Andrew's Second Birthday Party

We worried a bit when Andrew was born on Christmas Eve. We told ourselves we needed to make sure Andrew always felt that his birthday and Christmas are separate. I think we did a great job with the first birthday. I feel confident we will continue for the years to come!

Andrew had a second birthday party at our house with my parents and my brother. We did not want to bring all of the big gifts to Jackson Hole, so we had a birthday party for him so he could get his birthday gifts a little early!

We even got a FAKE tree his size to help us celebrate! Brad put together all of the "big" things we got Andrew for his birthday and for Christmas. I put bows on them because he was not too interested in wrapping paper this year. This is Monday night before Andrew's birthday party. We were proud of our good work! :)

Gifts from Mimi and Grampy!

Gift from Uncle Re!

Gift from Uncle Aunt Heather and Uncle Carlos!

Gifts from Mommy and Daddy!

(Got to figure out how to ride!)

Cake Time!

Decorating for Christmas with a Child 101

Well, as you know, Andrew was born on Christmas Eve. So, technically this is his second Christmas. Last year we celebrated at the hospital. Andrew was already in his superhero gear to help us unpack the decorations! This year I was really excited to get a tree and decorate for Christmas... or so I thought.

Brad got the decorations out of the attic and I started to unpack them when I noticed that most of my decorations were not Andrew proof. They were glass and breakables! AHH! I decided not to put many of them up.

I decided to focus on the tree and stockings! I do love my stockings!! We got a LIVE tree on Saturday afternoon. We set it up in the living room and it looked great! We put up a gate around it so Andrew would not feel compelled to eat the pine needles or break the ornaments. We decided we would let it be for the day and decorate it on Sunday.

Sunday morning when Andrew woke up his head and ears were all red. We thought, oh well, maybe he just has a little rash... The rash worsened and worsened over the next 2 hours. We had some errands to run, so we were out for about 4 hours. During that time the rash continued to get worse, so I called the doctor. They recommended we give Andrew Benadryl and remove the tree from the house... So much for Christmas decorations! (Thank goodness we spent Christmas in Jackson Hole with Mimi and Grampy's fake tree!)

Brad moved the tree to the back porch. He put Christmas lights on it and we admired our beautiful tree from the window! We decided we would wait to buy a fake tree for next year. No more LIVE trees for the Willsons!

Future San Antonio Spurs Player

As many of you know, Mimi and Grampy are HUGE Spurs fans! Andrew is decked out in his Spurs gear! He will be the next one to join to Spurs team!

Thanksgiving

Well, it is a little late. Better late than never. We went to St. Louis for Andrew's first Thanksgiving. We flew in early in the morning on Thanksgiving Day. Brad's parents, Cindy and Dave, picked us up at the airport. We went to Bagel's house (my grandmother). Andrew really liked playing at Bagel's house. He had been taking a few steps here and there, but preferred to crawl. After Bagel's house, we went to Great Aunt Cindy's house. Andrew got to see Uncle Mark and Aunt Cindy. He also got to meet his cousins, Julie and Laura for the first time! This is where we learned that Andrew can say dog! I thought he was saying dog when he saw Minnie (our dog), but I did not say anything because I thought I was being the type of parent that thinks her child is a genius... Now I know he is! :) Ha!

That afternoon we headed to Brad's parents house. Andrew took a nap on the way! We unpacked a bit and headed to Casey and Dave's house for Thanksgiving dinner! Andrew had so much fun with his cousins: Jacob, Nathan, and Mary-Elizabeth. We got a lot of great ideas of things we can get Andrew for his birthday and Christmas!

On Friday Andrew got to see his Aunt Bevy and Uncle Dave. Andrew got to meet his cousins' Tim, Karen, and Gabby.

Saturday Cindy and Dave had a Andrew's first birthday party! He loved the cupcake. He was not too interested in the gifts, but I sure did enjoy opening his new presents!! Andrew also got to meet his new friend Carter! Carter's mom Nicki and I are only 3 weeks apart in age!

We had to leave Sunday morning, but we had a wonderful trip!