birthday boy

Seven years ago, I woke my OB complaining of severe abdominal pain. I thought for sure that the Totinos pizza rolls I ate the night before were giving me heartburn, but the pain was a little too intense and kept me up all night long. At the hospital, they told me I looked good, but they'd draw some blood before sending me home. Forty-five minutes later, I was in an ambulance with Ross & my in-laws following behind, headed to a city hospital in Pittsburgh to deliver a tiny baby boy...Andrew Marshall VanderLaan. He was just 33 weeks and weighed 3 lbs, 8 oz., born early due to HELLP syndrome. I kissed his tiny cheek before they whisked him to the NICU where he stayed for almost 3 weeks until he could gain weight and stay warm without the isolette. They were the longest 3 weeks of my life....

(Andrew the day before discharge)

Time has flown! Seven years later, I have a smart, loving, sweet first grader! His favorite subject is reading. On any given day, we'll find him buried in a chapter book or making his own books, and later he'll spout "facts" that he's learned that day. He loves Tiger scouts, fishing & camping, playing with his brother, and going to craft & cooking classes with his friends. Today, he told Ross he is learning multiplication from his Leapster. :) He's growing more and more like daddy every day (quiet and serious) with a little bit of loud, silly mom thrown in on a good day. Happy birthday, Andrew! It's so fun to watch you grow! :)

(Andrew opening his ipod shuffle and speakers for his birthday!)

Christmas joys for little boys

Christmas was quite exciting for the boys this year! We spent the 23rd & 24th hanging out with the Tom Marshalls from Fort Worth and great grandma Marshall (visiting from Peoria). On Christmas Eve we went to church, took a walk to feed the ducks, and made reindeer munch (oats & glitter) for Santa's reindeer. The boys opened gifts from each other and couldn't wait to unwrap more! We half expected to find Alex under a pile of wrapping paper come morning, but we ended up waking him up at 6:45 b/c Andrew couldn't wait one more minute! Once I learn how to post video, I'll show some of their present opening (Alex couldn't be more excited), but until then, here are the picts. It was a very Transformers/Star Wars Christmas this year. And Santa brought Disney dollars, Disney crocs, and Disney autograph books and pass holders for our trip in Febraury. Yay, Santa! The 26th and 27th, we took a road trip with Grammy & Grandpa to San Antonio to visit the Riverwalk, Alamo, and various historic buildings. What do the boys remember? The playground that we stopped at for 10 minutes, their new cowboy hats (only in Texas is this a normal purchase), and that they were VERY tired. :) Guess we need to prepare more if we're going to spend 6 days in Disney in 6 weeks. Family walks begin tomorrow!

Merry Christmas, y'all!

must be santa....

With the new outlet mall near our house, we were able to run right out to see Santa yesterday. The boys were very excited & showed their "dance moves" to the elves while we waited. Alex was cooperative for the first time ever, and they both told Santa what they wanted (Star Wars guys, of course). When asked if they had been good this year, they both paused and looked to me and Ross for the answer. :) I told them they had been MOSTLY good, and that seemed to be ok with Santa. We'll see how it pans out on Christmas Eve.....

Christmas-time is here!

Andrew and Alex have been crazed with the holiday spirit this year. Alex has tried to find imaginative ways to be alone downstairs (including staying up until we go to bed) so he can sneak presents from under the tree (when caught like a deer in headlights, his response was, "I just wanted to show you the cool wrapping paper, dad."). They are both up at 6 am, fighting over who will open the advent calendar door for the day (which usually contains chocolate). We solved that by making the door opening a lunchtime activity. They are constantly wrapping their own presents to give to me and Ross (I've always wanted an Obi Wan Star Wars guy!), and their obsession with making (and eating) the gingerbread house has been a little scary. It's been put up high to keep hungry hands away! Today, at Andrew's holiday party at school, Alex proceeded to stick both hands into a tub of icing after I told him he had to leave the M&M's alone. As I marched him to the sink to wash his hands, he happily stuck both hands in his mouth to get whatever he could before the soap & water came at him. This weekend, we're off to see Christmas lights and Santa. Viewing Christmas lights in 78 degree weather is something I'll never get used to. The snow was a short-lived experience. Oh well....I'll post those picts before my family comes on Tuesday!

snow day!!

Ok, so it's not really a "snow day" in the Northern sense that we got a day off of school, but it snowed, and in Houston, that's a snow day! We woke up to sleet and got about an hour of flurries this afternoon. People (and I mean ADULTS) were rushing to the windows to catch a glimpse and then calling everyone they know. The last time it flurried was 4 years ago, and neither of our boys remembers it! Andrew's teacher was so excited, she ripped the class out of PE so they could head out to play in it before it disappeared. Alex was satisfied to catch a few flakes on his tongue and head back inside. He's definitely a Texan at heart. :)There's proof in the multch (the only snow that stuck)....

Alex was too cold to play in the flurries!