The joys of raising boys...

Our new house has lots of fun things hidden in every corner.  Some things...not so "hidden", per say...just undiscovered at the moment. :)

We've been working hard to get the house as together as it's going to get for awhile.  There's so many things we want done (like putting a little color on all of the stark-white walls!).  The things we've been focusing on are on the top of the priority list- cleaning out the garage, yard-work so we don't look like cave people, organizing rooms, gutter guards, learning about the generator for inevitable use, etc.  Ben has really, really worked hard on getting the important stuff squared away (meanwhile I'm sitting around dreaming of which colors to put where :p ).  

This weekend, though, I got off my duff and helped out in the yard.  I found a new love- hedge trimmers.  I had SO MUCH fun shaping up the bushes in the front, and they look pretty decent!!!  It was also up to me and Aiden to pick up all the sticks/branches before Ben started up the mower.  When we dragged our stick bucket into the backyard, we discovered that our yard is apparently the nesting sight for TONS of little baby frogs/toads (not sure what they are, but I call 'em frogs!).  I swear they're about the size of an M&M...I've never seen any so small!  Now I see them all the time, jumping in the grass (i.e. running away from Aiden and I).  After this discovery, Aiden moved on to help Ben with the man work.

In passing, we've also discovered that in addition to the baby frogs, we have a big frog/toad in the front yard.  He made an appearance during yard work and Aiden just LOVES him.  We first saw him during our final walk-through before the closing.  The next day, we came back to the house and the first thing Aiden did after getting out of the car was head to the last place he saw Mr. Frog and started calling for him "froooog froooooog".  It was precious! Now he just has to get a closer look everytime Mr. Frog heads out of hiding.

Mr. Frog tried to get away...Aiden didn't like that too much.

But he caught up to him again. :) 

I'm pretty sure the squat-and-stare is what cracks me up the most!

When Ben mowed the backyard, he nearly missed hitting a turtle with the mower!!!  Ben moved him out of the way and before we knew it, he was gone. The next morning, while drinking coffee, I caught something scooting across the yard out of the corner of my eye.  Sure enough, Mr. Turtle was back!  And man was he bookin'!!!!  We aren't sure if it's really the same turtle, but he's made several appearances.  This morning we watched him head down toward the dock, scuttle across, and drop right off the side.  It was quite funny.  I snuck up on him the other morning and got a pic...

Since then, we've discovered a snail and skinks roaming around as well.  When he's not trying to catch ants, daddy long-legs and other bugs, he's going to have a field day with all of these other creatures!  I'm actually surprised at myself how I'm not all that grossed out by the various finds.  It's actually kind of fun to watch Aiden's amazement at all of these 'new friends'!

What an overwhelming 2ish months!

Let me preface this by saying it's been a crazy 2-ish months. Read along and hopefully you'll make it to the bottom at some point!

Life in the Buzek home has been quite the whirlwind.  Ben has been very busy with work, learning about his new job and making lots of trips here and there.  Overall we've been doing really well and are learning more about each other as well as ourselves as individuals daily.  We're learning to cherish each moment we have together and as a family, and we feel really lucky to be where we are.  We have an amazing son who makes us smile and laugh and we absolutely love each new phase he enters in his little life.  Ben gives his all in trying to balance work/home/marriage/fatherhood and sometimes I forget and neglect all that he does.  So..honey, thank you. :) I love you!

Now that the barf session is over....

At the end of March/beginning of April, we started the proceedings for the purchase of our 'dream' home.  [I say 'dream' because after some work, it will be our DREAM home. :)]  Everything kind of fell into perfect place with this house.  The owner was quite ready to get it sold since he'd already moved out to the West Coast [and I'm sure you know life isn't cheap out there!].  We got a FANTASTIC deal, amazing interest rate, and everything ran smoothly.  It was now the waiting game for inspections, closing procedures and finally- move in.  We were set for an end of May closing.

