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

The Balloon and Friends

Aden and his friend were having a private converstation about the white balloon at the sunny Dudley Farm in Newberry, Florida last weekend.

~Life as Mom

Aden at Dudley Farm

A sun-filled day at Dudley Farm in Newberry, Florida.

This past weekend I spend some time at a local  working farm with Aden and friend. My goal was to get some great photographs of them to use in a future portrait portfolio. I wish I had taken more photographs of the actual farm. I will definitely go back as I had so much fun.

The problem with gorgeous kids is that when editing I never know when to quit. How does one perfect perfection?  We stopped at Publix and Aden got a balloon.  He didn’t let it go all day.

~Life as Mom

These are the things I look forward to next weekend when we go to Old Edwards Inn and Spa in Highlands, North Carolina for our annual Fall trip to the mountains.  Unfortunately it will only be for a very short weekend but it was the only time this Fall that we could get away to enjoy the leaves change.

We are leaving the child at home this year.  We could take him and we are going to miss him terribly but the short weekend and long drive there and back would make for a very cranky Mom, not to mention kid.

Our aspirations for the weekend are to visit Dry Falls where Kevin asked me to marry him and to sleep as late as possible in the feather bed.  Then get up and go take a nap in the huge soaking jetted tub.  Then get back in the lovely feather bed for another nap.   Maybe go out and view the Fall leaves.  I know the color won’t be at peak just yet but as long as the weather is cooler than Florida I’m a happy wife.  Did I mention the heat index is at 105 degrees today?

The challenging part of the weekend will be in how many times we call Aden to see how he is doing.  This will be our first long weekend without him.   If it wasn’t Old Edwards, it might not be worth leaving him behind.  But Son, when you read this, this place was worth it to Mom and Dad to leave you with Noni. 

We love this place.  Luxury in an old english style way that makes us feel absolutely wonderful!  I can’t rave about this place enough.  Definitely worth the visit.  From the champaigne arrival to the stocked butler’s pantry, this place is the epitomy of service and style.

And yes, I do smoke cigars.  Rather, a cigar.  I get to smoke one about once a year and not every year.  Obviously for special occasions with a wonderful wine and NOT in front of the kid.  He’ll be traumatized enough from seeing us run around the house naked that I wouldn’t want him to remember us smoking cigars as well.  Although, Kevin likes to smoke a pipe.   That really smells a lot better than my old smelly cigar!

I can’t wait.

~Life as Mom

Unfortunately he started getting sick that morning.  Started sneezing and coughing and his nose started running.  He still hasn’t quite gotten over it.

Kevin and I took Aden to Downtown Disney the next day.  We didn’t stay long because Aden wasn’t feeling well but we did hit a couple of the hot spots.  We went to the LEGO store which is candy to Kevin and I’m sure will be to Aden too.  We bought Aden’s birthday present there.  Then we hit the Disney Store which is HUGE.  In the baby section Kevin pulled out a stuffed baby Mickey Mouse and Aden went nuts.  He screamed and grabbed Mickey and DID NOT let him go.  I’m not quite sure what it was about that toy that he loved, but of course we had to get it.  Then we went to the T-REX restaurant for lunch.  The line wasn’t too long getting in but once in getting to our seats was the challenge.  My MAJOR complaint about this restaurant (an obviously family-oriented restaurant) was that the women’s bathroom was NOT family friendly.   Yes, they did have the obligatory changing table but it was squeezed in between two other stalls so that when I had to change Aden, I had to block both stalls so that no one could get in or out.  The one handicap bathroom, which did not have a changing table or a toddler seat, was terrible.  Try going to the bathroom holding a squirming toddler who wants to touch and then mouth everything!  I was not happy.  How could a restaurant like that not take into consideration ease and comfort in the bathroom?  The most important room in the restaurant!  That kind of ruined the whole dinasour experience for me as I missed the meteor shower that happens every 30 minutes because I was still struggling with Aden in the MESSED UP bathroom!  Everyone take note – when in Downtown Disney use the Disney bathrooms…they have to be better.  I didn’t get to see one and believe me next time I go I will definitely be checking them out.

Since having Aden, bathroom ease and comfort has become a priority.  Let me tell you, the restaurants that have the changing table and the toddler seats in the handicap stall DO stick out in my mind and I definitely favor those restuarants.  We have deli type restaurant here that has all of that, Crispers.  Very family friendly.  All thumbs and toes up!

~Life as Mom

We will be in Lake Mary this weekend and wanted to make a quick trip to Orlando on Sunday.  Downtown Disney is great for this purpose because you don’t have to pay an entrance fee therefore if you can’t stay all day you don’t feel as if you have wasted your money.  You get the Disney experience without the Disney price.  Don’t get me wrong you still spend money!  Who can resist all the wonderful Disney things you can buy since it is just a giant outdoor Disney mall.

As I prepare for the weekend I realize that traveling with Aden will be different than in the past.  Even a trip as recently as our beach trip, Aden wasn’t moving around too much.  Now he is a little crawling motor that can’t be turned off.  How does one prepare for that?

I have my travel strategy planned, a couple of outfits per day, lots of diapers and some toys.  I need to add to that his favorite Baby Einstein movies, the portable DVD player, his favorite spoon, stroller, hats, swimsuits, and what else?  I’ve studied these travel tips and this travel blog, DeliciousBaby.

Everything I have read has said to be prepared.  I have to prepare for him actually being awake while we are driving.  Hmmm, what games can you play with a 10-month old that can’t move?  Peek-a-Boo comes to mind.  I think I’ll bring our puppet too, but Aden has been kinda scared of him lately.  Perhaps bubbles?

How do you entertain a crawling baby in a hotel room?  Why play with toys when he can explore the room.  I hope they have their own pack and plays as we don’t intend to bring ours.

We love traveling and hopefully with a little forethought this and future trips with Aden will go smoothly.

~Life as Mom

Today you are eight months old.  Your personality is developing every day.  We are at a family get together this weekend and are realizing that you aren’t too crazy about 50 dogs, 100 kids, and all the aunts and uncles in your face.  But that is ok, your mother and father aren’t too crazy about that either.

You like to rub the side of your head when you are tired.  You love for your daddy to hold you till you fall asleep.  Only when you are very very tired will you let me hold you and rock you to sleep. You are just about to crawl!  You are up on your hands and knees and rocking back and forth.  Any second now you will take off and make our lives a lot harder.

We have to work on baby-proofing the house this week and lowering your crib. Again.  You can pull yourself up in the crib which is great except that everytime you come down you hit your head on the sides.

You still love your baths and have enjoyed the pool the couple of times we have put you in.  The rainy weather has made it difficult to get in the pool more.

~Life as Mom