Spent and Sick

It's been a tough start to the week for me, Mom and Ainsley gave me their cold by accident. So, I'm congested, coughing, and mom isn't getting much sleep. But I sure am, which will hopefully make me feel much better faster! I also got my very own Penguin humidifier, it's just like my sisters. I already want to be just like her!

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

It sure was nice to just chill in my bouncy seat all afternoon and it felt pretty good top have my feet out in the air.

Library Graduation

It was a sad day for mom today. After taking me to library toddler time for the last 18 months, I have graduated. It has been a wonderful experience for me as this is where I began to learn to count, the ABC's, how to listen to stories, met many of my current friends, and how to sing many friends.

At our graduation party we made ice cream in a can with rock salt! It was so cool and the can got so cold. we also got to take a picture with Miss Jean nd all my graduating classmates. And though I'm not smiling, these are my true feelings...I really am sad to leave toddler time!

From The Rankin Family

Now that I've graduated, I'm moving on to story time. In this program I'll be listening to stories with other kids without my mom and doing a craft! Hopefully I'll make some new friends and gain some more independence. Many thanks to Miss Donna, Miss Jean, and Miss Sharron for the countless hand stamps, coloring pages, and taking the time to help instill the love of reading in me.

Two Weeks Old

My how the time does fly! I'm already two weeks old.

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

Mom has been diligently trying to get me on a schedule and so far it's working, but just slightly. I'm successfully sleeping about 2 to 2.5 hours a stretch at night. That means mom feeding me around 11:30, 2:00, 4:30, and 6:00. During the day I'm up for long periods and then sleep for long periods. Ainsley finds this kind of mundane and constantly tells mom, "Andrew can't sleep all day!"

She's figured out my cries, which are only for diapering and feeding times. The feeding cry is easily recognizable as it is accompanied by a snorting/grunting noise. So far, I seem to only have food aversions to garlic and onions. Mom sure did forget how quickly a newborn can go through diapers! Thank you so much to all of our friends who have supplied us with diapers over the past few weeks.

Overall, I'm a really happy baby and haven't given anyone much of a problem. Much to mom's surprise, I am a cuddler. She's very excited about this, but it sure is hard for her to resist the temptation to just let me sleep while she holds me.

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

Looking Handsome!

Here's our favorite picture so far of our sweet boy!

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

Happy 3rd Birthday

We had my last and final birthday celebration today! It was complete with a Thomas the Train cake and pastel balloons. My whole family was here to celebrate with me! We also celebrated my Aunt Katherine's birthday. (Just think, next year we'll have my birthday, Andrew's, and Aunt Katherine's birthday to celebrate!) I got a lot of great presents and am thankful for all of them. I have been a very blessed little girl already this year. I've made it to three and I have a brother!

And yes, I've started potty training! We're only practicing in the afternoon right now. It's about all mom and I can handle. Once I get that down, we'll move up to mornings as well. So far so good, I've only had one accident and we've done it three days! Mom wishes she could post a picture of me in my training pants, but that wouldn't be very modest of me. But, she says it's the cutest thing to see me running around the house in what I call "underwears." You'll have to take her word for it, or come help us potty train to see for yourself.

From The Rankin Family

Look how much I've changed in three years!

From The Rankin Family

Just born.

From The Rankin Family

One year old.

From The Rankin Family

Two years old.

Rain or Shine, She's our Sunshine

Ainsley never seems to disappoint when it comes to bringing a smile to anyone's face. This has become increasingly true since the arrival of Andrew. She has so many stories to tell us that her voice is constantly hoarse. She dresses up, reads us stories, and has an imagination that would give everyone at Disney/Pixar enough material for a century. Here's just a couple of pictures that capture her increasing love for life and Andrew.

From The Rankin Family

Thanks for the new rain jacket, Aunt Marigene! It has room to grow and matches my lady bug rain boots for this coming season!

Here I am reading a story to Andrew. I have my Mickey Mouse book memorized along with a few Dr. Suess books so Andrew won't tire of story time. Mom took me to story time at the library and Andrew couldn't come. I told him, "Don't worry, we'll take you one day." It was nice to have some one on one time with mom though. (Thanks Aunt Trish!)

