Christmas

I didn't realize it's been basically a few weeks since I last posted. I have been SUPER busy! I've been studying on evenings and weekends for my PHR exam (Professional Human Resources) - I had my exam on Tuesday and the tentative results say I passed! I will get the official results within 2-3 weeks, but I am very excited with the news! I did not feel very confident about the exam...so I was shocked...seriously. But, none the less, I am now "Marissa J. Anderson, PHR" - looks pretty good! For the record - I am sooo happy to be done studying and don't know how people are mommy's, work, AND go to school! I made it work because I knew it was temporary, I would not have the motivation for much longer. Props to all those mommy's (and daddy's) that have done or do that :)

I feel less stressed now to have that behind me, and I am now able to get to some blogging! Aaron's mom always has Christmas in January - which is great so we can make it to all Christmas's and not miss out on anything! This year was extra special, because it was the first year that all 7 of her kids (children and step children) had made it since Aaron and I have been together - and this was my 6th Christmas with his fam.

The only other time that I've been around his siblings & step-siblings at the same time was our wedding - and of course I was a little busy that day so I didn't really realize it was happening!

During the day we went to the Mall of America with Jean (Aaron's mom), his sister's Tammy & Tina and their kids/hubbies...then we had family pictures taken at Aaron's step-sis's house, then dinner & presents at Jean & Paul's. It was a great day :)

I didn't get as many 'candid' pictures as I would have liked with everyone around, I must have been a bit distracted. But, here are a few, and also the family photos!

.

That's my boy! Anthony is not only a MN Vikings fan, but a MN Wild fan too! I'm happy he's my nephew (and my Godson, yep, I'll claim this cutie!). He got a new Wild hat for Christmas, and it has his name embroidered on the side!

.

Me & Tina

.

Go Vikings! As you know, I'm a Viking's fan (a blog about THAT GAME later!) - well, Aaron's step-sis is a Packer's fan and her hubby is a Viking's fan, so they have a 'divided house' like Aaron & I. Aaron's mom Jean crochets and knits...and she surprised us with these hats (sad I know, but I'm not sure if this hat was knitted or crocheted!). The blanket is something that Jean made for Andrea and Jamie. My mom actually made Addy the same blanket, and that is where Jean got the idea - Packers on one side, Vikings on the other!!!
.

Go Packers!

Grandma Jean made Alesha a Hemitites Hat!

Addy was very content listening to Uncle Joel sing to her :) She was fighting sleep here...but content!

Family Photo

Cousins! Front Row: Holly, Addalyn, Anthony, Serafina, Mira; Back Row: Jeffrey, Brandon, Alesha -- there are 2 more cousins on the way. Serafina & Mira are getting a baby brother in May (A's step-sister Andrea is pregnant) & also Aaron's step-bro Scott is expecting a boy in May as well!)

Kisses! Mira & Addy

I love this pic of Aaron w/ his sisters

The Bertucci/Anderson Fam! Front Row: Mom/Jean, Tina, Andrea, Dad/Paul; Back Row: Neil, Tammy, Aaron, Renee, Scott

The whole fam!

I have pictures also of the individual families, but my computer is taking a bit to upload tonight!

7 months (going on 8!)

Well, this post is a bit late...since Addalyn turned 7 months on the 3rd. But - it's been a busy 2010 so far! Addalyn is at a very fun stage, where she is starting to interact with us a lot more and "communicate" with us. She DEFINITELY lets us know if she is not happy (she can get quite a high pitched scream going on!) but also is full of smiles 95% of the time & telling us lots of stories!

She is not crawling yet. We do tummy time and she pushes both her legs & her arms up, just not at the same time. I don't think it is too far off, but it won't be happening tomorrow! She is a great eater - no new food seems to phase her. We haven't tried anything more than baby food yet. I've read a few places that when she is crawling, that is a good indicator of being ready to try other foods (like cheerios, cheese, "big kid food") - so, we'll just wait and see!

We got Addalyn's ears pierced a few weeks ago. I knew I wanted to do it sometime when she was younger. And we had talked to a few people that said the younger the better, if you really want to do it that young, because that way they don't know to pull on their ears and such, so they won't touch them a lot while they are healing. She did really good! She cried REALLY hard for about 2 minutes (but seemed like an hour in mom & dad's minds at the time)...and then she just cuddled up on my shoulder and fell asleep. Which, of course I was LOVING the cuddle time that I got to have, so it wasn't so bad!!

