F is for....

FUN FILLED FEBRUARY!!

There have been so many amazing events this february (bdays, vacations, races...) that I simply must write about.... but because of these events I simply haven't had the time!!

Catch 22?????

First, a little business.....the Wellness Checks.

In the beginning of February, both boys went in for their wellness checks (1yr & 3yr). With both boys, mommy, daddy and Sarah in tow, we were quite the traveling circus.

Chaotic? Perhaps. Fun? Always.

Gavin's One Year Stats:

Despite our thinking that Gavin was our eating maniac, Gavin's weight came in at a measly 33%. He is holding strong with the Riley height genes at 66% and last but certainly not least...(or surprising)....Gavin's noggin weighed in at 98%!!!!  Woohoo! The G man also gets the vote for happiest baby on the block....was there ever so content a child??

Ayden's Three Year Stats:

This was Ayden's first wellness visit as a 'big boy' who had to stand on the adult scale and against the wall for his height. It brought a little tear to my eye.

Weight: 81% (apparently we are talking about one solid kid!!)

Height: 70% (he will be bigger than me so soon :( )

Ayden loved taking (playing) his competency test (game) and breezed his way through all of the questions, amazing the Dr (and his parents) as always.

When I got home I looked back at my post from Ayden's 1yr apt, take a look!

Bottom line: Both boys are healthy and happy....simply perfect!

Stay tuned for more February Fun Filled Events to come...

Year Three

Someone pinch me....

Many days I can't believe I have two kids....that are mine.....that I (with help) created.....that I am responsible for.....that depend on me.......that look to me for love, care, nurturing, help, guidance, teaching......but more often than that I cannot believe I have my Ayden.  My big three year old Ayden.

Where does one start to describe Ayden?  To me the first thing that always comes to mind is "Awwww." Good old jaw dropping amazement.

Dearest Ayden,

Each and every day of your life you have amazed me. These days I await with excited anticipation, all of our interactions, for with each, you teach me things about you, about the world, and about me. You are growing and learning faster than I could possibly imagine. Your uninhibited kindness, caring and empathy is simply astonishing for an adult, much less a three year old in the 'egotistical stage'. Your ability to comprehend our world, remember everything, and negotiate is incredible.

As I am writing this, I'm listening to you show daddy how to complete a brand new puzzle you got for your bday. I can hear you explain to daddy how this pieces goes here because it has a little bit of this on it, and correcting daddy when he tried the wrong piece (true story!), and explaining to daddy that maybe we are not ready for this piece yet. I can't pinpoint when you stopped being a toddler and became a little boy. You hold full conversations (ALL DAY LONG). Sometimes I catch myself speaking with you as though you were an adult, forgetting that you are only three.

You are this little person filled with ideas, plans, stories, desires, and an imagination to fulfill them all.

One nugget that I continue to adore is your passion for airplanes. While my education and common sense would tell me that most kids, certainly boys, go through phases such as this, I can't help but hope that one day you learn to be a pilot and I can share with you the hours and hours and hours (and hours) we have talked about airplanes, sat outside and looked for airplanes, gone to the Pima Air and Space museum and airport, watched YouTube videos of planes taking off and landing and taking off and landing..... While you enjoy trains and cars and other typical little boy things, there is something in your eyes when you see or hear an airplane that I deep down hope grows into a life-long passion.

And passion you have (I have no idea where that might come from...). Passion you wear on your sleeve and runs deep to your soul and effects your every being. I observe as your excitement consumes you, as well as your frustration. I'll never forget a few months ago when you were watching a Backyardigans show and daddy walked in and noticed you had tears running down your face.  He asked what was wrong. You shared with him that you were sad because the Backyardigans had lost their friend.....true compassion. I hope you never lose that compassion though the world may try and harden you, and probably will in some ways, it is better to feel everything than nothing; it will serve you in your personal, social and even professional life. 

Admittedly, knowing from experience what life is like with intense emotions, I harbor some motherly anxiety about the negative emotions you will inevitably experience throughout life. Though it took me decades to learn how to positively utilize or experience a strong negative emotion, I hope to be able to use that experience in nurturing yours. 

Last and certainly not least, you are social. You crave the presence of good friends; a trait you get from both of us. I pray that your life will be enriched by friendship as are ours. I hope you always remember the importance of good friends and how to be a good friend yourself in any relationship you are in. Your jobs will come and go, your things will come and go, your healthy may have its ups and downs, your age....well it just keeps going!...and throughout it all and in the end, what you have left are your relationships.

I love you to the moon and back and know you will never cease to amaze me. 

Happy Third Birthday to my big big Boy.

