Ayden's English

Here are a few traditional English words and Ayden's (much-cuter!) version of them!

Umbrella: "Rain-brella" (I really like this one, it makes perfect sense!)

Remote: "Pa-mote"

Gum: "Gummy" as in, "Mom, I want a piece of gummy!"

Drink: "Gunk" this one has been around since he started talking, but it now only relates to his actual sippy cup. Any other drink in a regular cup is a drink.

Zoo: "Zoom"

Pepporoni pizza: "Macaroni" pizza!

Toast: "Toasters"



We are amazed on a daily basis at Ayden's ever-expanding vocabulary!! He literally never stops talking! Since he is our first, I guess we never realized how much a kid's vocabulary grows between the 2nd and 3rd year. This time last year he was mostly speaking in two or three word phrases, now we have full conversations with him speaking in complete sentences! He cracks us up with some of the zany stuff he says! I can't wait to see how much more he's going to change in the upcoming year!

Little change in plans...

Well I hoped to be posting 4D ultrasound pics today, but instead I have other news. The u/s tech was unable to get any good pictures of Ethan because my amniotic fluid level was too low. She immediately informed the doctor, who ordered further testing of his size, umbilical cord blood flow, and a non-stress test. The good news is all of these things checked out great: His weight is approx. 4 pounds 14 oz, the blood flow from the placenta was good, and he passed his non-stress test with flying colors. However, the doctor was still quite concerned with such a low fluid level, so he (my regular dr. is out of town) has put me on bedrest until Monday. My only job is to rest and drink lots and lots of water or gatorade. On Monday he will see me again and do a repeat u/s. If my fluid level is back to normal, I will be able to return to work Monday night and reschedule my 4D ultrasound. If not, they will take further measures to find out what's going on. So I am not working tonight, nor are we traveling to Mena this weekend as planned. I am trying to stay positive and be thankful that overall Ethan looks very healthy, but of course I am still scared. Please remember us in your prayers! In the meantime, I will be hanging out on the couch with all the water I can handle!

2 months or less!!!

I can't believe it's almost August!! Ayden's 3rd birthday is quickly approaching (How is my baby almost THREE???) and Ethan will be here just a month or so after! I really want to cherish these last 2 months of pregnancy because it's such a special time...but I really can't wait to just hold him in my arms!

31 weeks!

Our weekend

This past weekend, Ayden went to Mena and stayed with my mom and dad so Chris and I could have a couple's weekend. We talked about going somewhere for the weekend, but finally decided that a nice, relaxing weekend at home sounded like the most fun! Ayden was excited all week about going to Memaw and Pappaw's house, although it's been several months since he has gone without us. I started talking to him several days in advance about getting to go to Mena "all by himself" like a big boy, and finally he asked me, "Momma, do I have to walk to Mena?" LOL! We met my mom in Ft.Smith on Friday afternoon and as I smothered him with hugs and kisses goodbye, he finally pointed to my car and said, "Momma, go get in your car now" So no tears or painful goodbyes as I feared! It was a great feeling to know my baby boy was excited about his weekend too!


Chris and I started off our weekend Friday night with dinner at the Catfish Hole which was really yummy! We have always wanted to try that place but never have because it's in Fayetteville. I had been craving catfish and hushpuppies all week and I ate until I was miserable (which was about 2 hushpuppies and 2 pieces of catfish for me, lol!) Then we stopped by JC Penneys for their buy one, get one for $1 pillow sale and stocked up on new bed pillows! We also picked up a couple of cute outfits for Ethan that I just could not resist! Finally we headed home and took our new pillows to bed by 9 pm and had a great night's sleep!



Saturday morning Chris cooked us a delicious breakfast (he has become the BEST cook ever since I've been pregnant...or maybe I'm just noticing it more now!) and then worked in the garage and did yard work. I cleaned and organized Ayden's room and Chris hung a pet net in his closet for all his stuffed animals. It was the cleanest and neatest his room has ever looked and will probably ever look again! Then I did a couple loads of laundry and mopped the kitchen floor and decided I was done with my domestic duties for the day! I crashed on the couch and watched a chick flick until it was time for date night #2! We started our date by going to Sam's to pick up some of the world's best peaches! :) We had dinner reservations at Table Mesa in downtown Bentonville. The restuarant was amazing, it was another place we have been wanting to try since we moved here but it's not exactly a chicken and french fries joint so that pretty much rules it out for Ayden, lol! The atmosphere was very romantic and the food was wonderful! The word is that they have fabulous margaritas, so we will definetely be going back when I can have one! After dinner we went to the movies and saw Inception, which was--different. We don't usually go see big blockbuster type movies at the theater, and although it was definetely action-packed with an alluring plot, it was almost 3 hours long and that's a looong time for a pregnant woman to sit in one position! I can say with certainty that I won't be spending another 3 hours of my life watching it ever again. So that's my review...it was okay, but I was glad when it was over!

Sunday morning we headed to Ft. Smith to get our little man back! We were so happy to see him and he seemed pretty happy to see us too :) It was a great weekend for all of us and we definetely enjoyed the peace and quiet before the chaos of 2 kids in the house hits with full force in 2 months! But we are ready!!!

Monday morning when we woke up and were just lying in bed, Ayden wrapped his arms around my neck, kissed me right on the lips and said, "Momma, I'm so glad you came home, I missed you" :) That boy knows how to melt his momma's heart!

30 week check-up

Today I am 30 weeks and 2 days and had another prenatal check-up. It really seems like the time is flying, for now anyway! Everything still looks great, I gained 2 pounds (15 total), blood pressure was normal, and Mr. Ethan is as active as ever! I am measuring 2 weeks ahead which is a change from my last visit but nothing to be concerned about. He may just be a little bigger than his older brother! I have a 4D ultrasound next week, can't wait to see his sweet face!!!