At the end of April we learned about the death of a friend back at Fort Campbell.  He collapsed after running the Country Music Half Marathon and reportedly suffered a "sudden cardiac event".  It's still beyond me how a seemingly healthy 25-year-old combat Veteran dies doing something he enjoyed, but I guess life is funny that way.  I took it really hard, even though I wasn't exactly close with him.  As wierd as it sounds, I think I might have understood more had he passed overseas.  In the military, the understanding that it IS, indeed, possible to lose a loved one overseas is constantly in the back of your head.  Ben considered him a good friend, had recently talked with him and we had plans to see him during our trip to TN at the end of May.  This guy, Levi, was a great person/soldier/friend and would take the shirt off his back for anyone he loved.  He told the most elaborate stories and was a blast to be around.  He lived down the street from us when we were in Clarksville, and we had a few good times together last summer.  He'll truly be missed. :( 

Around Mother's Day weekend Ben received a call from his Mom indicating that his Grandmother, Jane, wasn't doing well. After a series of phone calls we decided it was best to head down to NC to be with Ben's family.  It was determined that the best decision for Jane would be to keep her comfortable and let her time pass as it would.  Ben spent most of the weekend at the hospital with his Mom, comforting her and following/making paper trails to ensure that Jane's care was the best she could get.  We stayed until Ben felt like we did all we could for them.  The same day we returned to Virginia, Jane passed on peacefully.  At 84, she was a tough cookie and gave this life all she had.  I'll really miss her witty little comments and stubborn personality...but we all know she's in a better place. 

Onto some happier news.  At the end of May we travelled over to TN to assist with/attend the wedding of our super-close, dear friends Rebecca & Andy.  The road trip itself went great, overall.  We made awesome time (10-11 hours) and Aiden did fantastic.  At the end the poor kid put his hands up and signed "done" over and over...with the most pathetic look on his face, too.  It was so sad!!!  The entire weekend was a blur of wedding events.  The wedding took place on Friday and we spent much of the day prepping/decorating the venue.  I made it back to Rebecca's house/showered/returned to the wedding site barely on time. I really think there was 5 minutes between our arrival and the ceremony.  Rebecca and Andy had a beautiful/quick ceremony and a stellar party afterward.  Aiden partied hard until he had no more to give.  He passed out just around 11 o'clock before we even left the parking lot. :)  The next morning we were quick to get the venue cleaned up and finish up other post-wedding duties.  Ben got there super early to help with what he could before leaving to participate in his former unit's Memorial Ride.  He borrowed his best-good friend's Harley and was beyond grateful for the opportunity. [Thanks Jeffy!!!]  Afterward he said the ride meant so much to him, especially after losing Levi last month.  

We didn't get to spend time with as many people as we'd hoped while there.  We really only had Friday/Saturday since we traveled Thursday and returned Sunday.  I hate that I didn't get to see some of my Clarksville friends, but hopefully the stars will align and we'll find ourselves out that way again soon. For those I neglected, I'm sorry!!!!

We traveled back to VA on Sunday and were up early Monday morning for the final walk-through before closing on Tuesday.  Much of Monday was spent packing since we'd neglected it up to this point.  The closing came and went and before I knew it, Tuesday night we were all moved in.  Things were everywhere, but we are now in our new home. :) :) :) YAY!!!!  I'm so grateful for the guys at Ben's work who helped us get all the crap here.  Mom and Dad Graham came down Wednesday-Sunday to help with house things/Aiden.  They helped more than they know!  Mom & Dad Buzek came down Saturday for a big family get-together.  We hoped to attend the Greek Festival out in Newport News but Aiden was getting over some kind of bug that hit him like a ton of bricks on Friday.  Ben & my Mom took him to the nearby urgent care while I [seemingly selfishly] attended my belated Mother's Day gift (a day at the spa!).  I didn't even realize just how much I needed that time away.  I told Ben to feel free to skip every other Mother's day and make up for it with another Spa day like that! :)  

So...those are my reasons for being so neglectful!  Oh yea, the most important reason!!  Aiden!! He is getting busier and busier and harder and harder to entertain!  He is a riot though and I wouldn't trade him for anything. :)  His sense of humor is starting to come out and I think we have a little trickster on our hands. :) He's all about Cars [the movie and the objects haha] and spends hours just driving his cars all over the place.  We're excited that he now has a yard to run and catch bubbles in and room to grow. :)  He's officially 21 months today, but I'd swear he's already 2!!!

