Every Thursday Andy and I go to Idaho Falls to have lunch with Andrea. Usually my niece Anna-Kate comes with us too because we go right after her dance class ends at 11:00, and she loves feeling like a big girl going to a 'restaurant' while her older sisters are in school. I enjoy Anna's company because, at 3, she's always saying the cutest things. (Though she'll tell you she's 4.) Last Thursday she was saying that when she's 17 she'll be able to reach the handle above the doors on my car, and be able to hold onto it while I'm driving because she'll be big. I asked her if she's going to get married when she's big and she said yes.
"Who are you going to marry, Anna?"
Anna: "Umm......Grandpa Rick."
Cutest thing I've ever heard in my life! Brought tears to my eyes! She then goes on to tell me that when she's married, her mom will be a grandma. Smart girl.
When we were out I kept calling the little man 'Andy Pants', like I sometimes do. This day Anna-Kate realized what I was saying and emphatically proclaimed:
"Weesh?! His name's not Andy Pants, it's Andy LANCE!" Sheesh, I was way off.
Anna asked me if Uncle Lance and I are going to get another baby from somebody, since babies don't grow in my tummy:
"Why do you think babies don't grow in my tummy?"
Anna: "Because your body doesn't have any milk milk!" (Duh!)
"Okay, so who would I get a baby from?" (Thinking she might say Andrea)
Anna: "I think Aunt Erika."

Fine with me. Could you make it a girl, please?

Healthy As a Horse

Andy's 4 month checkup went well. He's in the 97th percentile for weight and height, and 87th for his head. Suprising because that's no small melon on that child. In fact, there are some clothes he can no longer wear only because we can't get them over his head! We had been telling the doctor that Andy was rolling over a lot in November, but hardly at all lately. So of course when he laid Andy on his belly he rolled right over and bonked his head against the wall! Poor kid. Doctor Moore said it's probably about time to move him up to a convertible carseat, which we already have, but Andyman can't support himself well enough to sit up in a shopping cart. So what's a mother to do?? Well, after doing a little research I found this great item made especially for gigantic babies! It's called the Prop'r Shopper, by Leachco. Picture your normal shopping cart cover, but with pillows built into the sides to wedge your child into, so that he can't tip over. Ingenious. Just arrived at our house yesterday, so maybe we'll give it a test drive at our newly remodeled Broulim's Grocery today.

The Annual Christmas Tree Find...

Another great year driving up to the mountain and sawing down our trees! Andy did great in his snow suit. And for the record, the description said 'red' when I bought it!

Thanksgiving

Our Forever Family

Andy was sealed to us in the Idaho Falls Temple on November 14th. We are so blessed to have him as ours forever. All three of the new cousins on my side of the family were blessed on the following day: Sayde, Andy, & Jack. My, what beautiful moms they have!

All bundled up

Andy likes the snow. He tries to catch it with his tongue while it's falling.

Sleeping in his crib now! He didn't even seem to notice the transition to his own bedroom.

Andy's velour romper from Aunt Rachel

Guess we should've pulled out the 12 month clothes a little sooner.

Saving up for winter?

Born to Ride, just like daddy!

We usually keep pants on Andy; he'd just had a blow-out..

We're interested in finding out what percentile he's in at his 4 month check-up on December 8th!

Finalization Day!!

It's official, we're now the legal parents of Andy! It's been a long journey, but well worth it. We've had wonderful people helping us all along the way, and we're so thankful for all the support we've received. We're especially grateful for Andy's birthparents, Tully and Andrea, who placed their beautiful baby with us to love and care for him. Thank you.

2 months makes a big difference!

Cousins Andy and Jack

Muscle Man

Jazz Game

It was an exciting game at the Energy Solutions Arena last Friday--first home game of the season! Luckily our guys pulled through. We got Andy a pair of noise-reducing ear muffs for the event. They worked great; he didn't seem to mind having them on, and when the crowd went crazy he didn't even blink, so we could tell they were working for him. Good thing since the guys behind us had me wishing I would've invested in some muffs for myself. And of couse they made him look adorable! Complete strangers came up to us throughout the whole night saying how cute he was!

Tipping the scale

Don't know if you can tell or not, but Andy really likes having his picture taken.

Famous In a Small Town

http://www.kidk.com/news/68784317.html?video=pop&t=a

Sad times -

I was the unfortunate finder of Lucy-Goosey's lifeless fur this week. I had let her outside during the night, and when she hadn't come meowing at the door by morning I knew something was wrong. Lucy is such a scaredy-cat. She likes going outside, but not for more than an hour or two; (sometimes she keeps her adventures to under 30 seconds.) She doesn't have front claws due to the toll she took on our leather couches, but we really didn't think she needed them considering she's almost always inside. I called for her whenever I was coming or going, but didn't start looking for her until I got a minute the next day. I walked across the street to a popular mouse-hunting field, and from about 20 feet away I could see one of her white paws. I knew instantly it was her because it was my favorite paw, with the dark grey spot. Tears coming. I ran over and looked down. No question. Tears. I knelt down and pet her cold, stiff head. There was an open gash in her abdomen. What happened to my poor, scared Lucy Lu? Sobbing. I tried to pick her up and bring her home, but she was stuck to the ground. Looked around for someone to help me. No one but Magen, standing back, watching me cry like a baby. I could tell she already knew. Loud sobs. I ran back home and called Lance, but he was out climbing poles. Tried to get my emotions under control for Andy's sake, but it was difficult. Lucy was my baby. She was scared of everyone but Lance and me. Very scared of Andy and the different noises he would make. Magen and Katie would come and go, but it was just Lucy and me for so long. All the way across the country and back. She was always right by my side, walking between my feet, perched on the toilet waiting for me to get out of the shower, sitting under the pine trees watching me mow the lawn, laying in the shade of my lawn chair as I baked in the sun, getting tangled in the sheets every time I made the bed, sitting with me whenever I was on the computer, attacking the printer when I turned it on, tearing apart the wrapping paper when I needed to get a present wrapped, knocking ornaments off the Christmas tree faster than we could hang them up, one thing after another, until the doorbell would ring, and then she'd race to the nearest bedroom and hide under the bed until she could no longer hear strangers' voices. She had a short tail and super-long whiskers, and she loved laying on her back to have her belly rubbed. Wouldn't sleep in a cat bed, but always at the foot of our bed. Everytime one of us would get up during the night, she'd hop off the bed right behind us and not go back until we did. Occasionally she brought mice home, proving that a cat doesn't need claws to hunt. And she was a feisty one. Lucy sent Katie running with her tail between her legs anytime she got within ten feet of her. But she absolutely loved playing with Magen; sneaking up on Magen and wresting with her was her favorite thing to do. Magen never saw the fun in it.
When Lance came home he went and got Lucy. I strongly considered taking her to the taxidermy, but the look on Lance's face when I mentioned it told me that he thought this loss had made me completely crazy. So I settled for keeping one of her beautiful long whiskers. Lucy was laid to rest back in the trees, near the river, next to where Maximus is burried. I hope she had a happy life. I hope she knows how much I love her and miss her. Most of all, I hope I get to see her again someday.

Hanging out with momps