What a Merry Little Christmas!

Aidyn's first Christmas was full of wonderful memories and love. I must say Michael and I sure have gotten a taste of what life is like with a little one in the picture. Not only did he get TONS of toys but we had to put a lot of things together and use a lot of batteries! Our home looks more like a baby's fun land rather than the "condo of the year" as it once was up for years past. Where are we going to put all of these things in the next question. Well after this discussion Michael and I have decided to convert the sunroom - which serves no use now anyways- into a play room area. This area is off that of the family room and is "open" to it and only seperated by a step and would make a nice space for Aidyn. We can see what he is doing in this area and he is also free to move more from their to the family room than other spaces used upstairs. So for 2009 some nice remodeling is going to be on the agenda for the little guy! A nice new carpet over the wooden floors and some nice bins for all the little toys Aidyn has will add to the sunroom's new model project! Don't get me wrong we love seeing his toys amongst our things however now with more from Christmas, walking space has become limited because our busy boy likes taking all the toys out! I am sure it won't be long before our comfy home becomes too small to accomodate a growing family! Sadly eventually this home will have to be left I think! Here are some Christmas pictures for all to enjoy! By the way there is also another new blog I have put on but since I had created it awhile ago and it was "drafted" it came up under the Dear Santa blog. Take a look at it also, it's called "How You Know it's Winter at OUR House". Hope everyone had a terrific holiday and more to come of our family in 2009!

Michael and I .... PART 2

So, as we left part 1 Michael had moved into our development, across the street from me, with his "then" girlfriend.

I continued to do my own thing. I would see him from time to time outside but as the seasons past and time went by I began to not see him much nor his girlfriend. In the beginning I would see them walking dogs and outside but as I got busy and I guess he got busy; neither one of us caught each other outside much.

I was continuing to teach at an elementary school, first grade, and was asked by my principal if I would take a YSU tech. student. For those of you who are asking what this is, it is similar to a student teacher- or a student who teaches some and observes too. So, I agreed and came to find out that this was a cousin of a person I knew from my own high school. We would begin to throw names back and forth of people we knew and a girl who she was friends with was a year younger than I and one which I knew. It turns out that my tech student had just ended an engagement and this "friend" of hers was looking to set her up with a friend of her boyfriends.

One day this girl calls her on a break we had at the school and tells her she wants her to meet this guy named, Michael Vranches. She tells me this and I was shocked because I knew he was involved! She tells me that they broke up and that he is now single, living alone. In the mean time the next day this girl and her have a fight and I tell her since he is my neighbor I will set her up, I had his number in my phone.

Here I am that night, sitting on the couch with my friend Mary when I call Michael to set him up. I tell him I am sorry he had ended things with the girl, say I have someone who wants to be set up, and he tells me he would rather just take me out! What?? I just laughed it off thinking he was joking and he was serious! I contemplated awhile what to do... told him I didn't know... and basically told the girl the conversation never happened. I couldn't get ahold of him.... right...

A couple of days later the girl had ended her time with me in my classroom. I would never see her again, were we really friends?? Not really. So I went to visit Michael and told him I would be interested in that date :)

It was rather a nice way and rather bitter sweet way to reconnect after all our "past" history. Gosh that would have been like 7 years earlier that I met him, hung out with him, and worked for him! A lot of history to say the least and funny memories! Even though we had to get to know each other again, it was like meeting up for a long lost friend. You always seem to unusually start off where you left off. :)

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa,

Since this year it is my first Christmas I made a super loooonnng list for you Santa! Mommy told me to make a list for you and read me a few stories about how special you are and your magical sleigh and reindeer. I can't wait to catch you slipping down our chimney! I have been really good the whole four 1/2 months I've been in this world and I hope I'm not on the naughty list. It has only been this past week that I have been a little bit of a bear for Mommy and Daddy. I can't help it though that I'm sick and just can't get comfortable in my crib. Mommy is so cuddly and warm and she makes a terrific pillow for me when I'm sick! I hope she doesn't mind sleeping on the couch! I like it there way more than in my room by myself! As for that nose bulb that Mommy keeps sticking in my nose for boogers, I'm sorry I keep hitting mommy when she tries it on me, I just HATE that thing and it's nothing against her. I will try to be a good boy next time she tries it! :) As for the list now, I really would like to tell you what exactly I am wishing for. Here they are.

1. A chance to hold Lolly dog. She will let me pet her and yesterday she even let me grab her ears with both hands, but I still can't keep a grip on that doggie.

2. A chance to visit one of those birdies up close. Mommy keeps showing me the geese and the swans, like Big Foot, but they just aren't close enough and because of the ice in the water they can't come up by the house. I really can't wait until Spring to see them so PLEASE help them find another route to visit us!

