Saratov, Samara, Spring, and Nostalgia

As spring draws near, I can't help but find myself thinking about the spring times I spent in Saratov, walking through huge puddle pathways of melted snow, enjoying the warming weather as we talked to people on the street. Or, in Samara, dodging puddles, (or trucking right through them with galoshes), talking to the incredible people of Russia. Be it college students, young moms on walks, or the amazing babooshki that were selling sweet/healthy somethings they'd grown on their Дачеs. 

I never thought I'd live somewhere as cold as it was on my mission, but--the fact that it's been above freezing only a handful of times in two months proves that I do. That being said, we have a balmy high of 41 degrees today, and I see the icicles outside my window melting as I type.

The cold is a bummer, especially being a person who thrives on sunshine and the outdoors (I guess we can blame my Colorado roots for that). But, those cold winters in Russia made for two of the greenest. warmest, most beautiful summers I've ever seen. Okay, warm is probably an understatement. But, for me--there's rarely a thing as 'too warm'. 

Granted, most of my time on my mission wasn't spent in the green dreamlike places like this picture--it was spent where most of the people were--in the city. 

Either way, as the weather warms and I continually check my phone to see if it's warm enough to take Anthon on walks...I'll be thinking of my year and a half in Russia, the incredible colds and hots of Russia, and the amazing people there I know and will always love.

Baby Blessing, Rolling, and Growing

This past Sunday, Anthon got blessed. My dad's cousin Ellen was able to make a drive out from Boston to come for his blessing! (Granted, she had to white-knuckle it back to Boston thereafter...) But we were SO happy to have some family here. It meant the world to us that she came :) After church, she came over for some chit-chatting, food, and picture taking. She is a pro at both the first and the last; I'm not sure about the second...since I cooked. We had curry, in case you were wondering. I don't know if I can call myself a pro...but it was pretty good, if I do say so myself.

I've decided that when we have company, it's safe to try a new meal. That way, if it doesn't turn out, I can just blame it being my first time making it. Boom.

Here are some pictures from right after his blessing, and them some of the awesome pictures Ellen took afterwards. I can't remember whether or not Matthew was wearing a suit that Sunday...but, he wasn't for the pictures. He just didn't want Anthon to be the only one in white :P

Anthon's a little less than happy that I fixed his sock. . . 

Can you handle the cute? 

I can't.

That face. Oh my goodness. 

Other new developments: 

• Playing with toys--his hand movements are getting more coordinated. If we put a toy or rattle in front of him, he will move his hands towards it and grab it. From there, it usually heads toward his mouth :) 

As you can see...he just can't get enough of them. He was so torn in not wanting to let either toy go...so, he decided not to.

• Rolling over--About 3 weeks ago, Anthon rolled onto his back from his stomach for the first time. I thought that was going to be the end of tummy time (seeing as he's always hated it. And..random side note...I barely have ever done tummy time. I figure--he hates it, and--heck, the kids from the first how ever many hundreds of years learned how to crawl and walk just fine without a (multi) daily regimented tummy time). Anywho, after he figured it out, he would just roll off his stomach immediately every time I put him there. But thennn....Anthon mastered rolling from his back to his stomach about a week later. With this development, came an increased frustration, since he somehow forgot how to get back to his back. haha. He will roll onto his stomach and then just be SO miserable. And I'm like "you know, you're the one who keeps rolling onto your stomach, mister!" Not to fear...I have a heart. I can't watch him be frustrated for long. Sometimes he figures out how to roll back, and then sometimes I help roll him back. He seems to be more frustrated after the latter takes place, ironically enough. I think it's because he was SO determined and is just ticked he didn't figure it out on his own. He's done better lately with rolling both ways and is getting to be a pro these days. I set him on a blanket on the floor the other day and found that--apparently, he likes to roll one direction over the other, since he found his way off the blanket and four additional rolls that way.

A problem with this playmat is the fact that it inhibits little man's rolling endeavors. When he's feeling especially rolly, I usually take off the sides and move the toys to the ground or move him to a blanket :) 

Take a second to admire that face of his, would ya?

• Laughing--oh goodness, can this boy laugh. Nobody gets him to laugh quite like his dad does. It's funny how moms and dad's are different. When Anthon is fussy, I usually start with holding him or talking gently to him. Matthew's take is that Anthon just needs to be distracted--so he'll talk really excited to him and/or start tickling him or kissing his neck. It often, amazingly enough, leads to laugher. At least until Anthon remembers that he's unhappy... haha, it's fun to see how moms and dads do things so differently. I can totally see why both interactions are beneficial to a baby's development. I can't do his laugh justice with a picture...so, you can just watch the video I posted on facebook or instagram

• Reading--I guess this one isn't new...but our boy still loves to read. He'll sit there for about twenty minutes. If I'm laying on the ground next to him, he puts his little hand on my shoulder as I read and it's about the cutest thing you'll ever see. This picture is a repeat...but, the other's are on Matthew's phone. And...with Matthew's phone...I am not :) 

• Head Bobbing--head bobbing is to a minimal these days. Anthon is getting a lot of control of his head. 

It is so fun to see his personality develop. I think one of my favorite things is when I hear him start to wake up from a nap and I go into his room. He will look at me as I talk to him and be so confused--because he wants to smile and interact with me, but he's also SO hungry! So, he goes back and forth between the two for a few seconds until I scoop him up to feed him.

Our boy is growing like crazy. He is already mostly in 6 month clothing. Some smaller clothes still fit him, but not most. You don't realize how much they grow until you put them up to some of their old clothes.

 I took this picture on February 10th. Anthon wore that onesie for over a month after he was born; it's crazy how small it already looks! (Not to mention the outfit he's in...that he no longer fits into, might I add). . . 

That being said...Anthon is big for his age. 

Here is (another repeat) a picture of him with a 6 month old at a friend of mine's house. haha. 

I don't think I realized how big Anthon has gotten until I looked at the blessing day pictures of us at the church. Our little boy is sure growing quickly! 

Healthy boy! 

Okay, I've gone on long enough. To end the post, here are a few more gems from the last little bit. 

hehe. I don't know what it is, but I LOVE this picture. 

Okay...I lied. One more story. We were at the DMV at the mall a few weeks ago and I took Anthon into the bathroom to change him. I came out looking to find Matthew. Where did I find him? Riding one of these kiddy cars. I laughed, asked about it, and he said it was already going. He couldn't bear to let a good ride go to waste.

Looks at those monster feet. This outfit, along with many other adorable additions to Anthon's closet, are compliments of my dear Colorado neighbors Lin and Cathy. Needless to say, our son is much better dressed than we will ever be. 

Life is good people, life is good. 

And, let's face it, 

so are my husband and little boy 

:)