Two year old pictures

Mommy's lil' devil

"I'll hold still for JUST a second!"

Good Lookin'!

Santa photo 2010

Here is the picture Aiden took with Santa this evening. It turned out really cute! It will be the one and only time he wear these overalls. My mom overloaded my childhood with Paddington Bear (room, clothes, toys, keepsakes...) He's now so hard to find here stateside. I wore these as a kid and I forgot that they were in a box in his closet. I came into the mother load for clothes! He looks so cute in them, but they are too short on him even though they are a 2T. I think he's gonna be a tall kid like John.

Birthday and Christmas planning 2010

Aiden's birthday is just around the corner. Can't believe that he'll be TWO! The terrible-two's have already begun but he says so many cute things it almost makes it worth it! Hah hah - Just kidding! He's it totally worth it! Not too sure just yet what his birthday plans will be, but more than likely not until January so we can all recoop from Christmas.

We went to Hill Crest tree farm this last weekend and Aiden rode the train. He LOVED it! It's times like this that I really miss Evelyn. She would have had fun as well. Feels like our last picture in this post is missing someone. Here are a couple of pictures.

Hope everyone is doing well during this holiday season. XOXO

For Sale?

A couple to people have been asking me if I am going to sell anything this year for Christmas. After yet another conversation of asking, I have decided that I will make TWO things if someone is willing to purchase either of them.

The first is a platter, for decoration or cookies. I say this only because if you soak it in water or it is scrubbed the decoration will come off eventually. I can do this particular one or something for Christmas.

1. Give Thanks

2. Happy Holidays

3. Merry Christmas

4. All hearts come home for Christmas

5. Home for the Holdays

6. Happy Thanksgiving

The platter will go for $18.00

The second item will be for Christmas ornaments with or without polka dots. They come in boxes of 9 (if I can find them!). The font is set, not negotiable unless the name picked won't fit. You can choose from green, red, purple, or blue. Pictures here is purple and blue. You can also pick the name color. Blue, light blue, red, green, black, pink, purple, orange, yellow, or white. LOTS of choices and combinations. You can mix and match and have 9 different names! I'd be willing to do just an initial as well with the year on the other side.

Ornaments will go for $25.00.

Proceeds will go to a Fresno cancer center.

Contact me @ TAHA91682@yahoo.com

Happy Halloween - 2010

Next to our front door - what a ham!

"Cheese Mommy!"

Jumping in the back of the truck - AKA Sugar high!

Creativity!!

I have been asked by a lot of people to start posting some of the stuff I have been making in my spare time, not that I have a lot of it. I haven't been sleeping well so it seems as though I have created more time for myself.

Aiden's toy box. So far I only have three of the Sesame Street characters. I have been loaded with other projects and a wedding. I'm not posting the wedding stuff until it's over with. One: There is SO much, I can't keep up! Two: To keep her privacy. She doesn't want people to see everything unless they are invited and see it in person. So til then.... :)

I made this shirt for Aiden. He LOVES the movie CARS, though that's not going to be the theme for his birthday. You can't see it, but the front has a 95 on the breast pocket and a lightning bolt on one arm. It turned out super cute!

This is Eveyln's birthday gift, a bouquet of suckers. I later added her name and the age she was turning. She LOVED it!

This is a 13x13 tile I made for John's Aunt for (I think) Mother's Day. She helps us out a lot and cares so much about our family that we include her in all of our momm-day gift giving.

My BFF asked me to help her make something for a shower she was throwing. It was a Pumpkin theme and she is having twins. The banner reads" Two Pumpkins" and there is a set of pumpkins in the middle. I have to say it turned out incredibly cute! I may have to do another for Aiden's birthday! These are the invitations that went along with that twins baby shower. The mommy was super happy about them and the banner.

