Roo Update

It's Snowing!

2009-12-08T18:13:00.000-08:00

We are currently getting our first real snow! Andrew went out to see if he could figure it out. Use the links below to see three videos!
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osWyrqyofB4

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM5e_NwiDAY

Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsPmYYoj9KQ

Halloween 09

2009-12-08T17:41:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful halloween! Andrew went to two pumpkin patches: one with grandma Jan and Grandpa Jim and another with Auntie Jenna and his classmate. We also had a fun time at Boo at the zoo. On Halloween we went downtown with Grandpa Gerry who dressed as Bob the Builder. Andrew was a St. Bernard, and although he was possibly the cutest puppy in the world, he HATED his costume. On the morning after, I tried to get him into the costume to show his grandparents and he ran away saying, "No not that." He also enjoyed a parade at daycare with the other children. They had a pinata for the older children that he was itching to get ahold of!

What a big boy...

2009-10-09T18:49:00.000-07:00

It is stunning how much he has grown in the last few months. Below are a few pictures from outings and fun we have had over the last few months: our trip with Ethan and Aunt Sarah to the zoo; making a card for Daddy's birthday; eating; and wearing momma's shoes. Finally, he got a haircut and got dressed up for pictures at school today!

Rock Chalk???

2009-10-09T18:22:00.000-07:00

Trip to the Zoo

2009-08-14T18:50:00.001-07:00

Really Big Changes

2009-08-14T18:24:00.000-07:00

We did not mean to let so much time pass without updating the blog. We have gone through a lot of changes - moving, starting new jobs and new schools, moving again. Of course, the changes we have seen in Andrew have been much bigger than any of the ones that we, as a family have been through. A few weeks after Andrew's first birthday, Andrew and Mommy moved back to family while Daddy finished the semester back east. At the time Andrew still had his cast on, was drinking four bottles a day, and would not eat. Shortly after moving back Grandma C. cracked the whip and started putting Mommy and Andrew on a schedule of reducing bottles, which inevitably led to increased consumption of actual food! Now the boy is a healthy eater - although he very rarely will eat meat. Also about a week before he was scheduled to have his leg looked at to determine if he could get his cast out, we had an accident of the #2 variety. An emergency hazard waste clean-up took us to the doctor who determined that he no longer needed the cast. The doctor indicated that it would take him 4-6 weeks to build up the strength to walk again... perhaps if Andrew had taken it easy and not done his best to walk with the cast that would have been true, but it did not even take him 3 weeks to get back to walking. Now the child cannot be contained...he walks, runs, climbs, and jumps.

We had the good fortune of staying with Mommy's parents for part of the summer and were joined with Mommy's grandparents. Four generations under one roof! As you can see from the pictures Andrew wore out at least two generations.

We have marveled at the changes in Andrew. We think that the school he is in has helped a great deal. He speaks quite a bit. Mostly with one word, but a few weeks ago he handed Daddy a book and said "You read it." We look forward to telling you about more of the changes.

Turning One

2009-03-25T15:05:00.000-07:00

Andrew turned One on March 10th. We celebrated at home by giving him gifts, a balloon, and a cupcake. He did not eat the cupcake, but rather just played with it in his hands a little bit. Later that week we headed back to Kansas and celebrated with a big family party. While there, we enjoyed lots of time outside, got his one-year pictures taken, and seeing our friends and families.

Last Blog Before Roo Turns 1

2009-03-09T18:44:00.000-07:00

Andrew turns ONE tomorrow!!!! We are very excited to be celebrating his first birthday. It hardly seems like a year ago that Vicki made the perhaps-fateful decision to add crushed red pepper to her pizza and woke up seven hours later with a 12-hour long case of indigestion that resulted in our baby Roo! The last month has seen its share of ups and downs. Andrew began walking (see video in the post below), and for about a week and a half it seemed that it would not be too long before he would be running. Then he got pink eye, and in the morning rush to get to the pediatrician's office we had a small accident that resulted in a broken leg. The accident occurred on a Friday, and right away we noted that he was not putting weight on it. Other than the no-weight indicator, there was no other sign of a problem...no bruise, no swelling, and the pediatrician could bend it any way possible. The doc advised that we should head to the children's hospital if he was not putting weight on it within 24 hours. We did go to the hospital where he was fitted with his first "half-cast" (pictured below). That cast lasted about five hours. We thought it had just come off, but in fact Baby Hercules had broken it. The second cast faired better - about 30 hours before 'Cules pulled it completely off and began to use it as a drumstick on the floor. The third cast - a bright blue full cast- was fitted almost a week ago, and hopefully will remain in place for about 5 weeks. Remarkably, the cast has not slowed him down. He is back to crawling, cruising, standing independently, and a new thing is that he is starting to climb. He has successfully pulled himself onto our ottoman.

