Pure cuteness!

A couple of shots of Ayden from last night and this morning, at his finest---CUTE!

Ayden's logic...

He knows he has to be dressed to go outside...easy enough--he just

goes to his room, picks out his clothes, runs to the backdoor, and

is ready to go! Whatcha waitin' for mom?!

I didn't see this firsthand, but this is how Chris

found Ayden and the dogs last night. I would have loved to seen

him driving his train into the cage!

And the credit goes too...

I have just been informed that Pap-paw is responsible for teaching Ayden how to turn a flip. Sorry for the mistake :)

Bouncing Fun!

Today I bought Ayden a bouncing ball pit! We were going to wait and get him one for his birthday, but that's still 2 months away...and it's something he can really enjoy INDOORS now while it's so hot out! Not surprisingly, he loves it!! The inside is like a little trampoline and he loves jumping, plus climbing in and out through the little hole. And of course, he loves anything to do with balls! I told Ayden that the rules are that all (100!) balls must stay inside the bouncer. I'll let ya know how that turns out :) Also, we are keeping it in the spare room b/c it's a) HUGE and b) could very easily be popped by say, I don't know, a lab puppy!

SO EXCITED!

Loving it!

SO EXCITED!

Okay, to all you bloggers out there, I have discovered something that makes me VERY happy! Blog2Print !!! I have been worried for the longest time that my blog might accidentely disappear...but now I can get a hard copy! I use the blog as Ayden's virtual baby book anyway, so I am so excited that I can now order an actual book! And it's actually affordable, considering i have 300+ posts and over 1200 photos :) I can't wait to order it! Hope you other bloggers are very excited too...and if you already knew about this, then shame on you for not telling me!!

Ayden's latest trick

No clue where he learned this...he just started doing it!

Happy Father's Day!

I want to wish a Happy Father's Day to the two most special men in my life: My Dad and My Husband. I sometimes wonder how I was blessed enough to not only have an incredible father, but also to marry a man who has made an amazing father as well. What more could a woman want?

Dad, thank you for being such a dependable, involved, and loving father and pappaw. I love you so much and am so thankful for everything you have done for me.

Chris, thank you for all you do for our family from working 50 hours a week to changing poopy diapers, blowing bubbles, and reading stories to Ayden. You truly amaze me at your natural talent at being a dad.

In keeping with last year's tradition, here is a little slideshow tribute to Chris' 2nd year of being a daddy...he just keeps getting better and better! (The slideshow has music, so turn your sound on!)

Fly Lady

Thanks to my friend, Kori, I have discovered a really neat website- www.Flylady.net
Basically it is a website designed to help you keep your house in order, taking little babysteps at at time. She shows you how to avoid CHAOS (can't have anyone over syndrome) LOL
I think it's really great! If you are like me, the thought of keeping your house spic and span and organized at all times is completely overwhelming and therefore seemingly impossible. But the fact remains, I know I am much happier and more at peace when I am able to relax in a clean and organized house (which does happen on occassion, but never lasts). Anyway, check the website out, she has some great tips, starting with cleaning your kitchen sink. Very interesting!! I can't wait to start using her tips!

Air conditioned FUN!

Ayden wants to go outside as soon as we get up in the morning and I am having to come up with more and more creative ideas to keep him entertained indoors where it's COOL! I swear it wasn't this hot when we were kids was it? And it doesn't help that Gunner destroyed the kiddie pool! I guess we will have to invest in a fiberglass (chew-proof) one! Anyway, we have had a great time this morning making blueberry muffins and fingerpainting!

Sitrring the batter

His favorite part was putting the paper cups in the pan,

he clapped for himself after each one :)

Time to get messy!

And a little more messy...

Washable paint rocks!

Water baby!

On our way to and from TX we made a pit stop at my parent's house and did some swimming! Ayden of course loves the pool. His favorite thing to do was stand on the edge and jump in! He also loved playing in Mam-maw's fountain and getting squirted with the water hose! We for sure have a water-lovin' baby!

Ready to get wet!

I love the arm floaties!

Getting ready to jump in again!

Fun in Texas!

