Christmas 2007

A very good Christmas after all. Sarah and I hosted the Larsen side on Saturday. That part was highligted by a good meal and a visit from Santa Claus. We spent Christmas eve and day in New Ulm. Merry Christmas.


Santa stopped by to see Ella, Katie, Tommy, Ricky and Max.

Not sure whose idea it was for this photo, but Santa Claus poses with Mike. Santa had to get back to the reindeer.

Speaking of reindeer.

A nice photo of Tommy and cousin Brianna.

Tommy and cousin Brent.

First Snow...

First Snow for this year, and Tommy had a chance to enjoy it. He was too young last winter, but this year should be much different!

Here are a few other recent photos too - the blazer was a gift from my friend Stacey, and I know she'll get a laugh out of the picture. Mike and I were barely able to stop laughing long enough to take the picture. Otherwise, Tommy is a great kid. Holding up well considering the bad cold this week, hives and tummy bug. Whew!

Also, some pictures from Thanksgiving weekend. We went to the Holiday Lights Parade in New Ulm with G&G H. Cold, but fun!

Fun at Katie's Birthday Party

Tommy had a blast at Katie's Birthday party - she turned 5! Tommy got to play on the big equipment, got pushed down the slide by Katie's friends and ate pizza. Then Mike, Tommy and I went to the Gopher Game - and they almost won. Good enough.

Tommy Update

Hello! A few photos for those of you harassing me for new-Tommy pics! He's been a ton of fun lately - much more to say, very active and darn cute. He's learned to fold his hands to pray before dinner, which is going to melt BOTH Grandma's hearts at Thanksgiving! Tommy is eating the same food as the big kids now at daycare too, and he just loves it. I'm still adjusting to the idea that my little baby is eating meatloaf, hot dogs, BBQ, wax beans and rice krispie treats. What a big boy!

Folding his hands (after he ate, but Mike and I had just started). It shocked us!
Being cute...
"Helping" Grandpa do some work... and below, testing his theory - if I sit on Grandpa's briefcase, will he play with me instead? Tommy really liked the briefcase. Just proves that kids like our stuff better than their own toys!

Halloween 2007 and an update...

Happy Halloween! I've posted a few times today, trying to catch up on sharing some new pictures of our family. I thought I'd give a little update too. Tommy has had a rough two weeks. He started with ear infection #9 and croup. A few days later, he had a tummy bug - I'll leave out the details, but it was not fun for him. Then there was a trip to the ER, which turned out to just be a fussy hot constipated baby. Then, the docs decided on ear tubes - which were successfully put in this past Monday. Tuesday, he had a temp of 103 and now has a cold. Poor kid... but he's a trooper. We're really hoping the tubes will put an end to the cycle of ear infections, help him to hear better and help us all to sleep better! Send your prayers for the little guy that he manages to stay healthy for a while.

Here are some Halloween pictures - Grandpa H stopped by today to visit, so Tommy tried on his duckie outfit for him. Then we went to Tommy's Halloween party at daycare, where we got to see Snow White, aka Cousin Katie and her mom too.

Tommy and Grandpa H

Tommy, Sandy and Katie

Tommy was a little leery about trick or treating. We only to went to a few houses nearby, and he had fun!

Tommy's current hobbies

"Reading" is definitely a favorite pasttime of Tommy's lately. He loves to point at a picture in his book and call it "da". Here are a few reading photos - With Becky and Maddie...
And with Daddy.

Tommy also likes chasing his cousin Katie and pulling her hair. Luckily, I haven't caught that on film. But Tommy loves Katie, and Katie seems to like Tommy alot too! We just love living closer to Katie and Sandy. It's great to get to see them more often, we are very lucky!

Pointing at Grandma and Grandpa Henderson's photo is another popular activity, and pretty cute! The huge gate is serving to keep him from climbing into the fireplace. He's adventurous.

Who does all the work around here....

More Birthday Party Pics!

There are so many good pictures from Tommy's party, it was hard to pick just a few. Enjoy - and thanks to everyone who came and all the people who sent Tommy birthday wishes - thank you!!!

Tommy's Party!

And we're back...

To catch you up on Tommy's exciting week now that the camera works again

Tommy had a great birthday, and we're all looking forward to his party next weekend. He had his one year doctor visit on Wednesday, and it was quite a big day. He's 50th percentile for weight and height, but 97th for head. This has been the norm for most of his appts, so the doc said not to worry, it's familial. Super, we all have big heads. Tommy got his 4 shots, his finger pricked and then went to daycare and was bitten by his buddy twice in the head. It wasn't his favorite day. Oh, and we found out that Tommy had an ear infection - #8. I thought he was fine - runny nose, but sleeping great. I think Tommy has just grown accustomed to having ear infections, poor guy. So everyone say little prayer that this is his last for a while!

We're getting settled in at the new house, working on doing more Tommy-proofing and just enjoying the fall. Now if we could just sell the other house! Here are more photos from the big birthday week - enjoy!

Happy 1st Birthday Tommy!

Today is Tommy's 1st Birthday!

What a big day - he's wearing his 1st Birthday Boy t-shirt and a big Happy Birthday message is written all over the windows at daycare. What a lucky guy! I can't believe he is already one. What a wonderful, FAST and exciting first year. We have learned so much, and grown so much together as a family. It's hard to remember life-before-Tommy... we have so much love for him. What did we do with all of that love before?? It just shows how much love the human heart is capable of - it is endless. A year ago right now, I was in the last 15 minutes of pushing, and I had no idea how much my life was about to change. Yes, I knew I was going to be caring for a baby soon, and that we'd be parents, but nothing could prepare me for the heart-swelling emotion I felt when the doctor laid Tommy on my chest. I'll never forget it. Parenthood is such a blessing, yet so much work - and worth every ounce. Tommy - we love you so much - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

ps... I'm having camera/computer problems, so you'll have to wait for the adorable photos I took of him this morning in his bday outfit. I'm bummed.

One year ago today...

One year ago today, I was HUGE.
But a year ago tomorrow, I was the happiest new mom in the world!

Many firsts lately!

The most exciting 'first' of course was the walking... but I thought I'd add pictures of a few more big events for Tommy lately. Some are 'firsts' - others are just cute photos I thought you'd all enjoy. Tommy's first haircut - before.....During..... towards the end - he really did very well until he realized everyone was looking at him. After - we might not have been his favorite people, but he looked so cute!
Cute photo of Daddy and Tommy after his big haircut
Big trip to the park with Aunt Sandy and Cousin Katie
Tommy LOVES fans. Seriously, LOVES them.

Playdate on Labor Day with Madeline Parker - and we had lunch with Becky and Dave. Thanks for coming Parkers!
First trip to the Minnesota State Fair!
First Gopher Football Game!