He also has had his first hair cut. We had wanted to wait - but the by was looking quite shabby! Strangely, the person who cut his hair delivered her son an hour and a half after Andrew was born. He handled it well, but wiggled a lot which is why mom and dad will never cut his hair, lest an ear gets in the way (although we know certain grandmothers who do not hold ears in high regard, cough, cough Grandma P).

He has many other new things as well. He is really getting into playing with blocks, and has figured out how to connect the giant lego blocks. He kisses, but you have to be careful because sometimes kisses turn into bites and other times you might need a bath from all of the slobber. He loves to crawl under things - the dining room table, the desk, his exersaucer. He says ball - well a version of the word ball that Mom, Dad, and southerners recognize. He claps, claps, and claps. We have not broken through with eating actual solid foods, but have made a little headway. He loves being outside and riding around in his little red convertible. He also listens reverentially to the sound of "Rock Chalk Jayhawk." We are trying to teach him to wave the wheat. What a fabulous year it has been. Full of gifts and joys we could never have anticipated.

Roo's Walking!

2009-02-20T18:02:00.001-08:00

Roo is walking! Check out the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atASDIHVRPE

Mid-February Check-In

2009-02-15T08:13:00.000-08:00

February has been a busy month for us. Mommy and Daddy had trips that overlapped, so Daddy took Andrew back to Kansas to stay with his Grandmas and Grandpas. We were able to make a quick trp up to the city to celebrate Mommy's birthday. Andrew has been really working to learn how to walk. This morning (Febraury 15th) he took three steps on his own while holding an empty 2-liter bottle. We have noticed that he will take steps when he has something in his hands and is distracted by that item, but not when he just trying to get somewhere. He is much more verbal now - with shrieks, babbles, and intermittent mama, dada, up, no. It has been amazing to see the changes. There are a few things that have not changed though. He still loves books and he will not eat anything solid. Apparently, though, he has quite a sweet tooth. Daddy gave him some frozen yogurt, which he enjoyed. Then, to our surprise, he came home pink from daycare. He had been given a Valentine's day cupcake, and apparently greatly enjoyed the taste of frosting. He had it in his hair, on his face, and his fingers were stained pink. Finally, he has a deep love for bath time. On Friday, we were preparing the bath water, and he crawled into the bathroom to check out the happenings. As soon as he saw the water he wanted in, and it did not take too much time for him to sling his right leg over the top of the bathtub - on his own. He screamed when we pulled him away so that we could take off his clothes. As you can tell, the bouncy seat is soon to be retired, and Mommy's bad soda habit is seriously rubbing off.

Valentine's Day

2009-02-15T08:01:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Valentine's Day! Andrew got a balloon (which he loves), a gorilla, and a new book. He loved letting go of the balloon to make Mommy and Daddy chase it. Unfortunately at one point he bit into it and pierced it so we had to go get a new balloon. We also posted a video to You Tube. Check it out at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I4SgGHR23w

Mommy's a Bad Influence

2009-02-01T15:52:00.001-08:00

Possibly Best Picture of 2008

2009-01-04T20:03:00.000-08:00

We respectfully submit what we regard to be the best picture of 2008. Granted there is room for debate, this picture seems particularly perfect. We hope that you all have a fabulous 2009, and look forward to sharing many pictures with you!