Love,

Mommy

Year One

My Dearest Gavin ("Didi"/ "Little Red-Head"/ "Trouble"),

I have held back tears numerous times now before my fingers even touched the keyboard. I am not sure I will find the time, or more importantly the words, to express how you have transformed my life this past year. There is no denying that with your birth came a new phase of my life. Your presence instills a calm in me like I have never experienced. Your face, whether smiling and bright or sad and snotty, gives me instantaneous perspective.  You have been the catalyst for trying new and different things, whether on a grand scale or small -   they are new and different nonetheless.  Though you be only one, your first year has forever changed my perspective on life, my values, my goals, my balance........simply put, me.

So, with that, I will keep it short. I am blessed to be your momma.

Love,
Your One and Only Momma

************************************

I hope someday when you have children of your own, you and Ayden will look back at these posts and see yourself in your own beautiful children.  Here are some of things you do today that I never want to forget...

- The way you say 'DA!", in so many different tones and inflections that tells us preciously how you feel, what you want....and certainly what you don't want.

- While Ayden was a easy going calm child, you too are very easy going, but you certainly have your fiery, red-head side that is so cute [for now :)] and bossy at times.

- Boy can you eat. I mean seriously. You have only TWO teeth!! Yet, I have not placed a thing in front of you (or you haven't gotten your hands on anything) that you haven't devoured and enjoyed.  To name a few...a slice of pizza, black olives, chicken nuggets, apples, avocado, cheese, green beans....how you chew it is beyond me, but you have perfected the art of two-teeth eating.  As Mimi once said, "he must have really sharp gums".

- The way you yell for Ayden. You always have your ears and eyes out for your big brother. You adore him and everything he does. You meticulously watch his every move and then try and repeat it. Just a few days ago you were watching Daddy and Ayden horseplay and I could see your yearning to be a part. So, I watched as you promptly crawled yourself over there and climbed on daddy too, throwing your head back on his chest and trying to play as Ayden was.  It was adorable....and scary (for daddy's sake) to think that soon both you and Ayden will be coordinated and strong enough to really wrestle daddy.....good luck hon.

- You are so similar and yet so different from your brother. While Ayden was linguistically and emotionally inclined. It is clear that your mind works differently. You are very mechanical. You watch how things work, think about it for a few, then go right to the root of its operation. It is not the ball rolling down the track that interests you, it is how the ball makes the wheel turn, or the like.

- The comedy hour (read 5min) you put on for me just before you peacefully lay your head down on my chest and slip into your nightly slumber.  Your sense of humor just kills me. And the way you can read me even when it is pitch dark. But to end each day with the weight (and I mean weight!) of your little red head again my chest as we slowly rock and sing.......the worries of my day melt off, we are frozen in time and untouchable.

The birthday week begins...

Let the birthday week begin!!!

As you all know, our little Ayden turned 3 on Sunday.  Yes...THREE!!!  I am not sure how I have a three year old, but alas I do, and he is handsome. funny, smart, a wonderful big brother, and simply snuggle-ishious!!

Saturday night, to kick off his bday celebrations [and at Mimi's awesome suggestion], we took the boys to Trail Dust Town.  It...was.....awesome.....

First we rode the train that took us through all these cute scenes that the boys loved.

Gavin was looking adorable and warm in his new bday beanie from Aunt BB!!

Then we checked out some of the town's scenery while we waited to be seated for dinner.

Cowboys Daddy and Ayden

A sight I hope to never, ever, see...my sweet boys behind bars...[or eating the bars as the case may be].....

Then we had dinner at Pinnacle Peak. It was perfect. The place is loud and casual, so the boys fit in quite well :)

Ayden had his first bday surprise when the whole restaurant sang him happy birthday.   I think he was a little shocked by all the attention, but he certainly enjoyed his ice cream.

Finally, we ended the night with the stunt show. Ayden just ate it up. In fact, much of the audience was more into watching him and listening to his commentary than the show!  Gavin and I had to take an early departure as Gavin was not a fan of the loud gunshots. So Gavin and I walked the streets of trail dust town and ended up in the candy/ice cream shop....convenient

Needless to say it was a very fun filled evening and we had two exhausted little boys.

The next morning, Mimi and I took the boys out to the desert museum. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. I simply love the desert museum. It is one of Tucson's treasures. Not only is the wildlife amazing, the staff knowledgeable and kind [aka good with kids....even those who might want to climb on the rocks], but all the amenities are clean, up-to-date and stocked; it makes for a lovely day-trip with kids.  The boys thoroughly enjoyed their tour of the desert animals.  Ayden even got to touch a King snake!  And Mimi and I got a good workout pushing the double stroller over the terrain.

Digging for Dinosaur bones

After a much needed nap the boys took to the streets with Daddy and Nana to play with BUBBLES!!

Anyone need help organizing?

Help for hire....

We are reliably unpredictable, will organize and reorganize as many times as [we] want, will accept payment in food or really anything shiny or noisy, and best of all we are adorable.

It was amazing with all the items that hit the floor hard that a) no ones toes got crushed and b) nothing broke open. Save some dry noodles....everything and everyone came out unscathed!