Alien Spaceship

Haken's imagination has exploded lately. Sometimes I don't know where he gets the ideas he does. This past week he was really into playing a game he called "Alien Spaceship." He made sure that we wrote down the instructions for how to play the game (instructions have been really important to him lately), just incase we couldn't remember if we wanted to play it again. We played it for our activity for family night and took care of the bad guys with our alien spaceship. 

Haken and daddy in their "Alien Spaceship"

Captain Haken maning the controls of the ship while
 daddy shoots the bad guys with the lazer guns.

These are the instructions for the game, just as he dictated them to me. They crack me up whenever I read them because I can hear him saying each step in my head. 

Jack in the Box

Recently Jack has figured out how to climb into things. If he can get his leg over the edge, he climbs right in. Unfortunately he hasn't figured out how to climb out yet, so he yells until I come and get him. He has become my little "Jack in the Box."

Halfway through January

I realized today that we are almost halfway through January and I haven't posted much of anything since Christmas. I actually haven't even taken a lot of pictures. We have been busy being inside, getting things done around the house. The boys helped me out on laundry day by emptying out the baskets so they could play in them. Lately Jack finds his big brother so hilarious and Haken thinks the same about Jack. I am amazed at how well they play (most of the time) with each other, despite the age gap.

Another fun thing from the last 2 weeks has been Jack's interest in walking. He ADORES the walker he got from grandma for Christmas. I bring it out and he just giggles. We bring it to the church with us every morning. As I workout with the other ladies doing "Insanity," he also gets his workout with his walker all over the gym. He has become pretty speedy on it and has mastered turning it. His favorite place to go walking is really outside though (when the weather allows). He tries to cruise down the driveway into the street, so I really have to keep an eye on him, but the sidewalks are also fun. He screams when I bring him back inside because he loves being outside so much. I think he will really enjoy summer this year.

This week, however, he is now taking an interest into walking WITHOUT the walker! He has taken about 4 steps at a time and then lunges for me as if he can't go any further. He stands up on his own without holding on to anything too. He may be cruising by himself within the next two weeks and then the walker will be obsolete.

This winter has been so, so weird for us here in Utah as I'm sure it has for everyone else across the country. We have NO snow! We did have a little storm that came by about a week ago that dropped about an inch. Shad was thrilled to be able to use the little snowblower we bought (although it really would have melted on it's own by the afternoon). We have little sploches of snow here and there in our yard, but that is it! Jack was totally interested in the snow and probably would have played in that little patch all day. Here's to hoping he gets to experience sledding this year...and that we don't end up in a drought this summer!

14 Weeks

As of yesterday I am 14 weeks pregnant! This pregnancy has seemed to go by pretty fast for me. I can't believe I am already more than a third of the way through. I went and saw the Dr. two days ago and he did another ultrasound. Dr. Miller is a new Dr. for me, so I don't know if he routinely does ultrasounds every time or if it is just because of my miscarriage history, but either way, I was happy to see my little one on the screen once again. During this ultrasound I was excited that instead of looking at a blob (like on week 8) I was looking at a BABY! As I watched him/her move around like crazy and stretch out I couldn't believe that I couldn't feel anything. I'm hoping that will come soon. I felt Jack's "flutters" around 14 weeks and Haken around 16 weeks, so any day now would be good! 

The first picture is from the ultrasound this week (14 weeks). I also had to add an ultrasound that we had of Jack at 5 months because the resemblance is uncanny. Look at that little Anderson profile picture!

I am finally where I actually believe there is a baby in there. There really is no denying it when I look down at my tummy now. I'm about at the point where my belly sticks out further, if not just as much, as other various other parts of my body. This stage is so awkward to me because I don't fit into maternity clothes, but my other stuff doesn't fit right either. I am actually kind of excited to move on to maternity clothes so that I will have something new to wear that fits me. Excited for the changes that will come in the next few months!

By jove, he's got it!

After months and months of doing sign language to Jack I think he has FINALLY got it! I'm not sure what made it click today but I think we hit a break through! Today he signed milk, sleep, all done, more, cookie (well tried), and please. It is funny that having him "talk" to me this way made him grow up SO much in one day. I am such a big believer in signing for babies after seeing how much easier it made things with Haken. I wasn't too hopeful that Jack would pick it up because Haken got the concept much sooner than this. I'm so glad he's picked it up, especially when I will have another baby in tow in the next 6 months.

Christmas 2011

I know this post is late when all of my Christmas decorations are already down and everyone in the world has already posted their Christmas happenings. But better late than never I guess!

We started off our Christmas with our Christmas Eve tradition of a delish dinner made by Shad. I think he saves up his culinary skills all year long to prepare for this night. I definitely don't mind not having to cook at all. I look forward to it every year. He stuck with the tradition of cornish game hens seasoned with fresh herbs, small herbed potatoes, asparagus, gourmet yellow carrots, radishes, and a bit of bubbly to wash it all down. Oh, and of course all of this is lathered in his special herbed cream sauce. It was worth waiting for all year!

Another Christmas Eve tradition is Christmas jammies from Grandma Evans. Can you tell Haken is a bit excited about these? Jack liked them too, but was more into the lens cover of the camera.

Santa visited our house that night....

....and Haken tore into all of it within a minute of waking up. Haken didn't get up until after 8:00. We had to make lots of noise in the kitchen so we could open presents before church at 11:30. It is fun to watch him get more and more into it with each year. Even the smallest things are exciting to him, like the orange in the bottom of the stocking.

I think Jack would have just been happy with Haken's huge sucker and nothing else. Especially since he was terrified of the ball popper we got him. It has taken weeks for him to get used to.

But the other few toys he got, he liked.

With it being Christmas day on a Sunday we had to get a family picture just before church.

That afternoon we made our way down to Salt Lake to be with my family for a few days of Christmas festivities. We had a yummy dinner at my aunt Cheri's and talked to my cousin Spencer on a mission. We stayed that night at my parents and then had all my siblings come for presents the next day. At this point we were FINALLY able to tell my parents that I am pregnant (although Haken spilled the beans just a few hours before to my mom). We gave our parents each a set of coasters with family pictures in them. One of those coasters contained the ultrasound picture. I didn't take any pictures of the reactions, but we did get it on video if I can figure out how to transfer it all over. We told Shad's family over Skype on Christmas Eve. 

Jack really enjoyed tearing the tissue paper into tiny little pieces. Best present ever.

Uncle B and auntie M who came up from Arizona for Christmas. We sure miss them!

This picture pretty much sums up our vacation. Not sure why, but I always feel like I need a vacation from my vacation!

It was a great Christmas! We were even able to see the zoo lights at Hogle Zoo the next day before we headed back home. Haken loved seeing all the animals and Jack was such a happy little boy, even in the cold. All of that footage is on the video camera once again.

We truly are blessed this year and look forward to the new adventures that will come our way this next year!

Surprise!

Now that Christmas is over and we have made the big announcement to our family I can FINALLY post this on the blog. We found out at the beginning of November that we have another little one coming to us in July 2012. The official due date is July 11th and we couldn't be happier! Having kids 18 months apart was totally unexpected but it will be a fun, new adventure! Here's the proof!

These ultrasound pictures were taken at 8 1/2 weeks so there isn't much to see, but I did see the heartbeat. After that I could breathe a little easier.