Wagons East

2009-01-04T19:36:00.000-08:00

We lugged a wagon (Thank you Papa and Nana)back east! It made things a little crowded, but it was well worth it because Andrew loves climbing on it, putting toys in and out, and being raced up and down the hall by Daddy and Mommy.We also got a totally tricked out back pack (thank you Grandpa and Grandma), which means that in a few months we will be on the go - wagon around the neighborhood and to the zoo, and back pack for a spring trip to D.C. and camping trip in June!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!

2009-01-04T19:03:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody! We have returned from a trip home to our families and are settling back into our normal living. So here is what has happened in the past month and a half. We went to Kansas for Thanksgiving (and surprised Papa!), came home, a week later went back to Kansas for Mom's orals, came home, Mom went to Washington D.C, and the we left for Kansas. We spent three days in the car, which Andrew and Ginger handled like champs. Once in Kansas, it was all Christmas celebrations all the time. We spent Christmas Eve with Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Donna. Then we spent Christmas Day with Nana, Papa, Aunt Sarah, Uncle David, Aunt Janet, and Ethan. Papa said that Andrew told him that it was his best Christmas ever! Later that week, we got to see Uncle Mike, Aunt Shannon, and Logan. It all went very quickly, and soon we were headed back. Chinese food, games, and throwing up all over the PeaPod was how we rang in the New Year at Aunt Jenna's and Uncle Brian's. Here are some of the things that we discovered about Andrew over Christmas:
He hates any chunks in food and won't hold his bottle (he can, but won't) - so we anticipate mom will be pureeing pizza and hand feeding him a beer when he is 30.
He is ready to walk. Using toys at both grandparents' houses, he began our visit with him barely able to walk while pushing a toy, but a week later the boy is on the move.
He either has a career in playing bongo drums (see picture of naked baby pounding on popcorn tin) or in the rodeo (the kid can handle a carousel hourse)
Many naps are required for such exciting times.
He likes baths in big bathtubs (thank you Grandma!)
Wagons rule!
Enjoy the new pics!

He is into everything...

2008-11-17T17:29:00.000-08:00

So Andrew has been the move. He is into boxes, toy box, etc. Plus he has gotten a stubborn streak as you can see as Daddy tries to separate him from his jumperoo!

Have to move across the country...

2008-11-02T14:26:00.000-08:00

So we had to move across the country to meet the Governor of our home state! We were very honored to meet Governor Sebelius at a Barack Obama rally this weekend. She spoke on his behalf and proudly represented Kansas here in NC. She made us even more homesick than we already are. Plus - for those of you who are concerned that Andrew is a Tar Heel- the governor indicated that she shares your concerns, but that he can be considered an honorary Jayhawk! We asked for a proclamation - but there really is a lot of paperwork involved with that ! Just kidding.....

Boo From Roo

2008-10-31T18:58:00.001-07:00

October

2008-10-31T18:47:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that it is the end of October. It has been a really busy month. We took advantage of fall break and took a trip to Williamsburg. Andrew seemed to enjoy the fife and drums! Several people asked us at what store we purchased him. We even learned about pudding caps - which is apparently a padded head piece that toddlers wore when they were learning to walk to protect them from falls. Andrew is not quite there yet...although he has mastered the mud crawl is almost crawling! Plus he has a new pair of maracas, courtesy of Nana that he LOVES! Enjoy the many pictures!

In Search of the Great Pumpkin

2008-10-12T18:44:00.000-07:00

Today we ventured out to find pumpkins! We found a local pumpkin patch that had ponies and hayrack rides. We had a wonderful day riding out to the patch in a horse-drawn wagon, being out in the sun, and spending time together. We came home dusty, but with two great pumpkins.

We are also posting some other pictures of recent happenings!As you can see, Andrew is close to exploding out of his car seat so we have bought a new one and are getting closer to making that transition (if you want a real idea of how much he has grown look at one of the old posts where there is a pic of him in his carseat). We also bought Andrew's Halloween outfit. Although not a costume (did not really think it was needed as he will not really wear one this year), but it is a cute outfit, and we will post a picture when he wears it!

Growing, Growing, and Growing Some More

2008-10-11T18:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, so we are catching up with our measurements. Here are his five, six, and seven month pictures. He is getting SOOOOO long!

Adventures in EATING!!!!!!!!

