The Bug turns ONE!

(today)

(1 week old)

His first smile on camera (1 month & 1 week old)

Enjoying his package of books and a piano from Nana

Enjoying his chocolate cake and chocolate frosting (although he never got too messy or crazy)

Of course we all know Hyrum enjoyed the chocolate-ness

I know everyone says how fast the time goes with kids and I must say it's too true. It really does seem like yesterday to me that I was pregnant with Hunter and here he is having his first birthday. I can't imagine our home without our Bug.

I love how he loves to dance when music is on

I love how he will tackle Hyrum on occasion

It cracks me up how much he loves feet and gets excited when he sees them

I love how he makes flying or driving noises with any object that he holds above his head

I love how he poses for pictures by scrunching up his eyes and giving us the goofiest grin

Happy Birthday Baby!

Our friend Ann-Marie took our family pictures back in October and I have been meaning to post them on our blog. She is an amazing photographer and I am still baffled as to how she got Hyrum to smile so well! These are our favorite pictures. The top one was our Christmas card picture this year. (Check her out if you're in the area!)

Pittsburgh Christmas

My parents flight finally came in the day after Christmas and we drove down to Pittsburgh. We were so relieved they were able to make it! My whole family was there and my Grammy (Mom's Mom) was able to spend the week as well with us. We had a blast! And I have forgotten how much fun it is to play games with a big group of people...thanks Zac & J0y for hosting.

We enjoyed unusual above freezing temperatures. One day it was actually 70 degrees! We went to the park 3 times in the four days we were there. I can't wait for spring!

We spent New Years at Brigg and Hava's place in Erie. They took us to icy Lake Erie and I don't think I have ever been so cold in my life! But it was beautiful with all the frozen water and mud everywhere. Hyrum also really liked his bed there, which was under their desk.

Ann Arbor Christmas

We had Christmas last Saturday here in Ann Arbor. We had it early because we were going to spend Christmas with my family in Pittsburgh (long story short, my parents flight was canceled but are coming out today so we are now having Christmas in Pittsburgh this coming weekend) Hyrum actually understood what was going on this year and got up at 2:30 am and kept getting up until we gave up around 5:15 and started our day. I found a bball hoop and a play kitchen on Craigslist for the boys and they both loved them BUT the favorite present by far was a big lego bucket full of matchbox cars that our friends gave us before they moved from here last summer. So Abbott family if you're reading THANK YOU! Hyrum has an amazing attention span for a 2 year old but I have never seen him play with anything for so long. All day long and the next day and the next etc. he has played with them.

Five days later...still playing strong

Hunter enjoying his first candy cane

We made a gingerbread house

More importantly, we ate a gingerbread house

We went driving around looking at lights Christmas night and this was our favorite house

We turned Hunter's chair around (2 weeks early) and yes he practically smiled the whole time he was so excited about it

last week

Hunter loves books now. Especially ones about animals. I don't know why but I love to catch my kids "reading" on their own.



I made Hunter a hat the other day and this is how he felt about it.


I found this one day in my kitchen. I guess I should keep the dishwasher door closed now!


In Hyrum news, this week he fell down our basement stairs. If you had to choose stairs to fall down, these would not be it. They are steep, narrow and very hard. I was nursing Hunter upstairs when I heard horrible crashing and even more horrible screaming. Poor kid. It could have been SO much worse and all he got was a fat lip for a day and a goose egg on the back of his head. I love having boys and I want more boys in our family but I don't know if I'm ready for all the unavoidable accidents that go along with them!

nutcracker

A lady I work with in the Primary at church does the costumes for a local ballet troupe. One of the ballets they do every year is 'The Nutcracker.' My friend's daughter danced the part of the Snow Queen.
My parents used to take us up to see 'The Nutcracker' in Seattle during Christmastime and that was one of my favorite traditions. I love the music, costumes, scenery and dancing. So I convinced Jeremy we should go and it was so much fun. They did a great job and now I can't wait to take Jeremy to see the one in Seattle (maybe in a few years). Jeremy did great as well, he only fell asleep for the last 10/15 minutes or so :)