Bathtime with Aidan

A List Before Christmas

1.) Clean House
2.) Finish wrapping presents
3.) Put together presents
4.) Thaw the many items I purchased premade at Costco so I didn't have to make them.
5.) Finish preparing Christmas Eve worship service
6.) Finish preparing service for following sunday
7.) Rehearse praise band
8.) Make egg dish for christmas morning
9.) Keep up with dishes and laundry
10.) Remind myself that Aidan is 2 only once, and all this stuff is meaningless unless he knows that Christmas isn't about the above list.

Straight, No Chaser

I know I have been blogging a bunch of You Tube videos lately, and just when i think i have blogged the last one, this comes to my attention. These guys are AMAZING! Enjoy, and Merry Christmas.

And now, Aidan's Favorite Chistmas Carol

You might want to fast forward through the talking. It's an oldie, but a goodie. If you really want to listen Aidan style, turn it up and march around the room in a small circle. :-)

Welcome to Our World

I have been blessed by this song this Christmas. I have heard it many times before, but never has it spoken to me like it has this year.
Chris Rice writes:

So wrap our injured flesh around you

Breathe our air and walk our sod

Rob our sin and make us holy

Perfect Son of God

Perfect Son of God

Welcome to our world.

The Neglectful Blogger

Well, a lot has happened since my last blog. Thanksgiving in Huntington Beach, Uncle Nathan's Birthday, and a lot of growing up. So here are some pictures:


The Christmas Tree at Bella Terra Shopping Center. He calls the lights "on."

Looking at the Tree at Downtown Disney


Riding the Train with Daddy


My Man, carving the Thanksgiving Turkey

After 8 years of marriage we finally sprung for a real Christmas Tree. Aidan loved helping us hang the decorations.

Aidan's Growing Vocabulary

"pees nawer one"- Please, another one (this is said for just plain old "please", too.)
"gay-goo"- Thank you
"ride"- anything car related. The movie, a car, a truck, or just anything with wheels.
"Beep Beep"- a school bus or big truck or big tractor
"moo"- Cow
"moo"- Moon. Can't you tell the difference? We can.
"Ni-Ni"- Nap time or bedtime
"awol"- "Oswald", his favorite show on TV.
"Nemo"- the movie
"apple"- The fruit, or anything red and round
"Ee-ow"- Kitty cat
"Doggy"- doggy
"anawer one?"- when he wants to watch a second episode of "awol" or hear the next song on the iPod.
"Numanum"- usually milk (Pediasure), but could be anything he thinks is tasty. Or even food in general.
"Daddy Ride"- when Daddy goes to work.
"Be-Bo"- Belly Button
"Up"-up
"On"- usually when he wants something off, like shoes, but could mean off or on.
"Keys"- keys
"Book"- book
"Pen"- pen
"Ming- Ming"- anything yellow. There is a show he used to watch called "Wonder Pets", and Ming Ming is the yellow duck.
"Hot"- when Mom opens the oven
"Mom"- projected LOUDLY when he wants my attention.

... this list is not exhaustive, but quite a few of the cute ones. He is a verbal little man, and we are having fun with him more and more now that he can communicate better what he wants and needs.

Just Being Aidan

I don't think he's too worried about the State of the Union, what do you think?

We Love Halloween

Grandma and Grandpa Traxler and all the Grandkids

Our little Fam

Chloe and Aidan had a lot of fun getting candy from people.

What a cute little Chicken Booty

This is what they were doing before we left for Trick or Treating.

Aidan's First Wedding

This weekend, Aidan and I caravaned with some friends from HB to a wedding in Grants Pass Oregon. Trevor had to take a continuing ed class in Sacramento on Sat so he was not able to go. The girl getting married is a family friend of ours, Colleen McMurray. She married a nice boy from Oregon and is now, Mrs. Nathan Sleadd. I do not know Nathan, but anyone who gets Colleen is a blessed man. The ceremony was beautiful, and so was the bride. We had a blast dancing to the dance band at the reception, especcially Aidan. He danced until we left at 9:30pm where he passed out in his seat on the drive back to the B&B. We stayed with some friends who own a B&B in Ashland Oregon (one of my favorite cities.) We were sick the whole weekend, but Aidan was so good, and although we came home VERY tired, we are glad we could celebrate with Colleen on her BIG day.

