What a week!

This has been a very eventful week for the Anderson family! I am still on pain meds so please forgive any typos :) My surgery went perfectly, although I waaay underestimated the amount of pain I would be in and I spent an extra night in the hospital due to this and a few other issues. While in my hospital bed, I looked out my window as one of the worst ice storms in history wreaked havoc on the surrounding cities. We lost power in our apartment around noon Tuesday and as of today it is still not back on. Chris and Ayden spent part of the week in a hotel, and now Chris is just braving the cold apartment all on his own while Ayden and I are in Mena for awhile. We are supposed to close on the house next week, so Chris is spending this weekend getting the last of our things out of the garage. We took Ayden to the doctor this morning because he has been coughing, snotty, and running a fever all week (and his pediatrician's office, along with everything else in NWA has been closed due to the ice) and he has a double ear infection! :( It is his first time ever to have an infection and have to be on antibiotics, poor little guy! So anyway, we have definetely seen better days but hopefully soon things will get better. My recovery is going well, I am feeling a little better each day. I will be on a liquid diet for 2 weeks and can't lift more than a gallon of milk, so we will be hanging out in Mena for awhile. I am very excited to be on the other side of the surgery and can't wait to start seeing results! Please keep Ayden and the rest of us in your prayers as we power through this not-so-fun week!

A little more talking...

Once again in this video, Ayden is not in the mood to perform. He starts out well and then goes into his own little language...still very cute :)

More about Ayden...

I know it's only been a few weeks since I posted Ayden updates, but he surprising us with something new everyday, so here's what he's up to at 17 months old!

-Says "bless you" when one of us sneezes

-Counts to 3 (usually before going down his slide), or completing the two, three sequence for us when we say "one" while getting on to him for something. Obviously that method doesn't work!

-Drinks from a straw

-goes up and down one step without having to crawl or hold on to anything

-loves everything Elmo and watching Sesame Street

-loves watching and dancing to Beyonce's "Single Ladies" video LOL :)

-wraps his arms completely around your neck and squeezes when he hugs

-follows 2 step commands such as "go get your shoes/book/coat/sippy and bring to mommy"

-newest words and sounds: meow, neigh, banana, apple, cheese and pretty much any words we say -we now speak in "G" rated language :)

- He still absolutely loves books! He actually squeals with delight when we get ready to read. He has at least 50 books if not more in his room, but when we tell him to go get a book to read, he almost always bring us his little Halloween book "Who's there on Halloween"- he loves that book! He also loves his Pajama Bible from Aunt Melissa, and Brown Bear Brown Bear, but loves to be read to from anything, even the Oprah magazine or a catalog!

That's about all I can think of right now. I am so continually grateful to have been blessed to be this precious little boy's mother! He brings joy to my heart all day long!

Ayden talking

Ayden and a few of his animal noises (he wasn't really in the mood to perform, this is the best I could get)

Haircut!

How cute is he?!

Time out for mommy!

We have been putting Ayden in his room and closing the door for "time out". Needless to say, he hates it! Today I was sitting in the floor of his room playing with him and after a little while, he walked over to the door, pointed at me and said "no", then walked out and shut the door behind him! Then when I opened the door and came out, he told me "no no" again. What a little stinker!

Ayden's 3 best friends

This week Ayden has grown attached to 3 of his stuffed animals- his polar bear, singing puppy, and his Elmo (who he calls "Melmo"). The cutest thing is, he likes the keep the 3 of them together. He carries two at a time from room to room, puts them where he wants them, and goes back for the 3rd- everytime! It is too precious!

Ayden thought they would all like a turn

going down the slide :)

lovin' his polar bear

lovin' Melmo

Ayden with all his buddies!

Yum!

Ayden is more inclined to use his spoon properly when there is ice cream involved!

Ayden's latest hobby...

Ayden has a new hobby of putting things, anything, inside of some kind of container and then placing some kind of lid on top. I'm sure that it is a completely normal developmental milestone, but Chris and I think it's just absolutely adorable!

This morning-exhibit A: He has placed his sippy cup of milk and a green fork

inside of a tea pitcher, and placed a cool whip lid on top. I should also add

that he loves to dig things out of my kitchen cabinets!

Tonight- Exhibit B: He has placed his raisin toast (that he

had just thrown in the floor while eating) inside a sippy

cup and of course then placed a lid on top

Ayden and Tanner

Christy and Tanner came up for our monthly play and lunch date today. Tanner and Ayden had the best time playing! They chased each other all over the house, played ball, and just squealed with laughter at each other! They are both growing into such cute little boys! 16 and 20 months old!

Pics...

How cute is he!?
I love baby PJ's!

Ayden and Andy up to no good...

Can't help but love that "I'm innocent!" look on his face!

Welcome 2009!

I can't believe it is the year 2009! Even more so, I can't believe that in only one more short year, it will be 2010...the beginning of a whole new decade! Just looking at the number 2009 makes me realize how old I am getting. I mean, it seems like 1997, the year I started my sophomore year of high school, was just the other day, right? And it was 12 years ago! I am not necessarily sad about getting older, just much more aware of it than I used to be!

I have always been a fan of the new year, blame my overly optimistic personality I guess! I always set resolutions, usually the same ones, and keep them about 50% of the time. What can I say, I'm human! More than anything, this time of year reminds me of when I started my first semester of nursing school in January 2002. I can still remember sitting out in my car that cold January morning before my very first nursing class and thinking, "my life will never be the same again!" (I had very clear memories of watching my mother attend the same nursing program 12 years before!) And it hasn't been! Two solid years of around-the-clock classes, clinicals, and studying that all led up to graduation and starting a career that has and will continue to shape me for the rest of my life. Definetely life-changing! Not to mention that I met my wonderful soul mate of a best friend Melissa in nursing one! Anyway, enough reminiscing for now...On to the resolutions!

Resolutions 2009 in no particular order...

1. Let's start with the obvious, the old stand-by Lose weight! Exercise! We are joining the Wal-Mart fitness center-yea!
2. Here's a new one- Keep the weight off this time! (hopefully my surgical intervention will be my answer to prayer on this one!)
3. Take my beautifully done, well-organized budget that I have on paper for each month and actually STICK to it! Think before I spend. This one is definetely going to be a work in progress!
4. Find a church to attend regularly.
5. Constantly strive to be the best version of myself by being true to myself, not worrying so much what others think, and following my own instincts.
6. Be the best wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend that I can possibly be.

Okay I realize that's a lot...but like I said I am always very optimistic this time of year! Looking forward to a great 2009! Best wishes to everyone else for a a fabulous year!