Good Times!

We had a very busy, yet fun-filled Saturday!

After enjoying bagels for breakfast, we took the kids to the Carolinas Aviation Museum.  It's basically a large hangar with all sorts of old war planes, big and small.  There is even a nice lookout in which you can see an entire runway and watch the planes take off.

Ella was less than thrilled - actually, she was scared of the planes taking off (as we expected) and just snuggled into me saying "Scared, Loud Planes".  She did; however, take great delight in a little puppy someone was kind enough to let her play with while we let Mike and Aidan enjoy themselves.

Aidan was in pure heaven, running around yelling with excitement, "Big Plane, Shiny Plane!", and "Copter!".  He had an absolute blast!

In the evening our friends, the Kilcoynes, came over with their boys, Patrick and Finnegan, for a little cook out.

It was a bit hectic just trying to cook and watch over all of the kids, but we all had a wonderful time!  All of our children play so very well together - no fighting, no hitting - just good fun toddler play! 

Ella's "Boys" - "Atrick & Chickin" - AKA - Patrick and Finnegan

All three boys checking out Diesel (the dog) next door!

Sweet Ella!

Handsome Aidan!

The kids sat down for all of about 10 seconds to eat!  Patrick preferred his Mommy's lap rather than the table!

Mike made banana pudding for dessert.  Rather than putting it into the trifle bowl I had intended, he did it his way - smily face and all!

Flashback Friday

Ella and Aidan were just nine weeks old in these pictures.  They are one of the very few that I have of them in their infant carriers and jogging stroller (the old jogging stroller).  I dont know why I didnt take more pictures of this stage - especially in the carriers.  I distinctly remember how heavy they were - carrying one in each hand!  By seven months we had already graduated to the convertible seats!

They look so very little - it is hard to even remember back when they still had wobbly necks and needed receiving blankets to hold them up on each side so that they wouldn't flop over to one side! Their little feet don't even make it to the end of the seat!

"Tatoes"

"Tatoes", as they are known in this house, are one of Ella and Aidan's birthday presents - Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head.

When asked for a list of things the kids would like / need for their birthday, these were on the list. I remember them from my own childhood, and Ella and Aidan simply LOVE their "tatoes"!

I just didn't think it through and remember all of those little pieces and parts!  We are now constantly stepping on a random ear, nose or pair of eyes.

Alas, Ella and Aidan adore them and spend lots of time assembling and tearing apart their beloved "tatoes".

Ella loves the sunglasses....except she prefers them for herself rather than the "tatoes".

Aidan likes to put all of the body parts on the "tatoes" all by himself. Not too bad if you prefer to be upside down with your feet backwards, with tongues for arms and eyes for your nose!

Wordless Wednesday

Flashback Friday

Mike and I had a really difficult time finding the "right" house for us - one in which we wanted to raise our family.  It took many months and many offers on different houses before we stumbled across "the one".

Despite the house not having a garage, we fell in love with our home for many reasons. Perhaps one of my personal favorites is the front porch.  

In hindsight, I loved the porch, but had no way of knowing back then just how prominent a role it would come to serve over the next few years.

In 2004,  Mike and I would enjoy sitting out there after dinner chatting about our day - and our future dreams of watching our little ones play in the front yard on warm summer evenings chasing fireflies.

In 2005 we would sit out there and rock, lamenting over everything from our latest failure to conceive a baby, our miscarriage, the idea of adoption, and the harsh reality of perhaps never having children at all.

In 2006, I spent many hours on the front porch rocking the babies (still in utero!) and telling them all about the house, the neighborhood, their room, and all of the possibilities that lay ahead for them in life.

In 2007, we spent hours upon hours rocking our colicky and fussy little miracles.  It was as if they knew how special that porch was to us - they would (usually!) instantly become quiet and fall asleep in our arms with the back and forth rhythm of the chairs, the nice breeze and the sound of birds chirping in the trees.