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

And here I am at scheduled "tummy time". This is my favorite part of Andrew's day. I constantly am asking when tummy time is. Mom thinks it's because I can actually get down on his level, or perhaps it's because someone finally let him get down to mine!

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

First Walk

Today was a beautiful day here in Kansas City, an uncanny 65 degrees outside. This was much like the weather was when my sister was born in AUstin, TX. So, mom ventured outside with me, Ainsley, and Aunt Trish for our very first walk. It was great to get some fresh air and I really enjoyed it.

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

Ainsley loved walking beside me, holding the stroller as we crossed the street, and telling me about all of the things that were around us and what she was doing. It took us a long time to walk what was probably only about .5 miles but both of us enjoyed it so much! Mom can't wait for spring and all of the fun outdoor things that we will do together.

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

One Week Old!

My how the time flies. This picture is me on January 19th, my sister's birthday.

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

Now, here I am already one week old and accomplishing many feats already. My chin has healed (nothing like a little chaffing/rug burn from the trauma of delivery), my eye is getting better (I have a broken blood vessel in my right eye), my jaundice has been resolved with some sun bathing (indoors of course), and I still have gloves on (wait till you see my hands! Mom thinks I could palm a basketball already.) Here are some of the important things that have happened to me in just the first seven days of my life:

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

January 17th: I came home!
January 18th: I had my first bath!
January 19th: I smiled! We're not sure if they are genuine yet but they are definitely smiles. Full smiles, crooked smiles, you name it, I've got it. Mom's still trying to catch a picture of it though.
I also had my first car ride today. We went to KUMed to get a weight check. I'm gaining and am back up to 6lbs. 14oz. The Dr.'s were pleased. I meet my pediatrician on Friday for my first true "well-check".
January 20th: I rolled over! (From my belly to my back, both ways) Mom couldn't believe it and Gigi can verify that this did in fact happen, she was there to see it! I'm going to be giving my mom a run for her money in the future.

Ainsley and Andrew

It has been a wonderful transition here at the Rankin household going from a family of three to a family of four. Ainsley has become a wonderful big sister and enjoys helping her little brother and spending time with him. Here are a few of mom's favorite moments that she has been able to capture with the two of us:

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

Here are a few of her favorite sayings:
Ainsley: "When will Andrew be able to say my name?"
Ainsley: "Isn't he so cute."
Ainsley: "Hey there little guy, it's okay. Big sister is here."
Ainsley: "Mom I did it, he's not crying." (After inserting the pacifier all on her own.)

Ainsley: "What's that he's drinking?"
Mom: "He's drinking mommy's milk. You use to drink it as a baby."
Ainsley: "Oh, I drink my milk now. I wouldn't like that."

Ainsley: Sings "Jesus Loves Me" to Andrew.
Ainsley: "Mom it's not working. He's not opening his eyes."
Mom: "It's okay, Andrew is just sleeping. You can still sing."
Ainsley: "I'll do it louder."
Ainsley: "It's working! He's opening his eyes."

Happy 3rd Birthday Ainsley

It's been an ongoing party around here since the arrival of my brother, Andrew, and in the midst of it all we've been celebrating my birthday as well. On Saturday, January 17th, we had a "mini" party with my favorite food, Pizza, and a blue cake. Yes, a really blue cake. Blue (and red) have become my favorite colors as of late. I don't know how dad found the cake, but he did and I was so excited. Our whole family enjoyed blue cake, blue teeth, blue tongues...you get the picture.

From The Rankin Family

From The Rankin Family

On my birthday, mom's good friend Mrs. Douglas picked me up and took me to play group! (Mom wasn't quite ready for a big outing like that.) To my surprise, my play group friends had planned a birthday celebration for me at Tunnel Voyage. Complete with chocolate donuts, popcorn, and juice boxes (more of my favorite foods)! It was so nice to celebrate with my friends.

This coming weekend, we'll celebrate my birthday with the real party! My whole family will be here and mom's getting ready for the big celebration, I can't wait! Stay tuned for an update on the party and my life as a three year old. (I'm still getting used to saying that!) Mom is too!

