Tink & Peter :)

We had a Peter Pan and Tinkerbell on our hands this Halloween :)  Grandma Jean (Aaron's mom) made our costumes and they turned out SOOOOO CUTE!

Addalyn had a really fun time Trick or Treating!  She was not very shy, and if you ask her what she did on Halloween, she says "I say Trick or Treat and then I say Thank You"!

We first walked around the neighborhood with both Blake and Addy...Blake wasn't so sure to think of what we were doing...but he enjoyed hanging out in his wagon!  After we had gone up and down our road, Aaron stayed home with Blake and handed out candy.  Addy and I walked to a few more houses with our next door neighbors but then she was tired of walking.

I could tell she wasn't ready to be done Trick or Treating...just done walking - so Blake, Addy and I went on a hunt around Rochester for friends and family that were home in the car!  We weren't successful at all of the houses we drove to (lots of people aren't home on Halloween, LOL!), but we got to see my aunt Judy and also our daycare - Julie.  Addy got spoiled at both stops of course!

When we got home...both of the kids enjoyed checking out the "loot" before bed :)

m&m's....nummers!!

Check 'em out, mom!

Addy still likes to talk about being Tinkerbell and Peter Pan.  I love listening to her say it, because she has a southern way of saying it...it sounds more like Tinkerbay-ll

This might be the only year I'll get away with dressing them up in a "pair"...so I totally took advantage of it while I could.  They were a pretty cute little duo!

'Lil Pumpkin

Blake's 1st birthday party was Pumpkin themed.  I had made invites with a picture of him as a newborn in a pumpkin and one from this fall at the pumpkin patch on them and said "Our Little Pumpkin is Turning One" - theY turned out super cute!!!
I'll do most of this post via pictures because there are a lot, but to sum it up - it was a great success!  We had lots of orange, brown, and green decor to make it festive, some pumpkins sitting around and of course an awesome cake (pics below!).  I wasn't very good at getting pictures before the party like a usually do...bummer! 

Blake right when the party started...playing.  He is so good about wearing his hat and we had put it on him that night since it was a birthday gift!

Time to Open Presents!

I have a similar pic of Addy on her first birthday swigging some milk!

He wasn't so in to opening presents so I did most of the opening.  He did like to play with what he got though!  Also, I was proud of our little Addy because she sat right next to me and watched so patiently and go so excited about his gifts, but she never tried to open them herself so we never had a "battle" about them not being hers.  What a good girl! 

Playing with one of his presents....see Addy right next to us.  I think the fact she had a Starburst from her goodie bag to work on helped with her distraction!

Done with gifts...playing before cake!

The main cake!  I had also made pumpkin cupcakes to match (no faces, just stems).  DELICIOUS!

Singing Happy Birthday!

First bites of the Mess - we stripped him down to a diaper before we even gave him his cake!

The Mess --- ha ha, I love it!

 After we got him cleaned up, we realized we forgot to give Blake his present from us when we were opening gifts :) So, we grabbed that from the garage!


Blake's Chair that Aaron Made!  We made the same one for Addy for her 1st birthday in girly colors.  The only thing missing is his name - it is on order!

The birthday party was great - he had so much fun and loves all of his gifts.  He plays with them all, which is so fun to see...they are all boy toys and he pushes  cars around...makes noise with all the buttons, and just enjoys himself. 

I think this picture says -- "Great Birthday Party Guys -- THANKS!"

12 Months :)

Lots to update on!  I've been trying to do some posts for a few days now.  Hopefully I'll get through Halloween within the next few days! 

First though...the life of my Blaker at the age of 1.

Blake at 12 months is lots of sugar and a little bit of spice :)  He is still such a cuddler and has the sweetest smile and giggles.  He loves to be held, so sometimes we work on him learning he doesn't always have to be held.  When he's tired or not feeling the best - he wants to be held.  Of course, you'd love to just sit and hold your little one --- but it isn't feasible!  He's funny though...he doesn't want to be "cradled" at bed or anything, but likes to be held during the day!

He hasn't increased his vocabulary any more since 11 months in regards to the words that he says...but he definitely understands more of what we say to him.  For example, the other day I was in the hall and said "Blaker, want to come take a bath" and he crawled as fast as his little legs would let him from the living room to the bathroom with big smiles (the kid loves bath time!). 

He is taking about 10+ steps at a time...(usually less than that - but he has taken much more).  He is so close to just walking EVERYWHERE - and you can see it in his eyes that he wants to so bad!  He will stand there and smile and just stare at the ground and his look says "I can do this!"...too cute!  And when he does walk, he giggles like he's so proud of himself.  :)

Blake HATES HATES HATES to be changed.  Seriously gets mad and rolls around - he doesn't want to be restricted I think.  It is hard to change his diaper or get clothes on because he gets so mad.  Aaron jokingly said to him one day, that if he continues to move like that - he might be quite the wrestler when he's older...which is in the Anderson blood so it'll be interesting to see how that plays out :)  Within the last week or so, he has gotten a little better...but it has been a bit ridiculous!


Blake has 5 (almost 6) teeth.  He had quite the rough week that followed his birthday, he had the SOREST gums I've seen...literally, really swollen, had white sores around his teeth...looked pretty nasty.  He started to come around about a week later and then we discovered his third tooth on top.  Poor kid...I hope all of his "teething" episodes from here out aren't like that!

My hunting hat from Papa Lowell!

