Carlsons on the Couch

Uncle Josh and Anders

Baby Bear 1-31-10

Anders finds his inner Roger

Hi

Anders greeted Anna this morning by saying "hi." I realize that he is starting to learn new sounds, but it also feeds into our irrational belief that Anders understands us.
Anders pooped through his Nixon Library "Future President" onsie, there's probably some symbolism somewhere in that.
Anders' uncle Josh is coming from Seattle for a visit tomorrow.
Anders has his H1N1 shot later this morning. His synagist shot arrived via UPS today. It's refrigerating now. He will have that shot on Saturday morning.
I'm having computer problems, which have further delayed my attempt to post video. I hope to get a video in the next couple of day of Anders making some of his new sounds as he sits on the couch and talks to me.

Anders Feels No Pain

Anders now weighs 13lbs 8oz, so he's up 8 oz in the past 11 days.
Anders received his seasonal flu shot today. I put him up on the table under the bright clinic lights. Anders put his hands behind his head and settled in. One nurse administered the shot, one nurse held down the leg, and I distracted him. They gave him the shot and he didn't even blink, didn't seem to notice at all. Anders Peterson, your walk-on wedge buster for the 2032 Iowa Hawkeyes! I remember crying for shots when I was 5 or 6 years old, he's 6 month and does not even notice! It was a pretty impressive performance.
Well, he has H1N1 on Thursday, so we will see if he can make it 2 in a row.

Vikings vs. Saints

Anders gave me a finger squeeze during the game. I patted him on the shoulder at one point when things were going well. He gave a bad omen to start the game, however. He was sleeping on my chest, then out of nowhere woke up and started crying. It's tied at 21 with 7:00 minutes to go in the 3rd Quarter as I type. We shall see. Anders has been lucky so far...
I've had some trouble in my attempts to load video to the blog. Once I find a little more time and patience, I will figure out what has gone wrong.

Vikings Game Day and Saturday

AM Anders

quick update

I am working on getting another video posted in my spare moments. It's a lot harder than getting pictures posted. I want to get a video of Anders waking up. He is such a morning person. He smiles and laughs a lot when he gets up. I took a few pictures of him waking up, but they don't do him justice.
I plan on figuring out how to make a youtube channel for Anders, but again that's technology and I am me so be patient.
Anders had his first conversation with his uncle Josh, just back from Iraq yesterday. Anders gave him a piece of his mind, cry-yelling through the entire "conversation." I'm sure Anders will have even more to say when they meet next week.
Anders will be six months old next week, so he can get his flu shots. We have the seasonal flu shot scheduled for Monday, H1N1 for Thursday, and his next Synagist shot on Friday or Saturday.
He did something pretty funny yesterday. I had to put him down in his crib for a while and when I came back to him he was so excited to see me that he almost jumped for joy. He would have had separation from the bed if not for his massive head.
I better try to get those pictures up before the Tyrant awakens. Oh, Anna won a test of wills with Anders last night by getting him to stay seated rather than him forcing her to walk around. I just give in to Anders, it's easier that way. It's a marathon not a sprint.

Lazy Saturday

Anders did a couple of funny things today.
Anna went in to say goodbye this morning before going to a writer's workshop and Anders was lying in bed playing with his fingers, watching them intertwine. He wasn't crying or making noise at all. Anna told him that it was okay to let us know that when he's awake. When he's pensive like that, he looks a lot more like Anna. When he loses his temper and screams his head off, he's a dead ringer for my baby pictures.
The other smart thing Anders did was on our walk this afternoon. We had made our way over to the East Side. I gave Anders a tour of all the places we have lived in Athens. Anyway, the weak winter sun was poking through the thick clouds and Anders put his arm up to block the sun! I realize this may be a small thing and he might have just been admiring his bicep as he is want to do, but I thought it was impressive. Coupled with pretending not to understand what we say to him, I think Stanford Class of 2032 is in play!

Sunday in San Diego and Anders on Friday 1-15

1-14 Cont.

Rebel Without Pants 1-14-10

Sock it to ME? 1-12-10

Return

Anders greeted me with big smiles and full body shakes when I returned on Monday. People are rarely that happy to see me. San Diego was nice and the weather out there can't be beat, but I am happy to be home.
Anders has grown a lot in the time I was away. His head widened and matured. He looks more like a toddler than a baby.
Tomorrow we head up to Nationwide Hospital for a check up. Anders hasn't been to a hospital for a while. I'm sure he will have fun socializing in that familiar setting.
I would post a few pictures, but I think Anna has the camera. Pictures will follow later this week of the bigger, better Anders.

Missing Anders

It's getting hard to be away from Anders. Three days is about my limit. It will be four days and change before I return. It was a lot easier to go to OH, KS, and NY in earlier months. I think it's because Anders is starting to do more things and show more personality. I will be counting the hours until I return to Anna, Anders, and Trudy on Monday afternoon. It's tough being in San Diego without my news team.

Christmas Day, part 1100

New Year's Eve