Hmm....that's all I can think of at the moment....but here's a few quick pictures of the big guy!  I'll put up some pictures of the house when it's finally in order (hopefully that'll happen soon!).

Love to all- keep in touch & come visit us out in the sticks!!!! :)

Long overdue post!!!

Well hello friends & family!  It has been ENTIRELY too long since my last post.  I kept starting one, but would get distracted.  Aiden sure keeps me busy.  Now that it's warm out, we've been trying to spend as much time as possible outside! I finally put the slide that we..uh...I mean Santa got him for Christmas out on the back porch.  I decided to do this so if it was super hot, he could still be outside but in the shade and the slide wouldn't be obscenely hot.  I've figured out that we need to hit up the complex slides FIRST thing in the morning if we want to get some time on them in.  Otherwise, after sitting in the sun, they are entirely too hot! We've had some really warm days but that doesn't stop us from getting outside!!  

Aiden has seemingly gone from "baby" to "little boy" over night.  I could be sad, but I'm really enjoying him and all of his new discoveries!  He no longer wants to hold my hand on walks :(, he'd much rather help me hold the dogs' leashes.  He plays in the dirt, looks at bugs, squishes worms on the sidewalk, eats weird food combinations, etc.  He certainly knows what he wants and when he wants it, and doesn't let me try to distract him anymore. :)  His language is exploding and he often surprises me with a new word I didn't know he knew.  One of the most recent moments was when he was playing with a new puzzle his MiMi bought him. It has a bunch of different animals and their sounds..and he could suddenly identify all of the animals when asked.  Check it out!

I'm pretty sure his excitement with knowing where they all are is the best part. :)  He's such a smart cookie.  I don't want to toot any horns here, but a lot of people always compliment his personality, how much older he seems than he really is, how 'big' he is, etc.  It's just nice to know it's not just me that thinks that sometimes. :) He's such a great, great kid!

Onto other news.  Some of you may have heard that we are in the process of buying a house- yay!!!  I really, really miss having my own place where I don't have to step in other inconsiderate people's doggy doo! :)  The house is in Gloucester, VA...which is more rural and "country" than Williamsburg...and about half as expensive to live!  Williamsburg is great- there's a lot to do, lots to see, a lot of neat people to encounter.  But it's just so expensive.  You get a lot more for your money in Gloucester, the schools are great, and it's a real neat town with lots of community based activities.  We are SO looking forward to having a place of our own again and finally getting settled into our new lives here in Virginia.  I think up until this point, we've still felt like we were in transition since moving here about 7-8 months ago.  Several of Ben's coworkers live in or near our subdivision, so I will have a lot of support/people to help me out if/when Ben is away.  We are set to close at the end of May and I should probably start packing. :)  Click the link here for some pictures!!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=69357&id=688629603&l=3c086ba1fe

Some more random pictures http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=72844&id=688629603&l=46c432e7d5

I think that's about it for now.  I'll try to be better about updating!  

Smooches!

The big 1 & 1/2 year old!

I'd love to know how 18 months just flies right by.  I guess time flies when you're having fun, eh?

We had Aiden's 18 month check up yesterday and things are looking great! He's 25 lbs 8 oz, 32.5 inches tall and his head is 19.5 inches around. Respectively putting him in the 50th, 55th, and 93rd percentiles!  I'm having more trouble finding pants that fit his waist that aren't high-waters on him. :)

He got one shot and took it like a champ.  Right before the nurse came in he asked for a Graham cracker...and I kind of hid it while he got his shot so he wouldn't continue to eat and choke if he got upset.  And when she administered the shot, he grunted, held his leg and then was back to looking for his cracker.  Goofball.