First Bath

I had my first bath at home today, January 18th. It took mom awhile to set everything up, but she jumped right in and went for it. This was not the way it went for her when she gave my sister Ainsley her first bath. I heard all about it before hand, there were tears with Ainsley. So I was sure to make it an easy go for her. Yes, there was crying, but there was no peeing! I thought that was a pretty good effort on my part.

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

My favorite part of the bath was getting my hair washed.

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

This is a good thing since I have so much of it! It turns out that my hair is even more blond then we all thought. It sure does feel good to be clean.

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

Update on Andrew and Family

Here's a quick update for everyone on what's going on with Andrew and the rest of the Rankin family. Given that Mom has von Willebrand's disease, the doctors kept a close eye on her. However, on Friday she was released from the hospital around noon, so we all got to come home.

Upon getting home, Ainsley and I both needed our diapers changed at the same time. Mom took me, and Dad took Ainsley. Turns out Mom got the short-end of the stick as I decided to practice being a fireman when Mom had my diaper off. Good thing she changed me in the kitchen because hardwood floors are much easier to clean than carpet. Dad and Mom both had a good laugh over it though, so no harm no foul. (They'd better laugh considering that's not the last time that will happen.)

I didn't sleep the best on Friday night, but since then I've been getting better. Ainsley has been a fantastic big sister, as she loves to give me hugs and say "Isn't he so cute." Ainsley even sleeps all through the night when I'm crying, so that's good news. Well, time to eat, so until next time.

—Andrew

Andrew Tyndale Rankin's Birth

I'd like to introduce you to my new little brother—Andrew Tyndale Rankin. Andrew was born yesterday, January 14th, at 6:17AM. I was very shocked woke up yesterday to find Mom and Dad gone and Papa and Gigi at our house. When mom called to tell me that the baby had come, my shock was twofold since 1) I fully expected the baby to come on the due date, which is also my birthday, January 19th, and 2) I really thought that the baby would be a little sister even though no one but God and the sonographer knew prior to the delivery.

After recovering from my initial shock that she was a he, I warmed up to the idea of having a little brother. It was especially nice that Andrew had a gift for me when I arrived at the hospital to meet him. New crayons and a Curious George sticker book are always appreciated.

Since I know that he's here to stay, I decided to sit down and hold him. Below is a picture of the two of us. At 7 lbs 2.4 oz birth weight, Andrew was only 0.6 oz. lighter than when I was born. However, he was a little longer than me at 20.2 inches, while I was 19.5 inches. I think that he has the same nose that I do, although he has a lot more hair than I did and it's so blond that it's almost white. It must be pretty rare to be born with so much hair and for it to be so blond, since all the nurses know him as the blond baby.

From Blogger Pictures

Legos, Legos, Legos

I love blocks! For Christmas, Papa and Gigi, got me a 300 piece mega set of a Lego variation. And, while putting away the Christmas decor in our garage, dad found his old Legos and brought them in from the cold. We've been building every night since! It gives mom great joy to see us constructing, it also helps that I've been doing this activity on my own quietly for about 2 hours a day now. I like mom to just sit, watch, and assist with tear down once in a while. I see more Legos in my future.

I really like my dad's Legos those. He likes to build the the space ships. I like to make my versions of rockets. We're working on the idea of sharing pieces with each other. This is a difficult concept for both of us when we are on task.

From The Rankin Family

The Count Down

Happy New Year to all! It's hard to believe that we're in 2009, I'm almost 3 years old, and the baby will be here in 19 days (give or take)! So, the count down has begun for my birthday and Baby Rankin's arrival. Mom's frantically trying to get prepared, we still don't know if both car seats will fit in the back, Christmas is still up, my baby book isn't up to date, and the list goes on. I'm really thankful for all of my new art supplies, blocks, dress-up clothes, and play dogs that I got for Christmas as mom is trying to be very productive each day now. But, she's making sure I still get to do all of our fun daily stuff together and spending quality time with me.

First up in 2009 for me is potty training and learning to be a big sister. Stay tuned, mom will frequently update the blog with these exciting events on the horizon. She's really hoping potty training will be a breeze since I've been so insistent that I'm going to accomplish this on my birthday.

We hope that your New Year is as exciting as ours!