Belly pic and Brother shirts!

29 weeks+4 days!

(We are in the process of painting polka dots on

the letters of Ethan's name. So far, we only have one! lol :)

Also, here are the SUPER CUTE brother t-shirts Melissa

got for the boys! Ayden wanted to model his!

I love them!!

Jump Zone!

Today I took Ayden to Jump Zone for the first time! I have been planning to take him all summer but just now got around to it. They have special hours for kids under 5 so I didn't have to worry about him getting hurt by older kids. He had so much fun! I booked his birthday party here over a month ago, so I'm glad he likes the place! :) He was fearless, climbing the biggest inflatable in the place and flying down what had to be a 25 foot slide! He would crash and flip at the bottom, jump down, and go again without hesitation! He played hard for almost 2 hours and I just knew that guarantee at least a 2 hour nap...but he informed me after laying down for 30 minutes that "he didn't need a nap today". I'm afraid his napping days are coming to an end...he only naps 2 or 3 times a week now. If that's the case, we will be moving up his bedtime! Here are some pics from his fun day! I can't wait to have his party here!

Flying down the big slide!

My little monkey!

Finleigh comes to visit!

Last week we had the pleasure of having Jenny, Kyle, and Finleigh come visit us for a couple of days! Playing with a younger child was a new experience for Ayden, and he definetely had his bossy moments!! He loved her so much and just wanted to follow her everywhere, which she did not always enjoy! Also anytime she cried or fussed, he would tell Jenny- "I think she needs her milk (or a nap or her binky)" like such a sweet big helper! I loved seeing him in the role of the older child and can't wait to watch him with his baby brother...it's definetely going to be interesting!!

They've both grown so much since the last time they visited!

I was trying to get a pic of them in their cute monkey pj's, they

did not cooperate! :)

Loving on Aunt Jenny

Looking like they're up to something...

Ayden is potty-trained!!!

Three months after hitting the potty-training circuit, I am the proud momma of a potty-trained little boy! I am so so so thrilled!!! I would like to thank M&M's, suckers, and most of all Toy Story toys for helping us bribe our little guy into submission :) Ever since we saw the movie a couple weeks ago, we have started collecting the toys- Buzz, Rex, and Mr. Potato Head...but Woody the Cowboy was the one Ayden was really wanting. I promised him if he could go a week without an accident (a hard concept to explain!) that he could get Woody. Well, today makes 7 days without an accident, and to top it all off, today was our first day to venture outside the house in undies. I have just not been brave enough to do it even though he almost never wets his pull-up. We went to my Dr. appointment and Walmart, then he played all afternoon with Tanner, and then went out to eat tonight with the same dry and clean undies all day! So he got his beloved Woody the Cowboy and also got his choice of movies to watch on "the big TV" tonight and chocolate chip cookies! I am so proud of my BIG BOY!!!

Celebrating with Woody and the gang :)

28 weeks & 2 days plus Nursery pics!

This morning I had another prenatal check-up and am happy to report that things are still going wonderfully for Ethan and I! I passed my one-hour glucose test last week but I am slightly anemic, which might explain my occassional near-fainting spells lately @ work! So I just need a little extra iron but otherwise everything looks great. I gained 3 pounds for a total of 14 for the pregnancy. My blood pressure was 120/70 and Ethan was as active as ever with a strong heartbeat! I start going every 2 weeks from now until 36 weeks, then weekly! This pregnancy really is starting to fly by! I am having a 4D ultrasound July 29th so we can get an up-close look at our little guy! I can't wait! I don't have a belly picture to post tonight but will soon! I am measuring right on track but am already starting to get comments from my patients at work and other strangers like "you still have 3 more months??" or "I think you are going to have a very big baby!" Gotta love the tact of some people, lol!


In related news, I decided to post some pictures of the nursery even though it's not finished. Jenny will be here tomorrow to help me decide on some finishing touches and wall art. Also, I am SO excited that I finally found a diaper bag, at WALMART of all places! I have been looking for a diaper bag since I found out I was pregnant and I had it narrowed down to exactly what I wanted from colors to style, and was just talking myself into biting the bullet and spending the $75-100 on the bag I wanted...so imagine my surprise when I found exactly what I wanted for $25 at Walmart! I am very proud of myself if I do say so myself! Anyway, here are some pics, I will post more when we are completely done, the walls are still blank! My favorite thing is the green shag rug, it was a bit of a splurge but the discount diaper bag makes up for it :)

Look at all the space and pockets!

LOVE IT!

4th of July weekend!

This weekend my parents and Nick and Brandy all came to NWA to celebrate the long weekend with us! Unfortunately I had to work Friday and Sunday night, but I was happy to get to be on-call Sat. night and not get called in so I had at least one night with everyone! My parents stayed in their camper at the Creeks golf course and we watched a fireworks show there Sat. night. Then Sunday night the whole fam (minus me) went to an Arkansas Naturals baseball game. None of us were sure how the little man would do at a 3+ hour event but he surprised everyone and did amazing! He clapped with the crowd, did the YMCA, played on the playground, watched a huge fireworks show, and even got to meet the Naturals mascot and run the bases after the game! What a fun night!! I am so sad that I missed it but luckily my Iphone obsessed brother got a few pics for me :)


Hanging out at the camper

Ayden's signature "rotten" look

A tired boy watching fireworks
My big boy

Ayden, Pappaw, Buzz Lightyear, and Memaw

Nick and Brandy

(Nick looks mad but he's just tired!)

Mommy and my Ethan belly, Daddy and Ayden

Ayden with the Naturals Mascot