Thursday, August 20, 2009

Happy Birthday Aiden!!!! BIG NUMBER ONE!






As I sit on the couch typing, my 4 yr old is watching Zoboomafoo. Where do they come up with these shows? And Aiden is tugging on me wanting more cake batter. That's right there are sweet comforting smells wafting through my house right now, as Aiden's birthday cake is baking in the oven. The boys so enjoyed licking the batter from the beaters and Ryan had to have the bowl, because he's four you know....almost five. That makes every extra his birth right in his mind. I can certainly remember licking the spoon and beaters when my mom baked goodies, but that was only when the big brother hadn't conned me out of it somehow. I wonder if Ryan and Aiden will look back on these times with fondness as I do?

I can't believe today is already Aiden's first birthday. As every mom says "Where has the time gone?" This passed year has flown by...I think because we are having so much fun. It has been such a blessing being able to be home with the boys since February. We have made so many memories together. Some hard, but all wonderful regardless.

This morning we went to Ryan's preschool to meet his 4K teacher Mrs. Molly. I think he already has a crush. He'll only be going 3 days a week this year. He has always gone at least 4 or 5 days while I was working. But this summer he stayed home and we have had so much fun going....hang on, the cake is done I have to go get it out of the oven....Ok, I'm back. The cake looks perfect and smells delicious. I hope the icing turns out ok. As I was saying...we've had so much fun going to the zoo, Science museum, gardens, and playing in the pool, on the trampoline, and even playing school around the house. Ryan knows all of his letters and their sounds...almost. We've been working on a few sight words this summer. He enjoys learning...or certainly the praise that comes with it. He doesn't like writing too much or using scissors. He's a lefty and I think he gets frustrated a bit. We're going to try and get him some of those left handed scissors. For now he would rather use my scrapbooking slide cutter. That's way cool to him. ..a boy and his tools. Hang on again...I'm gonna lay Aiden down for a nap.

Aiden is so pitiful today. He's been sick with the worst cold. You know the kind that greets you in the morning all running down his face and onto his crib rail as he stands there crying for you to get him out. I hope you get the visual...We had tubes put in a little over 2 weeks ago and he already has another ear infection. Blah! I can't believe it. We were so hoping they would do the trick and he wouldn't get another infection. So many friends said "oh we had tubes with our child and it was like he was a different baby the next day." Well, mine was different all right. He got sick...probably picked something up from the hospital. Oh but I'm not irritated at all. ;) We spent $250 for the surgery and now we had to spend $108 for the ear drops for the infection. So much for a birthday present.

I will be spoiling him rotten regardless of money or no money. I've been working all week on tagging things the boys have outgrown for a consignment sale. I have to turn it all in on Saturday and then the sale is late September. I can't wait to get some cash back on all that stuff that has cluttered up our house for almost 5 years. No more swings, bouncy seats, or baby clothes for me. A little sad to see it all go, but glad to clean out the house. There is also another consignment sale going on this weekend that the Birmingham Moms of Multiples puts on. I'm hoping to get some good deals for birthday presents. We are actually planning to go to Georgia next weekend (on my birthday) to celebrate Aiden's birthday with the grandparents. So we are really just going to have cake tonight and let Aiden dig in. Pictures will surely follow.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Saturday fun

Today was such a random day but so nice to be with the fam! I got up and cooked all my boys a big breakfast...(I think that is why they were so happy the rest of the day). We worked outside a little. We started pressure washing our deck so we could put water sealant on it. Oh what a chore that was! We had to take a break for lunch and we decided to go to eat at Joe's Crab Shack. We couldn't remember how long it had been since we had been there and thought it would be fun for the boys. Ryan loved the giant sharks and stuff hanging from the ceiling. Did you know that a crab's teeth are in his stomach?! After that we went to the Galleria to the new Lego store. I wish I would have taken pictures! There is a Star Treck Enterprise there for $500! I think anything from that store would make Ryan a happy boy! He was in awe! We also went to Cindy's Cinnamon Roll bakery and got a bogo! Yum...can't you just smell the cinnamon and the yummy cream cheese icing? Okay so today would have made Jenny Craig go into a carb coma, but it was fun....to top it off we rode the carousel and we got on the tiger, yes! After we got home Scott got out and finished pressure washing the back deck! While he was outside I was playing with Aiden in the living room and he took 3 giant steps to me! This is such a fun stage. It makes my heart leap everytime he does something cute. And he is always doing something cute. He loves to jump, well, bounce. I will sing a little song of Jump, jump, jump and he bounces up and down trying to jump. He gets so excited it tickles me pink. He also is starting to say all gone...sort of. He throws his arms up and says "awww onnn." Now the boys are going to bed and it is rest time. ahh...Don't you just love fun and productive days!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

McWane Center

The summer is drawing to a close and many kids have already gone back to school. For us preschool parents that means the crowds are going down at fun places, so today we ventured out to the McWane Center. (That is the Kid's Science Museum and play center for those not from B'ham.) Ryan got so excited when I told him we were going to meet our friends Hudson, Kaitlyn, and their mom down there. Even the drive downtown was exciting for him. I remember as a kid loving the skyscrapers and buildings downtown. The kids had a blast and I think they could have stayed all day. Ryan is such a social butterfly. What a difference it makes to have a friend along. We started the day with a picnic lunch we took into the snack shop. Its funny how boys want to eat all day long when they are bored, but when they have a friend along eating is not top priority. The boys enjoyed just about everything there including: repairing the car, playing in the "Just Mice Size" play land, the tornado exhibit, the greenscreen weather forcast, playing archaelogists and digging for dinosaur bones, and they even managed to have fun in the gift shop. They were a little bit leery of the shark petting tank, which was the whole reason I was taking Ryan. I thought he would love it, but he was timid about touching them. Overall, the day was a blast! I think I may have had just as much fun as the kids!

Kaitlyn's b-day party

We had a wonderful time at our friend Kaitlyn's birthday party last Sunday. The place was called Gymboree and it was perfect for a party with kids ranging from a year to 5 years. Kaitylyn was born just a couple of weeks before Aiden and her older brother Hudson was born just a couple of weeks before Ryan. So we are just growing up together!

Botanical Gardens, Aug 1st.

Ever since we lived in Ft. Worth, I have always loved going to Botanical Gardens. I'm trying to pass that love for nature on to our boys. The other day Ryan asked to go to the garden with the fish so I guess it is rubbing off some. So after packing up snacks and drinks we headed to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. We walked all over that place. Every now and then on the walk he would say "O Mama, that is beautiful. Do you think that is darling?" I guess he has heard me say that a time or two. Aiden enjoyed himself too. But as I would park the stroller to take in a view, he would bounce back and forth as to say "keep moving, lady." Here are a few of our memories.

Friday, August 07, 2009

Growing up so fast.

Not feeling so good today. I have another sinus headache. So this will be short and sweet. I just didn't want to forget it. Ryan and I were talking about something (which now, I've already forgotten) but he looked at me and said, "Mama that is just so distressing to me." I just had to laugh, and he said, "well, it was!" Then later he killed a bug and said " I was only a little terrified." Everyday is filled with cute little sayings that surprise me coming out of his mouth. I wish I could write them all down and never forget the moment. This summer has gone by so fast and he has grown up so much. How can I make time slow down? Also, Aiden is saying mama, and dada now. He said his first "real" word yesterday which was "ball." It has gotten clearer each time we cheer for him too. So cute! He's already performing for us. I love these boys!