Ayden and I spent a few days in TX this week to visit Jenny and Finleigh, who is already 3 months old!! The last time we went to see them, when Finleigh was 2 weeks old, Ayden was very possessive and clingy to me and didn't like me holding the baby, nor did he want much to do with her himself! What a difference 2.5 months makes...Ayden was so different around her this time! He loved her! He had to check on her every time she cried to make sure she was okay, and he didn't mind his momma holding her at all, he loved just sitting and staring at her or holding her feet :) When she cried, he would say "oh no! Where's her bunk?" and would get her pacifier and take it to Jenny! He never once tried to take it or even acted like he wanted it. What a big boy!! Jenny took his pics at the park and we also got some good ones of the two of them together. I will post those as soon as she sends them. Watching Ayden with her gave me such precious visions of the wonderful big brother he will be one of these days :)

Aren't they sweet?!

Giving Finleigh some love

Keeping her entertained in the car

Pretty Girl!

(When Ayden saw the bow on her head , he said, "bebe has a hat!")

Handsome boy

Smiling for the camera :)

72 hours and counting...

I know you are all avidly checking the blog hundreds of time a day to see how the Binky Saga is playing out :) .......well, I think it might be safe to say that Ayden is officially weaned from the binky! My only concern is that he still has 1 or 2 (or more) hiding out in his room somewhere and he will find it and we'll be back at square one! He has done so well though! The first night was rough but since then he has not fussed much at all and is sleeping well at night and napping well during the day without it! He asks for it maybe once a day, but forgets about it as soon as we tell him its gone. This is such a huge milestone, he already seems older...which is bittersweet. I love watching him grow up and become a big boy, but my heart aches for my sweet little baby boy and watching him sleep so sweetly with his binky :( My goodness, I am too sentimental for my own good!! But Chris agrees with me, when we decided to take it away, he said, "this is one of the last things that makes him a baby" Very true, but he is still in diapers. The next saga will be potty training...now if only THAT could be accomplished in 72 hours!! I don't think I will be as sentimental seeing the diapers go, and I KNOW Chris won't be!!

Binky-free for 24 hours!

Yea! We have made it (almost) 24 hours! It was a rough night! Ayden fell asleep relatively easily but woke up at 3:45 am SCREAMING for his "bunk" He screamed until he was just wide awake with no intention of going back to sleep without his binky. I ended up just getting up and taking him in the living room. We rocked, watched cartoons, played, and read books until about 5:30 and I just couldn't stay up anymore...we went back to bed and Ayden screamed non-stop for another 30 minutes or so before finally passing out and sleeping until 8:30. Whew. One night down! I guess it could have been worse! It reminded me of his newborn days and of how much I love my sleep! Maybe waiting another year to have another baby won't be as hard as I thought! :)

He went to his last day of Mom's Day Out today, and I warned his teachers that we'd had a rough night and that I did not send his binky for naptime. I'm sure they wanted to slap me, lol. When I picked him up, they said he had "a little trouble" going to sleep but finally did and slept for 1.5 hours. The next challenge? The car ride. He screamed the entire 15 minute drive home!! I think the worst part is he is too young to understand why we are doing this. But it's for his own good...I just keep telling myself that! :)

Here are a couple pics of a binky-free Ayden!!

Sleeping without his bunk for the 1st time ever!

Such a big boy!

More pics of Ayden and Lily Kate...

Melissa and I with the joys of our lives :)

Feeding the fish at Melissa's aunts house

Shopping time!! Ayden was surprisingly good

to be stuck shopping with 3 women :)

Lily and Ayden kept each other entertained in the car!

Holding hands....how sweet!

Bye, Bye Binky

After taking Ayden to the pediatrician this morning for a follow-up appointment and learning he still has a right ear infection and will be going on his 3RD antibiotic in a month...and then reading about 10 articles about pacifier use being definitively linked to increased ear infections...Chris and I have made the very difficult decision to take away the binky. Cold turkey. Right now. Please keep us in your prayers!!! Here we go......!!!!!!!

The best things in life are [almost] free!

Ayden had a blast with his new $7 kiddie pool! I know one of these days he is going to want something bigger and better, but for now, this is all he could ever want! (In case you can't tell, we are enjoying our backyard immensley these days!)

Recipe for a great afternoon outside...

Ingredients:

1 energetic little boy
2 adoring parents
1 waterhose
1 sprinkler
1 swingset
1 bubble machine
2 dogs
A pinch of dirt

Mix all the ingredients in one backyard, and take lots of pictures for a perfect afternoon!

Lovin' the sprinkler!

Cold!

Ayden loves Gunner!

Mommy loves Ayden!

Waterslide!!

So excited!

Whoa! Be careful with that, Ayden!

Gunner Boy

Good ole Andy bear

Mud!

peek-a-boo!

Everything you see here is completely washable :)

Worn out!