3. No more belly time! Will you please leave Mommy a note to stop belly time! I absolutely hate this and she keeps insisting that I do it! She has even increased it! Ahh I can't take it!

4. No more of that bland rice stuff. Ah I shiver throughout my entire body when Mommy shoves that spoon in my mouth. I just don't know how I will ever be able to hold it down. The only reason I ate it today is because I'm sick and can't taste. I hope Mommy doesn't have her hopes up now.

5. Some real food. I almost had a potato cake from Arby's in my mouth today. It can as close as my lips and Mommy grabbed it away. Darn it. Close! I definately can tell the difference between what is food and what is just paper, although the paper bag did taste kinda yummy. I guess I will continue to just watch everyone eat until they offer me a scrap.

6. Bath time alllll day! I love taking baths and love to be naked! Can we extend bath time for the entire day!? That would be fun! The best part of the bath is splashing all the water out! It's okay Mommy moved the baby tub into the big tub so I can splash as much as I want now and not make her mad ;) She even fills the tub back up after I splash it all out! Cool!

7. Bring on MORE the hugs and kisses! Not that I'm deprived any now, more is always good though! I love it when Mommy and Daddy shower me with attention. I am very spoiled, but thats okay! I would love it if Mommy held me all day and kissed me and hugged me! Daddy could stay home from work and do the same and I'd be EXTREMELY happy! Can we make this possible?

8. Bring on the crawling skills already! I keep trying to move when on my belly but I just can't seem to get anywhere. I get in position, at least I think it's the position i need to be in for something to happen. But nothing does! I have even contemplated skipping crawling and just go for the walking. Can I do that? This crawling thing seems kinda hard for me. It seems way easier for me to hold on to things and stand. I am a little wobbly doing that though but my legs are strong and hold me up. Hmmm... please help! I want to move - move - move!

9. A new friend! Aunt Mary is ready to have little Michael! Speed this process up already! I can't wait any longer to have a friend to play with! Just thinking about being the older one makes me smile :) I also can't wait to tell Michael how I use to sit on his head when Aunt Mary would hold me when she was carrying him. I would just sit on top of the belly bump all the time! Right now it's getting hard for me to stay on top of it, Michael is hogging my sitting space!

10. Toys! I have a lot of these already but I hear you can never have enough! I really enjoy them so far and am super excited about opening them up on Christmas! Give me some with a lot of directions and parts too, that gives Daddy something to do on Christmas morning for me! :)

Thanks Santa for reading my letter! I hope to see you on Christmas Eve! I will try to find a way out of my crib! Oh and don't forget to eat your cookies and milk! :)

Love,
Aidyn

How You Know It's Winter At OUR House...

Snow, snow, and more snow... is always a sure sign that winter is now here. As we have moved through winter I look out our window here at home and see what some of you may not in your own neighborhoods as sure signs that winter is surely here to stay for awhile.

The lake right before night fall.

1. The marker poles are set into the ground, setting up the area for the snow plowers to plow. This is one of the many benefits of paying association dues. The snow removal in the winter, the grass mowing in the spring, and the pool facility in the summer!

2. There are sadly no sail boats or paddle boats on the water anymore :(

3. The majority of the birds have found warmer weather to vacation in... along with many of the neighbors (Flordia)! Time to close up house and come back in the spring! It seems so quiet now :(

4. Ice and snow now takes the place of the nice ripples in the water ... During the spring and summer it is truly awesome taking walks and feeling the breeze from the water. Now if you walk all you are feeling is a very cold chill. The wind is frightening cold!

5. Lolly dog needs her jacket to venture outdoors! Little doggies like Lolly get sick ALLLLL the time... I don't need anymore vet bills right now! That's okay because her neighbor canines, Bandit, Neco, and Scooter, wear coats too! Neco even wears booties!


6. The Christmas lights go up in the trees! Unlike the neighbors around us, Michael will just throw them up there...others actually use a "special" hook to place them "perfectly" on each limb. Not to mention colored lights are a big "No No" around here. Every house must have matching lights! One new neighbor put up blue and within a week they were taken down and new white lights were in their place!

7. The Swans... "Big Foot" and his family are now barely seen. Occasionally around... I might have seen them once or twice since November. Where do they go??? Who knows, but I DO know they will be back in the spring... they love to eat right out of your hand! Hopefully we will get some pictures of that!

8. The decorations are lugged out of the spare garage and into the house, along with the tree! Time for some decorating. Sometimes (like now) the tree will be put up but it takes a bit of time to get to the decorations! Once done it is a beautiful sight!

