There are 3 things in life EVERY girl needs!

#1 Someone to walk with...

#2 Someone to dance with...

#3 And someone to take a bath with!!

WATCH! And be inspired.

This is a MUST SEE ladies!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhLlnq5yY7k

Seriously, is this not the answer as to
why making hair bows is so addicting?

Just a little journaling...

Don't worry, she went straight to the bath after this lunch! Tatem loves pasta! Her favorite is shells with Alfredo sauce! She is such a great eater! She eats everything by herself except for her beloved sweet potatoes. She still loves her baby food sweet pa-tots! Other foods she loves: bananas, strawberries, blueberries, oatmeal, puffs, carrots, green beans, black beans, the veggies and noddles from Progresso Chicken Noddle soup, cheese, Mac n cheese, apple sauce, pears, and anything we are eating. It always tastes better off the mom or dads fork for some reason, right? Seriously, do I have to put a baby-gate around the toys? She's crazy! She thinks everything needs to be climbed. She still loves climbing up and running on the couch. She's really quite the dare devil. Not a thrill-seeker so much, just a dare devil. There's a small difference between the two! Tatem is confidant in everything she does! Ian thinks she has a cocky strut to her walk. And, she's gotten pretty good a running. When she's just walking around the house minding her own business, I love to sneak up behind her and scare the crap out of her. In her attempt to run away from me with her fast feet, she becomes paralyzed with giggles and fright and will sometimes lose her balance. Ever seen those mini-billy goats that fall over stiff when they get scared? Legs straight out! Yeah! That's TOTALLY what happens to Tatem, so of course it makes me want to do it over and over. I'm like a 5 year old who keeps yelling BOO over and over and, really, after the first two times, it's just not that funny any more! But I can't stop!At first, Tatem wanted nothing to do with this hat her Grandma Service made her for Christmas. It's been sitting in her toy box (the ottoman) unused and lonely. I caught her the other day trying to put it on her head, which looked like she was just throwing it over her shoulder, over and over. It was so cute! I went over to offer my assistance and now it's one of her favorite toys right now. If it falls off, she will attempt to put it back on by herself. The other night, she brought the hat over to Ian and then tucked her chin into her chest and leaned toward him. She wore it around the house for a good 10 or 15 minutes! She is so independent! And she is very observant! I love that she tried to put that hat on by herself. The other day, I caught her rolling around on the floor, wrestling with my slipper, trying to put it on her foot. She also tries to put on her own socks. SHE MAKES ME LAUGH SO HARD. And of course, I think she's so dang cute and smart. (She's got her Daddy's looks. She's got her Mommy's smarts.) She loves it when Daddy comes home for lunch! If she's in her highchair, she kicks her legs in delight as she hears the door from the garage into the house open and shut. She says "hhhhhhiiiiieeeeeeee" (extra emphasis on the "H" and the "E") in her sweet little voice before she even sees him! If she's playing and hears that door open and shut, she instantly stops all play, looks up at me with those huge eyes like "did you hear that?" and then goes running toward the door saying her sweet "hhhhhhiieeeeee", again, before she even sees him.
Daddy took her outside to kick her pink little soccer ball around in the grass. Daddy made her work really hard on building her technique and skill as an 11 month old soccer champ! Running drills. Up-downs at the blow of a whistle. Relentless wind sprints. They came back into the house smelling like the outside. Ya know what smell I'm talking about. That smell when your kids have been playing outside, sweating, and getting dirty...ya know? Well, a girl can only sweat so much before she needs to feel like a princess again! A tutu is like a white tank top. You can wear it with just about anything!

What you guys, what?

What's wrong with my Daughter?

She eats her bath bubbles!!!

My happy little Bubble Eater!
Tatem loves bath time. She will stop whatever she is doing if she hears the water running. She's not a big spasher even though I encourage it! However, she loves to lay on her tummy and look back at her kicking legs. While on her tummy, her daddy helps her with a few tidal waves. Every kid needs to master the art of a good tidal wave in the tub! Why not start early!?

Tatem has found a new love! She LOVES walking the length of the couch! We have taken out one of the cushions so she can climb up onto the couch by herself. She knows she has to turn around backwards if she wants to get down off of something, but she spent hours last night practicing getting off the cushion going forwards. She was real proud of herself (and whacked out crazy) by bedtime last night. I swear she dreamed of walking the couch all night long, because as soon as she woke up, she was out on the couch! She is a crazy monkey! Then Daddy came home for lunch again and chased her around. She loves to be scared! It's really funny to me!

