Almost 2008!

Wow I can't believe it is almost 2008! This year has flown by as I'm sure the next year will do so also. Zander had his 1 year old shots this past Thursday. I felt so bad for him, he got a needle in both arms and in both legs! None of his tiny limbs were safe to touch. Zander also got weighed and is now 25 pounds 14 ounces! He has been quite grumpy lately which I'm guessing is because of the shots - they say you can have a reaction for up to 3 weeks after! I sure hope not as I feel so bad for him when he seems to be in pain. Zanders godmother Bobbi was out to visit this weekend and he made her proud - his new word is now "Bobbi"! I'm suppose to reassure the aunts and grandma's that this is because he can say "baby" and it isn't a huge leap from baby to bobbi! He is also saying "papa" (which is what he is calling his grandpa's), he is very good at saying "hohoho" and we are now working on "aunty" and "grandma" (although grandma seems like a hard work so I'm trying to think of another name he can call his grandmas) Chris is trying to get him to say "Kaitlyn" but I'm sure that one is a long way off. We are counting down the days until we get to go to Disneyland again! I am already starting to make lists and trying to think of toys to keep Zander entertained on the plane (suggestions are welcomed). I hope everyone has a Happy New Year (I'm sure we'll be in bed long before midnight!)

Epp family x-mas

Well we are finally done christmas! We have celebrated Epp family christmas from christmas eve to boxing day! For the first time since Chris and mines 1st date my whole family was together! All 4 of my brothers and their families were home and all 3 of my sisters and their families were home! It was definitely a full house! It's a good thing so many of us live so close and we were all able to take people in! We got lucky and had my sister Melanie and her boyfriend as we have the smallest house. It was wonderful to see everyone and to see the latest member of Zanders cousins - baby Reese, my brother Kevin and sister-in-law Lita's baby (they came all the way from Egypt to see everyone!) It was an amazing time with the kids outnumbering the adults so needless to say it was also a very loud time! Zander went on his first ride behind a snowmobile and also had his first sleigh ride on the skating ice. All of the kids had an awesome time playing outside as we were blessed with gorgeous weather! We were also able to take a family picture and I will try to get it up on the internet for you shortly. I hope everyone had a happy and healthy Christmas!

Rawson family christmas

We celebrated christmas with Chris side of the family the weekend before x-mas. Zanders Aunty Michelle and Uncle Jody were out from Regina as were Aunty Melissa, Uncle Jodie and cousin Aidan. As you can see from the pictures Zander was dressed up as Santa (man is he probably going to be mad at me when he's older) - I thought he made a very cute and cuddly santa. Zander had lots of fun crawling after cousin Aidan who is walking. I believe Zanders favorite part of x-mas was the Santa face that plays music in the kitchen - he would constantly get someone to pick him up and then he would point to the santa and you knew you got suckered into taking him to the music (I have to say I'm very relieved that we do not have that santa at our house or I would never get any work done!). Oh I'm also happy to report that I have our kitchen sink back! Yay! I never thought I would be so happy to do dishes! The kitchen is in the finishing stages there are now just minor things left to do and of course the big job of putting things back.

Birthday party

Well we have survived Zander turning 1. We celebrated his birthday party with swimming and a pizza party. As you can tell from the pictures that Zander enjoyed every minute of it - I think his favorite was sticking his face in the icing on his cupcake. When everyone sang "happy birthday" I don't think he knew what to make of all the fuss. He didn't care at all about the presents which worked out well as the other kids got to enjoy opening them for him - although he did like playing with the wrapping paper after. It's nice to have his birthday over with as now we can look forward to christmas! As of yet we still don't have a kitchen but it is coming together and hopefully before christmas I will have my sink back! Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year!

Almost 1

Well I can't believe how time has flown by! Zander is going to be 1 in 6 days! We are celebrating his birthday early this Saturday with swimming in Saskatoon and then a pizza party afterwards - and of course all of his cousins will be there. Chris got hurt yesterday - he sprained his ankle and tore a legiment - so he is on crutches for 3 weeks. He is pretty upset that he won't be able to go watersliding with Zander. And of course all of this happens as we are redoing our kitchen - so here we are with no kitchen and Chris hurt - thankfully Chris Uncle Mike is helping and Chris dad will help also, so maybe, just maybe I'll have something of a kitchen next week! (Everyone keep your fingers crossed!) For the past week Zander and I have been stranded in just 1 room of the house - his playroom - it's amazing how one can start going squirelly in a 10x12 room!
As Zander is nearing a year I find myself thinking back - I've come to terms with the 20 hour labor and have even convinced myself that I will do it again (now Grandma Rawson that doesn't mean anytime soon though!) Dad always bugs me that I take too many pictures but it's amazing how time flies and all you're left with is memories and the pictures so I'm definitely glad. Zander now has 4 teeth - 2 on top and 2 on bottom. He is growing like a weed and climbing onto everything! He has learnt that if he moves his one toy up to a chair that he can climb from the toy to the chair - he just about gave me a heart attack the first time I saw him do it! So nothing is safe from Zeus!
He loves music and he loves to dance! He says "Night night", loves to sing "eiei" (he can't say the "o" yet!) and his new word for the week is "stinky" and likes to put his socks in his mouth and then say it!
Zander definitely has a strong personality and is not afraid to stick up for what he thinks is rightfully his - as his cousin Aidan found out when I tried to do the unthinkable and hold Aidan instead of Zander! Needless to say Zander is quite a little bully. I'm not sure how he's going to do at x-mas time when he has to share grandma epp with other babies!
It's hard to put into words all the emotions and thoughts you experience raising a child - I feel very blessed to have this opportunity and to have Zander and Chris in my life - I wouldn't trade those 20 hours of labor for anything!