Aiden is TWO!

STATS:

25lbs. 16%  weight

33 in.  13%  height

19 in.   79% head

Aiden is ALL boy. He's learning his role too. If Kelsey puts a bow in his hair he comes to me, shows me, and then takes it out. He's very sweet though, and will play house with Kelsey. They call each other "honey" and take turns holding the baby doll. He's pretty coordinated for his age. He loved riding Kelsey's Swiss scooter so much that we bought him one too (mom was fed up with the fights over the pink one). He can turn, maneuver, stop, put his back foot up...he just needs to learn to use the brake on the back. He also loves to JUMP and THROW. We were just in Mammoth and my cousins would throw the ball into the next room so Aiden could "fetch" it. He'd run, jump double-footed down a stair, and keep running. They said it was like he was long jumping. He's pretty good at playing catch when he wants to. Sometimes he just likes to watch the ball bounce though.

Aiden is speaking really well too. He speaks in phrases and sentences and can get out most ideas. He's a loving boy, and will almost always give kisses upon request.

We had a Cars-themed birthday party for him and invited a few of the neighborhood kids. 

Reese, Kels, Aiden, Max, Emily, Dylan & Arianna (on the floor)

He LOVED the balloons. Guess which one was his FAVORITE?

YUM, black frosting (that stained his finger and face for a good 2 days)

Racing his presents

Playing with the bubbles Grandma & Grandpa Lang got him

He was so sweet about everything - not spoiled (yet). He was so surprised and thankful for his gifts and SO excited that he got cake and CARS. He was just the sweetest thing and said "Thank you, mommy" afterwards (sigh). Love that baby boy & I love this age!

Naartjie Ad

Last month, Kelsey & Aiden were chosen to be models for the upcoming Naartjie photo shoot. We went down to American Fork to Peekaboo Photos. Katie Moss and her husband have an amazing studio (I was DROOLING) and they are amazing photographers. It was a lot of fun to see a professional in action. Naartjie is a very "natural" brand so I couldn't even put Kelsey's hair up or hair spray it. The marketing director at Naartjie is very nice, but Katie Moss is WAY more talented than he lets her be for these photos.

Here are the pages from the site:

 Aiden was first and he did SO well! He NEVER smiles that much for ME!! He was a cutie, I only wish they'd gotten a shot with his curly hair! I know, they have to market their hats too. Aiden had a little growth spirt right before the shoot so I think he was a little too big for the one piece jumper! Kelsey was shy at first, especially when they wanted her to be in a picture with another girl. I kept hitting the photogropher on the head with a balloon to get her to laugh. She warmed up. I think they both enjoyed it. They also got $50 each for doing the shoot, which I will put in their savings account...or go buy them Naartjie clothes (or Matilda Jane?).

Walking in on the Kids at Play

Here are some moments - good and bad - of when I've walked in on the kids with the camera. 

Kelsey was using Aiden as her baby doll, put him in the stroller and even buckled him. I'm just glad she didn't try to take him for a walk down the street (gate was closed, no worries).

Reading quietly together! I love it! What a dream this was to happen upon.

Funny, but not to daddy...

They emptied his drink refrigerator into their toy bin. They thought it was hilarious.

Tally found them first and his first reaction was, "Jess, come look at this, you may want your camera."

Aiden was the only one who listened and tried to put them back.

This is a constant battle right now until the harness comes. We didn't need a harness for Kelsey.

Technically I was helping brush their teeth and didn't walk in on them.

This is how they brush their teeth every night, sitting on the counter. 

I get to brush them first and then they get a turn.

Literally walked in on this one. My heart melted.

This is what you'd see if you walked into a photo shoot of me with Aiden.

And here's from the most recent one...

I don't love any of them enough to hang on his wall and that's my goal right now...wall - worthy photos.

What if I give you my sultry look?

Mom, what's going on here?

Love his face, not the composition

Little feet!

Mom, leave me alone!

On another note, we have SQUIRRELS in our front and back yards that keep us entertained almost all day long. While we have breakfast, we watch the squirrels. When we go out for a walk or to do yard work, we get visits from the squirrels. When we clean up all the walnuts they drop, they TRY to drop them on our heads. Seriously.

It's so fun to watch them chase each other, fight, yell at us (one got really close to Kelsey while they were "yelling" back and forth at each other. Tal and I watched, wondering what we would do if the squirrel attacked her). 

Speaking of outdoors... a note TO MY KIDS

Aiden, you LOVE to be outdoors and will often BOLT for the middle of the street, laughing as mommy runs to catch-up with you. Right after breakfast, you go to the back door, begging to go out. Now you'll even go get your shoes or whine until I get them for you and put them on. We have a million "Box Elder" bugs and you are constantly chasing them trying to catch them. Kelsey then comes along and just splats them with one stomp.

