Tahoe Family Vacation/First Out of State Trip!

We spent a week up in Tahoe with Aaron's parents and Sis and Harley.  It was such a nice, relxing week and it was Aaden's first time visiting another state - ok, so it was just across the Stateline into Nevada but still...

So Sunday July 24th we got packed up and hit the road at about 1pm.  Packing for an almost one year old is no easy task.  I'm a horrible packer as it is and having to pack all the stuff for Aaden too made me worried that we would have to tie stuff to the top of the Pilot!  But alas, it all fit!  The drive up was ok - although I wasn't feeling well from celebrating with Alec and Nicole the night before at Miyako's with too much sake.  Aaden did better on the drive than I did!  We got into Tahoe around 6pm and went to our place to meet up with Ann & Allan and Sis & Harley.  We went out to dinner shortly after that at a place called 'The Brewery' good food, good beer, slow service (they were really busy though).

The condo we stayed at in Zephyr Cove was really nice and comfortable.  It was a great place to relax.  It was pretty much like a 3 bedroom apartment maybe about 1000 sq feet and had all the amenities.  We didn't have to worry too much about letting Aaden explore around our place - he spent all week practicing walking.  I think the most he got up to was about 8 steps - it seemed like every chance he got he was up and taking steps.   

We spent most of the week hangin out, playing games (Scrabble, Scattegories, Cranium), cooking and eating, going to the pool, trying different restaurants and things like that.  We walked down to the beach one of the days and tried to put Aaden's feet in the water and he hated it.  We figured it was either because the lake is so cold or that he doesn't like the little waves.  We know he's not afraid of water in general because he loves the pool.  Sis and Harley had a great time with Aaden - he was such a ham - it was hard not to enjoy him!  Every morning they would take Aaden out to the patio to let him bird watch while they drank their coffee.  It was really sweet and Aaden loved birdwatching.  He's such an animal lover already!  At one point during the trip there was a little bug crawling up his arm and instead of trying to grab it, he just watched it, followed it with his eyes while it crawled up.

About mid-week Aaron, Aaden and I went up to visit my family while they were staying in North Shore.  It was only about a 40 minute drive to their place which was just past King's Beach. (Sidenote: Gam rented a place up there for everyone to stay - Wallers, Mom, Hagins', Hodges' and any others that wanted to stay.  Michael and Jenny were up staying with Rich and Alexis and Justin and Caroline were staying at her family's place in North Star.  Kenny, Christopher, Michael Fisher, and Cory all came up on that Friday)  Anyway, that day that we visited we went to lunch at a great little place on the water called Captain Jon's with Gam, Mom, Aunt Kerry, Uncle Terry, Aunt Krissie and Uncle Danny.  The food was awesome and so was the location - and of course the company was too.  Aaden loved watching the geese in the water.

One of the days we went to a great little sports bar called Mo's Place to watch the Giants game.  We were really excited at first because we were the only people there and they had the game on all of their tv's.  Well - not too long after we arrived so did the midgets.  They had a wrestling ring set up and there was midget wrestling taking place there that night.  Fine and dandy except they decided to practice while we were there and they had really really loud clap boards set up under the ring so everytime they would body slam each other a big loud "boom" would echo through the place.  Aaden hated it.  It totally freaked him out.  We hated it too - but the upside - the food was good, the Giants won and and bunch of other Giants fans had come in to cheer them on (the Giants, not the midgets).

On Friday we went to Riva Grill in South Shore for lunch with Aaron's family.  All I can say is YUM!  Aaron and I have been there before and we really wanted to go back.  Thank god everyone else liked it too because we had been raving about it all week.  That will definitely be a place we hit up every time we go back.  Later that evening we went on the Catamaran cruise on the lake (AKA booze cruise)- which we had gone on in 2008.  We met all of my family there and all enjoyed the nice ride.  Rum Runners (their specialty drink) and all other drinks were half off!

On Saturday we packed up ALL of our crap and headed to North Shore to spend one night with my family.  That was a lot of fun.  Almost our whole family was there - minus Nat and Aaron (Hodges).  We BBQ'd and Aaden hung out in the hot tub with everyone - it was a good time.  Aaron went to the casino that night with some of my family and won $100 - Uncle Terry won $1200!  That would have been nice to come home with but I'll take $100 anyday!

Here are pics from our trip!

First day - visiting the beach.  Snow-capped mountains in the background. 

It was still about 85 degrees the whole trip though

 Checking out the sand...

 ...hated it.

 Aaden and Daddy in their Giants gear

 Swimming with Daddy in the 1 1/2' pool!  Perfect size!

 Baby Melvin.

 Swimming with Aunt Sis and Uncle Harley

 Lovin' it!

 ♥♥

 Uncle Harley trying to teach Aaden to blow bubbles under water

 Hangin with Grandma enjoying his apple slice in his mesh-feeder

Trying to kiss Grandma

Lunch at Riva Grill

 They were right in the sun so Sis wore Harley's hat and Ann wore Aaden's!

Whatever works, right?