His vocabulary is exploding.  Yesterday I asked him if he wanted to go outside...and he repeated "side...side...side" over and over again until his shoes and jacket were on.  Then he came inside to his slide and said something like "slide, slide, slide" while he climbed up and down.  He calls Shandy "see dee" and chases after he screaming it.  I did get him to say "pickle" last week and "apple" (bapple) is still my favorite word of his.  It's just crazy how much of a little person he is now!  No more babies in this house!

He's done really well with all the changes thus far.  Ben does come and go alot but he absolutely makes the most of the time he's got here.  We got quite a bit of snow (by VA standards) last weekend so we bundled Aiden up like Randy and took him out.  Ben showed him how to eat snow, make snow angels and stomp his shoes off.  Aiden didn't seem to mind how cold it was outside!  Even though it's almost all melted, he still finds patches of snow on our walks just to stomp in them. :) 

There's tons more pictures over here:http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=62986&id=688629603&l=b2deb for your viewing pleasure.  Hope the link works for you! 

Moving along on the road of life.

Aiden has been so much fun lately (minus the occasional attitude and aversion to the word "no").  He's picking up more and more every day and his love of exploring and figuring things out is amazing to watch.  We've noticed he's now at a stage (or the beginning stages of OCD) where he wants to sort, stack and arrange things.  The other day I cleaned out the pantry and took a few cans out and put them on the floor.  The next thing I knew, they were stacked in various spots in the hallway...we left them there and he was entertained for quite some time.  Given crayons, he takes them in and out and in and out of the container over and over again (he'll occasionally put a few marks on a piece of paper...but so far sorting ranks higher on the priority scale).  He loves taking all of the tupperware containers out of the cabinet and figures out which tops go to which containers.  

We have a few new consistently weekly events now.  We signed up for a music class that he absolutely loves (so far) on Mondays.  It's a small group of similar age toddlers and we sing, dance and roll around all over.  He giggles the most during "She'll Be Coming 'Round The Mountain" because we "woooooah" backwards.  We got the urge to sign up after some friends in our Friday playgroup told us about it.  After our first trip to music, the one Mommy said "Aiden sure does love music class, huh!?".  We're very excited to have him involved in something and he has NO problem being the center of attention.  During the "Hello, Hello" song in the beginning, his teacher says hello to each kid with a movement.  Most of the kids sit on their grown-up's lap while the teacher sings and waves/claps/pats hello to them.  Aiden?  Well he got up and stood in the center of the room with his hands on his hips, smiling from ear to ear while Mrs. C. clapped for him.  He totally gets it from his father!!! :) 

We've also started finger-painting once a week.  We've had a lot of fun making a giant, colorful mess!  The first time we finger-painted Aiden came out with green hair, blue arms, and few other mixed colors all over his body.  Thankfully a nice, warm bubble bath afterward erased his body canvas for the next week's masterpiece.

And, as I mentioned earlier, we now have a consistent playgroup that meets on Friday mornings.  We usually just gather together at one house or, if it's nice enough, in Colonial Williamsburg.  Aiden's the stud of the group, being the only boy so far, but it's been a lot of fun.  The best part is him having that consistent social interaction that he desperately needs!  

Other than that, we've just been having a lot of fun together as a family.  Ben has done a lot of traveling with work so we make certain to make the most of the time we have together.  Our weekends are spent at the park (when it's not bitter cold), up at the tennis courts running around with the dogs, exploring Williamsburg/surrounding areas, etc.  Aiden sure does love his Daddy...and even though I don't get as warm a welcome when I come home from being away...there's NOTHING like the smile on Aiden's face when he sees his Daddy for the first time in awhile....even just at the end of a long day he gets so excited to see him!  I love it. :) 

His new favorite activity- slides!

Oh my word...where to start?

I thought to myself this morning, "It feels like forever since I've done an update...", only to check and see that indeed, it has been forever!!!

It has really felt like life has been a whirlwind since Thanksgiving, as Aiden was quite sick just as the holiday was winding down.  He had some virus that worked it's way out of his body in rash form.  Luckily, despite his congestion and all that fun that comes with it, no ear infections ensued afterward.  I took him to the doctor twice convinced he had an ear infection, but luckily Mommy was wrong!!!

