Zionks!

Today we met Aiden's friend Noah and his mommy at Zionks. It is a new place in Tallahassee for kids to go. It is filled with the air bouncers and they also have games. There were some that were huge and had enormous mazes but there were also 3 or 4 that were perfect for Aiden. He played for two hours and took a 3 hour nap afterwards. Money well spent. They also take security measures by tagging you and your child with matching arm bands that are checked and then destroyed on the way out. For parents there is a lounge with leather recliners, flat screen tv's,and internet access. Also next to the tvs there is another screen that is like a security tape with a view of all of the bouncers.

With that little commercial out of the way... I would just like to say we had BIG fun!

It's Hot Already...

Most of the days that we have been having are warm and sunny with a wonderful little breeze, but man, there are some days that it is already HOT! This past Saturday it was 90 degrees. So I decided that I would go ahead and clean Aiden's little pool and let him swim around. I have to say this has been the best $11.00 that I think I have ever spent at Walmart. This is the second year he has used it.

Last night we sat outside while Aiden played in the pool and jumped in the air, yelling "Aiden JUMP!" This went on for a good 45 minutes. I would have thought that it would have hurt, but if it did it did not stop Aiden.He was so eager to get in, I didn't have time to take off his clothes.


Taylor is 5 weeks old today and is smiling all over the place! Her smiles remind me of little Madeleine Walworth with her mouth open big and wide. It is already so sweet. Nightime is getting better but going to bed seems to be worse. I think we have taken 1 step forward and 2 steps back.

I think I will print birth announcements soon. Man- what's my problem?

Happy May Day!

Taylor is 3 weeks old today and I am wondering when the day will come that she will learn that day=play, and night=sleep. Even though it has only been 2 years you really forget how an infant can quickly zap the energy from your body.

Aiden is smitten with her and just wants to hold her and kiss her. I make sure that I am take plenty of pictures of this so the day that she won't leave his side I can remind him of how much he loves her.

Here is an Aiden/Taylor fix!

Big Brother

Aiden is such a sweet boy to little Taylor. Most of the time he is listening and he is very in tune to what she is doing or what she needs. While changing her the other day she was crying and he said "baby taylor trying (Crying). He he left the room only to return with a pacifier. In this picture of him laying on the floor he was whispering to her while he petted her head and told her "its okay". He loves to hold her and kiss her head.
This Friday Aiden will be two and I can't believe how much he changes day to day. It is remarkable to look at Taylor and then look at him and know that she will be his age before the blink of an eye. Better get off the computer so I can enjoy it! Hope you enjoy the pictures of my cute kids!

Taylor is here!

Taylor Grace is here! She came via c-section April 10, 2008 at 6:35pm. She was 8lbs 8oz. We are home and she is a sweet baby! Look back at one of the first posts I ever made and you will see that Aiden also sleeps this way. They make a lot of the same facial expressions, but she is definitely more of a little petite thing. We feel so blessed

She'll be here soon

We have decided to go ahead with a c-section. Taylor will be here Thursday at 5 p.m. Keep us in your prayers for a safe delivery and an easy recovery. More to come...

Easter

Our Easter weekend was crazy busy!

It started Saturday morning and did not end until SUnday at midnight when I pulled my aching pregnant body into my soft bed. We had 3 egg hunts, 2 dinners, lots of wiggly kids, a new baby ( not mine), family time, girl time, and a wedding. Whew!

Aiden was very well behaved. I say that because in the land of two's it is sometimes hit or miss. I think he may be over the hunting egg thing, but he was very focused. While hunting for the eggs, he would squat down, and put his pointer finger over his lip, and say " HMMM, let's see."

We had easter lunch at our house with my parents, and then again that afternoon at the park with our buds and the kids.

After the park I got to go see the newest baby to the group Mr. Elias Strickland. He is a handsome little boy! Then, it was off to bible study with the girls.

This is my last week at school, before I begin maternity leave. Thank goodness! With no time to rest at school, I am exhausted at the end of the day. Let's hope this baby gets here sooner rather than later! I feel like the crazy woman inside of me is showing herself more and more each day! Beware.

I posted our pictures here on shutterfly, but here are a few of my favorites...

Lately...

Lately, it seems like we have been so busy. I can't really recall what exactly it is that we have been doing, but I know that it seems like there is never a moment to catch a breath. I have been trying to wrap things up for maternity leave and trying to have conferences with all of the parents at school. I also am taking an online graduate level reading class to renew my teaching certificate. Here is the deal though... it ends April 28th. So I have been staying later than usual and staying extremely busy. I do know that the other weekend we went to my parents house to celebrate my cousin Alexa, and my dad's birthday!







My mom made the bedding for Taylor's room. I love it! Thanks mom. Here is a sneak peek! Pretty funky, huh?