A tornado

We all have been SUPER busy around here. After settling into the apartment Aiden had surgery to repair a penial web that he was born with. Costing a bunch of money later, but I think he will appriciate it when he is older. It was scary to have him go into sugery, but he handled it better than we had expected. He was attached to me until we left the hospital. They said he may have trouble for a week or so, but if you didn't know he's had surgery you wouldn't be able to tell anything was different. He was back to running around and being silly that same day. We are so lucky to have such a healthy kid!!

Aiden is very busy! He likes to color and play with blocks and is always on the move. His favorite things right now are Toy Story, Sesame Street, any toys that relate to either of those things, going on walks, reading books, and he has recently started obsessing over The Polar Express. If he even sees the movie on the shelf he has wants to watch it!

He had his first hair cut, from mommy.

His signing has started to turn into talking. He still signs from time to time, but his verbal skills are pretty good. We can understand MOST of what he says.... MOST of the time. He is now entering his terrible two's. Throwing fits regularly and testing patients. It's difficult to not get frustrated and wait it out, especially in public. I know that I am not alone, other parents looking on in a supportive way as if to say. "I know, I have been there. You are dong ok." Not that it stops the screaming from Aiden, but it's just a thing most kids do.

Aiden's Papa and Grandma came for a visit from Washington. We all went to the Bay Area for a wedding reception. Aiden did very well and had a good time. We went to The Disney Family Museum. I loved it! Aiden spent a whole day with them and went to the zoo. I know he had a great time! My birthday came and went. John was in a wedding for one of his best friends. Beautiful black and red wedding. I was warm outside, perfect time of day for an out door wedding. And John got to dress up!

John in his Zuit-Suit His Grandma and I.

With Halloween tomorrow night, I'm sure there will be more pictures to come soon. Aiden will be Woody this year. I am trying to promiss myself that I will stay more ontop of updating this thing, but there just never seems like enough time these days to do everything I want to do, so untill next time.... keep us in your prayers.

Since our move

We have been busy bees since we moved from Washington. We have had some family stuff going on and it's been a rough road, but we are striving through to make it work.

Aiden is doing so well! He is now 18 months old! I can't believe how big he is getting and so fast. He's chatting up a storm and everyone says he is a busy boy. He is on the go all the time, all day long. And people wonder why I am so tired by the end of the day. To say the least, if Aiden is napping chance are I am as well. LOL He is still very into books and Elmo. He doesn't watch much TV, except when Elmo is on. He is branching out with the characters on Sesame Street, now liking Cookie Monster and Big Bird. I have found that he DOESN'T like Abby Cadabby, unless it's her as a puppet. I don't think he likes computer animation, he tunes out all of it. Apparently he only likes the cartoons and the puppets.

It's been a crazy couple of months. Everyone here at home seemed to be battling some kind of bug for a month, I was terribly sick - barely able to get out of bed. Aiden was sick with some kind of cold, which of course I got too, and he has been teething on and off now getting his molars. He now has a total of 12 teeth. My nephew Jeff graduated from Buchanan High School. He did an awesome job of keeping his grades at mostly A's and a couple B's though his 13 years of school. We are proud of him. He is headed to Fresno City to get his basic education and then hoping to go to FSU Fresno or possibly CalPoly. He wants to be an Engineer of some kind.

A few weeks ago Chris and Michelle confirmed that Wyatt is Autistic. We are all heart broken over it, but we aren't really surprised. We had all said that he has all the signs and actions, but having it confirmed is a whole other ball game. He now is spending lots of time in therapy. They are helping him meet his milestones and exercise his mind and body. He is such a smart kid! He can already read small words like ball, when, there... Shel has worked with him so much, he is thriving in so many areas. He turns 2 today, and I imagine that Shel and Chris can't believe the whirl-wind experience they have been through with him so far. He is very time consuming, but so worth it when he figures things out and the light goes on.