She's been a little stinker about morning naps ever since we've been back from Michigan. She's pretty much decided that all she needs is a 40 minute morning nap. Only ONCE since we've been back has she slept for about 2 1/2 hours in the morning...otherwise an hour is the most. She is doing good afternoon naps, so I can't complain too much. Although, she's definitely ready for bed by 7:30 without that nap...and sometimes we have to give her a little cat nap in the evening to even have her make it to that. I'd LOVE to have her sleep for longer during the day, but what can you do??!!!

She will hold her own bottle when she wants to, and we've been working on sippy cups too. She knows what to do with both...but she can't get the concept to lean her head back to get the fluid out. She usually holds the cup/bottle and then leans her head down to her hands & starts sucking, instead of lifting her hands up to her mouth.

She is getting so big! The other day when I was peaking on her before I went to bed, and it just hit me how much more of the crib she fills up than she did 6/7 months ago. It's funny because I was thinking that - and Aaron said the same thing to me this week. I remember thinking I couldn't imagine her getting any bigger when she was a newborn. Now, I can't imagine her being so small (and when I look at pictures, I get sad and sometimes teary-eyed because they really do grow up soooo fast!...and this is only 7 months, what am I going to do when it is 7 years, then 17 years????!!!!)

.

Of course, the bear photo!

My pretty earrings :)

.

Mama is sooo funny when she plays 'peak-a-boo' with me in my high chair! Daddy captured some good smiles!


After bath cuddles with daddy (dad didn't let mom take a picture of him since he had just woken up!)

.

Seriously - something about kids in baths with their wet hair and such...too cute! As you can see, we are big on lots of bubbles in the bath!

Just watching some Baby Einstein and holding the remote...I must be my daddy's daughter :)

Soooo sleepy when we are trying to put PJs on at about 7:15 one night...had to roll over and cuddle up on the blanket instead of letting mom finish changing me...

I may not take good naps anymore, but I love falling asleep in the evenings at about 6 or so for a little cat nap! (Oh yeah, and that little bear/blankie I have is a MUST to sleep with...can't go anywhere without it!)

Every once in a while I like to hold my own bottle :)

So Long!

2009 was a year full of mixed emotions. Obviously, we were so excited for the year and what it was going to bring. The first half was filled with planning for and anticipating the arrival of 'Little Poppy'. Now we know that 'Little Poppy' is a beautiful little girl and I can't imagine life without her. What did we ever do?? She has brought so many smiles, joy, and love into our lives. It's funny how your life keeps changing and with every new adventure, you find a new way to love. Not only our new daughter, but to love each other. It's fun to see Aaron as a 'daddy', and it makes me love him on an entirely new level.

July was one of the roughest months I've had...probably ever. When Shannon got diagnosed with colon cancer, it felt like I was living in a dream for about 2-3 weeks. My entire family would probably say something like that. It just didn't seem real, it still doesn't. Words really can't describe it. But, one thing I know - it puts life into perspective.

Shannon is doing really well - this week will be her 9th round of chemo, she'll be done after 3 more rounds. The weeks of chemo are tough, but she is getting lots of help. She is such a strong woman. Of course she is my big sister, so I already knew that about her and looked up to her. But, now more than ever, I look up to her and I am amazed with her strength and positive attitude!

I guess regardless of what major event we went through in 2009, whether it was having a child or dealing with a family health issue, it made me realize to find joy and peace in the simple things in life, and to love & live life to its fullest.

So long & farewell to 2009!

This New Year's Eve we had friends over at our house. My friends from college and their husbands came over. I have some WONDERFUL college friends --- luckily we married some great guys that also enjoy each other's company, so it is enjoyable to have us all together!

Depending on how long you've been following my blog, you might remember my good friend Amy and her husband Adam (the White's) - they live in Amsterdam right now, they moved there last January. They were home for the holidays, so they came to visit us & to meet Addalyn for the first time!

Jill and Tim (Faber) were here from Fond du Lac and of course Rachel, Jeff, and Ella (Scheel)joined us as well! It was a great night filled with some girl talk (of course!), and great company to ring in the New Year and the new decade.

.

Addalyn & Ella are having some fun before bed time (they didn't make it 'til midnight, go figure! Don't worry, I didn't even consider trying!)

My Stout Ladies! Rachel, Jill, me & Amy

Our hubbies - Tim, Jeff, Aaron & Adam

We met each other 5 years ago on NYE!

Amy & I

The Group! "The Anderson's, Scheel's, White's, & Faber's"

***Happy 2010 to Everyone - and Happy New Decade!!!***

Sadly, Amy & Adam had to go back to Amsterdam. We got to see them one more time this past weekend. The Scheel's, Aaron & I met them out for dinner along with another girlfriend from college, Katy. Her little boy was home sick, so unfortunately Katy's husband couldn't make it to dinner.

