Tanner Rolls over and helps with Christmas

For Tanner's first Christmas, Tyler and I decided this year to go to build-a-bear and build a special friend for Tanner's gift. We figured the grandparents will probably give him everything his heart could desire and spoil him rotten so we wanted to do something different and special. So here is Tanner meeting his new friend Cash. Cash sings him his favorite lullaby and has a heart inside with a special wish from dad and mom inside.



Tanner helped me wrap Christmas presents today. He was very content to sit in the chair and talk to me while I did most the work.

While Tanner and I were attempting to have tummy time he decided to do his own thing. We have known since day one that he has his own agenda and schedule but today he surprised us by rolling over for the first time. Here is a video of him doing it for the third time. I didn't have the camera ready for the first...he kind of caught me off guard. Enjoy!

Decorating for Christmas

Decorating for Christmas this year definately took me a little bit longer. I did as much as I could during the day and then we set aside one night to tackle decorating the tree. Tanner's "baby's first Christmas" ornament from great grandma and grandpa Tolstrup went on the tree first. Daddy helped him hang it in just the right spot. After hanging his ornament, Tanner decided to just supervise the rest of the evening from his swing. Sosa and Callie decided they needed to be in the pictures with us and then they sided with Tanner and supervised from their beds. The rest of the decorating was left up to Tyler, Troy and I (they even wore matching sweatshirts for the occassion). After a fun evening of cookies, Christmas music and laughter our tree was finally decorated and looks amazing.





This ornaments gets a special place on our Christmas tree every year. It is the ornament in memory of my brother Matt. The ornament reads "I love you all dearly, now don't shed a tear, I'm spending my Christmas with Jesus this year". There is an entire poem that goes with it that I read every year when I hang the ornament. I can't wait for Tanner to get old enough for me to tell him all about his amazing uncle that is looking out for him from Heaven.

Photo Shoot

We decided to take some photos for Tanner's baby announcement...which will be coming soon. Here are some of the out-takes...


Our family.My close up...

I tried to fit them both in my mouth...Daddy was not impressed.

Just haning out...

Firsts...

Tyler fed Tanner for the first time with a bottle the other night. He took to it fairly well and so far it hasn't messed with the progress we have made with breastfeeding. It puts my mind at peace knowing Tyler will be able to feed once I go back to work.

We also tried out our bumbo seat for the first time. Tanner was very captivated by what was taking place outside and liked sitting in the seat. He doesn't hold his head up consistently enough to be able to use it alot but it was fun investigating it. When he chose to not be strong he looked like a little old man in the chair (see bottom picture). We can't wait to have more first as Tanner grows up!

Motherhood and Motorcycles

Tanner's first, but definately not the last, time sitting on a motorcycle. Since I can't ride my bike with Tanner in a front pack and I don't have a side car we decided it was time to sell the bike. (It's a good thing I know someone with extras that I can ride) Tanner not only posed on the bike for pictures but fell asleep in the front pack, on the motorcycle while I was getting it warmed up before a buyer came to look at it. I definately think he will enjoy riding when he gets older.

First Thanksgiving

Our first Thanksgiving as a family was very busy. We began our day by putting Tyler on a bus to Montana for a basketball trip. Then Tanner and I came home to cook a green bean casserole for our Thanksgiving meal with Grandma Carole's side of the family. Tanner slept through most of the meal which allowed me to eat. Then we went with Auntie Molly and Uncle Gordon to visit Grandpa Bruce's side of the family for the first time. By the time we got both of us were wiped and we spent the next two days cuddling at home recovering. Grandma Mary bought me my cute shirt to wear for the event.