2008-10-11T06:32:00.000-07:00

Andrew has moved beyond bottles and rice cereal to all sorts of food. To date he has tried peas, squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, apples, and bananas! His favorites seem to be apples and sweet potatoes! Clearly, however Mommy and Daddy need to perfect their technique (really though the pictures are all Daddy's work)!

Visit with Nana, Grandma, and Grandpa

2008-10-11T06:20:00.000-07:00

We were very fortunate to beg Nana, Grandma, and Grandpa to make the epic journey to visit us. It was the first time that Grandma and Grandpa were able to meet Andrew - their view aside from the obnoxious personality he is "okay" - just kidding. There was mutual admiration on both parts. Andrew immediately loved Grandma especially because she was willing to rock and cuddle him as much as needed!!! Additionally, they brought Andrew loads of Jayhawk gear - including an Andrew-size Jayhawk!

Long Time Coming

2008-09-01T19:44:00.000-07:00

Andrew is of course growing by leaps and bounds, and adding a new skill to his repertoire daily. Lately, he has been treating us to his vocal stylings, experimenting with new, higher octaves each day. He rolls easily from back to front, front to back, side to side, etc. Lately, he has been trying desperately to sit up, but as he tries to do it from laying on his back and sitting up like we adults would do, he has not been successful. We try to convince him that he has to roll on his side and push himself up with his hands, but to no avail. He is not quite up on his hands and knees but has figured out how to kind of inch forward by either pushing with his feet or pulling with his hands. He has an increasing attachment to his blanky, which he likes to wad up and smash his face into. Although it is a definite bad habit in the making, it is really quite cute (see the picture below of him sucking his thumb and holding his wooby). We also enjoyed a trip home to see our families, which included a really special outing with Grandma and Grandpa to a farmstead, where Andrew got on his first saddle. He really seemed to like it, so I am sure it will not be his last! As it has taken me so long to create this post you will also see some pictures of Daddy's first day back from his big adventure on the ice. The day after he returned we added rice cereal to Andrew's diet, so I am also including a picture of our first attempt at eating cereal. We will try to do a better job of posting more frequently. P.S. To those keeping track - we do have a five month picture of him next to his "measuring bear" we just have to get it from a different camera! =)

Itty, bitty baby faux-hawk

2008-07-22T14:08:00.001-07:00

Andrew has just enough hair to allow for the creation of a faux mohawk - albeit, a small one. Plus Kirby attempts to break through the ottoman barrier that was created to keep him from being in the living room when Andrew is playing on the floor. By the way, I do not know why the picture uploaded sideways it does not display that way!

A Busy 4th Month!

2008-07-14T17:27:00.000-07:00

We have been super busy!!!!! In June, Andrew and mom went to Colorado to Christy and Josh's wedding. Congratulations Christy and Josh! While there Aunties Jenna and Jana took care of Andrew. I think Jenna may have decided a burka was needed to protect against spit up. He really enjoyed his time with them and he got to get really dressed up for the wedding. In July Auntie Jenna visited us. She helped mom destroy Andrew's beautiful crib - seen here in the before pictures. Sadly the crib was recalled and has to be replaced. She also went with mom and Andrew to their first Gymboree class. He really enjoys the class, but we missed our second class because we got colds. Andrew also had his 4 month checkup and shots. The doc said that our boy was clearly thriving and, up until the shots, Andrew did his best to impress her with his smiles and sunny disposition. So in this posting you will see pictures of Andrew at the wedding, with Auntie Jenna in CO and at home, his former crib in all its deceiving beauty, Andrew in his new exersaucer, and of course his monthly teddy bear picture (although he would not stretch out his legs!).

Roo's Video Debut.

2008-07-06T19:44:00.000-07:00

A Busy Day to Celebrate Daddy!

2008-06-15T19:25:00.001-07:00

We had a busy day to celebrate daddy. After daddy opened his gifts (which he mostly enjoyed, except we found out that he would have preferred a roll of sausage), Andrew spent the morning playing on his rainforest mat. He also demonstrated his newfound verbal skills with lots of squealing, shrieking, grunting, and chattering.

Next, we got ready to visit Daddy's advisor and his family who were visiting. Andrew wore a special shirt that Mom made celebrate the day.