Due to the impact that Autism is going to have on our lives, I have decided to to the Walk for Autism on October in Modesto - Or that is the hope. http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=347224&lis=0&kntae347224=977A6B2D09454C83B88B0F6388D2EC4D&team=3771007&tlteam=0

You don't have to walk to be part of the team, you don't even have to attended. It would be great if I could have some support from my friends and family. So far I have ONE supporter/team mate - My sister-in-law Jennifer. I don't even think she will make it to the walk since she will be very close to her due date. I may be alone in this. But that's ok, I'm still doing it!!! Wyatt is important to me and that's what it's all about. Some how what I do for this will benefit him or another kid just like him. It will come around full circle.

Hope all is well with everyone out there, near and far. We miss a lot of you!! Don't forget to keep in touch with us and keep us in your prayers.

We are IN!

So we are moved in.... thank goodness! Still trying to lock down a routine, but it will come in time. Aiden is still getting use to being in the city with all the noises. The birds during the day seem to be loud and wake him early from his naps.

Aiden seems to really enjoy our little walks around our neighborhood. We live across the street from a Blockbuster, Vons, and SaveMart. Every couple of days it seems like we are over in one of those places getting something we forget the day before. LOL He still doesn't want to be in the car, especially if he's tired. But he seems more at ease now that he has other kids his age to play with.

Right after we moved in, we all got sick. All something different. I got Laryngitis... yeah I know... Me? Not talk? HA! It has been interesting. Aiden had a double ear infection, eye infections, and a respiratory infection. We weren't doing so well for about 4 days, which is why it's take me some time to get here to update things.

We also had a hell of a time getting Internet and cable... it's a loooong story. Suffice to say, we got the first month free and $25 off every month for 6 months for the hassle we were put through. I am NOT a happy customer with AT&T U-verse!

Riley (John's large dog), decided a couple of days ago he was going to go on a terrorist trip in our living room. He chewed up some of Aiden's toys and he got sent to solitary confinement. He now will be staying outside on our patio area when we aren't home. I have had one too many encounters with his jealousy with Aiden, and now it's enough! He chewed on one of Aiden's favorite toys (Riley seems to scout out what Aiden plays with most), his fire truck from my Aunt and Uncle. He did the same thing not long ago with a different riding toy that Aiden LOVED. I may end up having to get rid of it. Sad.

Hope all is well with everyone else and you are all avoiding the sickness that seems to be going around. Love to all! xoxo

We are on the move.

The house hut I was on for four days in Fresno didn't turn out too well, the housing market has shown it's ugly colors in the rent as well. A house in Tarpey shouldn't cost $1,200 a month with NO refigerator. So we decided to move into a town house for a while and see if maybe we can find something better. We really wanted a fenced back yard for the dogs and a front yard for Aiden to play on. But we will have to settle for what we can afford right now in a neighborhood that it's shaddy or crime ridden.

Things are being packed and we are rounding the last week in Washington state. I'm a little sad about leaving, mainly because I'll miss the trees and the nice weather... but also because Aiden won't see his grandparents much. We plan to Skype with them a lot, but it's just not the same. They are planning a trip to come and visit, hopefully bringing Evelyn with them (YEAH! We'll see how her mother responds to THAT idea!).

I am also excited to turn over a new leaf and start fresh. I don't want to keep moving around from place to place. But it looks as though for now it is in our best interest. I'm already sick of all the boxes in the hall and the garage is a mess (of course). I feel like I am drounding in a sea of cardboard and packaging tape!!

My back and hips aren't doing so well with all of the bending down and reaching up I have been doing the last week. Alas... I am back on my medications. I wanted to stay off of them mainly for Aiden's sake with breastfeeding. But we decided (Aiden and I) that it was time to give it up. I was a little upset about it, but I was tired of being bit all the time and he wasn't ASKING for it anymore. I lasted until after he was a year old and just decided to let it go. I counted the hours, then the days, then the weeks since I last fed him... it's now been a month. But I still feel the same about Aiden as I did before (for you new mommy's and mommy-to-be.... it's not THAT bad. Just kinda sucks at first, my feelings were a little hurt), and he doesn't seem fazed by it.