9. Babies in snow suits! I just love the sight of babies bundled up! Aidyn does have one of those thick, hard to put on snow suits as many babies do! I just think he looks so cute, yet so uncomfortable in that thing! Luckily for him though he will only be wearing this on super cold days outside when on walks or snowman making!

10. Finally now that I have the little bundle boy with me I can use him as an excuse to play out in the snow! Everyone loves Aidyn around here... wonder if they would mind a little snowman when the blizzards begin?! I'll be saving my carrots and rocks just in case the opportunity arises!

Quite a view from upstairs!

Aidyn holding his first bulb for our tree!

A view from our house now! Can't wait until the nice weather returns!!
Can you understand now why Aidyn needs swimming lessons!!! This is literally right outside our back door!

Ear Infections All Around...

Well today the dreaded news... Aidyn is sick. Yep ... sick... last night it began... two 1/2 hours for putting Aidyn to sleep. After many walks around the house bouncing him, daddy playing airplane with him, mommy rocking him, mommy putting him in the bathtub, and finally the beautiful star-lite swing... we had a sleeping baby! This morning I awoke to the fussiness AGAIN, however this time it was with the refusal of taking his bottle. I called the pediatrican and we ended up going only to find that not only did he have a cold (which we already knew), and that he was teething (which we already knew) but also that he has an ear infection in his right ear! Yikes, I would probably feel crappy too if I were him! And to think that we thought is was just poor stubborness last night - he probably will still continue to be an excellent sleeper once this is over! Thank goodness!! So needless to say, my day was filled with wiping runny noses, suctioning runny noses, holding/napping a sick baby - always ending in that much needed nap together on the couch or glider chair, and entertaining and maintaining just a happy child. But eventhough that was my day, I would have to say I wouldn't change it for the world. I love every minute of it! Right down to those tears and runny noses. I love being the one who comforts Aidyn (daddy does a really good job too) and the one he depends on to make everything better again. But afterall doesn't every mom?! So, besides this issue with Aidyn and his ear I have another "child" with ear infections! Yep, the dog- Lolly. She went in a few days ago as well and she has them too! This is typical for Lolly though :( Sadly, she is ALWAYS having this problem, it just happen to fall (this time) during the same time as the other munchkin! How does the saying go, when it rains it pours>? I also find it funny that the only one who can make Aidyn happy when sick is little Lolly! Thank goodness Lolly likes him and doesn't show those snake-like fanks as she does for daddy! lol it truly is a site how jealous she is of him- with Aidyn it's completely different. So I had Lolly in her pj's all day as well as the little diddle (as daddy nicknamed Aidyn). I hope this doesn't last too long, there is only so long I can run on limited sleep. To answer a question you will have once you see Lolly here and then in the Thanksgiving post, yes it is unbelieveably the SAME dog, this is Lolly after her haircut! It truly is amazing how she looks COMPLETELY different once all her shag hair is removed! She is a maltese and they are suppose to have this long flowing hair, no one talks about how that long flowing hair gets extremely matted since it's very fine. The puppy cut is the only "sane" way to go with a dog like this one!

Is it the ears, the nose, or the mouth??? Not quite sure ....

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!!

Aidyn and the family hope everyone had a terrific Thanksgiving celebration! As you can see... this little turkey was ready for some holiday lovin! Ofcourse just a wee bit small to enjoy the actual turkey feast.. maybe next year though! There are many things that I am thankful for this year. When looking back just two years ago, our lives were hitting some rough patches- my father passed away after a 14-month illness from effects after open heart surgery - never making it home from the hospital, our condo development (luckily not our place) in North Carolina had a massive fire, and our hearts were just a little lonely. "Nanny" and I have come a long way since then. Having a wonderful husband to continue my own dad's traditions of preparing a turkey and now having a beautiful baby this Thanksgiving have filled our hearts with love and joy again. When unfortunate events happen such as ours, it's hard getting up each day... having strong faith in God and having these two men makes us realize how life can turn around, how love is always there for you if you are willing to reach for it, and how lucky we are to have those friends and family around us who share nothing but unconditional love and support with us each day. Being thankful means a lot of things to everyone and I am definately also thankful for how Michael takes care of us. He is a supportive and loving husband, along with an amazing father. Thanks be to him for allowing me the chance to take care of our son at home this year and supply us with a living. We hope each and every one of you keeping up with our blog had a truly blessed holiday and that this holiday offered you just another moment to make special memories you can hold dear to your heart. Hope you enjoy the pictures to follow!!!!
Nice job to Michael for making the turkey! Look at the scruffy doggie Lolly... the haircut was the next day!!

"Where's my turkey?" He's lookin a little small for the BIG boy highchair!

As most of us feel at the end of the holiday!! Aidyn loved his crib at Nanny's house!!