My Hubby and I...

Following another avid blog friend lead, I've decided to fill everyone in on how my husband and I met. Janelle you are right that it is amazing how peoples' paths in life are unpredictable and your story (and mine) are sure examples of the fact that when you aren't really looking for someone ... you meet them. Picture the time, it is the year 1999 and we are in college. I went away to school (at Mount Union College) and for those who know anything about the school, it is very much a preppy school. While there most of my friends had on campus jobs and then jobs they would also return to when they were home for the holidays. I wanted very much to earn some extra money and most importantly wanted to work some place where I would get a great discount on my shopping apparel. So, when home for the holidays I stopped in at Abercrombie & Fitch in our local mall. It had just opened up there and was just like a mad house inside. I was lucky enough to meet the manager right then and even though he was super busy he agreed to meet with me quickly. He surprisingly offered me a holiday job right then and I started to work right away. My boss was named Michael and as I quickly began to see, the employees not only worked together but after hours hung out, partied, and just were friends. So, I began hanging out with my new group and loved all of the people. I continued this job while in college on the breaks because it was a way for me to stay busy and keep the discount. :) Not only did I become fast buddies with my boss but also his girlfriend who also worked with us. I was dating a guy at my college for three years (it didn't work- I got smart) and thought of Michael (my boss) as just another buddy who was a really nice guy. The guy at college truly had my heart at the time, I was mesmerized by his popularity and anyone else who came around I just really didn't care about. All I really cared about was my boyfriend, his baseball team, sorority, and some friends. I however did think Michael was cute, but taken as I was. As I approached junior year I really began to lose interest in the Abercrombie clothes and began to really think more about what I needed to be doing for my career. I decided this was not what I wanted to do, I needed to find a job dealing with children and it just wasn't fun anymore so I quit. Michael had also left the store; first going to open Holister in the same mall, then moving to downtown Chicago (I later found out) and then Lansing, Michigan to open more Abercrombie stores. So for years we did not keep in touch, our paths drifted apart, and then one day (three years) after I had moved into my own condo I hear from a familiar voice... it is on the phone of a friend of mine who sells condos in my development. It was Michael... surprise he had decided to buy a condo across the street from mine and when he found out I lived there he just wanted to say hello. The only kicker... I find out he is moving into this condo with the old Abercrombie girlfriend. Great. Ohhhh and they are engaged. Double great....

Part 2 coming soon... Michael and His Break Up.

Let's Give Rice a Try!

Well we went for our check up at the doctors this past friday and since Aidyn is a very very good eater he thought I could "attempt" to try rice cereal. I read in one of my many books about babies that if they are ready for rice then they will swallow it, if not then maybe the time isn't quite right and to try again in a couple weeks. Well I thought for sure he was ready for this - since there has been many episodes already of Aidyn watching me eat or as last week he attempted stealing my bagel tray off the table I shared with Mary. However to my surprise the attempt with rice was unsuccessful. I tried several times the last couple days and each time just proved to be more and more frustrating. It is actually more difficult than I imagined it to be teaching a child how to use a spoon. I guess it is a good thing that he is not ready for the rice. The longer we wait the better... we will try again in a couple of weeks! Hey, any of you mommies having success with making baby food please send it my way... this I am sure is just around the corner for me! Here are a couple of pictures of Aidyn and the rice!

Yes this is mommy looking a mess and yes we are in the "process" of putting up the Christmas tree!!!


The rice is coming... we sure don't look too happy about this experience!


Aidyn just isn't really sure about this plastic object in his mouth.


Honestly this stuff is really nasty!

Bigger By The Day...

As Aidyn gets bigger so do the toys and our home continues to look more like a mini version of Babies R Us! We went from tummy time mats to now Jumperoos and Saucers! Aidyn is getting to be such a big boy! This week Michael and I tried him in the Jumperoo and his Baby Einstein Saucer. Being around all of those busy toys at once I think was a bit overwelming for him however I do think he enjoyed them! Not to mention these will be great toys for me because up until now I feel as if I am holding him all the time! Maybe these will aide in my working out time... :) He is a busy little fellow and as Michael said tonight actually, Aidyn is going to be on the move and hard to keep up with once he learns how to become mobile! Once that happens we will for sure have to get him some swimming lessons being that our backyard is ooohhh nothing but water! Not good, not good!!

Aidyn looking very overwelmed by all the stimulation at once...


Peek a boo I can see you!


Aidyn spinning his favorite section of his saucer...

He could be entertained for a good 1/2 hour just with this one thing!

Jesus loves the little children...

