One of my recent favorites

On a lazy Saturday morning Andrew was in definite need of a nap, so Momma got him on the couch in hopes that they two of them could take a little siesta.

Andrew didn't want anything to do with a nap, but he did appreciate the opportunity to crawl all over Momma and have a little fun.

I couldn't resist, so I snapped a few of them on the couch with Andrew having a ball with Angela.

I really like this picture for some reason, just may be the capturing of the moment we had that Saturday morning in January.

Daddy

Happy Birthday Andrew!

Andrew has had a full week of celebration for his first birthday!

It started with Grandmother and Grandfather Browne visiting him in NJ to help while his Momma was in England for the week and his Daddy had to spend a night in PA for work. It was a fun time for him spent with them through the week that culminated in a "mini" party for him Friday night.

We all had a lot of fun watching Andrew with his first little something sweet to try in the form of an Elmo cupcake! It was piled high with icing and sure did crumble all over him so well!

His next step in his week-long birthday celebration (not including all of the individual singing of happy birthday all through the week making him smile, laugh, and sway/bounce to the song) was his birthday cake (sweet item two!) on Tuesday, January 23 (his actual birthday).

Momma had a little cake made up for him and Tuesday Momma, Andrew and I celebrated with a cake, a candle and lots of singing after a little dinner. While he had a long day and was very tired already, he sure did enjoy smashing and experimenting with his cake. He got it EVERYWHERE! It was awesome! Just to see his little eyes light up and giggle after looking at Momma and Daddy for "approval." He had so much fun, even while he was in the tub (both Andrew and Momma were covered with icing that didn't quite land on the tray of his high chair.

The third and final part of Andrew's birthday was a party on January 27, this past Saturday with some of our friends in the area. We had several friends and their children come and help us sing happy birthday over some dinner and yet another cake! Our house was buzzing with children aged: 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6! We had some fun watching everyone bounce and run around with balloons, balls, and even some ice cream to get everyone all sugared up and running around the house.

I must say, Andrew stayed up a little later than normal that night, but boy did he sleep well once he let go of that last balloon for the night! He was so cute crawling around after the other big kids and trying to do everything that they were doing.

We can hardly believe that an entire year has passed since he came into our world and made our lives more centered on what really matters.

We love you Andrew!

Daddy

Birthday party pics 3

Yea for Andrew! One whole year old!



After dinner getting ready for some cake.



Playing with Lindsay with the leapfrog toy.

Birthday party pics part 2

Just watching, learning and giggling away.



So this is how you read!



Playing with the big kids!

Birthday party pics.

Saturday, January 27, we celebrated Andrew's 1st birthday with friends. Here are some pictures from that fun afternoon.



Mmmmm.... Cheese!








Andrew with Keri. They had a little chat about his potential future girlfriend and wife (Keri and Tony's daughter).










At Andrew's birthday party we had several friends over. We had lots of fun!

Toilet paper fun!

A few more pictures from Andrew's bath time tonight. Really these pictures could be from any night... or day! Oh the discovery of toilet paper. :)


Grab...
Pull...
Release !

One Year Doctor Appointment

Andrew had his 1 year well visit with the doctor today. He received 3 shots, and since he is now cruising around on his legs, he'll now get them in his arms versus legs (he's such a big boy now!).

Stats were:
24 lbs 11 ozs (75th percentile)
30 3/4 inches (75th percentile)
18 3/4 inches head circ. (75th )

Here's a picture of Andrew sporting band-aids on his arm while getting ready for tonight's bath. Also, a picture of Andrew's loyal friend, Jaz, making sure the bath is ready.

Cleaning up with Momma

Getting ready for a bath to wash the frosting out of our hair, under nails, tucked inside a few baby rolls, and even behind our ears!

Andrew had so much fun!

Cupcake is pretty good!

This stuff is pretty good! Why didn't you let me try this earlier?!?!

Cupcake everywhere!

Having fun smashing a cupcake!

Smashing cake is fun!!!