In this video I love how she gets angry as she is forced to dismount the couch because of a pillow. She is one determined little girl. And I do mean LITTLE. She is sporting a new 9 month outfit today and it's still a little big on her. She'll be one next month!

Hey, look what I found!

Almost from birth Tatem has been know to hunt for the corners of her favorite blankie and slowly rub it on her face. Well, she found a "new corner" today when Dad came home for lunch!

tippy toes

or should it be titled...sweet sideburns!

Feelin' a little like SPRING!

Helping Dad wash the car She was having a very intense conversation with the grass!

Tatem loves to climb!! For the past 4 months she's had stairs to climb up and down, but now that we are back in Idaho in our own home, she only has this window sill to climb up into. She seems to be making good use of it.

FRAZER

Spunky little 4 year old Frazer is home with her new family! I love everything about her! I loved how she walked into her new house for the first time with such confidence, as if she had already been there a million times. How she found Isaac and Owen and ran to give them hugs...until she saw the dog. (Then I and O hid in their room because they were nervous!) I loved how she grabbed my hand to go down the stairs and to explore the rest of the house.
I seriously was squealing! I love her! My sister-in-law, Sage, was in Ethiopia for nearly the entire month of February. Oh the stories she has to tell. But the one I can tell you about her is SHE IS AMAZING!!! COMPASSIONATE!!! LOVING!!! GIVING!!! (and receiving). BRAVE!!!
And A WAY BETTER WOMAN THAN ME!
Sage with her two little girls, Frazer (4) and Maya (20 months)
SISTERS!
It was nearly midnight when they finally got home, but there was still time to play "dress-up" for two little princess'. We woke Maya up out of a dead sleep! She was so excited to see her new sister and kept attacking her with hugs! Frazer finally put her arm around her when the cameras came out. Sage said Frazer will pose and smile for any camera!! Part of the culture of an orphanage. Hmmm, did I come from an orphanage?
Hey, there is a troll in your family picture!


I love her. Plain and simple - I LOVE HER!

POOPIN' PALS

Memory lane again. Just humor me.
My twin nephews, Isaac and Owen.
Jenny - this is what you have to look forward to!

I've been traveling down memory lane...

and I can't stop laughing!

Sweet baby McKenna Diane

Yippie!

I just found out Tyler and Teresa had their baby!

A little baby girl weighing 7 pounds!

I love all these new nieces in our family!

Frazer is free and clear!!!

Isn't she just beautiful?!?!

I can't help but be giddy about my new niece!

She comes home a week from today!

Congratulations Steve and Sage!

Doing dishes with Daddy

Tatem is 10 months and as busy as ever. She has two modes. "Turbo On" or "Asleep Off". I got her in last week for her 6 month appointment (don't judge me, we were out of town for 3 months!) and at 10 months she weighs 17.5 pounds and is 26 inches long. She's still just a little thing, giving more reason for Aunt Lindsay to lovingly nickname her TROLL. Crawling under EVERYTHING and getting all up in everyones business (and looking so darn cute) were the first reasons Lindz gave her that name, but now she is walking, and is attempting running on a rare occasion (with little success). She has mastered the stairs, up and down, and when she hears me coming to check on her, she gets all wild and crazy and kicks it into turbo drive. She jibber jabbers in all octives but with only one word, "dat dat dat". And as of these last two Sundays there has been no shortage of gusto as she attempts to sing the hymns, both times, sitting with Aunt Marci. I love her scrunched up face when she fake laughs at me. I love to watch how she picks up the food off her try with her chubby little fingers. I love how she rubs her face with her blanket while she drinks her bottle. If we are playing patta-cake and I stop, I love how she picks up my hands and makes them clap. She is so independent, and so determined, and so not cuddly! I love my little girl and I hate that she is growing up. I didn't think I would be, but I am one of those moms' who laments every stage that has come and gone.

We got to hang out with Ian for one week before heading to Utah for the rest of the month. It was great to be back together as a family. Tatem loves her Daddy!

To My Valentine!

Ian really is THE BEST!
He is a best friend

a best brother
a best uncle
a best daddy

and my best valentine!