 The best family shot we could get with wiggle-worm, Aaden.

 Getting ready to board the catamaran! 

We rented this backpack thinking we would use it on the boat -

 which we did but only to hold everyone's sweatshirts. 

Oh well - it was only $15 

 Aaden and Papa having a serious stare-down

 Emmy, Aaden and Papa

Aaden and Grandma

 Aaden hangin with Uncle Brother, Emmy, Papa, and Mike Fish

 After the boat ride and Aaden showing off his new skill -

pointing.

 In North Shore with my family. 

Aaden swimming in the hot tub with Aunt Kerry

(the water was only about 96 degrees)

 Havin' a blast!

 With Emmy in the hot tub -

Nice toy we gave to him to play with, huh?

 Cheeser

 "Mom, why do people always make my hair this way when I'm swimming???"

Blame the hair on Uncle Brother - he couldn't resist

 I see a resemblence to Einstien...

 This picture is hilarious.  Aaden farted and his expression looks like

"uh-oh, I hope no one notices that I just ripped ass"

Sorry Bud, the bubbles are hard to miss.

 Big boy!  He turned 11 months old on vacation!

 And mastered stairs - which is impressive because

he's never even tried them before this trip!

 And then when we got home, he had a present waiting for him!!

Oh - he's also starting to master climbing.

It was a very nice vacation!  It's nice to be home but we miss Sis and Harley already! :(

11 Months!

Aaden turned 11 months old today!  Aaron and I can't believe how fast it's going.  We sit here and reminisce about what we were doing at this time last year.  Let's see...I was huge pregnant, we were getting the nursery finished up, we were packing bags for the hospital, checking off lists of things to get before the baby's arrival (aka a million and a half trips to Babies R Us and Target), and I was napping all I could.  I was also getting to the point where I did not want to go to work, I was over it!  But enough about us...let's talk about Aaden. 

This is just such a fun age!  We love seeing his little personality that's emerging more and more everyday.  He is either very serious and quiet at times (usually when around a lot of people or in new surroundings) and then he is really goofy and playful other times.  He loves playing with others - right now he's into hiding behind something and then popping up and surprising people, he loves the reactions he gets from everyone. 

He is such a determined and curious little boy and you can see that by just watching him play.  He is walking more and more and getting pretty good at it and also learning how to climb things which is a little scary!  Anything that sits about 1' off the ground, he's all over it - especially the baskets we have in the house and of course his suitcases.  He's loving the outdoors - when a door is open, he speeds for it!  And we are finding it more difficult to "discipline" him or redirect him - he gets pissed when he wants something that we won't let him have.  I fear the tantrums are not too far away.

Since we have been on vacation he has learned how to point.  It amazes me that they learn this all on their own.  But I like it, it gives me a little more insight to what he's thinking or focusing on - and gives us a million more chances to teach him new things.  We are also noticing how much he loves animals - especially birds and dogs.  We keep catching him pointing at birds and when he sees a dog he gets really excited. 

And of course the sweetest thing is his kisses.  He gives them on command now (as long as he's not in too grumpy of a mood) and he gives them on his own - which is so awesome.  He always gets happy and giggles right after giving someone a kiss.

Just a few stats and facts:

• He is tipping the scales at about 24 pounds.
• He is eating pretty much anything in sight.  He loves fruit and pasta.  We now have a hard time eating because he wants anything we are having so we end up sharing our meals with him all the time.  And he doesn't care what you're eating - it could be pigs feet - doesn't matter, he wants it!  He always comes and peeps his little head over our TV trays to sneak a peak at what we're eating and then shoot those cute puppy dog eyes at us so we'll give him some.
• He is wearing size 12-18 month clothes.  But the 12 month clothes are getting a bit snug.
• We are going to be weaning him to whole milk soon and I can't wait!  We are so done buying formula (until the next one, that is)
• He still loves the bath however, he hates the bath water running.  I think the noise of it freaks him out.  He is alright with it running as long as he's not in the tub but if we put him in there while it's running he screams and cries.  He also hates the shower.  We've tried to take him in the shower a couple times to save time and he just completely freaks out.  Complete meltdown.

He's On The Move!

Yep - it's official - Aaden has started walking. He took 3 steps on two different occasions today!
The first one was with Aaron and my mom (Aaron had taken Aaden to visit my mom at work) and then he did it again out at Ann and Allan's. At the Ann and Allan's house he just got up and started walking toward his Auntie Nicole and he did it on his own, no coaxing or anything. Alec and Nicole were super excited because they are moving to Korea on Monday and they really wanted to see Aaden walk before they left - and they got to!

So proud of my Little Bubby!

Birthday Planning....

Aaden is turning One in just 6 weeks!

We are having a SF Giants themed birthday party in our backyard on the weekend before his birthday.  We are very excited and have started shopping around for things already. 

Some things we plan on doing for the party:

Hot dogs & Garlic Fries (an AT&T Park specialty!)

Peanuts in the shell

Chocolate cupcakes with orange frosting and Giants toppers

A baseball shaped smash cake for Aaden

Giants decorations and other orange and black decor

A Dodgers Piñata (BEAT L.A.!)

