Why this kid has me wrapped around his finger!!!

I don't think I need to make it known that I love my son..and dearly at that.  I really don't remember what life was like before him (minus the restful nights hehe) and wouldn't trade him for anything.  Granted we have our moments, but every day he does something sweet, surprising or just damn cute to melt my heart and redeem himself.  The most recent story has to do with my monkey and a baby gorilla.

We were in the car yesterday, running a bunch of errands and trying to knock out some Christmas shopping.  After a trip into Hallmark I strapped him in the car seat, handed him a book and moved onward to Target.  I heard him babbling in the backseat and saying "dih dih dih dih dih", which is what he does to "tickle tickle tickle" himself or me.  (That, too, is adorable!)  So I look back and don't really think anything of it...but wondered what he's tickling. Then it dawned on me.  The book he was holding was "Baby Animals", with different textures and stuff the baby can feel.  Well, the very last page has a baby gorilla with the caption that reads "Tickle the furry baby gorilla".  When we read this book together we always make a big deal out of it and he giggles as we tickle the baby gorilla...and that's just what he was doing! "Dih dih dih" the baby gorilla!  

Somehow, he remembered that tickling corresponds with the baby gorilla in his book!  The book has been in the car for over two weeks now...we haven't read it at all in awhile! It just amazes me that he remembered to "Tickle the furry baby gorilla" and did just that!

I love my smart little boy!

A few weeks later...

Well I guess it's been awhile, huh?  

Things in Virginia are still going well. Ben is really loving his new job and it's nice to see him come home happy from a productive day rather than stressed from a hectic day.  He hasn't made any major complaints and truly enjoys going to work and doing whatever it is that he does. ;) He has been doing quite a bit of traveling since we've been here and that won't slow down anytime soon.  I can't complain, though, because it could always be worse! 

Aiden is growing like crazy.  He's picking up on the sign language more and more and it's so much fun.  He can now sign hat, please, more, dog, potty, eat and is on the verge of drink, too.  It's so amazing to see him communicate his needs/wants without needing the oral vocabulary to do it.  He's growing into such a little boy it's crazy.  So much so that he now thinks it's funny to stick his finger up his nose...I thought that didn't come until much later!

We spent Thanksgiving (and some time beforehand) in NJ.  I always forget how cold and bitter it can get up there and never feel prepared anymore.  The day after Aiden and I arrived I found us at Kohls looking for a scarf and hat/gloves for us.  Brrr!  We did have a nice time in NJ, though.  We ended up traveling to PA to see some of my college friends.  We had an excellent time at the Dempsey house and I needed a dose of Chelle more than I knew possible!  Their little boys are simply gorgeous and some of the sweetest little guys I've ever met.  As always, Chelle made me feel so warm and welcome in her beautiful home. :)  I also stopped by another freind's on the way home from Chelle's.  Kristen's Mom, Liz, made a delicious dinner that I enjoyed eating and Aiden enjoyed slopping all over.  :)  Gotta love kids!

Thanksgiving itself was delicious as always.  Mom went above and beyond what she needed to to make the holiday special.  I am pretty sure the bloat from over-eating is just now starting to go away!  It was great to be able to spend the holiday with all of the family from my side.  We look forward to spending Christmas with the Buzek side in Raleigh! Maybe we'll get a white Christmas?  I wonder how Aiden would react to snow. :)  

Toward the end of our trip Aiden started feeling awfully crummy.  He was running fevers off & on from Friday until they broke Monday morning.  He was so unhappy and didn't eat well.  He had the typical runny nose and bubble guts.  We weren't sure what was going on...but it wasn't so severe that it warranted a trip to the ER or urgent care.  After he sat slumped in his car seat, making everyone else sad for him on the way home, I decided no matter what I'd call the ped Monday.

I ended up taking him in and once there, discovered the rash spreading across his body.  His ears were clear and throat only slightly red with a spot or two.  They did a strep test and so far, the preliminaries are negative.  The rash is likely the virus continuing to work it's way out.  He's doing much better today (Tuesday) and has been sleeping a little better and more comfortably.  Hopefully his speckles will continue to go away....