Waiting for the ceremony to start. You will be glad to know that during a serious part when the pastor was taking about Colleen and Nathan starting their own family Aidan let out with a loud, "UH, OHHHHHH!" He talked during most of the service, but he was making us laugh so, oh well.

Having fun at the reception.


Megan Garcia, Heather Finch, Colleen Sleadd, Nathan Sleadd


The bride and her daddy, Brad McMurray


Dancing with Mama. He loved the dancing.

CHEESE!

Aidan just keeps getting more and more communicative. After I have told him multiple times this is an outside toy, he looks up at me and says, "Cheese!" He wanted a picture taken of him. I couldn't help but laugh and grant him his wish.

The Neighbor's Got Hitched

Our next door neighbors Jerry and Lindsey got married on Saturday, and I had the honor of helping make the bouquets. A week ago she called and asked if I had ever done this and I said, yes. I had helped someone do this for a wedding at camp and was sure I could figure it out. Lindsey bought the flowers and this is what we came up with.

The bride's bouquet:

The bridesmaid's bouquets (there were 2):

The boutonnieres:


They had a blast at the wedding (in Tahoe) and said everything was beautiful. Yeah!

Playing with Daddy

Mommy's Little Baker

Just doing my part to encourage a lifelong love of baked goods.

Making bread.

Making Grandpa's Bday present. Yummy cookie dough!

A Change of Seasons

We went to the Pumpkin Patch just last weekend to get some pumpkins and had a great time. Of course the day we went was the one day we had our first rain of the season. At first we thought we were crazy because as you can see, no raincoats, but the rain stopped and we had a great time.

Aidan and his big cousin, Chloe. (We went with Nathan and Kristi and the kids.)

Aidan got so cold that Trev took off his sweater and wrapped it around Aidan's head to help him stop shivering. He didn't seem to mind so much, he was determined to pull that wagon all over the place.

Last night as Aidan was enjoying his apple I got the camera out and he immediately stopped and gave me this big cheesy grin. He cracks us up all the time.

And one more for me. I made Challah last Friday. We celebrated Rosh Hashana a little late. I guess its ok as we aren't even Jewish. The bread looked GREAT, but I will try a different recipe next time. It came out a little dry and too crusty for Challah. But it looks great, yah?

Superwoman

(click on title above to hear the song)
I don't always respond this way to what I call "girl power" songs, but this one caught my attention. The reason being is in the chorus that is repeated over and over.

Even when I'm a mess

I still but on a vest

With an "S" on my chest

Women have this unique talent to hide the truth with an "S" on their chest. It is a badge of pride, but it is also what holds us back. Back from true friendship, back from honesty with our husbands, back from taking our true humble position before God.

So ladies, lets stand with pride with our "S's" in place, knowing really what those "S's" mean. We can't do it all, and we need God and each other to help us through. Maybe the "S" should stand for surrender. That should give you something to think about.

Knead Not Sourdough

(Click on above title to go to receipe)

So, many of you do not know, but I love to bake. Especially bread. So far this is the easiest bread receipe i have found, and it is delicious. It is VERY crusty. I make it often because with good bread being so expensive, I might as well make my own.
This is the shaggy mess of bread before the 19 hour rise.


And this is the final product. I make this in my Le Cruset dutch oven, and it works GREAT! I use a lot of corn meal to keep it from sticking to the towels and the dutch oven. Mmmmm, just thinking of this bread makes my mouth water.

Still on the Throne

So I have been contemplating and talking about this whole economy thing, just like many of you have, and I have come to a conclusion. God is still and always will be on the throne, and no matter what, He deserves our thanksgiving and our worship. So this day, instead of watching the news and worrying like so many without hope, take out a notebook and go to town. Thank God for everything from air to breath, to the coffee bean (that one I thank God for daily!) And then when you are having trouble finding things to be thankful for you can pull out your notebook and remind yourself that God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is GOOD!

Happy Birthday Cousin Ava!

The Piano Girl

The Shack

I just finished one of the most interesting and thought provoking books I think I have read in a long time. It is called "The Shack," hence the title of this posting. It has given me a reason to think on the basic principles of my Christian beliefs. First, who does God say He is? Second, where do I fit into the relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit? WOW!

