2009 in quick summary

Beginning and End of 2009

Quick summary of 2009:

Boyd studied

Kat worked on video projects for family and watched Aimee grow

Aimee worked on growing up.

in a few more details...

Boyd has been working hard in school to learn what he needs to know to be a good dentist and loves to look in Aimee's mouth to see what teeth are growing in, to floss Aimee's teeth and to

make sure I am brushing her teeth at least 3 times a day (of course when I am in control of the tooth brush she gets her 1 nightly brushing...) He also wants to check my teeth out every now and then, seeing how my teeth line up, trying to see how much my grinding has effected my bite, pointing out the different names of different teeth, telling me to floss

more... he is going to be a great dentist!!! He practices what he will be preaching too, becuase he very regularly flosses and brushes his own teeth! Aside from teeth, he is very good to get friends together and play games or have dinner. We are very blessed with great neighbors and friends!!

[He isn't going to like this picture... : ) but then he shouldn't let me do all the updating...]

I have all of my families old video footage that his been digitized and that is all mixed up. So I have been putting together movies of individuals using this footage. It is very rewarding in a creative outlet sense, it does take a lot of time though. I mostly take care of Aimee which is the most rewarding job!! I am amazed at how different taking care of my own daughter is from babysitting or from watching parenting from a sideline...the sideline position sometimes seems easier because there are very few in the moment emotions involved! I never understood the "pick your battles" until I had Aimee crawling all over the chairs and table--I chose the battle of 'no climbing on the table' and left the chairs issue alone (within safety bounds of course).

Aimee is definitely growing up! She understands SO MUCH! from night night time (when she will cuddle with her blanket) to outside (when she will get her jacket and shoes). She is using more and more words... nigh-nigh, bath, bubble, cup, eat, moo, meow, daddy, jammies, jacket,

popcorn, drink, cheese, please, thank-you, dog, yellow, plane, car, truck, one, two, three ... and she is repeating words so well. She has the cutest smile with a dimple in one cheek. She discovered swimming in the summer and loved it, her bath times are more fun now especially when bubbles are involved. She has learned how to take off her clothes and many mornings I have gone in and found everything (including clothes and diaper!) thrown out of the crib. I am glad she isn't persistant about keeping her clothes off, she just likes to take them off every once in a while!!! She has been learning how to play with other kids and we are working on sharing which is a very tricky skill to learn. She has especially loved playing with her cousins!!! She has been a great traveler, going out west on airplanes several times. She loves to play peek-a-boo with other passengers. (side note-- I have seen so many good people who have jumped in to help me with folding/unfolding stroller, carrying the car seat on the plane, smile and play with Aimee ... as I have traveled alone with Aimee. I am so grateful to all of the friendly faces and people in life!!) Aimee has been a joy and blessing in so many ways and life is beautiful with her around.

So there is a quick idea of what 2009 has been like. Next post will include memorable moments from the last year with a few more pictures. Then on to 2010.

The leaves came down (fall) and Aimee played

Christmas came and Aimee dressed up, and played 

 The snow came and Aimee played

Spring is all but here, guess what Aimee will be doing . . . 

One Year Old

  Now that Aimee is One it is probably time to update a bit.  In the last 3 weeks she has mastered going up and down stairs.  She is babbling a whole lot more.  She LOVES to play with other kids, she watches them most intently trying to figure out how they do what they do and then with the skills she feels she has a chance at being successful she tries (it is almost written on her face as she thinks it through!!) She is especially good at clapping, giving high-fives and tens, crawling, and is beginning to understand that chase is a game!  She has a sit-and-scoot which she loves to ride on (she can't quite reach the ground to scoot).  She continues to be a happy, joyful little person and her personality is developing so well. 

  Boyd continues to study hard and is dedicating as much time as we let him to doing well in school.  He is a great example of working for what you want, wether it be school, work, family etc. We are looking forward to spring break next week, especially as the weather is showing spring on it's way!!! Hurray for sunny springs and summers!!!  

  

Night Out!

daddy started dental school!!! he says it got real for him with his first 'hiss-tall-oh-gee'  test, but the school had a big "white coat ceremony" and THEY said he is NOW he has begun. it was a fancy affair, i got to wear my cute green skirt with the pink flowers and a flower headband in my hair.  mommy says i looked soo cute and she knows! they talked and talked and sometimes people laughed, but i liked the loud noise they made with their hands, they did it lots, mommy called it 'clapping'. 

after putting his coat on and all the clapping and talking we all went to see aunt yvonne and uncle clifford and cousin arnie.  they said daniel was 'playing football' but i only saw lots of funny hats (were they on people) running into each other (is that a nice way to play?). there were loud noises there too--but they scared me so mommy moved away from the scary sounds, she's so good to understand me. i don't remember much else cause i went to sleep.  sometimes i think this is a funny place, but i like it. 

Grandma, look at me!!!

I'm such a big girl to be sitting up so tall; 

okay, it's true, more often I fall.

But in time you will see

the strength that's in me 

as i master to sit, crawl,

to walk, run, and all.

So Grandma, look at me!

Such a big girl you'll see.

