Family

Family

Saturday, March 26, 2011

{8 Month Update}

At eight months old, Anna….

… wears 6-9 month size clothing and sleeps in 9 month sleepers.

…eats 3 X’s a day…your favorites seems to be carrots, squash, green beans, pears and cinnamon, mangos, corn, and apples. Not really into different textures of food yet. We have given you puffs to eat, but you would rather feed them to the puppies:)

…has two front teeth and is working hard on some more!  From the few recent sleepless nights, we are certain more with be popping up soon.  Thank goodness for teething rings - they make us so happy!


...still rocks the jumperoo and exercauser!

…Starting to babble a lot – says “mama” – it just melts mommy’s heart! Still working on “dada”

…is obsessed with playing with electronics…DVR, cable box, xbox controller, cell phones, TV remote...
…reach out to everything (and everyone) that you want to touch with your little pointer finger. Too cute!

…Love to watch Sesame Street, especially love Elmo's World and Abby's Flying Fairy School….its our favorite!


…You are officially mobile! You started crawling at 7 months and now are starting to explore leaving the room mom and dad are in. Love to go for the puppies’ water and food bowls. Anna thinks it is pretty funny when we say, “Anna Rae, No, No!” :)

…Can pull up to a standing position while holding on to something. Is very big into standing up against the couch and looking outside. You also love to play with your favorite toys while bouncing on your knees.

...Also like to play "Jungle Gym Mommy" and "Jungle Gym Daddy"

…Love it when mom sings,“I’m a Little Teapot” while eating your breakfast...

…I can’t keep a hat on you in the car. Every time I go to get you out of your car seat you have it off. Hopefully spring will come soon!



...Starting to go through the "timid around strangers" phase...but once you are comfortable, you smile away!

I am having a hard time with 8 months old.  I can't help but think that 8 is only 4 months away from a year.  And while I cannot wait to celebrate Anna's 1 year birthday, it officially marks the end of the "baby/infant" stage and starts the transition to toddler.  This will be such an exciting time, but somehow I cannot help but think it won't be long before we hear, "Dad, can I borrow the car?"  or "I need some money to go to the mall"   Ahh, where does the time go?  Everyone says to enjoy every moment, because it goes by so fast, and boy, they were not kidding!  Amidst hectic work schedules, family commitments, keeping up the house, and all the other things that seem to pop up on a daily basis, we just try to savor every moment, smile, messy face, cute look, hiccup, sleepless nights (okay, we could do away with those!), and all the firsts we get to experience with Anna, she sure does keep us on our toes:)

Below are some pictures from Anna's 8 month "photo shoot."  I have to say while each new month brings on more challenges (Anna just doesn't seem to sit still where I put her anymore, imagine that!) it is very entertaining to watch her play and move about - we are just so busy!  - so we did our best and had some fun with it!  Enjoy!












Monday, March 21, 2011

{SURPRISE!}

This past weekend, the Willis family celebrated my dad’s 60th birthday in a BIG way - with a surprise birthday party up at Titletown. My mom has had this idea in her mind the for the past year and asked me if I would help her plan it. I was more than happy to help out - I am all about this kind of stuff! So a few weeks back we got to work. The surprise went down like this:

Wording from the invitation -

Mike said no party, get me golf clubs instead,
But when have we listened to a thing he has said?
So we decided to invite those he holds dear,
to help him celebrate his 60th year!


Friday morning Michele and Mike flew into Milwaukee and drove up to Green Bay. That was a surprise in itself, he had NO IDEA they were coming in for the weekend. We got to work getting things ready, ran some errands and went up to Titletown in the afternoon to decorate and get ready. Around 5, my mom went and picked up dad from work and brought him to Titletown to have (what he thought) would be their normal mug club fish special Friday night dinner. Needless to say he was shocked to see Michele and Mike with Bob, Anna, and I at their normal table upstairs.


SURPRISE!

We then shared that this night was a little different than most normal Friday nights. This night was about him and 50 of his closest family and friends were coming up in an hour or so to toast to him and help him celebrate the big 6-0!


Elizabeth and Brett were in charge of the cake - great job guys, it was perfect!

The party was a huge success - we all had a great time and it is was so fun to see everyone that came.  Certainly a night my family will always hold dear to our hearts. My dad was thrilled and so appreciative of all the work we had done. Good job mom - WE DID IT!

I will let the pictures share the rest of the night - Enjoy!

Anna kept busy before the party started!
Dad with Bob and Mike enjoying a beer before the party started.

The party begins

Michele and I


Dad with his fellow coworkers

Anna Rae with my dad's mom and sister Colleen

Dad with his best friend from elementary school, Dave, Dave's brother Skip, and Brett's father Jay

LOVED watching these guys play pool, friends since elementary school, it was just like watching a bunch of little boys play, so cute!

Brett, Michele, and Bob hanging out
Toasting dad


We got him!!!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

Thursday, March 10, 2011

{An Accountant's Attempt to be Artistic}

I few weeks ago I decided that since Anna was already 6 months old, if I wanted to make her a scrapbook of her first year, I better get moving on it.  (I should mention that I started a wedding scrapbook for Bob and I to enjoy 4 years ago.  I know somewhere around our house I have a few pages complete, but I couldn't tell you where they even are.  So the fact that I have made progress on Anna's already is a huge accomplishment for me!)  I thought I would share some of the progress I have made so far , no judging please, I am an accountant and we are not very creative!   I try to keep it simple, clean, and fun!
Welcome Anna Rae!


Our Little Cuddle Bug!

10 Little Fingers...
3 Months Old
Baptism
6 Months Old