Because he's curious...

like Curious George! 

Even though Alan LOVES Curious George, I didn't think in a million years he'd actually pose for a picture with him.  He usually doesn't sit still for one minute, let alone with large mascots, as has been illustrated in previous posts.  So while he didn't like waiting in the long line to take a picture, and he didn't like that he couldn't go up to play with him afterwords (he tried to bring George a puzzle to do with him), he loved seeing him.  I wish I had a video as well.  He walked up to him and gave him a hug, then tried to feed him a banana that was sitting next to him- so cute!  I guess he must be growing up. :)

 

Our Little Relationship Expert

So Alan's new favorite thing is to climb up into his big yellow recliner and read a book or two all by himself.  If he's in the chair and I ask him if he wants me to read to him, he says no, points to me and then the ground, then himself then the chair.  

The other day, I found him on the couch like this:

 

Yes, he is reading Finding the Love of your Life, and taking it quite seriously as you can see.  I guess he figures it's never too early to start looking. :)  Special thanks to Dr. Barlow and his marriage prep class for providing us with such captivating reading material for our 21 month old.  He would be quite proud, I'm sure. :)

Spring Break Visit

We have had so much fun during the past week as Grandma and Grandpa Robertson got to come for a visit to Massachusetts!  They were here for a week during Spring Break.  Scott had to miss a few days as he was traveling for work. Bummer!  But we had such a fun time anyway, and Scott got to experience some of the fun too.  Here are a few pics from our week together.

Even though it was a little cold, we still took a walk to the playground

Alan was NOT a fan of the presentation at the Minuteman National Park (darkness, cannons, etc). He had much more fun finding sticks along the battle trail and running up and down hills.

Grandma and Grandpa at the Minuteman statue in Concord

Making cookies with Grandma!

Walking around Harvard

Curious George store at Harvard Square.  Wasn't as big of a hit with Alan as we had thought it would be, but it was still fun.

We got some very rich Hot Chocolate from Burdicks in Harvard Square.  Soooo good.

The first sign of spring after a very snowy winter!

Alan loved this little toolbox that Grandma and Grandpa got him.

The second sign of spring!  There wasn't all that much to do in Salem, MA (some kind of weird witch stuff) but we did find a Rita's!  They told us it was the only one in New England.   Doesn't get much better than this!

Basketball

So I am overdue for a blogpost, and thought I ought to blog about the thing that takes up the majority of our time these days:  basketball.  Now, you may think I'm referring to the NCAA and conference tournaments, winning conference championships, or having a national player of the year on our team.  Don't get me wrong, this is what takes up the majority of our free time, thanks to Greg Wrubell and ksl, and and no thanks to the mtn.

Over the head 

But I probably hear the words: a ball! woosh! a hundred times a day.  Absolutely Alan's obsession!  From the moment he wakes up until we go to bed, he wants to be shooting the basketball.  And he's so funny about it, and determined too.  He will stand in one spot and shoot the ball about 4 times, and then he will move a few inches to a new spot and try from there.  Next he will practice shooting from standing on a step stool.  Then he will sit on the stool.  Then on the ground.  Then move the stool directly under the hoop, then on the other side of the basement.  Recently his new thing has been to steal a peek at the basket, then either turn his head and try to shoot without looking.  I have no idea where he gets these ideas!  And he is developing a pretty good shot as well.

Pretty pleased with his shot

Now from the very beginning, we though this guy would be a basketball player.  His first ultrasound showed his entire hand stretched open with all five long fingers spread wide.  When he ended up being kind of a bigger guy we thought that football may be his destiny.  But now when I see childhood pictures of a certain short chubby kid who has turned into our player of the year, and Alan's passion for basketball, I'm beginning to think we may have a future jimmer on our hands.

Watch out.  That's all I'm saying.

If you have any questions about this, just call and ask.  Alan always wants to talk on the phone to whoever I'm talking to.  And when he does, he usually tells them two things: a ball!  woosh!  (he quite frequently adds miss! as, well, as we all make mistakes. :)

Super jumper

Woosh!

Anyway, we're way excited about being able to actually watch the game tonight.  It's been a fun, fun season with some super exciting times (52 points over New Mexico???)  and some not so exciting ones (seeing former Provo High students kicked off team).  But regardless of how we play tonight, I can be sure of one thing.  The next two words out of Alan's mouth will be: a ball!  woosh!

