Aiden at SIX months

Wow how time flies. My little man (or "baby dude" as my mom calls him) is six months old today. He is the happiest little dude I know and is laying beside me as I type this kicking his legs and flailing his arms and laughing at himself. He's so yummy.

Just a few days ago, he started getting up on his knees and rocking. Sometimes he rocks too hard an falls forward on his face. He's also sitting up like a champ. Unfortunately his sister thinks this is prime tackling time. He has a bruise on his left cheek from the latest scrimmage. Tal hopes it will help him be tough for when he's in a real football game. He also scoots himself backward across the hardwood floors and ends up getting caught under the furniture. I remember Kelsey doing the same.

He's also grabbing at everything around him. We went to a broki on Saturday (2nd hand store) and he was in heaven looking at all the fun things he could play with. Luckily, we made it out without breaking anything. Tonight, while I made dinner, I put him in his bumbo seat on the counter. He tried to pull out all my knives that I thought were far enough away and then proceeded to pull out all my cooking spoons, spatulas, wisks, etc. from the pitcher. It kept him busy for at least an hour.

Tal's watching a football game and Aiden is now in a trance watching along side Tally with his doughy brown eyes and pouty bottom lip. He likes his binky at bedtime but if he has it other times, he just plays around with it - studies it, throws it, picks it up spastically between fingers.

He's such a social baby and loves sitting up at the dinner table. We got Kelsey a new high chair and put him in her old one and he loves it. He hasn't liked cucumber or carrot baby food so much, but loves the little Gerber puffs and baby cookies. He also loved this random baby food that my friend gave me from Italy. The problem is, the name was in Italian and didn't have pictures so I'm not sure what was in it. Mom of the year right here! Ceci...which I just looked up...chickpeas? Random, but I'll have to try it.
The other day while feeding him, I looked down to realize I'd given him a pink bib, pink bowl & pink spoon. He likes the bright colors, right?

He's starting to sleep for longer stretches now, which is so nice. However, he still ends up in bed with me around 4am. He's SO sweaty and leaves a circle of sweat on our sheets. Seriously soaking. Tonight I tried putting him down in a onesie so we'll see how that goes.

He and Kelsey love each other so much. Sometimes I'll hold Aiden under his arms and let him "walk" to Kelsey....or chase her. Aiden has started pulling her hair when he can get it. Kels is usually a good sport about it. The other day, she wrapped her arms around his neck and picked him up off the ground a few inches. I was terrified. I just can't leave the room for long. She just wanted to hold him! When she's not beating up on him, she's really sweet to him. She goes and gets him toys to play with, brings him his binky, and helps him roll over.

It's all fun and games until somebody gets hurt

Holding him nicely

And not-so-nicely

We're so glad you are in our family buddy! Sorry you're not feeling so great today. Here's to half a year!

Just for a fun comparison, here's what Kelsey looked like at 6 months

Kelsey's hair was falling out and growing back blonde. Aiden's hair is growing in blonde, but he doesn't seem to be losing much. I'll post his stats once we come back from the doctor.

Please Bless the People with Lots of Owwies...

We were just having family prayers and we asked Kelsey if she wanted to say it (usually no). She said, "bless the people with lots of owwies?" I smiled at Tal. She remembered that we told her about the people in Haiti and about our friends' baby London. She then went on to repeat my words as she prayed. I said, "We're thankful for Jesus." She said excitedly, "I LOVE Jesus!" Tal and I just chuckled. I love the innocence, purity and simpleness of children. I'm so glad we're able to pray together as a family.

She also can't wait for church tomorrow, and every week. Church = Nursery.

Praying for you Lulu...

Little London is getting her new liver as I write this. I'm going to bed now praying that all goes well and there is good news in the morning. Liz, James, & Jones...stay strong. Our hearts go out to you...

THANKFUL to be in Cali

This year, I am grateful to be able to spend Thanksgiving with my family. It's been at least 2 years since we've done that. What made it even better was that my grandma from Arkansas was there too. We arrived in the afternoon, the day before Thanksgiving. My Grandma "Nanoo" was waiting to meet her first great-grandbaby boy.

