Happy B-day, Mr. Mouse!

So, in case you haven't heard, today, Nov. 18th, Mickey Mouse turns a whopping 81 years old. (So, Pedersen family, I guess that qualifies him as an "old hoagie," right?) He has changed a little as he's aged throughout the years, but I'd love to look as good as he does on my 81st birthday. Here's to another 81 years!

On another note, Soren and I went to the park today and played for almost an hour. He LOVES it, especially now that he can run around and climb on things by himself. Probably about 6 weeks ago we went to the park and he was kind of scared to go down the slides with me. He didn't cry, but kept trying to turn around and was clinging to my shirt. When we went back 2 weeks ago I wasn't expecting much, but he absolutely loved the slide and now he'll walk right up and practically throw himself off all by himself. (I have to remind him to sit down first.) It is so much fun to see him so excited about it.

Today also marks his first "real" bloody battle wound, as Soren tripped on the sidewalk and hit his mouth forward on the ground. Ouch! It wasn't really that bad (in fact, when he first fell I was thinking, "why the heck is he crying so hard? He must just be tired" because I thought he just fell on his tummy and hands) but it did bleed a little and it left him with a really cute little fat upper lip. :-) I'm sure this is the first of many to come...

It is so much fun to be able to really play with Soren these days. I mean, it's a pain chasing him around now that he is at the "human tornado" stage as he tears from room to room, but it's cool that he is starting to get it when we play.

Today he actually threw up a little. (I'm hoping it's nothing, so we'll see how tomorrow goes.) And when I say "a little" I mean that he emptied the entire contents of his stomach twice tonight. Once all over the carpet and the bathroom floor and once all over himself, me, his blanket, and Eeyore. Lovely. The good thing is that he's still been really happy and he loved having two baths. The point of the throw-up story is that after his second bath, he was laying on his changing table and I was putting on a diaper and I was joking with him about being "throw-up boy." Then I gave him a little replay action and said, "This is what Soren did:" after which I made a lovely puking sound and pretended to throw up on him. (Lovely, I know.) Let me tell you, he started busting up laughing. I mean, he thought this was the funniest thing ever. So, of course, I did it again. And again. And again. I seriously thought he was going to make himself sick just by laughing so hard. I have never heard him go that crazy laughing, so it was cracking me up too. He is just such a happy, silly kid and I love it that he can interact with Hunter and me like a real little person. Because obviously if he thinks I'm that funny, he must have a very keen sense of humor. After a ridiculous evening cleaning up a bunch of barf by myself (since Hunter was gone at class), it was one of those golden moments that I will remember and cherish.

Mom life -- it sure isn't super glamorous, but it's fun. :-)

(Mickey picture was taken from disneyclipart.com.)

Soren's First Haircut

So, I know everyone was really loving the long, flowing sideburns our little man had goin' on, but it was about time to say "adios" to the crazy hair days. We went to a place in Mission Viejo called "A Star Is Born," which is just for kids. I thought about saving the $19 and just cutting it myself, but I was too afraid I'd make him look really weird, so we just went for it. Soren had a great time sitting in the yellow car, wiping it off and "driving" with the steering wheel. (He is SO Daddy's little boy in that regard, and he can even make car sounds.) There was so much to look at and he kept whipping his head around, but that's the good thing about a kids salon -- they expect that kind of thing, and just went with the flow. (And didn't cut his ear or anything when he jerked around.) Now he looks pretty much the same, just a little older and less ragamuffin-y. They gave him a cookie and a certificate with his picture on it when we were all done.

"Before" (It actually looks pretty tame in this picture compared to some days.)

During:

After: (Kind of hard to see it, but it does look much better. So there you go, C.J.)

Happy Halloween

Getting ready to "trunk or treat" at the ward party.

I caught a little monkey! And check out his super flooding "12 month" costume. Those stirrups are supposed to fit under his feet...

Trunk or Treating with Daddy. All he wanted to do when he got candy in the bucket was sit down and take it all out. Needless to say, his costume was a little dirty by the end of the afternoon.

Jeff & Amanda came over the night before to carve pumpkins.

Eww -- pumpkin guts!

The final masterpieces:

He's giving us the "run around"

Soren and I were able to go to a free class at "The Little Gym," a gym for babies and kids. He had fun playing with the balls and bubbles and climbing on the mats. He loved hanging from the bar, but mostly he just enjoyed having such a huge space to run around. It was fun, but not quite enough to pay the big bucks they were asking to actually sign up. (We can run at the park or jump on the couch for free.) Still, a nice change from the usual scene at our little condo.
We've had many requests for updated video of Soren walking, since the last time everyone saw him he was barely taking his first steps. As you can see, he's improved just a little. (And now we can't keep up with him!)

Some new Picts

So here it is, in no particular order: a montage of cute Soren pics with a bit of commentary.

He spends a lot of time in the highchair these days. Mmm - chow down on that cheese!



So on Halloween, we gave Soren an orange lollipop (reward for all of his hard work walking around bumming candy for his mom and dad) and he, of course, loved it. Hunter and I were kind of in and out of the room doing other stuff and Soren just kept sucking and sucking, on either end of the sucker. It was pretty gross, but nothing less than we expected. I came out to check and he was making pretty good progress. Then a few minutes later I walked by and didn't see the sucker, so I thought he had dropped it.

Upon thorough investigation of the chair, the bib, and the floor, I discovered the remains of half of a lollipop stick stuck on his shirt. So looks like he really enjoyed the sucker, stick and all. (Look closely, you'll see it.)


Disneyland, at the petting zoo, making friends with the goats:


Soren loves riding the carousel.


Now this is the crazy-hair Soren we were so used to. :-)


Getting ready for bed. (Mommy looks a little tired too...)

Sportin' his new Buzz Lightyear jammies, from Grandma Marcia. Doesn't he look SO old, wearing these big-boy clothes?


Soren loves to sit with Mommy and play the piano. He even turns the pages on the books like he sees me do and finds just the perfect song before he continues playing.



And...a few more highchair pics, just for kicks.



See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya!

Happy 1st Birthday Soren 10/18

Soren had his 1st birthday party today.

It was a jungle theme birthday party, so Soren dressed up in his Halloween Costume.

We love our little monkey.


Video of Soren eating his cake:



Thanks for everyone that came and celebrated Soren's Birthday with us!

Bath Time With Soren

Soren Walking!

For the last couple weeks Soren has tried to walk but would only take a step or two and then fall down. Well tonight he took his first real steps (all it took was some candy.) We are so proud of him.

Disneyland Picts

BYU

Soren, when BYU is winning:

Soren, after Saturdays BYU Game:

We all felt this way!

New Picts of Soren

Thanks Sarah for taking these picts.

Soren Surfing (Complete with Wipeout)

Cute pict of Soren

Soren at 10 months.

Copy Baby

Family Picts