Well Gus, you're a pretty amazing almost one year old! Wow. You are as big as the 21 month old twins we saw at gymnastics today. You are definitely walking on your own already...been doing that for the past few weeks now. You are "talking" more and more, and even using baby signs! You know "more," "drink," and either "thank you" or you're blowing kisses, or maybe both. But you really have started to communicate with us in these past few weeks.
"I'll smile when I want to!"
You are most definitely expressing your own opinions! Like what you want to eat, what you want to play with, and whether you want to be held or not. You also are really into climbing on things, and for the most part do a pretty good job of safely getting where you want to go. You've got at least five teeth now, and let me tell you...those things are sharp! You have this habit of sinking them into my shoulder when I'm holding you. Ouch! Thank God it's just my shoulder at least, and not while you're nursing! Unlike your brother at this age, you are not getting a baby sibling any time soon, so you and me still get to do the breastfeeding thing for a little while longer. You have really started to show us just how smart you are too! You understand where things go, and what they do, and you CLEARLY have been watching and listening to your brother. The two of you "talk" to each other and match both the pitch and volume of your screeches. I can't wait until you can understand what I mean when I ask you to use your inside voice. But my favorite sound is the two of you laughing with each other. You can really get each other going! I love hearing all the sounds you're experimenting with, and watching you discover all the things that intrigue you, and learning more and more about the amazing not-so-tiny human that you are!
So, it's official. We are moving to Irvine! In February. Still working on finding a rental house, but, we are packing/organizing our storage units to get ready for a few trips south over the next weeks. More details to come as we get them, but today, just a couple of pics of the boys entertaining themselves during the process.
Arjen has really become a "big boy" recently...wanting to help with everything, do things on his own, and talking a ton! It's really pretty cool. But, this week (so far, with today being Tuesday and all), my proud mom moment came after breakfast this morning...
...he brought his empty bowl to the sink after finishing his breakfast! I really only just yesterday, made a point of telling him about taking dishes to the sink when he's done, and we practiced it once. Apparently it stuck! The kid makes me proud...
...and even prouder with his skill for knocking over the Christmas tree. He somehow managed to just miss the TV (on left) and the glass coffee table (on right), and also waited until all the lights and ornaments had been taken off. Oh, and no, he didn't even suffer a scratch! Phew. Proud mom moments!
In this age of everything digital, things often get posted for the sake of sharing almost immediately. When something comes and goes without it's due chronological postage, I feel like I missed the opportunity, and it'll just have to be one for the good ol' memory banks. This year's Christmas tree adventure however, cannot go without sharing, even if it is a month later! Besides, Christmas with the Keane-Miller clan sorta got split in two this year anyways, so technically, we just finished it this past weekend!
When I was a kid, we'd drive up to Apple Hill to cut down our Christmas tree every year. Without fail, each year, the tree would look much larger inside the house, than it ever looked out in the tree farm. This year, we decided to renew the tradition, and head up the hill in search of the perfect tree! In the spirit of Keane-Miller-Anderson-Griswold's...may this tree go down in history as "the-one-that-ate-the-house!"
"This one looks good for me Dad!"
After nearly an hour of searching, and almost giving up, we found the tree!
Gus and Baba lead the way back to the car
There's a lumberjack hiding in there somewhere
They're making it look easy!
We need a bigger tree-uh-truck!
And the special treat for after we've found our tree!
Arjen claimed the top of the tree as his own (and this was after we had been to WI and back, he remembered "his tree". Unfortunately some of it's branches had been repurposed, but he didn't seem to notice)...
Sweet. Holy. Moly. Gus is 10 months old today. 2012 is nearly over. I know as each month passes, I think the same thing, but sweet holy moly! How does the time go so fast?!? I know how. 2 trips to the airport on a near weekly basis. A cross-country road trip. 3 roundtrip cross-country flights (with 2 babies no less). A funeral. Two weddings. Birthdays. Essentially moving back in with the 'rents - both sets! Making new friends. Visiting old friends. Watching these babes o' mine change and grow by the second. It's absolutely amazing. So here goes my monthly tribute to Gus's first year, and a brief attempt at 2012 in review.
Arjen
One word, three letters: WOW. I mean, I know babies change fast...I'm about to chronicle Gus's changes over just the past month here next. But who knew that the changes after year two could be just as exciting and tremendous?? And this kid only just turned 2 not quite 3 months ago. (Okay, yes, I realize all you mom's out there with older kids already knew this). But as much experience and wisdom exists out there beyond little ol' me, I still get surprised by the new wisdom and experience I gain each day as a young mom (yes, I am calling myself a young mom! I mean, my kids at least are young. Sheesh.)
Perhaps having an emerging toddler racing to catch up with my near preschooler helps to put it all in perspective. I feel like Arjen was just learning how to walk, and now here he is running, jumping off of elevated surfaces and landing on both feet. Just yesterday, he put himself on a sled, and got down the hill all by himself!
