Our lives as parents » Milestones

Mom’s Embarrassing Moment

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:32:15 +0000

I had a few free moments before a play-date at the splash park this week and I thought I would hit a thrift store I hadn’t been to yet.

It was an awesome little store with a closed-in kids play area. SWEET! I put Aden in the play area and headed straight for the boys clothing area.

The next thing I hear is a lady saying, “Is this your baby?” I don’t have a baby any more (sad) but what the heck I better turn around and check. The lady is staring at Aden.

I follow her gaze and see that Aden has pulled down his shorts and is peeing on the floor. In the play area. On the rug.

“Aden, what are you doing?” I say as calmly as I can while trying to get over the barricade to him.

To her grace and my gratitude, the cashier was more than kind. Of course, I had to buy stuff to make it worth her while to clean up the mess which she had done by the time I could get back from the bathroom from cleaning up my potty-trained (sometimes) son.

I should have taken a picture.

~Life as Mom

New Year’s Resolutions

admin — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 05:02:24 +0000

THE New Year! I’m not that great at making or keeping resolutions, but I did want to try to take a picture of my son every day this year. I want to see if I can do it as it will force me to pick up my camera every day. I’ve already cheated and used my iPhone for Day 1.

I feel horribly guilty for not taking as many pictures of Aden in 2010 as I did in 2009. He probably changed the most this past year. Although to be fair; compared to when I was his age, I have much fewer pictures.

Day 1, shot with iPhone. I intend to get a few apps for my iPhone in order to help me get these photos to come out clearer but in the mean time I’ll torture you with grainy photos. Happy New Year!!

Aden January 1

The Haircut

admin — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 05:01:36 +0000

Aden got his hair cut again and this time it is really short!

Day 2.

Watching Tom and Jerry

Aden's short short haircut

After the Big Boy Haircut

admin — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:30:54 +0000

Aden at two years old.

My big boy is two years old now! Man, oh Man! The independence is growing by leaps and bounds.

“No baff, mama! No baff,” says Aden every night. He is definitely letting us know about the things he doesn’t like.

When we took this picture, we tried to do a family pose but Aden wouldn’t have it. He didn’t want to sit in our laps. He wanted his own chair! He wanted to sit by himself. How does a Mom keep up.

~Life as Mom

Before the Big Boy Haircut

admin — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 04:47:55 +0000

Aden in September

Aden got his hair cut today. Each snip was like saying goodbye to his babyhood. I had no idea watching my child grow up would be so painful. When I was a child, I felt like time was an eternity. If only it felt that way now watching him.

This is a picture of Aden before getting his haircut. My little baby.

~Life as Mom

Parenting a Toddler

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:01:20 +0000

2nd birthday invitation design, train with animals

We are planning for the 2nd birthday party! I designed his birthday card again this year which I’m excited about. Soon he’ll want to do his own thing so I’m taking advantage of doing non-Disney themes as long as I can!

Each birthday I reflect on what kind of parent I am and how I did the past year. How does one parent a sensitive two-year old who isn’t afraid of thunder but worries about the dogs outside? A child that is quick to react to the moods of his parents? A child that will only relax when both parents are sitting down relaxing? Are all 2-year olds this sensitive? He is testing his independance by saying “No” to everything, even when he means yes. At least this tells me he is whithin normal parameters.

Aden isn’t quite two yet but at the end of this month he will be! Even though he is getting testy, I still believe he is more even-tempered than most little boys I’ve known!

Things I love about the almost 2-year old Aden: He is gentle with his toys! He gives great hugs! He tells me something new everyday, like there are clouds and planes in the sky! He is gentle and sweet and sensitive. He is very much like his father. He has learned our fear of bugs and snakes, which we have tons of, so the reinforcement will be with him for a lifetime.

I’m glad he isn’t one of those children that no matter what you do, it doesn’t phase him, but at the same time, everything we do affects him. He doesn’t like change and is upset when we are not both around. But when we are both around, he is the happiest little boy in the world!

I worry about how sensitive he is. I worry I won’t be sensitive to his needs. I worry I won’t be a good parent to him. I worry we won’t be able to keep up with his smart little brain. He has all his books memorized and we can’t seem to get to the library fast enough!

This next year we hope to broaden Aden’s mind, get him potty-trained and concentrate on being a happy family. Simple goals they sound like, but sometimes I have to remind myself to smile and laugh with Aden around otherwise he doesn’t laugh. Here’s to the child without to remind me of the child within!

~Life as Mom

Potty Training Update

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:49:23 +0000

So….the potty training has come to a halt! Sort of. Aden’s fascination with the potty has waned either because he isn’t ready yet or he knows he will have to get into a knock-down drag out with Mama if she decides to push it and he doesn’t want to. I’m telling you this kid is stubborn. For instance, he doesn’t like his front teeth brushed. Gotta tell you, they look pretty grimy after a while! So, every other night I have to hold him down and brush his front teeth. He screams his bloody head off! If he had sensitive gums, then I’d understand but he brushes his back teeth just fine. I’m convinced he screams so loudly because he thinks he should do it. ONLY he won’t do it.

I was so hopeful Aden would want to use the potty more! I’m still hopeful as Aden will be moving into the next class at daycare soon and they definitely do the full out potty training in that class.

