Belly Post

I really don't like to see pictures of myself when I'm pregnant while I'm pregnant, but later on...when the bloating, swelling of the face, etc has gone down...then I like to see them. So, for that reason I'm posting this, and for anyone else who wants to see my pregnant belly! Here I am at 31 weeks along...

Jason's New Job

Jason was on contract at his work, but was recently hired full-time. Just as this transition was happening he was made aware of a new job opening in a different department which is more of a position that he was looking for. While on contract, Jason worked as a Portfolio Analyst in Church History which he enjoyed, but isn't really what he wanted to do long term. This new position is working for the same boss he worked for as an intern in the missionary department. He interviewed for the position as a Project Manager in public relations and got it! We're so excited! It's such a relief to have the job security of not having contracts run out and have to be resigned or renegotiated. Now he's a full-time employee in a department he loves, working with people he likes and doing what he actually got his degree in school to do. It's nice knowing he's using his degree when we write out those checks every month for the student loans! Here we are celebrating his first day at his new job. We made some sugar cookies and wrote one letter on each cookie spelling out "Congrats Daddy! We love you."

Potty Training

Let me just start out this post by saying I am NOT good at potty training...I think I lack in the patience department...so I've dreaded potty training Aidan, but with a new baby coming in a couple of months I was hoping to only have one child in diapers. Since Aidan just turned 3 I figured it's a good time to start since Aidan understands he just turned 3, and I could really press the point that 3-year-olds are big boys and don't need diapers except when they're sleeping. Aidan took pretty well to it. We bought Aidan some Toy Story and Cars underwear which he was really excited about. I don't really bother with pull-ups...I've had several pediatricians tell me that it only prolongs the potty training process because they can wet themselves and not feel the consequences of wet, sticky pants. So, on the first day, Aidan was so excited about his underwear that he kept switching pairs every 1/2 hour or so just to try some new ones out. He had an accident first thing in the morning...I told him it was okay that we just need to get some dry underwear and try to go peepee in the potty next time. He was kind of freaked out about using the potty...he would sit on it but not go...finally he went later on in the day and I clapped, gave him stickers and m&ms and told him how proud I was of him. It was so sweet when he looked at me and smiled and said, "you're proud of me?" I said, "Yes, I'm very proud of my big boy." That seemed to make him very happy. The next day was pretty much the same with an accident first thing in the morning and then peepee in the potty after that. I think we're on week four now of potty training, and Aidan doesn't have any peepee accidents, but we're still working on getting him to go #2 in the potty. He usually freaks out and doesn't want to do that in the potty and goes in his underwear instead or waits until bedtime and goes in his diaper. However, just last week, he went poopoo in the potty and now it's about 1/2 the time #2 goes in the potty and 1/2 the time it's in his diaper at night or underwear, BUT we're making progress. I know he knows how to use the potty, and he's getting better about telling me when he needs to go. We're making progress, and that's good! Hope this post wasn't too much information, but I wanted to document it all.
These pictures are from one of the first days we were potty training, and Aidan didn't want any underwear at the moment. He wanted to help me make cookies, so we threw on an apron and started cooking! He just looked too cute not to take a picture.

Aidan turns 3!

The Friday before Aidan's birthday, Jason's mom came to town so we had a little family birthday party for Aidan with Grandma and Uncle Travis, Aunt Trudy and his three cousins and two brothers. Aidan was soooo excited. We had talked to him about his upcoming birthday party for a couple of weeks before the actual party, so for those couple of weeks anytime Aidan heard the word "birthday" he would either start singing happy birthday to himself, or say "it's going to be my happy birthday?" Just to make sure he understood it was going to be his special day. He even understood that he was two, but on his birthday he would be three. We had a Toy Story themed party with balloons, streamers, party bags and a Toy Story cake. Two of Aidan's favorite things right now are Toy Story...specifically Buzz Lightyear and Woody, and Elmo. He's constantly asking to watch Buzz Lightyear...I've seen the Toy Story movies so many times now that I'm really trying to encourage him to branch out a little and watch something else :)
Here are a few pictures of the festivities...