Well folks...that's really all I have to report.  We hope all of our friends/family enjoyed the holiday as well!

Rainy Day post..

It's been raining soooo much here over the past few days. It's depressing! We got a small break yesterday and got to play outside for a little bit. I discovered that the tennis courts in our complex are the best place to let Aiden roam around with his ball. While he does "great" staying on the sidewalk during our walks, his ball doesn't listen quite so well. He's starting to get more daring and adventurous, wondering what might happen if he tries to step off of the sidewalk. Yesterday we walked up to the tennis courts which are completely fenced in...so he could just roam and roam and Mommy was worry free! Another little girl joined us with her grandparents. She rode her awesome tricycle around and around. She even let Aiden go for a ride! He just liked the sparkly things hanging from her handle bars, but it was cute nonetheless. :)

Not too much has been happening here. If something exciting had happened on Halloween, I would have updated. But we opted not to take Aiden trick-or-treating this year. He just doesn't have enough teeth to rot out yet to make it worthwhile. So he got dressed up and helped Daddy build our new computer desk while Mommy gave treats to the minimal trick-or-treaters that came by.

When he got tired of helping Daddy he sat on the couch watching some Imagination Movers and eating a snack. Maybe next year we'll find trick-or-treating a little more appealing!

Pumpkin "Patch"

Aiden and I have been waiting patiently for Daddy to get home from his trip so we could go to the pumpkin patch. We were finally able to go last night. It was so COLD and windy that we didn't stay very long. But we did find a great pumpkin! There were free hayrides, but a sign said it was rather bumpy and we didn't quite feel Aiden was ready to have his brains shaken just yet. They had some other Halloween-type stuff out...including a talking mummy and a witch Aiden didn't really appreciate. We hope to get the pumpkin carved before Halloween...but we'll see!!!

I say please..please..please when I want it... :)

A lot of you know that we have been doing some basic ASL sign language with Aiden. Not because of any hearing deficits what-so-ever, but because it's such a fascinating language that will help him communicate with us before he can form the words. We watch a series called "Signing Time" and he LOVES "Signing Time". There's music & singing and lots of other kids modeling the signs. We have all learned so much and somehow never get sick of it. The first sign he learned was milk, then dog, hat and now please! "Please" came out last night as he was begging me for more grapes. I just showed him the sign for please and each time he finished one grape, he politely asked for another. :) It's so much fun seeing him pick all of these exciting things up. He's just a giant sponge ready to go! I got the excitement on camera...so here it is!!

Apple Picking...or not.

Today Aiden and I had plans to go apple picking at a local farm with the new playgroup (well..the playgroup isn't new...I am). We rushed around after his lunch to make sure we weren't late since I had no idea where I was going. Got Aiden in the car and drove the 20-some minutes to the farm. I swore we were never going to get there. I should have known that a farm would be in the middle of nowhere! I pulled in the parking lot and saw no other cars. I just figured (i.e. hoped) we were the first ones there. In the distance I saw the farmer and his wife who looked like they were getting ready to leave. I then saw the sign "Orchard Closed". :( Disappointment!!! I kind of lingered in my car and figured I'd just wait for the other mommies to show up. The farmer and his wife drove toward my car and stopped, so I got out and explained our plans. All he said was, "It's always best to call first...". And that was it. So I just said I'd hang around and let the others know. A few others showed up and all were diappointed. Some of the older kids (3-4 years old) were pretty bummed too...although they got over it quickly by playing in some dirt in the parking lot. Rather than waste a playdate, we just drove to "Kidsburg", a local park that has two sections, one for 5 and unders and one for 6 and ups. Of course this happens on a day where school let out early so the entire park was hectic. There were a lot of older kids running through and practically taking over the 'baby' equipment.

