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!