefferson Memorial

Brayden at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

Brayden at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum

The FDR memorial (picture is of an old couple during the Great Depression)

Zach is Crawling!

He started crawling on the day I returned from India (1/27/09)! I was so glad to see the first day of crawling!!

For his 9 month checkup he was 25lbs 4oz and 29.5 inches (though I have measured him at 30, so I am confident they are off again).

Stuff Brayden Said

Sometimes parents just need space, and with two small chidren, it becomes harder and harder to come by, so we take every opportunity, even the small ones. Ones like going to the bathroom. So when I locked the bathroom door, I expected to not be distrubed. Then I hear the doorknob rattle.

"Daddy?"

"What Brayden?"

Daddyyyyy!?

Now more door knob rattling, then to my amazement a door knob turning and opening, and I find myself staring eye level at Brayden.

"Your not supposed to do that!" (By this he means lock the door) "Why did you do that Daddy?"

"Because I wanted some privacy!"

Brayden shrugs and says "Oh, all you had to do is ask." turns arround and shuts the door behind him.

I'm left wondering several things.

1. How did he know how to open the locked door? (This is usually accomplished with a coin or in some cases a thumbnail and some grim determination, and something that we never taught Brayden, for obvious reasons) This is disturbing for several reasons and means I may need to install new and higher locks on some doors.

2. What does it mean that he is sophisticated enough to understand the need for privacy and to be OK with Daddy needing privacy, but not sophisticated enough to understand that a locked door indicates that the person behind it is seeking privacy in the first place? Along those same lines it was like he was granting me privacy and knew it. It was like he knew he had the power, and was granting one of his servants a request for time off. This is not a good sign of things to come.

I think my three year old may be outsmarting me. It is going to be an interesting 15 years.

Christmas Tree 08

We went and cut down our Christmas tree yesterday. Quoting Brayden, "We got the biggest tree ever". We've got it up and decorated, and had a great time doing it.

Zach Cut Teeth

First tooth cut t hrough on Mon. Nov 17, second tooth today (Nov 19)...looks like the top teeth are going to be surfacing soon too. Poor boy! I'll post some pics of my friend's recent trip here, and the rocket ship we bought Brayden.

Katy's Birthday

October 31st, in addition to being Halloween, also happens to be Katy's birthday. She said that no one had ever successfully surprised her. It is very difficult to surprise her because she notices everything. I had to have two surprises going at once to get one past her.

The surprise present didn't work, but the surprise party was successful... here are some shots from the surprise that worked.

The shot of Katy and Brayden blowing out candles was from when she thought that she wasn't going to get a birthday cake from me and got herself some cupcakes from Safeway.

Halloween

Here are some shots from this Halloween

Recent Pictures

The one that has Zachary with his hands held open was taken by Brayden.

More things Brayden said

Setting: trying to get Brayden to go to sleep - I go in and lay down with him.

Me: You know I love you bud.
Brayden: And Mommy loves me and Baby Zachary loves me.....(now he turns from facing me and just looks up at the ceiling) .....Everybody loves me.

Things Brayden Says

I was having breakfast with Brayden and he looks at me and says "NO!" about something - I forget what. We have been trying to break him of this habit, so I take him to "time-out". Well, he cries and bangs on the door, and finally gets over his fit. I go in and talk to him. Here is the conversation:

Dad: "Why were you in time-out?"
Brayden: "Because you put me there."
Dad: "Daddy put you there because you disobeyed. You have to obey Daddy."
Brayden: "You're not God."
Dad: "No, but God says 'Honor your Father and your Mother'"
Brayden: "You're not my Father"
Dad: "O.K. your Daddy and your Mommy."

He knows he has lost the fight and puts his head down and into my side.

What will the boy say when he actually learns to read?

Zachary's First Food, 4 Mo Checkup, and Other Things...

Some of our friends affectionately call Zach "Tank". He weighed in at his 4 month checkup just over 20lbs and approx 27 in. He's a big boy! He's almost sitting now, and he loves to stand. He can hold most of his weight on his legs, but still needs quite a bit of balance help. He loves to smile and giggle and really enjoys watching Brayden goof around.

First food:

Cute Comments:

Brayden sat Greg down the other day. B put his hand on his chin in a pensive manner, saying, "Dad, I need to talk to you." Greg encouraged him to continue. "Sometimes monsters come and try to eat my toes." How do you respond to that? :)

So here are a few pics from the last month. I can't claim to be the photographer on more than one or two...props to mom and T for taking the great shots! Make sure to check out the video of B falling asleep eating!