Aiden Meets Janie :)

Here's the video of Aiden meeting Janie :)  I was a little bummed because Trent and Aiden showed up while the hospital pediatrician was finishing up her check on Janie, so it was a tad awkward at first.  Luckily she was just headed out, so after about a minute I started recording.  It goes out of focus a few times for some reason and it's a little dark at some parts because we hadn't pulled up all the blinds yet.

2 Year Stats

We got back from Maui yesterday, but before I post about that, I need to post about Aiden's 2-year check-up.  I like to keep my posts in order ;)

We had Aiden's appointment on the 20th.  He weighed in at 26.8 pounds (50th percentile) and is 34 inches tall (30th).  He had to get one shot in his leg (second dose of Hepatitis A).  I was actually really worried this time that Aiden would be pretty sad/mad at me afterward and I actually teared up when they stuck him, but he was such a trooper.  He literally cried for maybe 5 seconds.  I can't say enough how much he amazes me all the time.  There's a little playground outside the doctor's office that I kept telling him he could play on after his appointment, so right after his shot, I told him "All done" and he said, "All done.  I wanna go on the slide."  Then I couldn't get him away from it!  He probably went down like 20-30 times. Oh and I forgot to mention, Aiden decided he wanted to wear his aviator hat this day :)  Everyone commented on it.  He's such a cutie!  It made me laugh because when they took his temp and checked his ears I had to lift up the ear flaps..haha.

I got these pics of him from my phone, and I do not have a smartphone, so they are very poor quality, but I couldn't resist.

It's a twisty slide and goes really slow.  I went over on the other side to sit on a bench and it was slow enough that he always had time to look over at me and say "Hi Mama" or wave..haha.

To this day, every time we mention Aiden's shot, he talks about going "down the slide" as well :)

• Aiden is talking up a STORM!!  It is crazy!  He basically copies anything we say.  Just today he started saying "Bummer." Whenever a fire truck goes by with it's siren on he automatically says, "I missed it" because so many times before he's missed it and we've told him.  So today I said, "Oh bummer" when he told me and he's been saying it since..haha.

• He's been doing this for a while, but I've never written it.  When he doesn't want to eat something I'm trying to give him or when he doesn't want to do something, he closes his eyes.  I guess he's thinking if he can't see it, it's not there.  It totally makes me laugh because he has the longest eyelashes so he actually looks really cute when he does it :)

• Literally, while I've been writing this post tonight, Aiden started counting to ten!  I've never heard him count all the way to 10 before!!  I haven't even really been working on it with him (does that make me sound horrible?).  He is such a little smartie! This is one proud mommy over here!!  I got it on video :)

Here are some pictures from the last few months that I haven't had a chance to post.

The first several, with him in short sleeves, are actually from back in October.

Whenever we go to San Tan (outdoor mall) these little rides always catch Aiden's eye.  It is usually pretty difficult to pry him away from them ;)

Sometimes we take the dogs for a walk when we go to my parents' and Aiden often wants to walk Haddie.  She's his perfect size ;)  He often ends up getting dragged a bit and ends up running..ha.

Aiden loves to line up all of his cars and trucks.  He also, clearly, loves to play on the dishwasher.

Right after that, he totally impressed us when he realized he could attach his school bus puzzle piece to the back door of his other bus and drag it around!

More of lining up his toys.

Trying to help his puppy blow bubbles ;)

On this day I was doing laundry and Aiden hid out in the linen closet and kept popping out :)

Caught in the act!

For a few weeks Aiden would reach for his light switch and turn on his light whenever I put him down for his nap or bedtime and if I tried to sneakily turn it off while he was still awake, he'd get right back up and turn it on again. We finally pushed his crib further so he can't reach it anymore ;)

Aiden is 2!

Aiden turned 2 on Sunday and we had a little party for him on Saturday.  I was getting to the point where I didn't know if I wanted to throw him a party (I was feeling so low on energy), but once Halloween passed I was suddenly feeling like I could do it.  We decided to do a party based on all things that go because that's what Aiden is absolutely loving lately :)

This is the invite we sent out.  I found the design on Etsy from Kelly Medina Studios.

I tried to keep the decorations easy and pinned some great ideas on Pinterest (love Pinterest!).  I got a black tablecloth and yellow duct tape to make it look like a road.  Aiden has plenty of cars that I was able to put on :)

Then I dipped some pretzel rods in chocolate and put on a red, yellow, and green m&m to look like stoplights :)

I made a bunch of these airplanes from clothespins and craft sticks (tutorial HERE).  I was pretty happy because I assembled them a few nights before and was surprised by how much Aiden loved them.  He was carrying them all around with him :)  

Now that the party's over we'll be hanging them in his room :)

We had Aiden dressed for the occasion ;)

Strawberries, pineapple, and green grapes - again with the stoplight idea.

The whole spread.  We kept lunch basic - got deli meat and sub rolls and veggies for toppings along with the fruit.

Don't you hate it when you don't realize your picture's out of focus until it's too late to try to take another :/

Those were all of the pictures from setting up.  

Soon the guests started to arrive.  It was very low-key.  While people munched we had Aiden open his gifts.

The Rosenbaum's totally surprised us and brought this car for Aiden!!  He loved it from the very second he saw it :)

Mindy and Ari brought a train, which was perfect because Aiden actually didn't have any trains!

Checking it out :)

The Wray's brought Aiden a new outfit - perfect for our growing boy :)

Grandma and Grandpa Christensen got Aiden this car carrier.  For a few weeks before, Aiden kept spotting it in stores while we were out running errands and playing with it, so when my mom asked for an idea, I knew just what to tell her!

I love Melissa & Doug toys!

Grandma and Grandpa Knuckles got Aiden a fire truck - also Melissa & Doug :)

Thank you to everyone for their generosity.  Aiden is in heaven!

Another shot of the spread after people started eating.

Visiting.

We got an airplane cake mold from Michael's and were happy with how it turned out!  Thankfully my mom took over on frosting it because Trent and I were really struggling..haha.

I don't know if Aiden ever really figured out why he was the center of attention all afternoon ;)  Here, we were singing to him.

You can't really tell, but he was trying to blow out his candle :)

I think Trent blew it out in the end.

And then we just continued to visit and play with all of Aiden's new toys :)

We had Aiden's airplane costume as a prop by the front door.  Here we are with Kristell and her 2 cuties - Naomi and Kellan :)

Aiden with Grandma and Grandpa Knuckles.

Aunt Amber and Grandma Christensen.

There was a little miscommunication and Grandpa had made prior arrangements to take a bunch of young women horseback riding before he knew about the party, so he didn't make it.

The party seriously could not have gone better.  I was so pleased.  Thank you to Trent and Mom for helping me get everything ready and to Mom for letting us party at their place :)

Yesterday, the 17th, Aiden's actual birthday, was a pretty normal Sunday for us.  Our home teachers came by before Church with a little gift for Aiden (a little airplane and monster truck).  And then Church is sqwack in the middle of the day for us from 12-3 and once we get home Aiden goes down for a nap.

We woke up the little monkey around 6 (can't believe it's already dark outside by then) for his final gift.

Aiden with all of his gifts.  I kind of just took this for my sisters to see.

We need more space!!

Lucky boy!

I seriously can't believe we have a 2-year-old!  That just seems so old! He is the biggest joy of our lives  and we are so eternally grateful for him.  WE LOVE YOU SWEET AIDEN!!