Pick up the book for yourself and think on these things with me. But, as you read, remember to go to the source when you have a question. The bible is the authority on these questions, and as I read the book, verses kept coming to mind and questions that turned me to Gods word would pop up. I have read it once to get the story and after I take a short break from it I intend to go back through and pull out more information I could not collect the first time through.

So, join this journey with me. What a great thing when artists (writers) turn you to the Bible to think on your relationship with God!

A Mind of His Own

Here's What You've Been Waiting For

When we went to Mom and Dad's for the weekend, Aidan came home with a new "do". I think he likes it. It is definitely much cooler. He doesn't wake up from naps so sweaty. I like it because I can spike it up and make it fun.


Aidan is like his Daddy in so many ways. This is Trev winding down after work. Aidan doesn't mind, he loves Sonic the Hedgehog.

Now that school is back in full swing, we are in a little more of a normal schedule. I have started singing in church 2 times a month. I love being on the the praise team. It is a great group of people, led by a godly leader. We have a great time on Wednesday nites and Sunday mornings. It is still Freakin' hot outside in the afternoon, so it does get a little boring around here. It is too hot to go outside very often. We are definitly ready for fall. We have a busy schedule this fall though. We have a wedding to go to in October in Oregon, Mary moved to Colorado so I am visiting her in October, too, and we are planning on going to Mom and Dads for Thanksgiving.

Oh, and Mom and Dad shipped my Piano up here to Ione, and we are having a wonderful time with it. Aidan LOVES music, so he plays ("fingers only") and then stops to look at us so we can all clap. I am practicing a little a day, so hopefully soon I can feel a little more comfortable and start offering some voice lessons out of the house. I have been keeping my voice in shape and have really been craving singing lately, so this would be a natural progression for me.

Oh, and if I remember, I need to post a video of Aidan praying. Before every meal he folds his little hands and looks down. After we say "amen" he gives us a big smile and claps. It is so normal now, Trevor and I find ourselves wanting to clap after we pray in church. It makes us laugh and praise God for this little boy he has given us.

Early to Bed, Early to Rise

Aidan and I woke up early this morning and when we opened the back door to get some air in the house we stopped and listened to our alarm clocks. (Not much to see just our backyard, but turn up the sound.)

Our BIG Boy

So I blogged a little while ago about the struggles we were having with Aidan's eating habits, and I am pleased to report that although he still is not a good eater, he has gained weight. The Pediasure seems to really be doing its thing because I just took him in for a weight check and he had gained 3 lbs in 1 month! I have not talked to the Dr. yet, but I am sure he is pleased. For now we keep him on the Pediasure and get another weight check next month.



On another note, Aidan is now into copying whatever we do, especcially Daddy. He liked to brush teeth with Daddy, drink tea with Daddy, sit with Daddy, and play computer games with Daddy. It is so cute. Here are a couple pics of Aidan trying to make a funny Orange Monkey face like Daddy.

It Makes a Father Proud

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

Well, we all got home safe and sound.  The house was in good shape, and the plants looked wonderful.  (Many thanks to Jerry, our neighbor, who noticed the trees weren't getting water and decided to help keep them alive while we were gone.)  We have a lot of putting back together to do but all in all, we are glad to be home.  

Aidan is happy to have us all together again.  He has a hard time when either of us leave him right now, so we are just loving on him as much as possible.  

We put Trev's classroom together these last couple of days, so he is all ready to go for Back to School Night on Monday (wow!).  

Strongman Doyle

Last night, I went out with my friend Kendra for a long overdue date at Mimi's while Mom and Dad were left with the charge of putting Aidan to bed. So when I got home Mom and Dad filled me in on how the night went. Aidan likes going for a walk after dinner, so they took him for a little stroll in the stroller. When they got back Aidan started playing with the wagon. This is a metal and wood wagon that my Grandpa Balko refurbished when Nathan was born. He started pulling it, and he pulled it all the way down to the end of the block. I would say at least 100 yrds! He started pulling it back but halfway home he got so tired that he just gave up. This little guy amazes me all the time. I am so glad he had a good night, because I did too. Thanks Kendra!

The OC Fair and... DOGGIES!

Yes, Aidan is still crazy about these doggies. If he hasn't seen them in a long time he just runs around the house chasing them. The dogs hate it, but he thinks they are playing when they run away from him. Yes, it does drive me crazy and this activity usually ends in many big No! No's!

