Jan - March 2010

Happy almost spring from the Jansen house! We are doing well and enjoying watching the snow melt (good riddance!). Harrison is making the most of his last couple of months being 1. He's started singing songs and you can actually tell what he's singing sometimes. His favorites are the ABCs, twinkle twinkle little star, and any Thomas song. We watch the Thomas song videos on the computer all the time so it's not surprising he knows the words. We've been able to get outside a little bit lately, which is great. Harrison likes shooting baskets in his little hoop. After we went to a state basketball game last week he now requires that I chant "defense" while he's shooting. Never mind that I'm cheering against him... We've started thinking about potty training but it seems to go much better at daycare than at home, so we're not pushing it.

Here are a few pictures of the last few months. Corey and I went to Riviera Maya, Mexico, for 5 days at the end of January with Travis and Melissa Van Genderen. We had a great time. I missed Harrison but did not miss the snow and cold for even a second.

Harrison reading one of his many Thomas books. I don't quite get the appeal of the laundry basket but oh well.

Being silly

Cheese!

Helping Mommy make banana muffins - or just shaking up the vanilla.

We did water babies swimming lessons at the YMCA to get out of the house this winter. Harrison wasn't sure about it the first week, but loved it by the end.

Hi Mommy!

Still winter

Yes, it's still very much winter around the Jansen house. We're getting antsy for spring but we'll survive. We've been getting by through visits to the YMCA, waterbabies classes and the library. Corey and I are also leaving Wed. morning for Riviera Maya, Mexico, for a few days so that will be wonderful as well. I'm not looking forward to leaving Harrison for 5 days, but he will be safe and sound with both sets of grandparents so I'm sure all of the fun and spoiling will make up for a few days without us.

Harrison seems like he's growing up every day. He's talking more and more every day - he'll pretty much repeat anything you say (not always good!) and is starting to string together a couple words. He's still a big fan of Thomas the Train and Mickey and anything football or basketball. We read a lot of books, although it's usually one of 3 Thomas ones over and over. Harrison had croup and a touch of something (flu?) last week so that made for 3 long days but other than that he's been relatively healthy so far this winter. Hopefully we'll keep that up for awhile.
Kisses for Daddy


Cheese!



Favorite Thomas sweatshirt, Daddy's hat and his "suit." We started Waterbabies at the Y a few weeks ago and after a somewhat eventful first time he's really started loving it. His suit is still the one from last summer - he is growing though, as we used to have to roll down the waist and now it's getting a little snug.


Harrison got a wagon for Christmas and for now we've only been able to use it for circles around the kitchen and living room. Excited for spring to get out and really try it out.

In the midst of all of his Christmas presents, Harrison ended up sitting reading his book. It didn't last long, but was cute while it did.

He entertained himself for quite awhile one afternoon by stacking the pop cans in the cupboard. Great fun until he dropped one of them on his foot...didn't feel so good.

Our little monkey

It seems like we start every blog with "so much has happened since our last post." I guess that means we need to update more often. That, and the fact that we have way too many pictures to post. Harrison is 18 months old now and is getting quite the personality. "Yeah" is still his favorite word but we're hearing "no" more often...especially when we don't let him do things he wants, like destroy the basketball display at the sporting goods store, watch Thomas the Train all day every day, eat cookies before dinner, you get the idea. He still loves basketballs, footballs and his blankie. Harrison has a new infatuation with Thomas the Train, likes to read books and dance or sing songs. He climbs on everything and I'm just waiting for the inevitable first broken bone.

We had a pretty good Halloween. Harrison's original costume was a monkey but he wasn't so sure about that so he ended up as an Iowa football player - 4th quarter Ricky Stanzi, as Corey said. We made the rounds to the grandparents in Sully and had a nice evening for it.
Here are some new pictures. They're not quite in order (haircut was a few weeks before Halloween) but I am not finding the patience to move them around so close to my bedtime.

Hours of entertainment one evening with a tupperware bowl. For both Harrison and Mom and Dad.

His first time in the big boy booster seat at the table. I think he might have gotten some of the food in his mouth, but it doesn't look like it.

Harrison has discovered he loves Elmo.

Not a happy monkey.

Didn't mind the monkey so much at this point...or we were just able to distract him enough for a picture.

This is how we eat pudding at our house.

Post haircut

Cheese!

A shot of the long hair pre-cut. When it got almost long enough for a ponytail Corey said that's it.

Having a snack by the fireplace. Note the innocent look, he's not supposed to mess with that plant behind him but just can't help himself.

Before the haircut

He just noticed "Iowa" (aka a football game) on the TV at Sports Clips

One last shot of the 'mullet'

Summer flying by...

Wow. It sure seems like a long time since we've posted anything. We have been using Facebook a bit more these days, but no excuse. Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the summer. We've been having a nice time here in good ol' Ankeny. Harrison has been loving the outdoors and is very fond of both dogs and ducks. Lucky for him we have a pond with ducks nearby and the neighbors have a dog.

We had a little bit of a downer last week when Harrison woke up and couldn't walk without screaming. Long story short, a trip to the ER revealed that Harrison had transient synovitis which is inflammation of a joint. He happened to have it in his right hip. No fun at all. But he's all better today, so we're pretty thankful for that.

Erin and I are both doing well in jobs. Definitely staying busy. Anyways, enjoy the pictures of the little fella.