 

In 2008 - we read books.

In 2009 - Mom and Dad gave Ella and Aidan the ability to join us in rocking on the porch - in their own (perfectly matching and coordinated!!) toddler sized rocking chairs!

You see, Mom and Dad were here non-stop in the first two years.  They may live 4 hours away, but they see Ella and Aidan and spend more time with them than anyone else I can think of (well, other than Mike and I).  There have been so many random weekends when we get a phone call from Mommy Shushi saying "I know we were just there last weekend, but can we come over for a visit - we just miss our little ones so much!".  Ella and Aidan make daily requests to talk with them on the phone - Opa and Mommy Shushi are constantly the topic of conversation around this house!

They knew just what to get Ella and Aidan for their 2nd birthday - a gift with thought and meaning  - so very much meaning.  

Who knows, maybe these four rocking chairs will live on for generations to come and end up on a great, great grandchild's porch. 

 

Birth Order

I have never researched much about birth order, but I am fairly certain that Ella has quite easily slipped into the typical older-sibling role. She takes note of Aidan’s whereabouts, summoning him when she feels he's too far out of sight. "Aidan, Come Here!!!" she yells from the other room. She barks at him when he's done something against her will. She calms him with a back rub when nothing and no one else will do. 

Aidan was having a toddler moment the other day and in an effort to problem solve, she brought him his bunny, his pacifier, and his Buzz Lightyear action figure.  None would calm him down.  She then leaned over and gave him a huge hug and rubbed his head, saying “I Love You Aidan!”. 

It does not get any better, or sweeter, than that - she wanted so badly to help identify and meet his needs.  She loves him so. 

It is a true gift to witness and nurture their sweet friendship. 

And then, there are moments like this that I just happen to catch on camera:

Ella hits an unsuspecting Aidan on the head with a bucket:

I tell her "No Hitting!" and ask her to apologize to Aidan.  She begins by rubbing his head, looks to make sure I am witnessing the apology, and gives him a little hug for good measure:

And then promptly does it again!

Thoughts from a Stay-at-Home-Mom

The last thing I want to get into that age-old debate between working and stay-at-home-moms (SAHM) – that’s basically tantamount to discussing religion or politics – I am not prepared to go there!  Honestly, I have been on both sides – and I am a firm believer that everyone must do what is best for their particular family.  There is no right or wrong. One mom does NOT have it any easier or harder than the other (in my humble opinion) – there are pros and cons to both.

However, I was recently informed that because I am a SAHM, I have plenty of time on my hands as opposed to working Moms. I was also told by someone else that I should now find a full-time job and work from home because, now that the kids are old enough to play together, I can work all day while they play. Honestly, this fires me up, especially considering that the people who made those comments are close to our family and not random acquaintances (and I also know for a fact that they read this blog!).

Seriously? 

They are two – not ten.  They need constant supervision, and unlike some, I choose not to have the television raise my children (that’s not to say that they never watch television – they certainly get their fair share!). That being said, it us up to me to provide adequate means of entertainment and outlets for getting out that toddler energy. And this means from the moment they wake (6 – 7 AM, to the moment they get into bed (7 – 7:30 PM).  Aside from the few days that Mike is home, it is all me – all day and everyday.

This IS my job – my full-time, no vacation days, no sick days, 24/7 job. 

I take my job very seriously – as seriously as I did in my “real” job in the corporate world.  Back then, I won awards, earned promotions and raises, and rose through the ranks of my chosen profession very quickly.  I was living in Holland, on the company dime, by age 23.  

I traveled overseas numerous times and flew all over the US – even drove across the country from Miami to San Diego three times (a drive I highly recommend!!)  I lived in New York City, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Raleigh, Washington, DC and finally Charlotte - all before the age of 28.  I gave all I had to my job – 100% - that is just who I am as a person.   

And the same is true for me today - I give all I have to my job – 100%. 