Tonight Aiden fell off of his riding fire truck he got for Christmas from my Aunt. He screamed for a minute, but he has a fat lower lip. It really sticks out there. Poor kid. I gave him some Tylenol and a teething ring and he's been fine since. Thank goodness. He bit through his lower lip, but I don't think it's serious enough to take him to the Dr. We'll watch him the rest of the night and tomorrow and see what happens, but he is acting just fine.

This week will be a crazy one, for sure! I am flying out of here on Tuesday morning with Aiden and spending a couple of days with Nate, Jen, and Sophia. Then I'll head to Fresno on Thursday or Friday I think. John is driving with his dad, sister, and brother-in-law in the hopes that they will make it in a day drive. Though it is sounding more and more like they are going to stop and sleep somewhere. We won't actaully move into our place til Saturday.

We're moving!!! - again.

The word out out and we are excited! We are moving back to Fresno, CA. We have thought long and hard about this decision and it seems that it would be best for us and our family. We want Aiden to be surrounded regularly with family. We live too far out in Rochester, WA to be around family everyday. Plus we feel like we'd be happier there. It's not to say that living here and moving ( A LOT!) hasn't been an adventure and we aren't ruling out the possibility of moving back up north again in the future. We will miss some of the people and the weather has been good to us. We aren't looking forward to the heat in Fresno, but it's a sacrifice we will have to make. Just gotta find a place with AC!

John is still going to work for Ferguson in Fresno - transferring from here and making 6% more. Which is great for us! It's been a tough time the last two years with the way the economy has been treating everyone and Johns has survive a few lay offs in the company. We are SO grateful he has a job and that they are willing to transfer him down there. I am heading down there to scout out a place to live, hoping that I will find a place that will accommodate John's 80lb dog Riley. We have two dogs and it can sometimes be hard to find a place that will take them, even if they are docile.

Here's to a new adventure and lots of packing in the next couple of weeks.

Been a busy month

This month has been busy, feels like Christmas was just here. John took a trip with his dad to Fresno to visit with his Grandma. She was having some heart issues and had to be admited into Saint Agnes for a week. They drove down there and she eneded up going home the next day. They stuck around a few more days to help around the house and get her all set up. She's doing much better as of today - we Skyped with her and Aunt Lupe. John came home on Sunday and Mom went back to CA on Tuesday - Aiden said "Bye" for the first time at the airport, of course because he's pretty good at waiting til someone isn't looking to wave.... she didn't hear him cause she was on the other side of the gate. Silly boy! He waved for a long time after she left and knocked on the bedroom door for a couple of days after. It was kind of sad for me to watch cause I missed her before she'd even left!

I have been making cards and doing a a lot of experimenting with my Cricut. I have paper that I haven't even used and I'm looking at ads for more? I think I may have an addiction. Below are some of the creations I have made this last month. It's kept me sane and busy while Aiden is sleeping. I like having some time to myself. I actually have thoughts that don't include Aiden, bills, and John.


This is a Explosion card I made for

John's Grandma. She loved it. There is a cut out of Aiden in the middle. It looks like a box at first. Turned out really cute and she bragged to all her doctors at the hospital. It was sweet.

This is a card I made for my Aunt and Uncle's Anniversary. It looks like there is no "I" before the "V", but that's the way it had to be to be linked together as one word since the "I" doesn't have a tail on it. It turned out pretty darn cute!

This card, with the little boy holding a frog (which happens to be one of my favorite silhouettes), I made for John's cousin. They had a baby the day after Thanksgiving. We recently got their announcement in the mail. His name is Kingston, if you can't read it.

And of course, we can't forget a picture of Aiden. He is growing so fast. He has 6 teeth now and eats just about anything you give him. He is attemping to run now. His favorite things right now are books and "growling". He hates going for rides in the car, would rather be at home playing on the floor with his toys. He also enjoys Skype - still trying to figure out people in a box.

That's all for now! xoxox

Christmas came and went

Pbbbbhhhht!

Opening present at home.

Christmas day heading to the Douglas' for dinner.