Happy ONE Aaron!

We had such a fun weekend celebrating Aaron.  Spent all day Saturday lounging in our jammies until his big party that evening.  Family and lots of friends joined us for a light Chick-fil-a dinner and frog cake.  Aaron was great with all the attention and dug into his cake on que.   I was planning on giving him a bath right after cake since I didn't want a bib on him, but he really didn't get that messy.  A neat baby - yay!

We were excited to have a few neighbor friends stay way late, so Aaron went to bed well after his bed time and was content the whole time following brother and the bigger boys around the house.

I'll have his stats later this week after his one year appointment, but he's in the 25 pound range.  He stands on his own and wants to take a step so badly, but just hasn't quite figured it out yet.   I give him a week or so.   He's opening all my kitchen cabinets and either emptying them or banging on the contents if it's too heavy to remove.  Pewter salad servers on pewter cake server - LOUD.  But whatever keeps him entertained while I cook is fine by me!

He has 5 teeth - two top and three bottom.  Aaron is our garbage disposal and eats anything and everything on his plate.  Veggies are getting less exciting, so I'm having to be creative making casseroles with them.  Dropping things during dinner is a new discovery.  A few beans for Lucy, a sippie cup, a spoon - gravity is so  cool.  So here begins our break from eating out for a while.

A week ago I started mixing his formula with whole milk.   He spit up a lot last week, so just as he was on sensative formula I think I'll have to find an alternative to plain milk.  I bought Lactaid yesterday and he hasn't spit up since, so I'm praying the Dr. will tell me Lactaid is a good option for toddlers.   Aaron is down to just one 7 oz. bottle in the morning and uses a sippie cup the rest of the day.  He's so cute tilting his head back all the way for a drink, but will come up without having swallowed and with his mouth open so milk comes pouring out the sides of his mouth.  He thinks this is just the most fun.  My adoring glances aren't exactly discouraging this practice unfortunately.

Aaron waves hi and bye, but isn't ready to say it yet.  This morning he was yelling at Andrew and waving so hard, "DaaaaDaaaaa!"  He says dog, kind of.  Andrew thinks he said Lucy.  He's starting "uh oh." Peek a boo is a favorite game, especially with napkins at restaurants.  Itsy Bitsy Spider and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star are the songs he's most excited about.  For both songs he "blinks" his hands in the air (like twinkling stars maybe - hard motion to describe) and claps at the end.

We are so grateful for the amazing gift God gave us with Aaron.  He continues to be just plain easy.  A delight to be around.  He's funny and makes us think we're funny, too.  He's my snuggle bug and a little bit of a daddy's boy right now.  

I will write more later this week (. . .sure, sure. . .)

First Cake - "Don't mind if I do!"

Let's get this party started, mom!

Big Brother Logan helps with the candle

Grant and Lexie  

Lantz and Hailey  

(Looking through these pictures I'm reminded of how lucky my girlfriends and I are to have very hands-on husbands.   And Andrew who was behind the camera at the party - thank you for all of your help with bed time and bath time and packing lunch time and play time.  You're an excellent husband and a SUPER dad!)

Christmas 2011

THIS POST IS A WORK IN PROGRESS - OUT OF ORDER AND INCOMPLETE.  I'VE HAD A FEW REQUESTS FOR CHRISTMAS PICS THOUGH, SO HERE YA GO!

Our Christmas was spent in Omaha this year.  It was cold, but thankfully not white.  I have to honestly say that unless I'm skiing in it or just starring out the window while cozied up by a fire, I'd prefer no snow.

We had so much fun just hanging out with the fam.  

Logan, Andrew and Grandpa went to feed the geese again. "The geese didn't bite my hand this time!" (but I think his mittens just kept him from feeling it)

Olivia was an angel at the Christmas Eve service.

 During the service at church, Grandpa leaned over to say something to Andrew and Logan said, "Shhh. No talking in church."  Atta boy Logan!

Christmas dinner.  Aaron is staring up at the mirrored ceilings.

S'mores Christmas night after dinner with my cozy baby.

Ferdinand 

Birds and Squirrels

Dinner at Kristis

Geese

Church

Christmas Eve with Cousins

Santa's visit

Christmas dinner

S'mores

The Lazys

Part of my New Years resolution was to start giving myself a break.  The Marlie of the past couldn't go to sleep with anything undone.  The Marlie of 2012 has become surprisingly laid back (in my opinion).