My job is to raise Ella and Aidan.  Not just play with them like a babysitter or to send them outside to play unsupervised, but to raise them into well-mannered, well-rounded little toddlers who then become well-mannered, well-rounded little adults.

I am a chef.  It is my job to do the grocery shopping and to provide healthy, well-balanced meals for the family.  Make a meal, serve a meal, clean up the meal, clean up everything else.

I am a maid.  It is my job to keep the laundry done, and the house organized, clean, and presentable to anyone at any time. I may not be perfect on this one, but I am darn good! Toddlers (and husbands!) are messy – enough said.

I am an event planner.  It is my job to schedule playdates and to research fun, age appropriate activities for both friends and family. Exposure to new places and things is not only fun, but also nurtures those sweet little minds!  

I am a nurse.  It is my job to be “in the know” about all health related items, maintain their pediatrician visits and records and to kiss away the pain from bumps and scratches.

I am a teacher.  It is my job to ensure that Ella and Aidan are learning and growing a little bit more each day.   Time spent learning colors, letters, numbers, manners, etc. is not best done by a video or television program.

I am a referee / counselor.  It is my job to provide a good example for my children, and to steer them in the best direction with the choices they make. To keep them from harming themselves or others and to counsel them when they are older and find themselves in a tough situation.

I am their Mother.  This IS my job!

Wordless Wednesday

Trip to Dan Nicholas Park

Dan Nicholas Park is not too far away from us - just up I-85 in Salisbury. This place is rather incredible – a complete mecca for little ones! On the property – all within close and convenient walking distance (even for toddlers!) – are a nature center, a petting barn, a carousel, a toddler train ride thorough the woods, a gem mine, a putt-putt golf course, a huge playground, a large lake and a wildlife center with bears, wolves, foxes, etc.

Amazing! And everything just costs .50 cents to $1 each!

Ella and Aidan had a total blast! Aidan and Mike got to ride a train again while I held Ella who cried “All Done, Bye Train” as we waited.  They rode the carousel and checked out all of the animals (they LOVED the black bear and adored the baby pig!). 

They even tried out putt-putt for the first time.  All I can really say about that experience is that we now know not to spend money trying that at the beach this summer!  They really tried, but got bored rather quickly.

All in all it was a wonderful morning!  I didn't take many pictures on this outing - I just wanted to relax and enjoy the moment rather than trying to capture every moment on film.  

Twin Putt-Putters

Aidan Cheats                                                  Ella Cheats

Two Years

Ella and Aidan had their two-year appointment earlier this week. 

I remember sitting in the waiting room when they were babies in their stroller watching the bigger kids play with the toys. In my head I was thinking that my kids will NOT play with the gross, germ ridden toys at the doctors office. EWWWWW. Ha! Jokes on me! Guess who ran right over and started playing with the trucks and blocks. Gross Dr. office germs. Then in the examination room they were running around in their diapers – even crawling on the floor to point out the various colored shapes. SO GROSS! But really, what can you do? They want them stripped down for the weigh-in and they were NOT content to sit on laps or be held the whole time. We made sure to sanitize them really well in the car, but boy have the times surely changed. You think you have it all figured out and in your head you have a list of things that you would never do. Then the day-to-day hits and you do all that you can just to survive. 

So, here they are, the two-year stats:

Aidan

Weight: 29 pounds (50-75 %)

Height: 36 ¼ “ (90%)

Head Circumference: 19 ½ “ (75%)

Ella

Weight: 26.4 pounds (25-50 %)

Height: 36” (90%)

Head Circumference: 19 ¼ “ (75%)

They are both right on target for everything. I love that, with a little direction, they can both sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the Itsy Bitsy Spider!  They both have both bottom 2-year molars – just the top ones are left and then we are done with teething!