We had a great time at the fair yesterday. Aidan was really overwhelmed but enjoyed some of the things we did. There was a place where we could ride on little John Deer tractors. I pushed him really fast around the track and he laughed and laughed. He also liked the gummy worms I let him have while being pushed around in his new stroller.

We walked the doggies again tonight, and Aidan was pulled over by Wyatt, but he loved it. I'll keep you posted on our next big adventure. The beach tomorrow for my birthday, and then the Aquarium and Bubba Gumps on Friday for more birthday fun.

Hanging with the Doggies!

We are still down here in HB, having fun with Grandma and Grandpa and the doggies. Aidan has really been enjoying Wyatt (mom and dads Jack Russel mix.) This morning while drinking his morning Pediasure and cuddling with Grandma he said "Wyatt baby" and snuggled his face into Wyatt's body. Wyatt gets sick of him sometimes and goes outside, but mostly he doesn't mind the attention. I think he mostly appriciates the snacks under Aidan's booster seat the most though. The other day we went for a walk with Wyatt and Charlie around the block with some of the neighbor kids and Aidan held Wyatt's leash and hung on like a water skier while he WALKED around the entire block. Man, was Aidan sleepy that night.

While we have been here we have gone to the Big Park, the little park, the beach (to splash in the water for the first time), church, Aunt Joy and Uncle Mike's house (to help pack), and have been playing outside all the time. He also is enjoying the piano and loved playing naked the other night after his bath! Aidan will play a few notes then turn around and clap, expecting us to clap too. My little performer! Tonight we are going to the OC fair to see the animals and are really excited.

Aidan is sleeping well, and eating the same. However, now that he is drinking his pediasure (and liking it) I feel better about the amount of nutrition he is getting. He is really having fun and mostly is in really good moods. We miss Daddy, and ask where he is all the time. I have daddy's picture on my cell phone and we talk about him and look at the picture every day.

We are taking no pictures while we are so please be satisfied with my writings, as I keep this little journal. Blessings, Amy.

One Day at a Time

Well we returned from camp, tired, dirty and for most of us ready to do it again.  Aidan did really well staying at home without Mom and Dad for 10 days.  Grandma and Grandpa enjoyed our little boy, and I know he enjoyed them too.  He played with Chloe and Eliot a lot, went to the park, and to Indian Grinding Rock State Park.  He played in the little pool in the front yard, and watered and weeded with Grandma and Grandpa.  

Aidan had a Dr.'s appointment on Friday.  It was his 18 mos. check up.  They weighed and measured him.

Height:  2'11.25" (99%)

Weight:    23 lb 2.1 oz (14%)-  This was actually down at least a pound from his 12 mos check.

Head:  19.76" (96%)

We have been struggling with Aidan's eating habits.  It is hard as a mom to try and do the best you can, but for nothing to work.  We have friends in Oregon that faced this challenge more than anyone should when their little boy became severely epileptic.  I think of them and how God has proven himself to them over and over and especially now when it seems as their little one is healed.  Trevor and I will do what we can and leave it all in God's hands.  It's easier to write and say than to actually do.  Aidan spits food out, even his favorite things, when he just doesn't want to eat.  So we are supplementing his diet with PediaSure and keeping him to a strict no snacks, no juice, only 3 meals a day  diet.  We go back in a month to see if this is working.  My doctor said he is dealing with the same thing with his 2 year old.  I even saw his little boys chart and it looked just like Aidan's.

Aidan is a VERY sweet little boy.  He loves kisses and cuddles, and carries his teddy, bunny, and blanket around with him wherever he goes.  He laughs a lot, and still loves to dance.  At least once a day we turn the music on and dance for about 1/2 and hour.  He loves the silliness.  

Pray for us and his eating situation and also for these next couple of weeks.  Trevor is leaving on another 2 week trip with Camp High Places, and Aidan and I are flying down to be with Grandma and Grandpa.  

We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family, please keep us posted with what is going on with you.   

Off To Camp

Please pray...  Trev and I leave tomorrow morning with our 3 staff members (Hilary, Taylor and Buddy) to pick up kids at San Fran airport and Oakland Airport, on the first day of California Adventure.  We have 7 kids on this trip.  Aidan is staying home with Grandma.  I am not so much worried about Aidan, but I am worried about us missing him so much over the 10 days.  This is my first time without him.  