4 new neices within 4 months

Tatem and I made it home safely from our 3 month sabbatical to Indiana where we were able to welcome a new niece into the family. My sister Lindsay's little BRYNLEE is such a sweet little blessing with a little miracle entrance into this world. She is healthy, happy, and thriving. Last I heard, she is on the heavy side of 6 pounds! Hannah and Brynlee make the cutest sisters around! (and I miss the crap out of both of them! Literally. I miss being there to change their diapers...and to sing n' play n' watch Elmo n' stuff.)Tatem and I can't be bothered to stay home for very long so we decided to go away for another month. We chose a different state this time, but for the same reason. We are going to Utah to welcome another new niece into the family and we couldn't be more thrilled! My sister-in-law, Sage, is traveling to Africa tomorrow morning to pick up their new 4 year old daughter, FRAZER. Tatem and I will stay in Utah for the month of Feb to hang out with 4 anxious older brothers, and 1 little princess whose world is about to be rocked with a new sister! My excitement for them is beyond words right now. Alz I know is a whole bunch of FAITH and TRUST exhibited by my sister-in-law and brother-in-law has allowed Frazer to become part of their family.
Thank you Steve and Sage. I already love her!!!!But, before we start our venture in Utah, this weekend we will be spent in Chubbuck Idaho to celebrate the birth, and attend the blessing, of yet another new niece! My brother Adam and his wife, Jenny, just welcomed little baby ALYVIA to their family. We are excited to see their new addition to the family.
And just when you thought we couldn't get enough of new baby girls around here...THERE IS STILL MORE ON THE WAY. My brother-in-law and his wife, Tyler and Teresa, are expecting the arrival of their little baby girl ANY DAY! I have no doubt they will be great parents to this little angel! I tell you what, Tatem is LOVING all these little girl cousins who are all coming down to play! Ok, actually, she might be a little oblivious right now, but I'm telling ya, in years to come, she's going to love it!

So, just in case you needed a summary of who has been added to our family:

Natalie's sister, Lindsay - BRYNLEE
Natalie's brother, Adam - ALYVIA
Ian's brother, Steve - FRAZER
Ian's brother, Tyler - ask me again tomorrow, she just might be here by then!

Honorable mention:
Natalie's sister, Whitney - praying for the miracle of adoption to be part of their family story.
Ian's brother, Tres - due in the fall
Ian's sister, Holly - due in the fall

I know, I know. Rabbits, I tell ya! Rabbits!

Tatem and Hannah

Growing up, some of my best friends were my cousins. 

I'm wishing, and hoping, and thinking it will be the same for Tatem!

As of late, Hannah and Tatem have been sharing bathtime.  Hannah likes to keep Tatem in check...making sure she stays sitting down and helps out just a bit with shampoo time.  Tonight, when Lindsay asked Hannah if she wanted to take a bath, Hannah pointed directly at Tatem and gave a hardy "Yah Yah".  I guess she wanted to make sure Tatem would be joining her!

The carousel at the mall.  

By the end, both Ian and Keith wanted to throw up, 

but the girls were ready for more!

Taking turns!

Have you ever played the Question Game?

"EVER GONE TO WORK 

WITH A BOOGER ON YOUR EYEBROW?"

"MADE YA LAUGH!"

I think it was Lindsay who introduced the Question Game to our family last time we were all together as an Anderson Family. Sit in a circle, everyone making sure they can see the eyes of everyone in the circle. The first person starts by looking a random person in the eyes and asks a question. That person then looks someone else in the eye and asks a different question. And so on. Just questions. No answers. If you laugh or hesitate or actually give an answer to the question - you are out!
Just as my Mom had taken a drink of her non-caffeinated beverage, my Dad asked someone the above question, "Ever gone to work with a booger on your eyebrow?" Mom's drink came spraying out her mouth and nose! As if we weren't already laughing at Dad thinking just maybe he was asking out of personal experience, now we were pointing and laughing at Mom. Perhaps it's one of those 'ya kinda have to be there' occasions but it hasn't stopped us from turning that question into an inside family joke that is used quite often when you've just done something really stupid.

I'm pretty much giggling to myself right now just remember some of the other questions...and reactions of that evening!  Ahhhh!  I love my family!

Welcome Home, Brynlee

Isn't little miss Brynlee the sweetest little thing you've ever seen!

She has grown from 2 pounds to 5 pounds 

in her 10 week stay at the NICU

and was able to come home last week! 

Congratulation Keith, Lindsay, and Hannah on your little miracle coming home!