What this means for me:  I'm reading again!!!  (Hunger Games series and Boys Should Be Boys)  I spend a while every night reading instead of cleaning, watching my shows instead of organizing something. Now I just need to make time to workout again.  I was supposed to run everyday in 2012 even if just a few blocks.  I'm 25 days behind on that one.

What this means for you:  I've become a really lazy blogger.

So here's a teaser and a promise to blog soon about Aaron being 11 1/2 months old and about Christmas that feels like it was so long ago.  And for those of you on "FB", you should "friend" my husband because he posts a lot of the boys . . . so I hear.  (Oh Facebook. . . )

Christmas Party

Last Sunday after church we headed to the kids Christmas party and brunch at Ridglea.  That place was a zoo!  We had fun with our friends the Bolgers.  We made some crafts, decorated cookies, wrote letters to Santa, and saw Santa.

The boys wore their Christmas sweaters courtesy of Mimi and I'm so glad we snapped a few pictures before church because it became increasingly more difficult to get photo participation throughout the day.

Love my handsome boys.  Notice there are no ornaments on my tree this year.  No comment.  I just wanted you to know that I know.

When you forget to pack toys. . . teacups!

When asked what he wanted on his face he said a snake, so I insisted it at least be a merry snake!

This is as good as it got for the brother shot.  It was nearing nap time.

Ella throwing me a fake smile.

Aaron - 10 Months

Aaron was 10 months old on the 11th.  I feel like this month has had the greatest amount of change than any so far for him.

After he starting pushing my hand away during spoon feeding 6 or so weeks ago I took it as a sign (duh!) to start just letting him have solids.  He's a HUGE fan!  I started him off on toast - toast with avocado on it, toast with goat cheese, toast with banana.  His favorites now are warm cheese sandwiches on Hawaiian rolls, whole wheat penne with parmesan, and any berry.  He's had spaghetti and meatballs (but mostly just meatballs), enchiladas, green beans, carrots and other steamed veggies of course.  Pretty much we just give him a little of what we're having - like tonight he had a few nibbles of pizza with his veggies.

Aaron has been pulling to standing for a few weeks now.  He is clapping, signing "more", and I have video that might lead you to believe he is saying "dog."  Just yesterday he started pointing, which I am really excited about for some reason.  His chubby little pointer finger is so stinkin' cute!  He's discovered doors and cabinets, too, but is just so taken with the movement of them right now that he's not taking things out of them.

Aaron's a big guy and with just a few exceptions in 18 month clothes.  Jackpot!  Went thru Logan's clothes and because Aaron is bigger, Logan's 18 month cold weather stash is just the right size!

He still takes his paci, and while I 'd like to say it is mostly for sleeping, I can't lie to myself.  I will likely restrict it to the crib after we travel for Christmas.  He has 3 teeth now - two on the bottom and one on top.

Aaron continues to be an easy baby.  He doesn't spit up anymore as of about a month ago, which is great, but he's more of a wiggle worm now and wants to get down and crawl, which makes holding him in public a little more of a challenge.  His new favorite song is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  He waves his arms around when I sing it and claps when I'm done, but at bedtime he just lies there and listens.

Aaron, we're continually grateful that we get to spend life with you.  Your joy is contagious and your cheeks are so kissable!  We are loving watching you soak in the world around you and are looking forward to showing you all of the fun things ahead.  Love you - MUAH!

Sleeping peacefully through the entire cold, crowded, loud brain tumor walk

Post-nap hair

Soaking off your first diaper rash - 15 minutes of entertainment provided by the remains of Logan's balloon sword

Your first spaghetti and meatballs.  So glad you like my meatballs baby!

Here comes. . . 

Trouble

Aaron's First Haircut

Sniffle. Sniffle.  Aaron's hair over his ears was getting a little out of control, so we took him in for his first trim the day before he was 10 month's old.  I was worried that his hair would look less curly afterward and it does.  He looks a little older now I think, but I was very clear that they were to only cut the smallest possible amount.

Aaron did great in the fire truck seat.  I can't imagine it having gone any more smoothly.  What a big guy!

Before

During

After