Kelsey, you are always picking the flowers and unripe tomatoes despite our constant warnings.

You both love helping me in the yard as I weed, clean out the rock bed (a 20 min. task that took over an hour with my little elves).

KELSEY has been talking up a storm and can carry on a pretty good conversation. People tell us she speaks really well for an almost 3-year-old. She's pretty bossy, definitely and OLDEST. 

I LOVE when I walk into her room and she's doing THIS:

What a sweet angel! She hates taking naps and prolongs/fights bedtime and her little body needs more rest than it is getting. We are trying to improve the routine. It's time to crack down now that Summer is over. 

Aiden is ONE

...but he's still my BABY.

(I love his little farmer's tan!)

He is such a happy boy, that is, when he's fed, watered, and diapered. He's always laughing, smiling, and playing. My favorite is when he runs at me full baby sprint with the biggest, most unconditional grin. I love being MOMMY.

Aiden is little compared to what Kelsey was. I still need to take him for his ONE YEAR appointment to get his updated stats.

He loves to jabber, but so far, only says mama, dada, ball, dah (dog), hi, and dan dah (thank you). He loves to put his hand up to his ear when he hears my phone ring. He says, "hi da!" That shows you how much Tally has had to travel so far this year.

Lots of things make him laugh: Kelsey, saying, "yuck", climbing/tackling him or each other, doing "motorboat" with his lips (spitting),

Right now he's trying to JUMP. He watches Kelsey do it and thinks he's big enough to do it too. He'll say, "da, da, da, DA!" (1, 2, 3 JUMP!) and then make a full-hearted effort to get those little legs off the ground. It turns out to only be a slight bend and straighten but he'll get it one of these days. Unfortunately, Kelsey thinks he can do it and they'll stand at the edge of a step together, holding hands, counting, and I have to run over and help him. When I don't make it in time, he usually just takes a step with a 50% chance of a fall. Luckily he's not very tall.

Aiden has a funny little fetish: Kelsey's underwear. He actually loves any small patch of material that he can carry around, throw, smell, bite, etc. Kelsey's underwear just happens to be the most accessible since she's always changing outfits (and underwear).  He has a little lovie that he has to have at bedtime. He takes the little end of the bears cap and rubs it against his face to fall asleep. I guess that's better than smothering himself with it like Kelsey did.

His lovie (Kaloo)

Sleeping Beauty undies

Don't take those away from me!

I love these little feet! Notice the scrape on his shin from our stone stairs outside.

I love this little lip

What's up, mom? (he's a little hamster with food in his cheeks)

Slightly out of focus, but this is a face he makes all the time

He loves brushing his teeth...if he gets to do it

As far as birthday celebrations go, Aiden had THREE. The first one was in California with the Langs.

(edited them with a Cali/vintage feel)

Aiden is so excited, and Kelsey is getting in on the action

What is this?

Yum...that's pretty good

Candle is soon out of the picture for better digging access

The cake is almost gone!

One big bite

I guess it was too big

Kelsey picking the cake off of Aiden

The second one was in Utah at Grandma and Grandpa Price's (Oma & Opa).

Who loves baby??

Mama

Oma

Opa

Aunt Camie

And lots of other grown-ups that just couldn't be there!

Good thing he has a big sister to help him open his presents!

Is this an edible sandwich?

Lightning McQueen!

Oma also got one for Spencer so now they have matching cars. 

I'm not sure Spence is too happy about that ;)

Playing the Swiss "bee catching" game

CAKE TIME!

Nice one

More Please!?

Just hanging out with the cousins...we had Chandler in town from Oregon which was a treat!

Peace out everyone!

The third was after daddy got home from 3 weeks of traveling for work. By this time, he was a PRO at the whole cake thing.

We have a picture of me and Tal with Kelsey on her first birthday. We tried to do  the same and have Kelsey take the picture but after several shots of our legs, head brick, etc...we just set it on the exersaucer  (which Aiden hasn't used in months and why is it still kicking around?) until we finally got a decent one.

That cake has my name on it (almost)!

The cupcake is from Sweet Tooth Fairy

I think it turned out cute.

Where to start...this is SO interesting.

What are you looking at? Did you think you were getting a bite of this?

I hear frosting does wonders as a moisturizer 

I LOVE Birthdays!

The Clean-up

I hope you've enjoyed all the celebrations surrounding YOU, big boy (that's what Kelsey loves to call you). We're so glad you are apart of our family. Life is so much more fun with you around.