Kevin is off to the ancestral home this weekend and I’m heading in the opposite direction to visit my friend in Tampa. It will be interesting to see how Aden fares staying the night in a new location. Since our spring disaster of trying to stay in a cabin with him we haven’t tried staying anywhere else with him.

In that instance he kept getting up in the middle of the night and would wind up in weird places. He sleeps in a very deep crib at home. The first night at the cabin he was stuck under the bed. The second night he was on a shelf in the kitchen. I don’t know if he sleep walks or was just looking for something more comfortable but it freaked us out every night! So this will be a great little test run for our October mountain trip. I’ll find out how well he travels!

Forget trying to potty train while on the road…I won’t go there, especially by myself.

~Life as Mom

Christmas!

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:21:22 +0000

Wow! We are still alive and Christmas is two days away! I believe we are going to make it! And I haven’t baked a single thing!

Aden is getting the hang of presents. We’ve been practising. We did his picture with Santa sometime in the past couple of weeks. I honestly couldn’t tell you when as the past month has been a blur. I’m so glad I have next week off. I hope I can get some rest!

: Aden with Santa

Aden did so well in the line and got excited to see Santa. He walked right up to him and touched him! I didn’t think he would have a problem sitting on his lap but sure enough he cried as soon as I put him there. Santa was good. He took out Aden’s pacifier and the photographer timed the shot just right when he was crying so that it looked like a smile!Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate Christmas. Happy Holidays to all those who don’t!

~Life as Mom

Aden at 12 Months

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:07:39 +0000

Aden is 12 months now. One year in which his parents managed to keep him alive and survive. This is as momentous for us as it is for him. I never thought I would have a kid and for me to come so far already…I am actually starting to feel like a mom. It isn’t something that is so alien anymore to me. Kevin would like another and although it sounds nice, I stopped taking the antidepressants a couple of months ago and the reality is I just don’t want to. The emotional upheaval I’ve undergone in the past two years has really knocked me for a loop. I feel as if I am somewhat back to normal now and am just not too willing to go through all that again.

Aden seemed to really enjoy his first birthday. He had a few friends (all girls) come over and really seemed to enjoy the company. He didn’t get upset about anything. He ate his cake and enjoyed the icing best. I’m just glad it washed out of his clothes. He had an alligator theme party with alligator balloons that were his absolute favorite toy. He learned the word balloon though it sounds more like “ba-oo.”

Aden is now jabbering away especially since we took the pacifier away. He has stopped crawling for the most part-preferring to walk everywhere. He spends his free time playing hard and walking and exploring. He really enjoys the outdoors. He frequently grabs my hand and says “go” and walks me to the back door. When we get outside (which isn’t too often right now because the bugs are so bad), he grabs my hand and walks me around the yard collecting treasures to hold or show me. As we walk along, he will collect another treasure and decide if the new one is worth letting the old one go or if I should hold the old one. So far he has collected rocks, sticks and acorns. He is quite the little naturalist.

Developmentally he is doing well and hitting all his milestones. The one thing we are concerned with is his little temper tantrums, for lack of a better word. When he is told no or is upset he starts banging his head on the tile floor or against the wall. When he is really upset he’ll start pulling his hair out. After consulting the doctor and being assured that these are temper tantrums and that shows that he is really smart. I didn’t ask why this proves he is really smart, because I don’t feel that smart, but I’m assuming it is because he has already learned to manipulate us.

Getting him to go to sleep has been harder. I can’t just put him in his crib and let him cry himself to sleep. It just doesn’t happen. He can go all night. Mommy and Daddy like to sleep too. I’m not sure which of us contributed to his stubbornness but it was probably both of us. I dread when he gets older and we have a battle of the wills!

His favorite toys vary from day to day, but he really likes his balls. He got a couple of them for his birthday. He plays with everything he has but his favorite activity is exploring. His favorite foods right now are still the pureed vegetables and his snacks such as his cookies, yogurt melts. In the big people food he loves chicken and waffles. He is still the cutest kid around and now we find very smart. I just hope we as parents can keep up and keep him challenged.

He went to the doctor for his one-year check-up and shots. All went well and we got him the flu shot (regular) too. he got to go get an ice cream cone after the doctor visit which he loved and wore all over! Mommy even got to wear some!

He’ll be starting daycare soon. I think he’ll really love it and love all the interaction. It feels like sending him off to school. I feel more nervous about it and hope I’m able to take him his first day.

Birthday pictures coming soon.

~Life as Mom

Milestones at 11 months

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:32:27 +0000

My baby is definetly a toddler now and his first birthday is next month! There have been so many changes and they have all happened so fast!

1. Bed time has suddenly become earlier. Aden must be wearing himself out during the day.

2. He doesn’t like anything taken away from him. Take away the dangerous fork or that knife that could stab you and let the screaming commence.

3. He is interacting on a level of basic conversational level. He is acknowledging what you are saying and trying to respond either by making noise or by touching you.

4. Last night I was reading Aden his ABC book and I asked him to point out two different animals for me. First it was a tiger and then it was a fish and then it was a dog. He got the tiger right, didn’t know the fish and got the dog right. You could just see the gears in his head moving as he was trying to figure out what it was I was saying and what it was in front of him that sounded familiar.