Giving Cracker Jacks out as favors Here are the invitations that we already sent out - people are loving them so far!  I'm really happy with how they turned out too!

We are looking forward to celebrating our Little Man's First Birthday!  (And I think he'll have fun with his smash cake - he grabbed a piece of a cupcake and shoved it in his mouth at Alivia's party!  Stinker.)

Not Much of a Baby Anymore...

Aaden's "babiness" is slowly fading away and he's becoming more and more of a toddler everyday.  Pretty soon he'll be full on boy.

• He is standing on his own very well.  He can stand from sitting now without pulling up on anything.  Just this week he has been trying to take a step.  Walking is not far off.
• He climbs on things now.  Oh crap.
• He is pushing his push toy all around the house.  He's like an old pro.  He gets so happy when he's walking with it - you can just see the pride exuding from his face.  It's hilarious to watch because he looks like an old man pushing a grocery cart or something.  I don't know if that's the best comparison but it just looks funny to me - I guess because I'm not used to seeing my baby as a walking little boy! (And I should mention he loves to push anything around - his CAT truck, his Leap Frog table, a bucket turned upside down, anything really!)
• He likes to crawl OVER things instead of around them.  I think he likes the challenge.  If we're sitting in the floor he'll crawl over our legs any chance he gets.  He also likes to crawl over the old suitcases that we have as decoration in the living room (he loves these suitcases for all different activities - pushing around the house, climbing on, pulling up on, banging on, opening and closing, playing with the straps - who knew they would be his favorite thing??)
• He just started bathing in the bath tub like a big boy - no smaller tub inside the regular tub - and he loves it!  It's much easier on us too so we're loving it as well. 
• He seems to be playing peek-a-boo all the time now with anything he can cover his eyes with - yesterday it was his blankie, today it was his sippy cup. 
• He is keeping himself entertained longer and longer.  I love spying on him when he's playing - he giggles and laughs and he just has a great old time.
• Today we were playing "catch" with him with one of his little balls and he's getting pretty good!  He can throw it and he even caught it a few times!!  I had him on my lap and Aaron would throw the ball and I would help Aaden catch it and after a few tries Aaden started putting his arms out and when the ball would hit his arms he would pull it in!  I couldn't believe it!  I was super impressed and amazed!  Maybe our dream of him growing up to be a SF Giant isn't too far fetched ;)

I know some people are sad when their babies grow older but I love it.  I love that he's more interactive and loves to play.  I love that he's becoming more independent and becoming his own little person more and more everyday.  It's very exciting and enjoyable!

Aaden in the big boy bath.

Thankful (warning: sad)

I have been reading a blog about a family that just learned a month ago that their 8 month old son had a brain tumor.  It was very aggressive.  They took him home earlier this week so he could pass away in peace and in the comfort of his own home, surrounded by the things he knew and people he loved.  He died two days after his parents brought him home.  Only 23 days after the brain tumor was found.

I have been sobbing reading it.  My heart is so heavy.  Everytime I wake up in the middle of the night I find myself thinking about that poor family and their poor baby.  I couldn't imagine going through something like that.  I couldn't imagine having to say goodbye so soon.  Life is just not fair.  The parents of children & babies of life threatening illnesses are stronger than I could ever imagine being.  I admire them for finding the strength for their children.  And my heart breaks for them for having to even face such horrible situations.

It makes me so thankful that Aaden is a happy, healthy boy.  He is throwing things now, putting himself to sleep for naps, standing, getting close to walking.  We're planning a vacation and his 1st Birthday party - not a funeral.

Our struggles and stresses are so trivial and so meniscule compared to what these families go through.   

Hearing about horrific stories like that really puts things into perspective for you and humbles you.  Teaches you to enjoy every moment and soak in all the world has to offer.  And it  makes you really appreciate eveything you have in your life - especially your perfectly beautiful son.

Blankie

Aaden is absolutely attached to his little blankie.  Ann (Aaron's Mom, Aaden's Grandma) bought him this little bear that came with a small 1'x1' soft blanket when Aaden was probably two months old.  He started getting attached to it after we started giving it to him.  It was perfect because I wanted him to have a "Lovie" when he started daycare at four months old.  He has grown more and more attached to it as the months have gone on.  I have bought him two more identical ones so that we can wash them all the time but still have one in the rotation.  He loves to snuggle with it, he drags it all over, if it's across the room and he sees it he'll get really excited and crawl really fast towards it all while saying "bah, bah, bah,...", and then he gets it and puts it up to his face and hugs it.  It's so cute.  I'm glad that he's has grown attached to that instead of a full size blanket.  It's much more portable and much easier to wash. 

Here's a pic of the blankie as it is sold:

And with the bear - which we now have 3 of those too!

A few pics of Aaden with his blankie:

 Don't mind the stains on his sheets - it was the last day before laundry day!  I swear he doesn't sleep in a nasty crib - all the time.

Hopefully we won't have to send him to kindergarten with his blankie!