.

One thing I love about the holidays is catching up with family & friends. I wish we could see everyone everyday, but of course, that is unrealistic. I guess in the mean time, we can't take for granted the moments that we have had & the times we get to spend together.

.

Amy & Adam White - miss you guys already!

Stout Girls Again, this time Katy is there & Jill couldn't join us (she lives 4 hours away...sad)

The group - Ella even joined us on our dinner! Addalyn spent the evening with my mom & dad. Thanks mom & dad for watching Addy!!

"Don't Count Every Hour in the Day, Make Every Hour in the Day Count"

Christmas in Michigan

We had a great time in Michigan over Christmas! We ended up getting an extra day there because we left earlier than planned to beat the storms that were predicted on Christmas Eve. We did have good driving weather, so I'm glad we made that decision because it would have definitely been a different story if we had waited.

.

We spent Christmas Eve day hanging out at Aaron's dads and then we went to church with Tammy (Aaron's sis), Ed (bro-in-law), Brandon (nephew) and Alesha (niece). After church we visited Aaron's grandma Barb's.

.

Christmas day we spent the day at Aaron's dad's house with his sisters and their families. Grandma Barb stopped by for a bit and so did Aaron's Auntie Di & Uncle Lance. We played lots of cards and had a great ham and turkey meal cooked by Tammy (Thanks Tammy!). Something exciting that happened --- Addy got her first tooth! I had joked for a bit that she was asking for her 2 front teeth for Christmas. Well, she woke up from a nap a bit fussy, so I felt in her mouth, and there was her front tooth (bottom, left) poking through!

.

Saturday we went to our nephew Brandon's hockey game - which they won! Aaron went and played basketball with his family and friends in the afternoon and that evening we had Christmas with all of the Anderson's at Aaron's aunt's house.

.

Sunday was a really nice day out, so we actually got to go outside sledding and such - even Addy went sledding! We went to the Congress that evening (pizza place in town). Almost all of Aaron's family was there (Dad, sis, aunts, uncles, cousin, etc), plus we also met the Charbonneaus' there. Jason is a really good friend of Aaron's, and we met up with him and his wife Maryellen.

We headed out Monday morning back to Minnesota. Addy did really good the entire trip. She had a few moments where she was not too happy, but that is because she needed more sleep than she was getting. Really though, she was a great little traveler - which is good since we will have many more trips as she grows up :)

.

As usual it goes WAY TOO fast! I'll let the pics do the rest of the talking...I took over 100 of them :) Of course, we talked about getting a cousins picture with Addalyn and her cousins, but somehow we never got it...I'm bummed about that, but we did get some great pictures, none the less!

Right before leaving for church on Christmas Eve

Great Grandma Barb with Addalyn

Family Pic on Christmas Day

Aaron & his Grandma...I really like this picture of them :)

Playing Cards ("Booger Bridge") Clockwise around the table: Ed, Alesha, Brandon, Lowell, me, Aaron, and Grandma Barb --- This picture makes me laugh because Brandon is texting - can't even look up for the pic!...which is what he does 24-7 & gets teased for it all of the time!

Addalyn Jane and her Papa Lowell!

Addy's new winter hat from Grandma Barb (will fit next year!)

Aaron with our nephew and Godson, Anthony

Thanks Auntie Tammy for putting this on my head!

Our niece Holly Sue & I posing with with our hats on!

BATH TIME with Holly!

Baths at Papa Lowell's are fun!

Posing with my cousin Brandon after his hockey game. They won & Brandon got a goal! Brandon & Jeffrey gave Addy the sweatshirt that she's wearing...it is an Iron Range Hockey sweatshirt of theirs. It's a little big now but she'll get lots of use out of it through the years!

Addy & Sadie - one week apart. It will be so much fun watching them grow up together!

Thought this was a cute one of them checking each other out :)

Sledding & snowmobiling outside

Here we go!

Good thing Papa got me this awesome snow suit so I could play outside!

The family going for a snowmobile ride! (we barely went a block and went about 2 miles per hour!)

At the Congress - Tara (our nephew's girlfriend), Holly, Addy, & me --- this picture is about 5 minutes before Addy to grab that glass of ice water and dump it ALL over herself!!

.

It was a WONDERFUL time with family - and as usual, we wish we could have visited longer!!!

"You don't choose your family, They are God's gift to you, as you are to them" --Desmond Tutu