They became best buds

I love their HANDS

Aunt JuJu loved meeting Aiden too.

They had some good cuddle time, and Aiden enjoyed eating Julia's dress.

Kelsey was so excited to see PAPA. She recognized him easily because of Skype.

She hadn't seen him in person in a year.

Mimi got to hold both of her grand babies again...it had been 4 months since she last saw them

Can we say CENTER OF ATTENTION?

Julia was singing jazzy tunes to her

Kelsey playing with the old dollhouse Peach (Julia) and I used to play with.

She loves it. One of the people accidentally made it home with us and every time she sees it she says, "Mimi's house. Go to Mimi's? That's Mimi's...etc."

The chefs cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Yes, Tally was a great help in the kitchen. You know what they say about too many cooks in the kitchen...

It was so good to see my sister Jenna.

She didn't immediately take to me but soon she was just about knocking me over with her hugs.

A sweet moment between dad and daughter

Finally the family came over and Sadie and Kelsey were cute little friends/cousins.

It turns out my mom got Kelsey the same shirt Sadie had on, for Christmas. I bought the crocheted flower bows from Tiffany's friend Tyler (b/c I think they are SO darling). When Kelsey picked out this shirt today, I thought it would be fun to dress her up like Sadie was on Thanksgiving. They could definitely be fraternal twins with those blue eyes and blonde hair!

Jenna giving Grandpa Lang big hugs

FIVE GENERATIONS

Great Grandma Miller just lost her husband, Charles and she just recently had a stroke. She's feeling lonely now and her world has been turned upside down. She forgets a lot of things right now, which is probably somewhat of a blessing. She might not make it very long so I'm very grateful to have spent some time with her while we were there.

Saying Grace...well, thanks.

I know, I'm the irreverent one taking the picture.

I want my posterity to know how important prayer is to our family.

Kelsey chowing down

Aiden with the pretty girls, of course. These are my cousins Caitlin & Marissa.

Kelsey was in heaven running around with all these girls!

Ellie was chasing her around, which is her favorite game right now.

Ellie, Brooklyn & Madison performing a Hannah Montana song.

Kelsey was watching in awe.

The next day was extra special. We got to go through the temple and witness my cousin Ryan and his wife Amber be sealed to their children, James & Emily. Since Aiden has to eat often, I wasn't able to attend the first session. I was bummed, but then was able to have another cool experience. I took James and Emily into the temple and helped get them dressed in white. I can't explain it in words, but there was a special feeling there.

Grandpa with Aiden

Taking family pics in front of the undecorated Christmas tree

My parents with Kels & Aiden

Aunt Juju with the kids

Peek-a-Boo!

Isn't she beautiful?

Flight to California

Kelsey was so excited to fly on an airplane. This time she knew what to anticipate when we talked about going on our trip before hand. This was the first time we've had to pay for her seat. We got an amazing deal so we didn't feel it as much as we would have. Can you tell it's the beginning of the flight? Everyone is so happy!

Leaving Zurich...I never knew this was here!

Aiden is a good sport. He's also Super Swiss Baby under his jammies. ;)

The flight over is usually longer and harder for me. However, with the thought of seeing family that I haven't seen in a year, it wasn't so bad. On British Airways, we got our own screens and were able to select from several new releases. Since we don't see a lot of movies, I had a lot to choose from.

The kids were great. They played pretty well together in the bassinet and in Kelsey's seat. They both took good naps  - Kels in her chair for some of it, then on top of me (and somehow that's when I was able to sleep) and Aiden in his bassinet. We love getting bulkhead - especially Tally for his legs. It was noticeably tougher with two, and I never want to make that flight with three.

The poor family next to us had 3 kids, one of which was sick and one of which was a screaming baby. I felt lucky. The only time our kids cried was when we landed in LA and sat on the tarmac for 20 minutes. By then it was 4am their time and they were just DONE. So was I.

We were late for my mom...good thing she's sometimes late too. And an LAX circling champ.