Blake keeps this hat on for sometimes about 30-40 minutes before he discovers it.  It's too cute!  On the weekends when we go out to run errands, we always put this on him and he usually doesn't even try to take it off!

He still loves his food and baths.  And he is pretty good about going to bed.  He takes 2 naps a day and for the most part, doesn't fight sleeping - but lately he has discovered that Addy sleeps in his room with him, so at night he talks to her and stands up and shakes his crib.  Most nights Addy giggles back, but some nights you here her through the monitor saying "Blaker I'm tired"...too funny!

12 Month Stats:
Length - 29.5 inches (42%)
Weight - 21 pounds 14 ounces (36%)

Lots of people say how big he is...but as you can see he is on the smaller side for his age.  But he is built solid, so I think that is why people say that about him.

He is such a lover...I just love the kid :)

Where's Blake........????

Peek-a-boo!!!

1/2 Marathon and First Birthday!!!!

On Blake's actual birthday (10/22) we had an eventful day.  I ran my 3rd half marathon :)  I had a goal to do another one on/around my 30th birthday...which occurred in September.  I convinced my sister Angela to do it with me - and also was happy to put a bug into Tammy and Ed's ear (Aaron's sister/brother-in-law) and they joined us too. 

It was sooooo good to have them here for the weekend.  The time always goes too fast, and we never get to see everyone from Michigan often enough.  We are so glad you guys made the trip!

My sister and I before we left the hotel in the morning.  I tried to get Tammy and Ed in this but they weren't feeling it :)  I thought I'd grab a group one afterwards, but we were so focused on getting warmed up and food, etc that it never even occurred to me that we didn't get another one until I was looking at my camera later.  Bummer!

The race itself went good.  Not my best half...not my worst.  I was a little over 2 hours officially (2:02 to be exact).  However - I've mapped the course a few times now and every time I've looked at it...the total mileage says 13.5 miles instead of 13.1...and if that was the case, than I did actually run the distance of a half marathon (13.1) in less than 2 hours.  So whoo hoo to that if it's the case!  Who knows!

My "sisters" rocked it!  Ang was around 1:54 and Tammy around 1:45.  Ed wasn't far after me but I don't remember his exact time. 

Of course...we all kicked butt because we had THE CUTEST CHEERLEADERS EVER!!!! 



Who wouldn't be motived by this sweetness? 

 Funny story about our little cheerleader though...after getting in and out of the car a few times, they went to get out and watch us run again and Addy, who was all "Go Go Go!" at the beginning said, "I don't wanna watch mommy run anymore".  The poor girl was over it and ready to be home, she probably wanted to watch Dora or something :) 



None of us are in this picture...but I didnt' think anyone would like the pictures I have of them running, so just sharing one of the runners in general from my camera!

Blake's Sign...and my bib - I had to do a shout out to my little buddy!

After the race was over, we went to Applebee's before we headed out of Mankato to our house for the remainder of the weekend.  Blake got the "Applebee's Birthday Song" sung to him....which he wasn't so sure what to think about all this clapping and cheering going on around him...but Addy loved it!  Then he got his first treat of the day!

Loving his birthday Sundae

Forget the spoon, just give me that thing!!!  (we took it away after we got the shot with our camera!)

We spent the rest of the weekend relaxing with Tammy and Ed and having our first celebration for Blake's birthday. 

Blake's new toy...he loves his "boy toys!" that he got for his birthday

Part of Grandpa Lowell's gift...he has an adorable camo shirt/overalls to match the hat.  At first Blake would always take his hat off, but now he wears it around for a good amount of time.  He's so cute in it...I have to upload more pics with his hat!

Addy loves giggling with auntie Tammy and uncle Eddie.  I love this moment I captured...Ed was just laying there relaxing, and Tammy went to lay with him, so of course Addy had to join too :)

  Blake LOVED it when we sang Happy Birthday to him...and he LOVED his cake too :)

Just about to really dig in..........

The end result - I think that look says "sugar coma" --- ha ha!

I think Blake had a wonderful first birthday.  We had his official birthday party the following weekend also -- more to come on that! 

I can't believe one year has come and gone since we were blessed with Mr. Blake.  He is such a wonderful little man. 

To my Blaker Boy - I love you so much and can not wait to see what life has in store for you.  You're hugs and cuddles melt my heart on a daily basis.  I hope you always want to cuddle w/ your mama! ......love you forever....Mommy <3

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

And..................the next day I discovered I have a future track star on my hands :)

Go Addy Go!

Field Trip!

In mid-October Aaron went with our daycare to an Apple Orchard in Rochester.  I'm not sure why Addy was crying so hard above, I think she wanted to be have her daddy at that moment...silly girl.

The kids had been learning about apples and pumpkins for preschool the month of October so Julie planned the field trip to go along with the month!  This was a different place than the one that we went to earlier in October.  It had a lot of the same things though.

Swinging :)

The best little pumpkin in the patch!



Addy and her friends trying to pull the wagons

The kids had a good morning at the orchard.  And then in the afternoon, they baked some apple crisp with the apples they bought.  They each brought home their own little pie tin of apple crisp...it was DELICIOUS!  I had asked Addy if she helped put the ingredients in there and she started listing all of the items she helped pour in.  Too cute, she was listing them off in a little sing-song tone.

"Cin-a-nin" --- "Oat-ma-meal" --- "Flowers" (instead of flour!) --- "Bwown Sugar"

I was impressed in what she remembered from the afternoon.  What a smarty-pants!

What a fun time of year!