Look, Uncle Steve! VT beat #1 Wake 1-21-09:)

10 Months - January 2009

I am 10 months old now and quite proud of that! Crawling is a skill that I mastered in late November-early December. By mid-January, though, I am zipping around to anything that I can use to pull up to standing. Once standing, I will look around for 20 minutes. I am really working on my leg muscles so that I can walk soon. A few times now, I have pulled up onto the ottoman and stepped around it so that I could transition to holding onto the sofa instead. I guess I've technically taken my first steps!

The two things that are still worth crawling to are the dog dish---there's just something about splashing around in that water!---and the dog bed. Daisy and Molly's bed is the only acceptable place to do my yoga. I don't know why, but Daisy takes off every time I come over - she should join me instead!

Oh, and I picked up nickname #27 or so from Mom & Dad this month...."Bobby K" (they're always laughing when they call me that), because life is just beyond grand when I'm in my Bobby Bouncer (or is it Johnny Jumper? hmmmm...).

Bobby K in the Bobby Bouncer/Johnny Jumper

The performance is always better when the camera is not around, but that's how it goes, of course!

10 Months

I am 10 months old now and quite proud of that! Crawling is a skill that mastered in late November-early December. By mid-January, I am zipping around to anything that I can use to pull up to standing. Once standing, I will stand and look around for 20 minutes. I am really working on my leg muscles so that I can walk soon.

A few times now, I have pulled up onto the ottoman and stepped around it so that I could transition to holding onto the sofa instead. I guess I've technically taken my first steps!

Andrew's 12 Days of Christmas

1 – My first sitting with Santa: in 20 degree weather, my 20 second visit was not long enough to warm up to the strange, fat, funny laughing me, but I didn’t object, so the moment was captured!

2 - I am "over" crawling (why bother when you can stand?) but it does get me to fun things that I can pull up on so I can see around better. The ottoman on the carpet is great. Small tables on hardwood floors are not. I will learn, likely the hard way.

3 - The Johnny Jumper (aka "Bobby Bouncer") is suddenly the greatest entertainment in the house. M&D fear for the door frame, but they don't care b/c my smile is SOOOO big and my cackle is SOOOO infectious!

4 - Lips are so neat!!! They move when Mom and Dad talk! I must get them now, preferably with my own lips!

5 - My hands can fold and wave---whoa!---and my tongue is busy. The sounds I make are really my own words....you just don't understand them yet....I even try to get lots of air in so I can talk in sentences like you do.

6 – Every time I woke up from a nap, there were new people there to meet me or greet me again. I really concentrated on who they were so I will remember them the next time I see them.

7 - Eating real pears is hard with only 6 teeth.....but I do work on it like I should.

8 - I like Dad's 3rd grade teacher, Stella! She MAY just think I am better than my Dad!!

9 - A plastic water bottle makes a great toy....it crackles...it is smooth and bumpy....and if there is water in it it is "wobbly".

10 – On Harry’s cue of the “the angels proclaimed…”, I shouted out in joy for the whole church to hear!

11 - The next time I am at Grandma's for Christmas I want to see the lights on 34th street.....I was just too tired to enjoy it this year.

12 - My legs have not stopped moving in, well, since about November or so...pick me up and I "swim" them like a frog. Otherwise, I'm off! (But I will stop to cuddle, especially if you talk in my ear and give me neck kisses.)

I have no idea that I am only 9 months old...I play with legos with my 4-12-yr-old cousins like I am their age. I am really maturing faster than M&D like. Dad left the room the other day and warned me not to turn 5 while he was gone!

Christmas 2008

Grandaddy is the best person to show you about trucks!

I really do love Dody, but all this Christmas stuff is SO exhausting!

I wasn't kidding - It really just wiped me out!

At least I had a comfy place to fall asleep:)

What's this? A present during breakfast? How neat!

Another hat knitted by my aunt Clare - this one is so colorful and fun!

And my first Virgina Tech hat from Grandma - thank you!!!

My very own Raggedy Andy from Grandma - my Mom's favorite doll. Dad says this doll is okay since my name is Andrew:)

Yippee! It's Christmas time!

I screamed in bed for AGES until they retrieved me - I didn't care it was 10:00pm, I was NOT ready for Christmas to be over!
I need some time to chill with Daddy.


But now I think I may be ready for Christmas to be over...

My Daddy's best friend, Aaron, and his family---Erin and baby Keyes---are pretty cool people.

Even from Alexandria, VA, Keyes and I are best friends already.

Cousins Christmas at Grandma's in Baltimore - We are cousins by the dozen...4 months to 12 years! Ellie, Jacob, Maddie w/ Emily, David w/ Andrew, Sami w/ Molly, Daria, Alexandria, Caroline, and Jesse.
...and then there are those repsonsible for the dozen above....

Tom & Michelle, Clare & Steve, Jen, Kevin & Beth, Michael & Elizabeth, Yvie & Jim

December 2008

Ready for the Orange Bowl (which is actually a January Bowl, of course!)

My first stocking...not as cool as my exersaucer!

My first Christmas tree!

The Stand Off - Lacie discovers Andrew Movie

Andrew and Lacie (Em's dog) continued this stand off for 10 minutes - both were giddy as could be! Andrew had been crawling for a few weeks, but neither would dare approach!