Chocolate Face

Apparently, Aidan decided to abandon his spoon and really dig in there with is pudding...I didn't catch what he was doing until the damage was done! At lease he enjoyed it!

Poor Sleepy Boy

This is what happens to Aidan when he misses his nap! He was trying to finish his snack and just didn't quite make it!

Eating Snow

These pictures are from last month, but they're just too cute not to post. After grocery shopping one day, Aidan just kept sticking out his tongue and telling me he was eating the snow. I just love how kids can find such joy in the simple things in life! Kids are so great :)

Basketball

Gavin wanted to try basketball this year, and he LOVES it. I think it's his new favorite sport...for now anyway! He wants to practice more, but it's still pretty cold outside as far as finding somewhere to practice goes (the games are indoors at the elementary schools). As things warm up we'll have to practice with him outside at the elementary school. I love sports for the kids at this age...they're not overly competitive...more about teaching the kids skills and how to work as a team. In other words, they're fun! And, great exercise for the kids. At this age, they don't call any fouls or traveling or anything, so it's pretty funny when one of the kids will get the ball and get so excited they actually have the ball that they'll just hold it tight and run with it at fast as they can...all the while the moms and dads yelling "dribble it, dribble it!" It's too cute.


After Gavin's first game we celebrated with a lunch at Burger King.

New Ultrasound Pictures!

Jason and I decided to try out the 3D ultrasound this time around, and it was really fun. Unfortunately, the little baby had his face pressed up against the placenta and the umbilical cord up by his face, so the ultrasound tech had a hard time getting a good picture for us. The good news is that because he wasn't in the best spot to get a great picture of him, we get to go back next week for another 3D ultrasound and pictures for free! Yea, so fun. I'm so excited to meet this little guy this Spring!
These first two pictures are with the 3D imaging...


These next two pictures are profiles of his face using the regular ultrasound...isn't he so cute :)

100th Day of School

Gavin's 100th day of school is coming up, and his teacher asked that the kids each decorate a t-shirt with 100 of something on it. Gavin decided to use these guitar and star stickers. Here he is showing his jammin' out pose. He's pretty excited to wear it to school next week.

New Year's Eve

We spent New Year's Eve with Jason's brother and family. We had a good time playing games with the kids and snacking on good food and visiting. Here's a picture of all the kids excited to stay up late. The cousins love each other...Aidan and his cousin, Taylyn, are especially good buddies :)

Better Late Than Never...

Here we are over half-way through January, but it's better late than never, right? Here are a few highlights of Christmas 2010 for us...

Aidan sat on a bow and I had to take a picture...he did this his first Christmas too when he was just crawling around on the floor...guess he likes to be festive!


The kids got a hover toy from Santa.

Jason loves swords...he was surprised to get this sword from Dad and Laurie. He's obviously excited about it :)

Aidan was really excited to find a flashlight in his stocking.

Aidan LOVES Elmo...

Connor's been scheduling things in his new calendar including scheduled dates with Daddy ;)

Aidan loves to ride his new indoor bike/video game...works good for exercise when it's too cold to go outside which has been almost every day lately.

The big boys love to play their new drums and guitar...jammin' out like rock stars!




I realized I didn't take pictures of quite a few things, but we just want to say thank you for all the gifts from extended family...we were really spoiled this year and had a really fun Christmas.

New Ultrasound

I had another ultrasound last week because during the usual routine ultrasound last month, the little baby wouldn't move his hands away from his face so the ultrasound tech couldn't check his palate and also had trouble checking one section of his heart. During this ultrasound last week, it was easy to see everything was great with his heart, but the stubborn little guy still wouldn't move his arms from in front of his face...I guess he likes to sleep like that! I like to sleep like that too sometimes so he must get it from me. Finally, after the ultrasound tech bounced on my belly with the ultrasound tool enough times that he finally slid his arms over to the side of his face. Luckily, everything looks great with his palate too. I drew an outline around the same "face" picture to help those of you who are having trouble being able to tell what you're looking at. I know it looks a little silly, but I hope the outline helps so when you look at the picture above it, it makes sense.