Andrew is 1!

Andrew had his first birthday last week. We had a party for him on the Saturday before with both sets of grandparents, and his aunt Chrissie. It was a lot of fun. He had his first cupcake and couldn't stuff it in fast enough!

He also had his first trip into DC while Aunt Chrissie was visiting. He rode on the bus, the train, visited monuments and museums, what a big boy! He loved the Museum of Natural History, looking and pointing at all of the animals. We also went to the Museum of American History. It is Aunt Chrissie's favorite museum, but even she says it is boring....Andrew fell right asleep in his stroller.

Bad news is that we tried milk again, and Andrew is still very allergic. Half a Dan-o-nino and he puked everywhere. We are trying to get him to like rice milk now, and searching for any other good calcium products with no soy or dairy....whew.

Other than that, we have had an amazing year and are looking forward to another!

Andrew eating a 'coconut milk' yougurt...don't think we will buy it again.

Calling the HOGS! He's getting there.

Watching the Bball tournament with G'pa....oh no! Kansas lost!

Yummy birthday cupcake and my special bib from 'aunt' Sarah

Wow, I am really bad at updating here. I think to all the time, but I have been taping and mudding gyp board during Andrew's naps, and sneaking in other chores while we play. We are starting to get the house together, we have a bedroom and a TV room upstairs now! Nick reworked all the plumbing in the house during his time off at Christmas, and now we are trying to finish the downstairs bathroom.

In the meantime, my parents were here, and since this is the only time we really get a lot of Andrew pics taken, I thought I would post some! he is 10 months old, I can't believe it. I didn't think so at some points, but time really does fly. He loves to go to the park by our house and swing, he isn't standing but he loves to pull up on things. He also loves eating cheerios. Now that he has mastered cheerios, anything mouth-sized goes in...from a loose cabinet knob to bits of a broken piece of drywall. man, that kid is quick! so far, I have been quicker....or lucky, I'm not sure.

Haloween and our 'New' house!

Super late here, but we have been working like crazy on the house. Seems like we always are!

We had a good haloween, Andrew wore his pumpkin, which I had to cut holes in for his legs because he is growing like crazy! We were going to go to the town parade, but it rained. yuck. got a couple pictures anyway. I don't think he loved wearing his pumpkin.

And we have a 'New' house! we didn't do this part ourselves, thank goodness. it looks great, and feels great to be in a house that doesn't look like it is about to be condemned.

Before-back (we put windows and a new door in, so it looks like an explosion)

Before- front

After- front (the door is painted dark blue now, still need to take a pic)

After- back, so much better!

Daddy and Andrew on Haloween

Happy Haloween?

Kitchen!

I hope to post some other rooms soon, but here are before and after pics of our kitchen. Well, it is not totally 'after', we still have to do some final touches. Like paint the build-out for the refrigerator, I will be so happy when it is out of the dining room and you can sit at our table like normal people!

We (mostly Nick) did all the work here. When we moved in, we had grand plans of expanding the kitchen and sunroom (right outside the kitchen), but when it was estimated at 50k-75k, we came up with another plan. I think it turned out great, and is really all the space we need.

Here it is.....

Before, all three sides.

demo!

Progress! Note the cooktop sitting on TOP of the counterless base cabinet. yes, we used it like this for about 3 weeks.

Here we are now! A dishwasher, a garbage disposal and everything! I feel so spoiled!

And here is the buildout for the fridge...we're getting there.

Almost 6 months!

Andrew is almost 6 months old, and the time has flown. We have been crazy busy with the house renovations lately, and I have been bad about my updates here....but we almost have a kitchen!

Will post those pics soon.

Andrew is doing great and is more fun every day. he loves to watch dad work on the house. And even though the doctor said not to start baby food until he is 6mo. because of his milk allergy, we have been sneaking it in. We get awesome veggies from a farm share every week, and I just couldn't wait. So far he has only had butternut squash. At first, the sweet freaked him out because he has been drinking cardboard nutramigin for 4 months, but now he loves it!

Hope to post some kitchen pics soon...we LOVE our new kitchen!

Chewing on catipillar

See my 2 new teeth!

Me and dad in our twin shirts

pondering life on the couch

Our big adventure!

Andrew and I went to visit grandparents in AR and great-gmas in NE. We were gone for two weeks while dad stayed home and worked on the kitchen renovation. poor dad again.

We had a really great time. Andrew saw his first cornfield, and took the longest roadtrip he will probably ever take (from AR to NE)! He was not loving his car seat by the end of the trip.

Thank you to my friends for getting everyone together to meet Andrew!

Andrew with Grandma in my old bath towel...where did mom find this thing!?

At gma & gpas with Aunt Chrissie

Supporting the 'home' team(s).

Holding onto my ears while gpa feeds me

First time to meet great gma! He is looking unsure in the pic, but couldn't get enough of smiling at g-gma.

We had already met this g-gma, but loved the second time too!

Renovations...

Before demo....

after....

Check out the ceiling tile, nice.

So, here is our upstairs right now. Nick and his dad spent all weekend hauling gyp board from a uhaul to the house, but it will look so great when it is done! it used to be paneling, yuck.

ps- don't have a baby and renovate a house at the same time.