Despite the disappointment of not being able to pick apples..we had a pretty good time at the park. I don't think Aiden was feeling very well...he was very mellow and not really interested in anything. Although he may be more like me than we know...and enjoyed his time watching other people. :)

We've been doing a lot of walking around the apartment complex lately. Shortly after we moved here I decided to get a backpack carrier to carry Aiden in while we walk the dogs. He's doing well walking, but doesn't always follow directions and neither do the dogs. So I couldn't figure out just how I'd manage the dogs having to be walked on leashes now and Aiden simultaneously. It's a fabulous investment and has worked out really well. In the mornings, we take Oscar and Shandy for a few laps. And in the afternoon they get another lap or two before we put them back in the apartment and release Aiden from the carrier. He then leads me around while he talks and stops to say hi to anyone he comes across. He doesn't seem to mind the carrier though...he actually fell asleep in there on our morning walk yesterday. I'm really enjoying the walks...as I don't get much time for exercise otherwise....so several walks a day do us good! (Not to mention, all the kiddies get tired out!) Yesterday I tried doing some of my Biggest Loser boot camp DVD, and Aiden thought it was hysterical watching me do jumping jacks and then felt I needed some extra weight on me while I attempted some push ups. It was quite the sight! Anyway...thanks for sticking around if you've made it this far! Here's just a little picture of us bundled up on our chilly walk this morning!

About the move...

Welcome to the new family blog! I started to run out of 'free space' on Aiden's original website, so it was only a matter of time before a switch had to be made anyway. I'm not sure if I'll manage to send an email out each time I post an update, but please check back frequently. Now that we are in our new place and I haven't made any friends really, I'll be home and bored quite often. :) So...I hope you at least enjoy my boredom. :) You can expect updates from both of us..so don't worry. :)

Alrighty...onto the lengthy update. I'll take charge of this one as Aiden is snoozing on the couch (it's a tough life, what can I say?). From the beginning...We were scheduled to leave TN at the end of September. We were really losing hope on the likelihood that our house would sell prior to us moving and started getting really anxious about having to pay rent AND mortgage. We had several open houses of which ONE couple showed up between all of them. So that really put a damper on our hope! Then, about a week prior to departure, we got a buyer! Everything happened really, really fast. We aren't making a whole lot of money on the house, but we aren't losing any either. For only living there for 2 years I guess we can't really complain! There were some minor repairs and a termite treatment that had to be done, but that's about it. Minus the termite stuff, Ben was able to do everything himself. Thanks babe! Now as long as everything stays put, we should close on 10/31 and we no longer have a house.

The packers and movers came in like rapid fire and got all (and I mean ALL) of our crap out of the house (they packed my freakin' toilet brush!). The day we left we drove from TN to NC and stayed with the Buzeks overnight. It was more of a realistic and comfortable one-day drive than straight here to VA. Plus, we got a night in with Grammy Buzek and Grandma Winlow! The next day we drove up to VA and got into our new apartment. Then, the very next day, we got all of our stuff delivered. Everything happened so smoothly...it's almost scary! So far we're only missing a bedroom pillow...so if that's the worst of it, we'll take it!

It's pretty surreal realizing just how much STUFF you have when going from a 3 bedroom house with a 2 car garage and full sized attic to a 2 bedroom apartment with virtually no storage space. It's an amazing apartment and we really love it, but it's definitely on the tight side for storage. Ben did a good job getting us this place, though. (It helped that they were offering 2 months of rent free!) We ended up with a storage unit about 10 minutes away for our extra crap and his bike. In the end, we're spending a little more than I think we had hoped...but there really weren't any other options! Three weeks later we're still struggling trying to find places to put things. About a week after we got here Ben started work and is already back into the swing of things. We're all really loving it here! It's comforting to know family/help is not far if needed. We can get to both NJ & NC in a reasonable amount of time if need be and when we want to. Yay Virginia!

Aiden did phenomenal throughout everything. The only days he had a really hard time were when the movers came to the house and when they delivered to the apartment. The doors were left open and he didn't give a second thought to taking off out the door at any opportunity...so he was kept 'contained', much to his dismay. It took a few days for him to really feel secure in the new place, too. He would get upset if he couldn't see one of us...but once all of our stuff was set up and this place felt more like home..he was better. His room here is HUGE compared to his room at the house. Good thing, too, because he got a ridiculous amount of toys for his birthday...at least they all fit in there now!

Well..he just woke up and is kinda grumpy...so I'm off. I'll have him update you on his life a little later! Much love!