'I want Kix please Mommy'

The other day while I was on my way to our deep freeze to get out meat for dinner, Ayden told me that he wanted Kix for snack.  I heard him loud and clear as he is very good at talking these days.  What I didn't apparently understand was that he meant NOW!!

So, in a matter of 30 seconds, Ayden got his Kix......all by himself :)

Ayden Potter

Today J taught Ayden the art of wizardry.  More specifically, how to cast spells with a wand (aka stick).  This was all veeeeery cute while we were the only ones at the park this morning.

Then two families showed up and Ayden continued to 'cast spells' at the kids (and basically anything in sight).  It quickly dawned on me that my kid was now 'that kid', as it appeared to the unknowing bystandar that my child was pretend shooting.......hum......awesome.....

Well...Such is life!

'Stinky Butts'

The fun has begun!

For the past few weeks, Ayden has showed signs of being ready to begin potty training.  As with everything else, Ayden has led the way in telling mommy and daddy what he is and is not ready for.

First, he began using and understanding the terms 'potty', 'pee pee' and 'stinky butts'.  Then he moved on to telling us when he was 'all done' (aka dirty diaper).  And this past week he started running up to us and announcing that he had 'stinky butts'.

All of this could only point in one direction, so I went to the store yesterday and made the 'pull-ups' purchase so we were ready when he was. 

I think we may be ready....

Tonight. while he and I were diligently playing and eating our way through dinner, this look came over his face and he said, 'Mommy!  Stinky Butts!'  I thought to myself, there is no way he just pooped, I would have seen the face!  So I quickly deduced that he was in fact announcing that he had to go! We flew out of that chair, [food tumbling everywhere], so fast and ran to the potty.  Where Ayden patiently waited while we pulled off the pants and threw off the diaper.  He then proceeded to sit down very nicely and diligently on the potty...like he had been doing this for years - all he needed was a newspaper....or i guess it would be an I-Pad these days!

At first nothing happened and Ayden stood up and graciously explained that 'Stinky butts went away'.  But after some time of up and down off the potty I saw the face.....Game on!!!  Ayden was amazed at what was in the potty when he was 'all done' (both poop and pee). 

[There might be a little more to the story, like perhaps when he started to pee he wasn't quite lined up right and we may have had pee shooting everywhere (mommy of course hysterically laughing but trying to be calm so as not to frighten him)......but that's neither here nor there....and there are no witnesses to either confirm or deny whether that actually occurred.]

I was SO PROUD of him I could have done a flip.  It is certainly the little milestones that make being a parent so amazing.  I could see my excitement reflected in his beaming eyes and huge smile - what a big boy.

There is no way this journey to underwear will be this easy, but a mother can hope can't she?!?!

Below the Border

Last weekend Gram-E, Ayden and I joined Lynnea, Susan and Alana for a little venture across the border in Puerto Pinasco, Mexico.

It...was....simply....FABULOUS....

The weather was picture perfect.  The beach and sand prime for sand castle making (or destroying).  And the pools heated to bath water.

Ayden was spoiled beyond belief (if it is possible to be more spoiled than he is on a daily basis) by 5 adoring women.  Which also meant that Mommy (aka me!) got some much needed down time.

Between the 5 of us (lets be honest....the Molinas) we had enough food to feed an army!  There was lots of cooking and delicious meals.  Which is important when you have TWO pregnant women (CONGRATS NEA & SHILOH!!!)

 As you can see, the digs were superb!

One day we took Ayden to the 'aquarium'.  Translation....one room that smells like FISH!!!! with big tubs that you can stick your hands...head....body... whatever.. in at your own risk =)

 Susan tried very hard to get Ayden to touch anything she pulled out of the water.  But Ayden wanted nothing to do with it and insisted each and every time that it go 'back in water!!'

 Ayden loves turtles, so seeing these large sea-turtles was a treat!  

 To them, I think Ayden's probing little fingers were more the treat.

 This was the seal.  He was quite large and at times very vocal.  Ayden was not the biggest fan of it's barking.  Needless to say,  I don't think we will have a chance to touch and feed a seal in the US like this anytime soon.  Considering the broken chain link fence between us and Mr. Seal, I'm suspecting the Mexican regulations may not be as strict as ours ;)

Ayden was fascinated with all the animals and learned a new word...Octopus!  (it is SO cute to hear him say!)

After 4 days of bliss...we headed home.  Ayden was a gem in the car per usual and so polite saying 'Bye-bye' to the border patrol men.

How to start a rumor 101...

At about 7:30pm....when all is quiet in the neighborhood and there is not a light in sight, you (very pregnant dressed in black) and your husband (white shirt, jeans and flip flops) head out to your front yard and start digging....armed only with a shovel and a hand powered (yes that means turn the crank every 30 seconds so it doesn't go out) flash light.

After about an hour, a neighbor drove by and J and I turned to each other and said...this is how rumors begin. 

I envision a scene from Desperate Housewives.

No, there was no shifty business going on....just your typical water pipe leak......again!!

We (and by we I mean J, while I diligently cranked the flash light and offered what I'm suuuure was very helpful advise) dug for two hours.  A few blisters and lots of mud later we successfully located the leak.

Status:
The house is without water, I hoped on a flight at 9am this morning, and J is left equipped with work gloves, a shovel and thankfully Gilbert's help.

J and I aspire to one day be Do It Yourself -ers....is today the day???

BOO!

This past weekend was Ayden's 2nd Halloween....and I have NOT a single picture of him dressed up all cute in a little costume.  There are two reasons for this:

1) mommy is NOT creative and even though Ayden's request to be a ghost was heaven sent, the whole cut a hole in a pillow case and throw it on him didn't go quite as planned.  I started to think that he looked more like a member of the KKK than a cute cuddly little Casper.

but what I like to think is the REAL reason we didn't dress him up is,

2) he was not feeling so hot =(  (perhaps a blessing in disguise - one more year of peace and quiet before many many many years of intricate costume needs and sugar highs)

HOWEVER!!!!  Never fear there are still pictures to share...

We did make a trip out to Bucklew Farm with two of Ayden's friends, Dash and Audrey!

This cutie is Audrey!  She actually kept those cat ears on the whole time!!

Three kids....three different directions....

My little bug :)

What a helper!

Gabi and Dash

We went into the petting zoo and Ayden got to pet a rabbit, llama, donkey, goat...and chase some ducks.  He didn't want to leave.  All I could think was thank goodness for sanitizing hand wipes!!

While Ayden didn't want anything to do with his stroller, Dash was happy to take a load off for a while ;)  Smart kid!

Yes Ayden....that is your father...

My boys!!  And their tiny pumpkin from the picked over pumpkin patch.

Doesn't he look like a little pumpkin himself???

Poor J didn't realize we weren't actually pumpkin picking, so he was sad to leave this perfect find.

It is now officially memorialized forever!

Ayden loved this pole of pumpkins...more so, he loved trying to knock it down.  

Thankfully we were not successful!!

Ayden and his Mimi!

Attempting to get a picture of the kids together...

I just Looooove this picture!!

I think this means we can claim SUCCESS!

The aftermath...