Birthday, family, and more

Well, I feel like it's been a while, but wanted to catch up on a few recent happenings. My family was able to come up for president's day weekend, and it was so fun to be able to spend some time with them. Alan loved having everyone here. He always had someone to take downstairs with him to play basketball, which is seriously an obsession. For the next couple of days after everyone left he kept going and looking for them after waking up.

We mostly spent time here, as it was freezing outside, but we did go in to Cambridge to the Harvard Museum of Natural History, which was pretty cool, and my parents got to drive around the city and see some sites. My grandma was also able to come up and she and my parents and Scott and I were able to go the Boston Temple, which was wonderful.

Since my birthday was the day after they left, we got to celebrate my birthday for several days in a row. My grandma took us out to dinner on Saturday, and my mom made a great dinner on Sunday and we had cake #1. As you can tell in the video below, Alan's reaction to birthday cakes hasn't changed that much since his first birthday. :)

Then on my actual birthday, Scott made dinner and another cake (much to Alan's dismay). He also got us tickets to see Mary Poppins in a couple of weeks! So fun!

Overall, a great birthday weekend! Thanks everyone. Here are a couple of other cute pictures that I thought I'd tack on the end.

Snuggling with Daddy

Always a big helper when it comes to making (and tasting) brownies :)

Great Grandma's bag was just the right size for Alan, and he loved it.

Boy, oh Boy

Janelle's ultrasound last week confirmed a healthy mom and baby, for which we're all grateful.  Also, the technician was quite confident we have another baby boy!

Alan and I got to be there and see the little baby on the screen.  I still don't think Alan understands that the baby is in Mommy's tummy, and not in his, though.  Either way, he will be here in a few months and we're excited to meet him!

What's up with Wednesdays?

So every single Wednesday since we've been here it has snowed, and I mean a significant amount of snow. Sometimes more, but at least 6 inches every Wednesday (and occasionally on other days too).  And none of this snow has melted.  Which means it's all piling on top of each other, which means our front yard is forever a huge mountain of snow.  I used to tell people that New Jersey and Utah snow is different.  In Utah it snows a little bit seemingly every day, and in New Jersey when we get snow, we get a lot, but it's only a couple of times a winter.  Well, in Boston, we get snow almost every day, and we get a lot!  It seems that way at least.  Everyone tells me... I've lived here X number of years, and I've never seen it snow like this.  This isn't normal. It usually only snows a couple of times, and sometimes not at all... well, we'll see, but we sure picked a great winter to move in.  I think Scott is quite sick of clearing snow, especially after a long day at work.  But they closed Scott's lab again today, which means he'll get to be home with us, so that's a perk! 

Anyway, besides the snow, things are good here.  We are continuing to get unpacked and settled and slowly acquiring more furniture, etc.  Our ward is wonderful and the Relief Society is the most active RS that I have ever seen, with all kinds of great activities.  I'm excited about the book club because it will give me more incentive to read again- something that normally gets put at the end of my endless to do list.  But it's moved up in priority thanks to book club.  Although, I am currently listening to a book on tape, and I'm not sure how I feel about it.  I mean, I love it because I can listen as I play with Alan, do dishes, laundry, etc., which means I actually do it.  But then again, I wonder if this can be considered reading a book.  If I'm listening to a novel, is it really that much different than watching a movie?  I know it is, but I don't know, I guess it's somewhere in between.  It's good though.

Scott is liking work so far, and Alan is obsessed with a cute little monkey named George.  The TV doesn't really keep his interest as much as PBS kids online.  I'm pretty sure he would do this all day if I would let him.  He also loves the Mr. Rodger's picture picture clips online where they make things in the factory.  Especially when they make balls.  Actually he loves everything about balls.  Again, obsessed.  He ate peas the other day because I asked him if he wanted to eat green balls.  (Didn't last too long, though)  He is soooo funny, and understands more and more everyday.  And has the best memory in the world.  It is unbelievable what things he'll remember from a week ago.  I will have forgotten what we did, and he will get so frustrated trying to tell me what he wants, until it finally dawns on me that we did something last week and he wants to do it again.  He's had a tough time with nursery, but he actually stayed for the last half on Sunday!  Who knows what next week will bring, but at least that's some progress.

Well, that's probably enough blabbing for one snowy Wednesday.  Maybe you'll have to wait until next snowy Wednesday to hear more about our exciting lives.  Wait, I just realized it was groundhog's day and I hear that spring is near!  Maybe no more snowy Wednesdays after all.  Good thing Phil doesn't live in Boston, he wouldn't make it out of his hole!