More fun with cousins!

Well, I'm finally writing all about the fun visits with cousins! It is wonderful bc within 2 months, Aria will see every single one of her cousins!

Sydney and Christina came to visit Aria over the 4th of July. They had SOO much fun. Of course, Adam and Sarah came with too. Christina wanted to celebrate her birthday with us (HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY CHRISTINA!) Here they are playing when they first arrived at our house:

On Friday, the 4th of July, we spent the day at the beach club. In the picture, Aria is watching Christina make herself into a sand mermaid. We had so much fun at the beach. There was a DJ there for the 4th, and they played fun music, and had a sand castle building contest (which we did not win...) We were there for the entire afternoon.

Afterwards, we went to downtown for the 4th of July festivities... and found out that everything closed down at 5 pm. oops. But, there was a carnival in a soccor field, with fireworks to follow. So, we went there... almost. On the way there, we stopped at Boston's Pizza and ate.

We then changed our minds, skipped the soccer park, and we decided to go to the ball park across the street from our house, and watch fireworks there (secretly I think it was a baseball vs. soccer thing, and if you know Matthew, baseball wins every time) We went home and got Zig (we couldn't leave him all alone to miss out on the fun!) and then headed over. We had a great time there! There was a park with TWO big slides that Aria could climb up. She went straight for the big slide, and climbed all the way up. Monkey!!

The fireworks began, but we couldn't see them! They were covered by trees. There were several people there, and everyone was upset. Then.... another show started, and we could see them clearly!! YAY! Aria fell asleep, however, and missed the fireworks. She slept through them last year, too. Must be a tradition.

I have no pictures of us at the ball park. What is wrong with me?? So here is one of Sydney and I right before we left. Yes... I am wearing my PJs, but I wanted to be comfy! And, yes, it is about 100 degrees and I'm in long sleeves and sweats, but I am still thawing from MN winters. And finally, yes, Aria is being closely supervised in the background. Haha, she looks like she is wandering away.

The next day we celebrated Christina's birthday. Christina and I made a cake together, which was very fun (the first cake I have ever made from scratch, and I was very surprised at how easy it was. Almost as easy as using a box mix!) Sydney and Christina decorated it afterwards. They did a great job!

That evening we had her party. Christina wanted to share her party with Aria, since she wasn't able to be there for Aria's 1st birthday. I thought that was awfully sweet of her to share her day. After the party we played in the new sprinkler toy, and then broke open the Pinata. It was a perfect day! Excuse my dear brother in the picture.... (although you might start to understand why Aria's phrase of choice the whole time was Uh OH!)

It is funny, bc Aria didn't say much of anything the whole 5 days (except uh oh... again, I don't blame her) It must be because she was playing so much. She really loved all the play time with her cousins. Usually it is just her and I all day, and I am working, so she is exploring and playing on her own a lot.

All I can say is how much I miss them, and how much I wish they lived nearby again. It was hard to believe that it had been an entire year since we had been together. We won't let that happen again!

Duck

We had a fun day today! Aria said "Duck" today ;-) She is really starting to use a lot more sounds and "talks" all day.

Aria went to sleep at 9:00. Here is one of my favorite sleeping Aria pictures

Two cousins, one birthday!

Aria slept GREAT last night. She fell asleep on the way home from the store last night at about 7:00 pm. She didn’t get up until 11:30 pm. I knew she’d have to get up to eat. She usually doesn’t go to bed until, at the earliest, 9:00 pm, but usually 10:00 pm or later. She got up one time at night, but she didn’t actually wake up. She just cried a tiny bit in her sleep. When I woke up this morning, she was in her crib saying “da da” and then clicking her tongue. “da da” click click “da da” click click.

I looked at my phone to see what time it was and it was 8:00. I had already gotten 2 missed calls and 2 texts. I thought I missed something at work, and panicked a little. Then I saw the texts!! They were from Alethea and my mom in law! Alethea had gone into labor in the early morning, and went to the hospital! She ended up having a c-section at 8:24 am and had a BABY BOY!! His name is Colton Maximus and he weighs 9 lbs 9 ozs. BIG boy! The doctor had told Alethea after her ultrasound on Friday that the baby was about 7 lbs 8 ozs. What a SURPRISE baby! We all thought for sure it was a girl. We can’t wait to meet him!! Here is a picture of baby Colton.

Colton Maximus - born 02/18/08 - 9 lbs 9 ozs



As I was trying to talk to Kat this morning, we kept getting cut off. She said “it’s a boy” and the phone cut out. So I tried to call her back at her home number and it went to voicemail. The phone was on speaker and Aria was lying next to me (yeah, we were still in bed) and she heard Jake’s voice on the phone and she looked and said “da da”. Too funny.

Today is also AJ’s birthday – my other nephew! He is THREE today!

Today Aria watched her 1st Veggie Tales. She is so funny. It’s the Silly Songs DVD. She is in her exersaucer piano, and she is leaning all the way back and looks up at the ceiling. She is babbling/singing along. She laughs when I clap. She is amazed at how I make that sound, and wonders how I do such a fun thing that makes such a cool sound. I think Veggie Tales is a hit!

She had corn for the first time today. Corn mixed with butternut squash. Yum!

Today we went to the mall for lunch. Aria had soooo much fun. She loves being around people! We met Jenn and Mia. Mia and Aria are so cute – they look at each other, and smile. Aria gets excited and bounces and squeals when she sees her. Mia gets more animated every time we see her. She is 4 months. They are looking closer in age now.