This Sunday was a special day for Aidyn because he was christened. We have been richly blessed with wonderful friends and family and so thankful that most of them live close enough to share in this special day with us! Thank you so much to each of my close friends (and hubbies) for attending too. Many of you know that my family mostly lives out in California so many of my friends have basically became my family. Kelly, Mary, Justina I love you guys!! Aidyn's day was perfect except for the weather! It actually snowed for the first time here! Actual large snowflakes and blizard weather! We couldn't believe that but even with the cold chill the day went along perfectly and all the help at our home afterward was amazing! Aidyn wore a gorgeous christening gown. I know many people have asked why I had a gown and not a romper for him and let me tell you... I plan on saving this for Aidyn - I am getting it sealed and saved for him to use for his child one day and I figured a gown that was simple could go for a girl or boy. I had it specially made for him from a company titled miracle christening. It is a small company a older retired school teacher has out of her home. For those who are looking for a great place to look for christening outfits check it out! The website is ... http://www.christeningbaby.com/. Absolutely worth every dollar spent and for those looking at his gown he has the "micah" version. Anyways it was all handcrafted just for him (size and everything) and actually had a cross on the chest which was cross stitched by hand. The woman who made it actually gave me a little bonnet for a girl for free because I told her on the phone I wanted to pass it on to him. So if he has a girl he can use that bonnet instead! For Aidyn's god parents we had two wonderful friends. Aidyn's god father is Tommy and this is his sisters boyfriend- hopefully soon to be fiance. He has dated Erica ever since middle school and is basically already a part of the family. What a great guy... a police officer now as well! Looking at him with Aidyn I have to say he will make a wonderful god father. Aidyn's god mother is one of my best friends Justina and this is a girl who I meant orignally in college and now (how crazy life works) is working in the same elementary building I am. We meant freshman year at college, living across the hallway from one another, we were both only children and she lived in twenty minutes from my hometown! She came on a family vacation with me out of the country, we hung out in the summer when we were home from school.. and then moved home from school sophmore year and as things sometimes happen, we lost touch. Then like five years later I stroll into school after one summer off from teaching to find her sitting in my principals office as the new hiree! I must say that ever since she has been at the school I have never enjoyed it or laughed as much! Not only are we known as the bobbsie twins we would just chat on and off all day long with and without the kids in tow! Now since I am off school, I look forward to my once a day call from her class to see what is up! It definately adds a smile to my day, not to mention she is freakin hilarious talking to her kids while on the phone with me! So needless to say we were so happy two people with such a kind tender heart were there to accept the honor of his new family.

Here we are... the happy family.


Here is Tommy! What a great choice!


Here is Justina... another great choice!


All of us together!!! For those of you wondering, no Justina is not FAT here ... just pregnant!!! Another little boy on the way!! Yipppeeee!!!


Thanks guys!!! Aidyn really does love you eventhough he is crying!

Look How He's Grown!

It seems just like yesterday that Aidyn was so tiny! While I was pregnant other mommies would say to me that time will fly by once Aidyn is born and boy has it ever! I look at him now and think back to those 20 inch/7 pound days and wonder where the time has really gone! Aidyn will be going this week for his four month shots! I have done the unofficial measure and he is roughly 26 inches I think now! I love my little diddle and it's so sad to see all those tiny clothes go in bins and be stored away! I always thought I could only see myself being a mommy to a little girl, but I must say now that I have Aidyn I can't picture myself with anyone other than him and if I had another munchkin I would love to have a little brother for my little guy! There is definately something wonderful to say about Aidyn snuggling up with me and it seems that when he is teary eyed, there is nothing more soothing for him than a hug from me :) He is already a momma's boy and that's perfectly fine and I know you mommy friends out there reading this who have boys can say the same thing! I can also say that I absolutely love seeing his progress! Aidyn is really attempting more and more each day! Just this past week Aidyn has learned to put weight on his little feet and shake the heck out of things in his fingers. I laugh at it actually because he'll hold his rattle and shake that thing so hard that he actually smacks himself with it in the head. I guess that's a way to learn! I've also been trying desperately to get him from sleeping on his one side and for weeks have snuck in his room at night and moved him on the side that I want him to sleep on. Up until this week this has worked great because he had not been able to roll off that side yet. However this week on the other hand has been another story because he found out how to do this! Yikes now what? I have also offically turned in my letter for maternity leave extension. I am offically now off for the rest of this year. Will I even be able to return eventually to work? Many say no, I'm not sure... I know it will definately be hard but I also know that it's good to be around my friends again. The education will continue for me beyond the masters, which I am now receiving after December and I will be pursuing a doctorate. Work would be a smart choice to pay for that schooling so I don't know... but for now I will enjoy every minute with Aidyn and cherish each memory we will make as a mommy and baby duo! Aidyn will shortly be having a new friend arriving and Mary and I will begin our journey together through motherhood. :) We can't wait until that happens! Little Michael is on his way into the world in another month!

Here is the little diddle with Nanny just two weeks old...


And now at three months in this picture he has grown so much!
This picture was a must have because Michael said he thinks he had the same background as a kid! That is funny, some things never change!


I look at this picture and think of my own father. It has been a couple years since he has past away, I wish he could have seen Aidyn. Sometimes I see a lot of my dad in his face. :)


Ofcourse bath pictures are always great to get... you always need some embarrassing ones for later on down the road to show him!

The Itsy Bitsy Spider....

Happy Halloween to EVERYONE! This is my little spider!!! Isn't he the cutest insect you've ever seen?! The Halloween was a busy one for this spider that's for sure! We visited a school Halloween parade, visited some family, and got a ton of pictures taken! Needless to say at the end of the day we were all tired here!!! Here are some pictures from our day out and about!

Trying on our new costume!!

Always time to eat... Aidyn loves his "baba"

Watching the school parade at where I work!

Uncle Tommy sure does know how to put babies to sleep!


How nice to see Uncle Tommy meet us at the school!