Happy New Year!

 First of all, Happy New Year to everyone!! I hope that you all had a great Christmas and New Years and that 2010 brings lots of joy and blessings to you all. I know I haven't put up a new post since November but honestly Alan and I have been sicker than dogs since our trip back from CT at Thanksgiving. I am still fighting off bronchitis and Alan JUST got better. Almost 6 weeks is WAY TOO long to be sick with the same thing. :(  Because of all the sickness that Alan has been dealing with, we have decided to have his adenoids removed on January 8th.  His ENT and Pedi both agree that it would help 110%.  Then ENT said we could have it done here, before we move, or in WA, when we get there, but that it would need to get done by the end of the month for sure.  We opted to just do it here since the doctors knew us and we had already had one surgery done there.  I hate that Alan has to deal with another surgery this early on but we knew when his tubes went in that there was a good possibility that we would be back for the adenoids.  I really am so very grateful that we have such a good ENT practice to go to. 

As some of you know, Alan is officially in a big boy bed! After all the times he had crawled out of his crib and landed head first on the floor, we decided it was best just to put him in a big boy bed and call it a night. He has done WONDERFUL in his bed. We still occasionally have issues with nap time and him getting up to play, but all in all he does well. Bed time is a breeze for sure! Alan even gets into bed by himself and I just have to tuck him in and give him kisses...then he is down for the count! :)

Alan has also gotten much much better at coloring/drawing. We upgraded from "Tadoodles" to big boy markers. Alan was very happy about that change!

Little man has been a constant source of endless entertainment and frustration for me since Matt has been away.  One minute Alan will have me pulling my hair out and then 2 seconds later I can't stop laughing at something he did or I am almost to tears because of something sweet he did.  I love when he comes up and gives me hugs and kisses.  His funny faces are hands down the best!  He tells everyone so much with his facial expressions, even though he can't always express what he is feeling in words. It is times like these that I wouldn't give up being a mother for anything.  I still can't believe how quickly he is growing and what a "big boy" he is.  Alan eats with a fork now and can do a spoon 50% of the time.  He puts his dirty clothes away in the hamper and even helps me do the laundry.  Alan loves to put the clothes in the dryer and put them in the laundry basket after they are dry!

Alan is also turning into a "world class chef"!  He loves to stand on his step stool and help me cook.  He even pulls stuff out of the pantry that we will need for dinner and I usually let him pick some part of dinner.  He loves to pick out the noodles for chili (he is partial to the ruffles) and likes to pick out veggies or what kind of meat we will have.  Even for being as young as he is, he really does have a strong opinion and wants to be heard. 

We are going to be heading WEST again at the end of the month!  Washington state will be our new home for the next few years and I am so very excited!  There are several churches out there that are wonderful and it is so nice to know that there are several options of places to call our church home.  Matt will finally be going to a boat...crazy huh!?!  Who would have thought he would ever have to see water??? ;)  So I probably won't be posting too much more this month since we will be getting ready to move but I will try to get at least a post or two in and then post when we get settled in WA.  I am so very excited to start this new adventure in our life! :)