Aria went to bed at 8:30 tonight…. We’ll see how tonight goes!

Cheerios!

We went to Church on Saturday night, and Aria went to the nursery again. She had just woken up from a nap as we signed her in, and I wondered how she’d do if I tried to drop her off sleepy. I handed her to the person at the nursery, and she went to her with no problems. Again, I looked for her number to show up during the service, but it didn’t! I went to pick her up afterwards, and tried to peek in and see her playing with the kids, but I couldn’t see around the corner. They said she did have fun, though ;-) and that she was good the whole time.

On Sunday, we all went to brunch (Daddy, Aria, Mama, Gramma Ginny, Grampa Danny) at MiMi’s. We asked for a high chair for Aria, and when they brought it over, they also brought a little cup full of CHEERIOS! Aria had never had Cheerios before! We put her in the high chair, and put some of the Cheerios on the table. Aria grabbed right for them and ate them up. She loved them! I can’t wait to get a box for her to munch on at home. She’s getting really good at picking up very small objects (like Cheerios ;-)



During brunch, Aria looked right at Daddy and said “Da Da” We don’t know if it was coincidence or if she really called him Da Da, but it sure sounded deliberate to all of us at the table. It made Daddy VERY happy! Aria proceeded to day Da Da throughout the rest of the day.

After brunch we went to Costco to “pick up a couple of things” (yeah right...). Gramma and Grandpa came with us, too. Aria got a big book of baby animals and a Veggie Tales silly songs dvd.

Next, we dropped off Grampa Danny and the groceries (Grampa Danny had to get some work done) and we went to pick up Uncle Chris. We went to Fire Wheel, which is an outdoor shopping area. We went to Old Navy and Pier 1, but then everything closed. As we headed home, and Aria was “da da”-ing away, I said to her “Aria, can’t you just say MaMa?” and (OK I know you’re not going to believe this!) she said “Ma Ma” !! Everyone in the car heard it, so I have witnesses! ;-) She didn’t say it again after that (she went back to Da Da) but she DID say it! She's never said an "mmm" sound before. Of course, we're not actually sure that she meant to say mama, but it made me happy regardless ;-)

A House Full of Kisses!

02/14/08

Aria’s very 1st Valentine’s Day!

Well, after a night of not so good sleep… we had a great morning!

Aria ended up in bed with us at about 6:00-ish, and was still asleep when I woke up at 7:00. Matthew was up, and I was up, and I wanted Aria to be up so we could give Daddy his presents! I got up and went to brush my teeth, and I found 2 Hershey Kisses at my sink! I went back into the bedroom and excitedly said:

Me: “there was a Hershey’s Kiss at my sink!!”
Matthew: “Really? Only 1?”
Me: “No, there were two!”
Matthew: “are you sure there were only two?”
Me: “Hmmm…. Let me go see….”

I went back in, and sure enough, there were only two…

Me: “there were only two”
Matthew: “are you sure?”
Me: “Yes”

Aria is still asleep, and so I’m kinda nudging her to wake up so the fun can start (I know, bad mama, never wake a sleeping baby) and we can give Daddy his presents. She stretches out like always when she wakes up. Matthew mentions that maybe I should check to see if there were more Hershey Kisses out there – and points to the door of the room. So, I opened the door, and there are two Hersey Kisses paths on the ground! I’m directed to follow the path to the left first…. It lead me to MORE Hershey Kisses, and to a big, beautiful Teddy Bear with a red dress and red bow on her ear! WOW! And a card (soooo sweet, too!!) and a Tweety Bird stuffed animal that says “I Wuv You” ;-) I love stuffed animals!

Next, I followed the Hershey’s Kiss path to the right, which went all the way up the stairs, through the media room, and into Aria’s room, and in her crib, there is another Vermont Teddy Bear, and this one has pink polka dot diapers on, with a bib that says “Aria Faith’s 1st Valentine’s Day”. OK I’m bawling by now (as well as while I’m typing this…).

Matthew: “are you sure there are only 2?”
Me: “ha ha ha more like 200”
Matthew: “more than that…”

WOW!

Next, it was time to give Daddy his Valentine’s! Aria gave him a little froggy stuffed animal, that is holding a heart that says “you make my heart leap” with a Spiderman Valentine card in it with a note from Aria to daddy. I gave him my card. Then I gave Aria the stuffed bear I got for her. As we were all laying in bed with all these stuffed animals, I noticed that my Tweety Bird had a spot for batteries on the bottom, which I mention to Matthew… he then pushes the foot, and it sings and dances and lights up to the song that goes like this “do you love me, do you love me, do you love me, now that I can dance”. I cracked up! Aria LOVES this Tweety Bird!! She smiles and watches it dance and light up. WAY too cute!



So, by 8:00 am, my Valentine’s Day has been the best Valentine’s Day I’ve EVER EVER EVER HAD!!

As I’ve gone around the house today, I’ve found kisses EVERYWHERE. Next to my vitamins, on top of the coffee canister, on top of the apple juice in the fridge, on every counter possible, EVERYwhere.

Before he left for work, Matthew cleaned up all the kisses from the floor, so Aria wouldn’t get them, and he offered before he left, to clean up all the kisses on the counters, etc! I mean, seriously, how much better can my day get?? Of course, I wanted him to leave them all over! I don’t know if they’ll ever be picked up ;-) Another thing to note… he only put them in places that are not accessible to Aria in her walker ;-) What a great daddy ;-)

Did I mention he also made breakfast??

I feel like a princess today!!!!

The picture below is Aria with all of her Valentine's Teddy Bears...