MiMi (Grandma Graham) came to Virginia to check out our place and do some holiday shopping shortly after Thanksgiving.  We had a great time entertaining her and enjoying all of the shopping Williamsburg has to offer.  This is obviously one of the main reasons I love it here...there's not only a lot of shopping, but there's so much to do.  So much history, landmarks, sights, etc that it never gets old.  I hope wherever we decide to make a permanent home is not far from here!

It's amazing how fast December came and went...and here we are now already into January 2009.  Our holiday season was nothing short of busy, but very enjoyable.  We spent Christmas in North Carolina with the Buzek side...eating good food, sharing fun stories, and creating lots of lasting memories.  Christmas itself was enjoyed by all.  Aiden made out like a bandit (although came home only to play with the broom and dustpan!).  The week spent there flew by and ended with a bon voyage to Aiden's Aunt Brei.  Freshley graduated from college she's off to Colorado to pursue her Olympic swimming dream.  We are all going to miss her dearly, but know she's off doing great things out there! :) 

Back in Virginia, our little family enjoyed some uninterrupted quality time together.  It's been a very long time since we've actually had this much time together.  There were some instances where we really didn't know what to do with ourselves.  

Aiden had his 15 months check up in mid-December.  He checked out like a champ.  He's growing, learning and talking just as much as he should for his age.  The Dr. was impressed by his handsome charm and his signing skills.  By now I'm sure he's on the verge of 25 lbs. and is 32 inches tall.  For some reason I was convinced he was short for his age, but every now and then someone will comment on how 'big' he is.  I think our initial predictions are going to pan out, that he'll be tall and skinny like his Daddy.  Lately he's been eating like a horse and it's finally tapering off again.  Now I think we're beginning the battle of the molars as we've had several rough nights this past week.  He just can't seem to get comfortable and is grumpy, grumpy grumpy!!  He's also learning interesting ways to test his boundaries and find out what he can/can't get away with.  I'm pretty sure he's got Ben and I figured out, and knows who he can push farther!  (You're probably right in guessing who that might be!)  All that less than fun stuff being said, it's been incredible watching him grow.  Now at 16 months, he's just soaking everything in this world in around him and spits it back out even faster than we can.  It's so funny to watch him imitate things that we do, manipulate things/situations and have a grand old time learning about his world.  Things he couldn't do a month ago now come to him with ease.  He's putting 'puzzles' together, picking up more and more sign language and verbal language, and just finds some of the things he does absolutely hysterical.  Who knew a 16 month old could entertain himself so joyfully?

As for the other two kids, Oscar and Shandy checked out well at their check up,  too.  They don't take kindly to strangers, though, and the whole exam was absolutely traumatic for them.  Shandy was tolerable, but Oscar ended up with a muzzle (a first!).  He never actually snapped at the vet/tech, but didn't hesitate to let them know he would!  Thankfully, we're done with all that chaos for another year!

That brings us to 2009.  Somehow it came upon us like rapid fire!  Nothing new is happening in my little world for now.  I'm going to continue staying home with Aiden and will hopefully pick back up with play dates and friend-making (for both Aiden and I).  Ben will be very busy with work and will probably be scarce around here more than available.  And..well...that's about it!  We hope 2009 brings all of you a healthy and happy New Year to enjoy with family, friends and loved ones!

I've been terrible at updating Picasa with pictures.  When the move happened, we lost track of all the backup picture CD's...they're somewhere in the storage unit.  I'm almost out of space on Picasa and am worried to delete old albums.  If those picture discs are never found and I delete the old albums, I'll have lost the first half of what we have of Aiden's life.  So bear with me and as soon as those discs are located, I'll be posting pictures up again like crazy.  For now, you'll have to deal with what I can post up here on the blog.  He keeps me far too busy to post that many pictures these days anyway!!!

Enjoying his new climber toy from Santa...

A certain little person is obsessed with pens...and drew on a beard.

Playing at the children's Christmas Party...

"Santa's really coming!?!"

That's all for now...but I will try to post more often!! Love to all!

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!