Some days are just Plain Poopy

So each sunday I team teach a class of 8-12 Nine year olds.  Last Sunday our lesson was going great when my team teacher stepped out for a few seconds, as I was standing up in the back with Aimee I went on with the good discussion we had going so she slipped out easily.  And then it happened, Aimee added her 2 cents (or should we say cups?) worth.  She exploded out of her diaper.  It took a minute or two for us all to register, we were staring in shock, then the kids started asking if that was REALLY poop? two or three got dramatic and hung themselves out the room window, another two jumped in to help me find my baby wipes, I am just standing there, plastered in "mustard" from waist down (one line went solidly down to the floor where it left a little puddle), and I think I must have still been in a little bit of shock because I kept trying to go on with the lesson as if nothing had happened or maybe nobody noticed. . .  Then as my team teacher popped her head back in to ask me to come out and assist for a second I realized it was a lost cause, so puddled my way across the floor. . . Yup, one more memorable lesson for Valient Nines.

Catching up

May 4th -- Aimee is given a name and a blessing by her Daddy with both grandfathers in attendance. Her Grandma LueDean made her a beautiful blessing dress and helped put together a luncheon after for friends and family. 

. . . Aimee smiles big for grandma and grandpa Andersen just before they leave, her first real "I'm smiling at you and not a gas bubble" smiles (she is really exp

ert at them now!).

May 24th -- Aimee's first of many summer trips, this one to Tennessee to visit Aunt Yvonne and Uncle Clifford home on the lake and then to Pikeville to meet Great Granny Newsome. This trip is followed on the next weeke

nd down to Tennessee again to visit Aunt Darlene and Uncle Joe, Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Jim, and Caten Cousins. They had a Shower for Aimee and welcomed her so warmly! Aimee is blessed with many Aunts and Uncles who love her!!!

June 4th -- Aimee's first real laugh, Daddy was playing with her and she thought he was funny!

 

June 10-27th -- Aimee flew on her very first and second Airplanes!! all the way to Arizona to Grandma and Grandpa Andersen's to meet and visit with Great Grandma Treva for two whole weeks while Grandma and Grandpa were in Israel. She loves Great Grandma Treva and her bed. She would play and smile and talk with Grandma Treva while mommy was doing chores.

She LOVES Arizona!!! Aimee got to meet mommy's friend Melinda and visit with her for a long time!! She got to meet new aunts, uncles and cousins who all made trips over to see her! She is learning how wonderful friends and families are!!!

July 3-16th -- SUMMER REUNIONS!!!

First to Idaho to meet more Aunts, uncles, and cousins. She had her first 4th of July party at Aunt Candace's and Uncle Rich's, between Samantha, Candace and all her cousins, she didn't get to see much of mommy and daddy beyond meal times. She was able to see her first baptism when cousin Tianna was baptized.

Second to Fairview Utah with Granny Bets and Uncle Paul. There she went to her first museum! Granny Bets provided a beautiful picnic lunch and Aimee loved being outside with family. She also got to meet her Aunt Julina, Uncle Jason, cousin Mac and new cousin Zoe who is just a couple months younger. . . she also got to see Zoe receive her name and blessing.

Third to Wolfcreek Utah for the Andersen reunion where she got to meet all her aunts and uncles and cousins who she had not yet met. She had her first lake trip, her first amusement park trip (where her biggest ride was on the wheel chair), her first dinosaur park trip, and her first FIESTA!! She loved all the fun and excitement of family memories being made!!!

And just before returning home, Aimee gets to meet mommy's friend Tiffany Ccatamayo and meet a new friend Isabella Ccatamayo who is almost 4 months younger!

July 26th -- Aimee's 2nd lake trip, Buckhorn Lake in Kentucky, with cousins Chrystal, Mike, and Donavan (who is 3 months older). This time she actually got in the water, which she wasn't sure if she liked or not, and she rode on a boat which she liked when it was moving, and she played on a house boat which she definitely liked! She definitely did not like the life jacket. She looks so cute in her swimming suit, hat and glasses!!!

July 28 -- She celebrated daddy's last day of work for the State of Kentucky as an auditor of companies with self-insurance.

July 31 -- Aimee celebrates daddy's first day of dental school!

August 1st -- Aimee is introduced to pedicures and the mall!!! she watched while mommy got a pedicure and was the attention herself of many of the patrons and workers at the spa. She wasn't sure if she likes shopping and will have to keep trying to figure it out. . . : )

August 8-9th -- Aimee and mommy had a girls slumber party while daddy went on one last fishing trip of the summer.

August 11- . . . Now that Summer vacations are over, Aimee is trying to learn good sleeping habits, she quite used to staying up late, especially as the olympics started! She at first didn't like the idea of going to bed at 7:30 or 8:00 but after the first few nights she has figured out that she is happier during her

 awake hours if she gets a good nights sleep (and she discovered mommy and daddy are happier too when they get more sleep at night!!!)

While learning how to go to sleep and take regular naps, she is also building her coordination, she has gotten VERY good at grabbing anything that is close enough to grab, she is rolling over and just yesterday surprised mommy by rolling across the living room floor!!! So while daddy is studying hard to become a good dentist, Aimee continues to grow and learn new skills like sitting, and eating (coming soon!) cereals and other foods, . . .

And all the while she continues to be the joy of her parents lives!!!