Please pray for our safety as we travel, and for Trev and my piece of mind as we leave our baby boy in the capable hands of Grandma.  

We will be back home on the 16th, so look for a new post with pictures of our adventures after that.

So much fun, so little time!

Thanks for hanging in there with me and this blog.  Not only have we had a crazy month, but my computer died a terrible death.  So here I am typing on our new desktop computer.  Trevor finished up school for the year, he is teaching summer school, however, so he will be done this coming Thursday.  He is also busy with Camp High Places plans.  Still booking reservations and making arrangements.  We had a wonderful Father's Day, and really have been having a great time hanging out with our little guy.

Just these last couple weeks, Aidan and I went down to Huntington Beach (HB) for 10 days.  Trev met us for the first weekend.  I was leading worship at a women's conference in Costa Mesa, so Gma and Gpa spent a lot of time with the little one.  Aidan and Grandma are "kindred spirits" (they just understand each other at a deep level) so it is fun to see what a great time he has just being with Grandma.  Grandpa has deep and meaningful conversations with Aidan.  They can "chat" for long periods of time, the whole time not knowing a single word of what Aidan in saying.  

Auntie Mary is leaving for Colorado (TO LIVE) this sunday so we spent a lot of time with her too.  She taught him to sit on his dump truck and put his feet up so he can go down the driveway like a bat out of hell.  It is hilarious.  There will be video to follow this blog of the action.  We are excited that next time we meet up with Auntie Mary it will be in her new place in Colorado!

One big way in which Aidan has been changing now is that he talks and talks and his vocabulary is getting a lot bigger.  When we ask him what a doggy says, he responds with a "ruff ruff".  He loved Wyatt, and the other doggies.  All in all this was the best trip we have ever had a Gmas and Gpas, and can't wait to go back in the end of July.  

 

Here is Aidan sitting in the dog bed.  "If it is good for them, its good enough for me."  

Watching the ducks in the park.  He loved them.

On the airplane Aidan really enjoyed listening to my iPod.  He is a great flyer, talking and entertaining all around.  Although he is wiggly, he does a great job.  Daddy and I are so proud of our little man.

A New Haircut

Well, it was time for Aidan to have his first real haircut.  As you can see from the picture below he was just a little scared.  With cracker and DumDum in hand he screamed and screamed until we were done.  It was hard to see him so scared, but he made it through with a cute little boy haircut.  He looks so big now!

Why We Laugh

Aidan keeps us laughing all the time.  He loves music, and can dance and dance and dance.  I hope you enjoy watching him grow up as much as we are.  

On the Run

On Chloe's birthday, Aidan loved playing in the pool and the sandbox.  He usually prefers to play on his own in social situations.  He gets a little overwhelmed when there is a lot of people around.  It was a beautiful day the day Chloe turned three, so after being dipped in sunscreen he played as hard as he could.

We purchased a little blow up pool for Aidan because it's getting so warm outside.  I blew it up and put it in the living room and filled it with all his animals.  He loved it!

One day when I was too sick to go outside with Aidan, we put up a tent in the living room.  He thought he was so big having snack in his fort.  

Aidan is growing up so fast.  He runs now, all over the place.  He also is getting more and more mischievous.  When he knows we don't want him to go somewhere he will look at us and smile really sweetly then take off laughing.  He can talk a lot now too.  Mommy, Daddy, HI!, Hello (sounds like Halla), Doggy, Birdie, Water, Milk, Banana (baba), and he looks for his Belly Button when we ask him where it is.  He still cracks us up and is such a sweet little thing, always wanting kisses and hugs.  Before bed we will wrestle and play on the floor and he loves the hugs that come with that.   

Daffodil Hill, Eating with a Spoon and Being Cute

Daffodil Hill, a Walnut Farm that has been planting flowers for years, blooms every spring.  It is free to visit so we took Aidan.  It is beautiful!  

Aidan loved looking at the horse that was right on the other side of this gate.  

Little Man fully eats with a spoon.  I can now give him things that he wouldn't eat before because he likes using his spoon so much.

Reading with Daddy before night-night.

Ok, mom.  Your stupid Paper Mache bunnies are now an all time favorite toy.  He drags these silly things all over the house.  We even have to kiss them and everything.