Road Trip!

This past week, we bravely embarked on a road trip to Austin, TX. Much to my surprise, the kids did wonderfully in the car!!! We loved visiting with Aunt Mary and Uncle Enidio. Also, the kids loved getting to meet other family members for the first time. The kid's great grandmother celebrated her 80th birthday and Ayden was delighted to get to join in the celebration.

On our way to Texas, we stayed a night in Shreveport and two nights in Lake Charles. Both cities were very pretty and we enjoyed the new experiences. In Lake Charles we stayed at the L'auberge hotel. It was incredible!! The hotel/casino was good for allowing Ayden to walk around and be as loud as he wanted. While the casino was not somewhere I wanted to stay, I didn't have much say because my father was paying for it. (I did not do any gambling because I am too cheap of a person to risk losing one penny!! )

We are all glad to be home and look forward to a week of hanging out at the house. Jessie Ann and Chance were both so excited to see us as were we of them. Since the road trip was so successful, I plan on making the trip again in the Spring...but next time, John will have to come along!

Eating Solids

Anna Claire has begun eating rice cereal. She is doing so well with it already! Yesterday, when I started feeding her Ayden wanted to try it. So, I gave him a bite and he made a face like "why would you give me this?". It was so cute. Jessie Ann and Chance quickly realized that they now have two people to stand under when eating! I have a feeling that if I were to drop some of it that they too would give me the same face as Ayden!

19 Months

I am staying home now with Ayden and loving it. I admit somedays are harder than others, but we have a lot of fun. We go to the park, library, zoo, and we might start going to a dance class if I can talk his daddy into letting him take dance. He is a very happy boy and I am so blessed to have him. He is also a great big brother! He loves his Anna Claire-but he calls her baby. He is constantly kissing and hugging her. I have a hard time keeping him off her. Anna Claire is so easy. She spends most her time sleeping so it frees me up to spend time with Ayden.

Walking

These last few months have been very challenging now that little man can walk/run. He absolutely loves testing his boundaries and seeing what mommy and daddy will do. I have the hardest time trying NOT to laugh when he is being so BAD. The times when he does this the most is when daddy is not around.
We truly are blessed with him and are so glad he is in our lives. Everyday he does something new and we just love being apart of these times of development. For instance, he can now do the sounds of a monkey, cow, chicken, and lion. He also does a roar sound at Jessie-apparently he thinks she sounds like a lion. Speaking of Jessie, poor Jessie! She never gets a break. Ayden is constantly harassing her. We are debating getting a puppy after the new baby comes so that Jessie can get some peace.
We are moving back to Birmingham!!!!! I can't wait! Ayden is going to love his house! Currently, we live in a condo so he doesn't have much space to run around and climb on stuff. Plus, we don't have a backyard for him to play in. However, in our house we have plenty of room and we plan to make a play room downstairs-poor John, we are getting rid of "Club JP". Anyways, we look forward to spending time with our friends and family back in B'ham and to an eventful summer. Ayden will have a new sister at the beginning of July!!!

Eating solids

Ayden ate solids for the first time yesterday. He definitely did more spitting out than actually eating. But, we gave it a good try! We went with the rice cereal this week and are going to try bananas next week. My plan is to make his food with organic fruits and vegetables. I just hope I stick to that plan. We found out yesterday that he has his first tooth! It is the bottom right incisor. We are so proud of him. Also, we went to the doctor and found out that he is way ahead in terms of his height! We have a tall guy just like his daddy.

Dedication

This past Sunday, Ayden was dedicated at church. He did so good!!! I was so afraid that as the paster was holding him up and in the bright lights, that he would start crying. Luckily, he didn't. My mom, dad, sister, and nephew were in attendance. Russell, my nephew, was so sweet. He kept asking to hold Ayden and held both my hand and John's. I hope that Ayden grows up to be as sweet as Russell.

After the dedication, nana and pop treated everyone to our favorite bakery. I had my favorite desert-cheese danish. Everyone was pleasant and we had a wonderful time.

Easter

If you happen to see the picture of Ayden and the Easter bunny, know that it is not his mommy! The person in the Easter bunny outfit is his nana, my mom. And no, I did not talk her into putting the outfit on. She volunteered and she also has a Santa outfit. So, it is safe to say there will be pictures of Ayden and Santa.

This Easter Sunday was Ayden's first time to go to church. He did really well! I was so proud of him. He stayed with John and I during service because we are not ready to put him in the daycare yet. He is getting dedicated this coming Sunday and we are really excited about that.