Ella, in fact, is on par with the level of a 3-year old in terms of her vocabulary and skill set.  She can count to 10, name all of her colors, shapes and letters of the alphabet. She also speaks in 4-5 word complete sentences.  She is very pigeon-toed (just like me!) but the Dr said not to worry at all – she will likely outgrow it.

Aidan is catching up to Ella very quickly.  He had a bit of a slower start in terms of vocabulary, but he is not far behind at all!  He can count to 4 (sometimes 5), name all shapes and letters of the alphabet, and is getting much better at colors.

We got the OK to switch to skim milk, but I am still going to continue giving them vitamins. We don’t go back until their 3-year well visit, and there are no more injections until they turn 5!

__________________________________________________________________________

Dearest Ella and Aidan,

Two years ago, we couldn't wait to meet you. They put you both on my chest, and I could hardly believe you were real. 

Happy Birthday, not quite so little ones. You fill our hearts, you light our days. Thank you for being ours.

Ella:

Little spitfire so full of sass. You are such a jokester. You make me laugh so much, sometimes even when I shouldn’t. You are a patience tester and are really working on testing out the limits these days.  You are now fully aware of the concept of timeout, and are very good about marching yourself over to the timeout chair without me having to place you there. 

You are very tuned in to people’s emotions, especially Aidan’s.  If he lets out the slightest of whines or begins to cry, you immediately come to me and tell me “Aidan sad and crying!”

When you first meet new people you are very shy and serious. They would never know how much of a little imp you are under the serious facade. You are very quick to smile and just as quick to go crazy.

You love dogs, balloons, wearing your jewelry and certain hats - and wearing your “pink” shoes. You love to give me big squeezes and of course you still love your bunny – with the newest addition of Abby, the dog / blanket. You have started to pretend play and will feed your dolls and pretend to mix things in a bowl and give me a bite.

If you are awake, you are talking non-stop!  Your vocabulary is simply amazing – Daddy calls you a little parrot because you repeat everything we say! You talk to yourself a lot – when we are in the car you have entire conversations with yourself!  You love to count and are always walking around counting from 1-10 over and over again.  Even during meals you will pick up pieces of food, count them and place them into small piles.

You are very much a Mommy’s girl and I love every minute. The moments you want to sit and cuddle with me are precious. You even say “I love you Mommy”, which have to be the most beautiful words I have ever heard!  You are still a little timid with strangers and get scared from loud noises.

I don’t mind one bit that every time a motorcycle or a large truck passes by outside you come running to me. I hope you always come to me when you need something. I hope you always know how much I love you and how very, very special you are.

Aidan:

As always, I will say that you are still so very sweet, loving, fun, cuddly, and happy. You are very ticklish and we have a lot of fun getting your legs and belly and hearing you laugh so hard you get the hiccups. Your laugh lights up your whole face and causes the rest of us to laugh with you. You love to give kisses. 

Everything is “BIG” to you right now….big truck, big tree, big book, big couch, big Daddy!  You are also wanting to touch everything you see.  We went on a walk around the neighborhood the other day and you ran from tree to tree yelling “Touch Big Tree!”. 

You are still an incredibly picky eater, and exist primarily on fruits (any and all kinds!) and grilled cheese.  Your latest habit during meals is to hide food under your placemat so that we think you have actually eaten it! 

You are seriously all boy. While Ella picks flowers or plays with dolls you chase around the big kids or play in the dirt. You are still very much a Daddy’s boy and the minute he gets home from work you run over and hold your arms up to him.

You share very well and you are very tolerant of your toy-stealing sister – and you seem to find great delight when she is reprimanded and sent to time out for taking your toy for the third, fourth, fifth……time.

You have a new game at bedtime – you find it hilarious to toss items out of your crib and shout “uh-oh” over and over until we come back upstairs to give it back and lay you back down again.  This can go on and on for at least an hour!

You have really come out of your shell these past couple of months and your vocabulary is really beginning to take off. 

My little man, you are such a handsome, wonderful little boy who lights up my life like no other could.