A whole month has gone by!

It's hard to believe that an entire month has flown by since I lasted posted. You would think that with an entire 2 weeks off I would have had the time but when you have an active 19 month old at home with you all day there just isn't time. Anytime I tried to sit down Anthony would walk in and say "No, no" while shaking his head and pulling my arm and pointing for me to put down the computer mouse. Last week we finally got back into the old routine of work and daycare but still I found no time. When Anthony finally goes to sleep I still lose out on computer time since this is when Randel takes over on the computer. So, I finally decided to bring my camera to school and use a few minutes from my planning time to update. Warning, this will be long since it's been so long.
2008 was a wonderful year for us. Anthony turned one and by far this has been the best time. He went from a baby who was completely dependent on us to being his own person with his own unique personality. It's amazing how much children learn in this time period. One month he was crawling the next he was walking and then running and talking up a storm. He understands everything you say but is really good at pretending to not have heard you. I am on to him on this though. He usually stares off into space as if he is thinking about something deeply and just can not be disturbed at the moment.
Christmas was wonderful and Anthony finally understood that if he torn something open there was always something fun for him under all the paper. He got way more toys than he needed and our home has become his own personal playhouse that we pretty much just rent a room from. He actually has 5 bikes/cars stationed outside the front door and he will play with each one of. them. He recieved a tricycle that also has a handy push bar so that we can help push him along until he learns to pedal on his own. He loves to stroll the neighborhood in his new bike. We also noticed that he grew in the few weeks since Christmas because he can now reach the pedals. Another major milestone was that he learned to actually hit a ball that is pitched to him. We were playing outside while randel was at work and it looked like he was bored with the same 'ol bat on the tee thing so I decided to pitch it to him and he took the proper stance, I pitched and on the very first swing he hit the ball with all his might. I was jumping up and down like I had just seen him hit the game winning ball for his team thinking that my son was a genius. Of course as soon as I told randel he had him out there practicing some more and for christmas he bought him a brand new "better" bat and ball and his first glove so he has been practing how to catch. Hopefully I will get him on video doing this but he doesn't like to be recorded doing it for some reason.
Anthony got to spend New Years day with us and Mia and Grandad at the zoo. Since he loves animals right now and making the sounds to each of them we figured he would enjoy a lot more than he has in the past. He had lots of fun getting to see all the animals that he usually only sees in books. He would take the lead and go from one window or cage to another looking in to see what was in there. He even went and pet and combed the goats. The only downside was that each section we went to he liked so much that he would throw a fit when we left then he would forget as soon as we got to something new and fascinating.
This past weekend we made the drive up to Waco and watched the Bears beat Texas Tech. Anthony had fun and clapped and cheered like crazy. He even got his very own baylor basketball which he stared at all the way home. Saturday he finally got his crazy mane tamed. It's a little shorter than I prefer but Randel wanted it short so we will have to wait to see those curls at least a month.
All in all 2009 looks like it will be just as fun and exciting as 2008 and we can't wait for all the new things in store for us. Of course I am including a few pics of our wonderful "little" boy.

Having fun with his new truck.



Showing off just some of the elmo gear he recieved.





His new tricycle.

Watching the fish with Grandad.

Feeding the fish with Mia.

Brushing the goats.

Pooped out from a long day at the zoo.

His new baylor hat.

Having fun at the park and sporting his new haircut.