::walkin' boy::

So I have a ton of stuff to post about, namely:
Sandy's early walking
Swimming in Phoenix
Slight living room remodel
Max baptism and family visit
Disneyland

Holy cow, that's a lot! But I'm going to do it (hmmm, we'll see I guess.)

So without delay I am going to post a bunch of pictures I took of some of Sandy's early walking. I was waiting to edit these photos, but I'm just biting the bullet and posting them as they are so that they get posted. They're too cute to leave behind.

It took him forever to even think that walking was worth trying, and when he finally started he was pretty good at it. He started with his little push toy. When he got really interested in that I knew he was close.

And it was just SO so SO cute. And I was afraid every second that he was going to fall and smoosh all his teeth on the bricks. He was so unsteady at first! But he's pretty great at it now.

Anyway, on to the photos. Lots and lots of photos.

Monkey shoes help anybody learn to walk.


This was me trying to catch Sand as he walked/fell towards me and take a picture at the same time. He was walking between Max and I and having a blast.

A few days later here he is on Valentine's day looking very Bigfoot-esque.



It's hard work with that tongue sticking out.

This one cracks me up.



He's going for the good stuff cabinet.


He obviously knows he did an excellent job.

And finally, here are a few shots from Max's birthday. Max was playing with his new car tracks and it was very fascinating to the baby.



He really just doesn't look that well balanced, does he? It's a crack up.

The little hands in the air is my favorite.

Concentration.

What a little doll-baby. We're so proud of his walking, although it does make him much less happy to just sit in my lap during church, darn it! Now of course he just wants to walk around and peek and flirt with everybody. Little stinker.

::sandy's birthday part 1::

Oh, wait, that's the wrong birthday!
A year ago today our sweet little guy was born. We feel so lucky to have him here in our family.
Today was a great day for him. He started out by eating pancakes made by dad--one of his favorite things in the world.

Max helped him open a present or two and then we got ready for church.
After church and a nice long nap, Max brought Sandy his best and biggest gift--a walking toy that's also a little cart for blocks. He was very very excited about it--almost as much as Max! Max was a model brother today--helpful, enthusiastic and excited about the birthday, but never jealous pushy or unpleasant. (Though incredibly obnoxious, as per the usual.)





More of the day later.
Mostly it was just a good happy day and such a lucky one for us. We're so grateful to the Lord for sending us our sweet boys.

::way to go::

Way to go Fisher Price for making at least one toy that doesn't have flashing lights, obnoxious electronic music or require batteries.


Way to go for making a toy that excites my little guy so much that when he sees it he starts panting, he reaches with every limb he has and he wiggles.


And way to go Sand for turning into such a legitimate person--eating real food (lots of it), playing with toys and laughing at the funniest things (like when I blow my nose.)

Love that silly little boy.

::i'm sorry but he's just so stinking adorable::

::blessing day::

So first thing, I had the toughest time ever picking which pictures to put up in this post. So I just picked a bunch.



A week ago today we were able to bless our sweet Sandy in church. If you'd like to know more about that please follow this link and read the section titled "naming and blessing children."
Kris gave Sandy the blessing and he did a beautiful job. He said so many sweet and precious things. I wish I had a recording of it so I could listen to it 100 times in a row and memorize it. We had lots of good friends from the ward standing in the circle, as well as my dad. I was so glad my dad could be there, and we missed the rest of our family, but we knew they were there in spirit. I'm glad that we have so much support from the ward though, since we can't live minutes away from the family. It's nice to know that a lot of the men standing in the blessing circle will be the same men supporting, helping and teaching Sandy (and Max) for a long time. That's special.


(I think this picture is so funny--just the angle of his head, his chubby mushy cheeks and the bubbles.)

Afterwards we gathered at our house with a few friends from the ward for snacks and chatting. Sand didn't even know the party was in his honor, but he had a good time.

(preparing for his party--he didn't even poop on his clothes!)


Speaking of Sandy, he was absolutely perfect at church, didn't make a squeak during the blessing. After his blessing he was held by Mrs. Evans, the wife of the dentist we bought the practice from (they came to the blessing, wasn't that nice?) and then he fell quietly and serenely asleep in her arms. That never happens these days!
What a great kid.

It was so nice to have my parents there. It was fun that they got to meet and chat with some of our friends and just be around for just general help and support. Kris and I are so blessed in the parent department. We have four of the best.
Anyway, my dad spent a lot of time with Sand, entertaining and snuggling him. Sandy loved it.


My dad also got a few giggles out of him during the visit. Some of his very first.

I just want to eat him up with that adorable little smile.


It was a wonderful day. I was probably too stressed out with making sure everything was ready and clean and all was going to run smooth, but I survived. Thanks to everybody for their help and love. We are so greatly blessed with friends and family (whether you were able to attend the blessing or not) I can hardly think about it without being overcome. We love you all. Thank you for loving us.


oh, and if you would like to see a few more pictures, including a couple of me, go here to my mom's blog.