Birthday celebration #1

Andrew's first birthday celebration with Momma & Daddy and Grandmother & Granddaddy Browne.

Daddy's gift.

2006_12_ 345, originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

My best present ever. A framed keepsake of a picture of Andrew and I together as well as molds of his hand and foot.

Exactly what I need. I will treasure it always.

-D

"Papa"razzi

2006_12_ 332, originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

Andrew's every move documented as every Christmas is for all children.

Helping Nana with her present.

2006_12_ 321, originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

Nana needed a little help with her present (or so Andrew thought).

Andrew's new car

2006_12_ 316, originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

Santa brought Andrew a little push/sit on car for Christmas.

He must have been a really good boy this year, as a friend or ours later said of their son's Christmas scene:

"It's like Toy's R Us threw up in our living room..."

First Christmas present.

2006_12_ 298, originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

Though he had no experience with Christmas yet, he sure did take quickly to helping to unwrap his presents!

Fun with Nana

2006_12_ 284
Originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

Just playing with my new cups from Santa while sitting with Nana on Christmas morning. We were just getting ready to open presents.

Sweet little guy.

2006_12_ 270
Originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

Everyone enjoyed Christmas morning (this is his first nap, even before he got to open or play with any presents!)

15 minutes later

2006_12_ 267
Originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

From the timestamp on the pictures in this series he went from full speed ahead to angelic slumber in only 15 minutes!

Can't sit still!

2006_12_ 265
Originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

Daddy, how do you expect me to sit still for a picture when I am playing with Momma?!?!

Playing with Momma

2006_12_ 264
Originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

Momma and Andrew sure did have fun playing together on the couch.

Ready for bed.

2006_12_ 223
Originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

Poor little guy wore himself out!

(But he never did release his candy!)

Candy bars

2006_12_ 214
Originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

Thank you for my treats. I think that someone should open these for me to try my first chocolate bars!

(No chocolate was eaten as part of this stocking stuffing event, though the structural integrity of his gooey bars was in question by the end of the evening)

Stocking time

2006_12_ 188
Originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

Andrew had fun opening his stocking (also a Papa specialty) and he got his cute little hat, a Tigger rattle, a fun little frog and several other goodies...

But the hit of the stocking was his very own chocolate bars!

After we were finished, Andrew went around carrying around fistfulls of Hershey's in one hand, and Kit Kat's in the other. While they ended up inedible, it was kinda fun to see what each of us thought that his "abstract chocolate sculpture" looked like.

So pretty...

2006_12_ 175
Originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

Andrew's first Christmas was welcomed by his Papa's fabled Christmas tree. Lots of lights, and plenty of delicate ornaments that are just too tempting to leave alone.

Andrew ready for Christmas Eve dinner.

2006_12_ 161
Originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

Andrew was all set for dinner. He got all ready for bed and after a little tooth brushing (thats his toothbrush in his hand) he was off to bed shortly after tasking some yummy ham, a little bread, and some green beans, Yum!

Andrew's Christmas sleeper.

2006_12_ 146
Originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

When it is Christmas time, it is time for a nifty little outfit for the Little Man.

Momma got him all set for sleep on Christmas eve, and though he didn't really want to keep the little stocking cap on, he was truly adorable.

Tuckered out

2006_12_ 125
Originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

Sometimes you just need to have your faith in humanity recharged.

For Me, there is nothing that does this more than Andrew falling asleep on my chest.

I got a special treat over the break with several opportunities to have our little man asleep on my chest or lying next to me, including one really nice nap with Momma, Andrew and I on Christmas eve.

Dad

How big?

2006_12_ 119
Originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

How big is Andrew?!?!

SOOOOOOO Big!!!!!

Picking out a video

2006_12_ 104
Originally uploaded by nathan_browne.

Andrew really had a hard time picking out a video. He laid several out on the floor to decide and he still couldn't come to a final pick.

He even tried laying them out on the floor two different times!

Papa, I would have put them back in order, but I can't read, so alphabetizing was a little difficult...