Cardiologist Visit

Has there ever been a cuter little girl? (don't answer that) I took Minnie to the Cardiologist to do a follow up about her PFO (I think that is what it is called). It's a tiny hole in her heart that should have closed before she was born but didn't. It doesn't hurt her or really affect her and is quite normal. There is a possibility that it would have an effect when she was older. The last time I took her in they said it was "abnormal size" and we will check again and if it is big enough, they may have to go in and close it when she is 3 or 4. Today, the doctor said it is still "abnormal size" but is tiny and getting smaller and should eventually close on it's own or stay tiny enough to not be a big deal. I was definately relieved! We don't have to go back for another 2 years. I don't know what it is, but there is nothing more sad than seeing little babies with wires hooked up to them or tubes sticking out everywhere. I'm so glad we don't have to do that! Now if she could just quit nursing, life would really be GREAT!

Random

So Tim and I, seperately, had the same idea. We want to try to take Andy to Disneyland before we have to pay for him. He turns 3 in April, so we signed up for Disney's Give a Day Get a Day program where you do volunteer work for certain organizations and you get a free day at Disneyland. So, Tim and I will be free, Andy will be free, Minnie will either stay here or be free if she comes with us. And, Tim actually works for their office in Irvine, CA (which is like 15 minutes away from Disneyland) so if we go to Disneyland one day, he can stay and work in his Irvine office the next day. So basically, we can take our family to Disneyland for the cost of gas money and food...for sure we'll take that! Anderson asks every other day or so if we can go to Disneyland. And he is obsessed with the music from Pirates of the Caribbean. We have a cd with the music from the rides at D-land, and we go back and forth between that one and the Tiki Room.

So Minnie has crazy hair and lots of it! But she won't keep any sort of clip in AT ALL. But, she will wear this styling 80's head band. And she loves to wear it like a sweat band. Whatever keeps those crazy bangs out of her face...she pulls them down and they are long enough to reach her mouth. I can't bring myself to cut them though.

Let's hope Anderson isn't giving Minnie any secrets about getting into stuff. I don't know what I'd do with myself if she is as "curious/busy/never sitting still and getting into everything" as Andy is. By the looks the of the next picture, I may be doomed!

Christmas is OVER!

I like Christmas just as much as the next guy, but by the end of it, I am so ready for it to be over. Christmas night Tim and I put the tree away and all of the decorations. I love getting my house back and not worrying about the kids getting into stuff. Anyway, Christmas was great. Anderson got things he really liked and Minnie seems to enjoy the fake keys Santa brought her! A couple days after Christmas, Anderson came in after he woke up and said, "Andy open presents?" So we had to explain that it's not happening for a long time!

The highlight of his gifts was his new basketball hoop and new basketball. He has slept with it, taken it to the bathroom with him, and everywhere else. We have set it up inside on the stair rail and he's getting pretty good. I think he gets it from mom...no offense Tim!

Sorry for the blurry picture. Santa also brought Minnie and Andy those little pop-up tents that have a tunnel coming out of it. I don't know who loves it more, but they are in and out of that thing all day.

Here's the loot. Thank goodness they are still small enough to be happy with very little:) Tim and I counted our trip to Disneyland as Christmas for us. We already want to go again before Andy turns 3 so he will be free. We are trying to figure something out...we'll see how it works.

This little girl is starting to walk! She consisitently takes 3 or 4 steps and sometimes more. She's been doing this for a while but seems to be getting better. I'm sure she will be all over the freaking place soon. Crazy. She is going to be one of Febuary 5th. I promise this was the fastest year ever.

Disneyland

We just got back from Disneyland and it went so fast it feels like it didn't even happen! This was our first time bringing the kids and Tim's parents came with us to help out. They took them back for naps which helped and then Tim and I could do the big rides during nap time. It was really nice. It wasn't that crowded and we waited 15 minutes at the most. Most of the time we walked right on everything!

Of course we had to go see Minnie and Mickey mouse! We got pictures with both and Anderson gave them hugs. He was a little shy but not afraid or anything.

Anderson loved to ride the "horsey" (the carousel) and kept asking for it. There is one in California Adventure too so he rode it a bunch.

This was in the hotel room before we went the first day. It took a while for Anderson to get used to everything but once he warmed up to it all, he was good.

The only big ride he could do was the Matterhorn, which he really liked. He was really only afraid of the Haunted Mansion which he kept saying "all done all done, go outside" but he was fine once we got going. All in all it was fun and way too fast! I want to go back already.

Merry Christmas!

I sort of dropped the ball on the whole Christmas Card thing this year. I thought it would be funny to send a more "realistic" family picture, but consider this your very own card (via the blog of course).

Merry Christmas from The Vanderwalkers

Bah Humbug

I just put our tree up yesterday and I'm already done. You would think this would block any baby. Nope, when I hear the jingle sound I know somehow she has gotten through and is sitting so sweetly right in front of the tree. And, I don't know how many little green ornament hangy things are missing in action, because they pulled the "Christmas Ball" off, and I've stared at the tree and can't seem to find one. We learned really early that ornaments don't bounce on the tile like regular balls. They just shatter...I think I'm just going to get a Christmas tree that can be put on a high shelf some where for the next 10 years.

A week from tomorrow we are headed to DISNEYLAND for 3 days! Tim (more than me) and I love Disneyland. It will be the first time we bring the kids. My mom and sisters gave me the idea to make a shirt for Minnie to wear, so we did! Thanks Karyn for the transfer paper...I owe you a sheet! I did add some cute flower things later to girl it up a bit, but I think it turned out cute. She STILL won't take a bottle. I try multiple times a day and nothing. I quit cold turkey for a couple days and still nothing. The problem is I am getting really bad migraines and cannot take ANYTHING while I'm still nursing. I've decided I can brave the migraines if I have to, but what about when she turns 1?! I'm for sure done after that. Any suggestions are still appreciated!

No crazy Anderson stories thank goodness! The other day he did start coughing randomly and said to me, " Andy drink gas?" Oh boy. He fell asleep like this one day in the car on the way home from playing at Kaci's. They aren't getting another baby brother or sister until this one goes to school...it's for everyone's own good!