We had lunch with Dr. A's family. Andrew was enamored with their beautiful daughter and did his best to show that he is a good baby by showering them with lots of smiles. Later this evening, it was bath time which totally wore him out...but, luckily, he recovered to spend some time with daddy before calling it a day.

Three Months!!!

2008-06-15T19:07:00.000-07:00

We will try to post a picture of Andrew with his teddy bear when he has a monthly birthday. This will help everyone know how much he is growing!

Meeting the Family

2008-06-03T16:57:00.000-07:00

We made a trip back home to meet the family. We really enjoyed our time with everyone and introducing Andrew to every one. He got to spend some good time with Grandpa, and got to ride shotgun with Papa and cousin Ethan. He also got time with Aunt Shannon and cousin Logan, and read books with Aunt Sarah and Ethan. It was a wonderful trip! And as you can see we were all exhausted by the time we returned home!

Getting Big

2008-05-07T18:23:00.000-07:00

Andrew saw the doctor today. He now weighs 12 lbs 4 oz. Here are two pictures showing the size difference about two weeks apart. We have also had to move into 3-6 month onesies. He is growing fast.

Little Big Man

2008-05-04T13:56:00.000-07:00

Shorts Weather!!!

2008-05-03T14:07:00.000-07:00

Since it is in the eighties, we decided to try out shorts. Pictures below show Andrew in a shorts outfit from Aunt Sarah. It is 3-6 month size and is just a little big. We have also been getting ready for our big plane trip home in a little while by trying to get used to hanging out in the sling. Here is a picture of him peeking out from the sling!

Going to Work and Daycare

2008-05-02T15:41:00.000-07:00

Andrew and mom went to work this week. Andrew also went to daycare. He started on Tuesday. So far he has gone for the first half of the day and spends the rest with mom, either at work or at home. Miss April and Miss Mandy seem quite fond of Andrew and seem to dote on the little guy. They noted what we have noticed for some time - the boy won't have any part of being swaddled. He needs to have his arms free. There is a little girl a few weeks older than he is who really enjoys being swaddled, but not Andrew. He also goes to work with Mom, and has quickly made friends with Ms. Myra. We have invested in a small swing to keep at the office so Andrew can hopefully be entertained without constant attention from mommy.
He has been having a few rough nights due to some congestion and drainage. The snot sucker has been working overtime, much to Roo's chagrin. He is not a fan of the sucking process, and has this way of sniffing every thing that Mom or Dad pull down. It seems to be improving though. It seems to be attributable to the weather fluctuating between cool/ rainy and dry/ warm.
Last weekend, we took Andrew to his first lighthouse. He enjoyed being snuggled in the Baby Bjorn, but as it was in the eighties down by the shore, he got a little warm. Because of the narrow, harrowing stairs, he actually could not go up inside the lighthouse - so we just propped him up against the step...nah, we took turns going up.
Finally, it seems that he finally noticed Kirby and Ginger. They managed to break through the parental wall to greet him while on the floor! They seem to think that we do a terrible job cleaning his face and feel compelled to attempt to help us with that task, which makes mom's skin crawl.
Enjoy the new pictures!

Week of Changes

2008-04-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

This week has been full of changes for Andrew! A few days ago he smiled for the first time that was not gas related. Since that time the smiles have only increased. In particular, he likes to smile when Dad is being a goof, when Dad asks if he has a poopy (the kid has a wee bit of the devil in him), or when he hears Mom laugh. Also, he is sleeping a little more during the night. A few nights ago, he slept for six hours, and last night he slept for 8 1/2 hours! Amazing. Today we placed him down to play at his floor gym, and we saw him purposefully bat at the toys (although sometimes he just falls asleep, like in the picture!). It was the first time he clearly was trying to make his hand connect with what he was looking at. Plus, he changed diaper sizes (now a two), and he is outgrowing some of his onesies!

Andrew Pics

2008-04-28T16:26:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of Andrew to get us started.

New Blog

2008-04-28T16:25:00.001-07:00

Welcome to our Roo Update! We will post pictures and comments about Andrew in our blog. Feel free to make comments.