One of the other things that I hung in the room is a piece of art I actually made with my mom in the fourth grade. I made it while I was attending the elementary school that I now teach at. It is pretty off the wall, but I have held onto it for sentimental value, I guess. Mark thinks that it is hideous but I am finding that I am quite fond of it. Here it is



In the midst of all the craziness that is our life right now, I have forgotten that it is almost April which means Aiden will be two! Time flies. He is doing all of the things you would expect a two year old to do... repeating things you say ;-( climbing and jumping on things, stomping his feet when he doesn't get his way, and getting into everything ( I'm sure Julie can relate). He also does some really cute things like singing into things that resemble a microphone, counting to four, sometimes five, saying prayers, and kissing your face at night and saying" love you." He is a sweet boy.





What a sweet kitty, Tigerlily has turned out to be!

2006 Babies

Here are a few pictures of Aiden and his Tallahassee monday night buddies that were all born in 2006. These were taken the other day at Ranen's 2nd birthday at the The pictures are missing the lone girl Nena, but we think of her often. It is so cute to see how they have all grown and changed. I love to see each of their personalities. Aren't they the cutest?!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Our family really believes that Valentine's is somewhat overrated but we still celebrate it in some small way. We usually just try to order a pizza ( yummy!) and do something fun together. Last night I made Mark this heart cake. Sorry I cut off some of it, but you get the idea. So what I am about to say is completely from the mouth of Mark. BE WARNED! I showed him the cake and he said "ooh yummy! I think it looks like boobs." Now... really?!!! You be the judge. I think he should write a book- Deep Thoughts by Mark.

Aiden's Big Boy Bed

Sunday afternoon Mark came home with a big boy bed for little man Aiden. We decided that we wanted to go ahead and transition him into this before Baby Taylor came home so that there would be one less thing for him to get used to. We also did not want to risk the idea of him thinking that the stinkin' baby stole his crib. So we skipped the toddler bed thing and just bought a mattress for him to start with. That way a fall would not be so far down.

Last night we moved the crib out- and put a mattress in. He seemed to really like it. Getting the bed ready he would run and fall into it. After the sheets and his entourage of stuffed toys he laid down just fine. We read our books, sang our songs, turned off the light and he was done. He slept the whole night, and was fine this morning. I hope this trend stays the same.

Here is Aiden showing off his new bed during the prep time. He is so proud!




Later I snuck in and took a picture of our sleeping angel.

Aiden the Toddler

I feel like overall I have been blessed with a pretty easy baby. Once Aiden got the hang of feeding and sleeping, he was pretty easy to read. I always knew what he wanted, he is very obedient, and such a loving boy.

Lately I feel like we are headed full steam into the toddler years. We are working on "using our words." Oh for the love of Pete! The Whining! I feel like the grinch. "Oh the noise, the noise, noise noise." The sound of whining is like the sound of nails on a chalkboard to my ears. Soon I fear that we will be headed to the emergency room. The other day we were driving in the car ( the story of my life) and Aiden was eating some snack mix ( Kix cereal, raisins, etc.) and he suddenly begins to start coughing and sneezing. I reach back to wipe his nose and it is brown. I don't think much of this because he has been sick and I think no big deal. Well the coughing and sneezing continue and now I am wondering if I should pull over. I know he is not choking but he getting pretty violent.
Finally he stops and I looks back to see him pulling a RAISIN out of his NOSE!!!

When we get home that night he is pulling packing peanuts out of a box piece by piece and putting them in the garbage. Then he got quiet. I looked over at him and he was staring at me waiting for me to look at him. In his nose was... yes you guessed it... a packing peanut! He began laughing and took off running. I think he has his Dad's sense of humor.

Here are some pictures of Aiden being the toddler that he is...

Winter in Monticello!

It was FREAKIN' cold the other day! Mark set up the water hose and this is what we got.

Holidays Part 3

We spent Christmas at home. It was nice and relaxing. We rested up before the home improvements began. Dundundundun...

Holidays Part 2

We spent Christmas eve with my parents at their house. Aiden had a much better time rolling in the all of the paper than actually opening the gifts. He got a toddler four wheeler, and his first pair of boots from his uncle Cody. He was such a trip!!!

Holidays Part 1

I think that the most effective way to break up our holiday update is by the different activities. Maybe that can trigger my memory and it can be taken in more easily by others.

Before Christmas I felt like we needed to add more to our hectic schedule and fit in a Santa visit, as well as a trip to Dorothy B Oven Park. SO we made a night of it. When we got to the mall the line was not too long and the whole time Aiden would say HoHoHo! The closer we got the less there was of this. He hit the brakes when he realized that we were putting him on this strange man's lap. I snapped a few pics and SIr Aiden was done...



After when we went to the park to see the lights with the hundreds of other people, Aiden was so excited that he went full throttle all the way through the park. Mark and I were exhausted to say the least. It didn't seem to bother him that he had to run through big groups of people. Mark and I followed closely behind. I don't know how many times I said "excuse me", "so sorry", "pardon me." I am tired just recapping the experience...