Before I know it, I won't be able to keep up! He is more than just a parrot now too. The thoughts and words that come out of this kid's mouth shock us on a daily basis. I mean, a) I now realize that I too, have to watch what comes out of my mouth as I hear it being repeated back to me, and in the proper context, and b) how is he possibly old/smart/big enough to know some of these things?? A recent favorite example:
Me: Arjen, where'd your food go?
Arjen: it's gone...in my mouth
Arjen and I were at the grocery store and he randomly blurted out "Daddy brings home the bacon." We were nowhere near the bacon.
He'll give us directions, correct ones, for which way to turn to get to Baba's house or Cher Cher's house
And the pretend play he now does:
- orange slices became a motorcycle and gas can
- banana peels became a trailer and hitch that say beep beep as they drive along the table
- he grabs his little motorcycle/carry-on bag, throws it over his shoulder, then goes to sit on the rocking horse and says "I go on trip" or "I go on adventure"
And the musical play:
- he'll sit down at the piano and proceed to "play" and sing Jingle Bells
- he picked up a microphone and started singing into it
- he sings himself and his brother to sleep
And the arts and crafts:
- he managed to swipe a pair of kid scissors from Baba's kindergarten class, and loves cutting paper to pieces
- he likes drawing, and now will actually tell us what the masterpiece on the paper is supposed to be (thankfully!)
He's starting to count and learn his letters.
And sometimes, just sometimes, I think he might actually be learning the difference between playing with Gus and trampling over Gus, and that we'd really rather he stick to playing. Fortunately, Gus is getting older, wiser, and bigger too...
I'm 10 months old today!
...which brings me to Mr. Gus:
save the best for last? or start of with a bang?? it's almost new year's, lets go for big bang!!! watch...
Aaah, yes, the gentle giant is about to get even more mobile than he already is. For the past few days, he's been wowing us with his attempts at taking 1-2 steps without holding on. He actually cooperated today to give us this video! And smiling the whole time no less. For the past 10 months, everyone has been telling me what a happy baby he is. I think I'm finally starting to realize how right they all are! Not that I didn't agree already, but this kid really, truly, is a happy dude.
He is becoming more expressive, or I should say communicative, now too. He'll look or point in a direction he wants you to go (this he particularly likes doing in the middle of the night if I try to keep him in his room with Arjen to try and walk him back to sleep...he'll lean towards the door to say "no mom, take me to your room where I know you'll sit down to nurse me!"). Just the other day, both Andrew and I were convinced we heard him say "uh-oh" as he pointed to something that fell to the floor. And I've had myself convinced for awhile now, that he definitely is saying "mama". Call it selective hearing if you wish, but I know he's talking to me. And I'm pretty sure he's showing the beginning of using baby signs. A girl can dream!
Like his big brother, the boy can eat. And he's getting the teeth to help too! His two bottom teeth are close to all the way in now, and we just noticed the top two cutting through. Maybe now he'll start sleeping better??
Gus has been impressing me this past week too, with a new focus I'm noticing when he plays with toys. All of a sudden, he's really actually playing with the toys. I remember this with Arjen too. It's like watching a switch turn on in the brain and all of a sudden you can just see the mind working as he plays with toys: things fit inside other things, certain buttons make sounds, pieces move, and anything Arjen has his hands on must be the absolute coolest thing to check out! On days when Gus is awake while Arjen naps, I can't help but smile at Gus as he enjoys checking out all the toys without being interrupted by his older brother. Of course, I don't think to take photos of these moments, but I do have some pics and video of Gus's first sledding adventures. A little outdoor quality time with mom and dad while big bro was napping...
I'm pretty sure this is the cutest kid ever
Okay, so maybe this isn't going to be a year in review. In my mind at least, it's a retrospective? I mean, to think of where we started at the beginning of the year, I would never in a million years have believed you if you'd have told me this is where we'd be now. And 'this' being the figurative sense of the word, not geographical. 'Cause as most of you pointed out this holiday season, "where should we send your Christmas card?" But now that Christmas has come and gone (to which Arjen learned to say "Happy Birthday Jesus!"), all of a sudden, there's a glimmer of settling coming to light the end of our Gypsy tunnel. Only one major event remains before we plan to actually move to Irvine: Shannon and Brian's wedding!! Bring on 2013!!!
Merry Christmas to you and yours! This was the first year that we spent the entire holiday in Wisconsin, after missing the past two Christmas's due to babies (Arjen was too young as a premie to fly two years ago, and Gus was due too close to Christmas for my doctor to let me fly last year). We were greeted Christmas morning with a sunny, white, winter wonderland:
We spent the morning primarily watching the boys' endless excitement about opening presents (well, Gus was mostly just watching Arjen). Arjen was quick to learn that each gift had a tag with a name on it, and was fairly good about not just opening every gift. Once all of Santa's gifts had been open though, it was a small challenge to get him to leave the remaining gifts for Andrew's family alone!
"Yay!"
"Cheese!"
After a midday siesta, the rest of the Anderson's arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's house for more presents and dinner. The kids all had a blast with the loot Santa left on Grandma and Grandpa's couch
Addy and Arjen patiently waiting
I was holding Gus as we were getting ready to open presents with the whole family, and Arjen came over to lean in and share some love, so I couldn't help but ask for a photo op!
