Highlights of Dylan's 1st Birthday & Party

EXCITED to open his 1st birthday presents!!!!

Playing with his "Alex" Maxville Activity Cube. He loves this thing!

A wooden pull along snake that slithers as you pull it. 

Birthday picture with his big brother, Aidan <3 (don't mind the dirty glass, someone likes to rub their wet fingers all over it)

Going for a birthday jeep ride with Aidan.

Birthday cake and cupcakes that I made Dylan. The cake wasn't the vision I had in my mind, but it turned out ok. 

Mommy and her birthday boy <3

Daddy, Dylan and Mommy. I forgot to take one with Aidan, crap!!!!

Opening his presents!

Helping Dylan with his presents

Dylan with his smash cake

He didn't get as messy as I'd hoped, but that's ok. It made for a quick clean up. 

Having fun in the jumpy castle

Happy Birthday Dylan!

One year ago today I became a mommy for the 2nd time. I didn't just have one little boy relying on me, I had two. Two wonderful little boys- momma's boys ;)

I still remember the day Dylan was born pretty clearly. He was impatient and arrived 3 weeks early. Dylan is still impatient to this day. It was love at first sight, as it was with Aidan. Looking into his sweet little eyes for the first time is something I will always remember. As soon as he was born I couldn't put him down, he laid on my chest for probably 5 hours until his first bath. My tiny little Dylan, you aren't so tiny any more.

For the first few months it wasn't easy. You decided it would be fun to have colic ;) it was a struggle, probably until about 5 months old. The only way you would sleep during the day was in the Ergo baby carrier, that thing saved my ass. Any time you weren't in the Ergo or weren't eating you were screaming. Not cute little baby cries, more like RAPTOR screams (you were nicknamed the Raptor for a while... sorry).

Once the colic was over with you turned into a completely different baby. I swear since then you haven't stopped smiling. You're the happiest/smiliest baby. It's almost like you're making up for the grouchy 5 months and now all you do is laugh. Your big brother Aidan adores you. He is always there to protect you to make sure you're not going to do anything crazy. He loves it when you follow him around the house, and when you start laughing or doing your high pitched scream to get our attention!

I had a lot of fun going through your first pictures for this blog. It's actually sort of bitter sweet because although I am happy for you to be turning 1, I'm sad that you're not the tiny cuddly newborn that you once were, and that feels like yesterday. Your life is moving quick and you're growing and learning new things each day. And I hate to say it, but you'll soon be too cool for me, and holding my hand or giving me kisses in public won't be an option anymore. Someone once told me that when you have girls, you will always have a friend, but when you have boys some girl will take them from you and you will lose them. I know a part of that is true, but I hope not the part about losing you, and that goes with your brother as well.

My wish for you in the future is to always be yourself, and to do whatever will make you the happiest in life. We all love you so much and we couldn't imagine our lives without you in it.

Happy First Birthday Dylan Alexander!!!
DOB- June 22nd 3:11am
Weight- 6 pounds 11 ounces

This isn't the most recent picture, but this picture shows how happy you always are! 

Aidan's 4th Birthday Party

Aidan absolutely loved his birthday. He had so much fun and loved all the exciting things we had planned for him. He was beyond exhausted by the time it was over.

The day started off EARLY! Aidan was so excited that he woke up at 6:45am. He couldn't wait to see his birthday present. He had a good idea what his present was going to be since we've been talking about it for the past couple of months, making deals that if he stops sucking his thumb and starts listening better he'd get a Jeep for his birthday. His thumb sucking stopped almost immediately, and the listening- well, we're still working on that.
After rolling out of bed at the crack of dawn (that's what it felt like) he came downstairs and Glen led Aidan into the garage from the outside where I was waiting with my camera to capture his reaction.

I'm disappointed that the picture is washed out, but his reaction sure isn't disappointing!!!!

So happy!!!

I think he likes it ;)

We let Aidan drive it up and down the street until his brother woke up around 8am. It's crazy how well he drives it. He's the only 4 year old I know that can do a 3 point turn with a blink of an eye.

After feeding Dylan we all headed out to the Sunset Grill. Aidan told the waitress it was his birthday, so she gave him a special surprise when his pancakes came. She and another waitress put candles in his pancake and garnished it with whipped cream and strawberries. He loved it and was so happy. After that we all went home and got cleaned up. I tried giving Aidan a quick morning nap since I knew he was going to be up late at night, but who was I kidding. What 4 year old naps knowing that they have a Jeep waiting for them in the garage.

My gorgeous boys <3

After lunch my sister, brother in law and her kids came over and we took them all to Jumpy World. Aidan always talks about Jumpy World which is a huge area of inflatable castles, slides and mazes at a local driving range. It finally opened that weekend so I knew we had to take him there with his cousins. He was so happy to spend the day running around with Jackson and Brooklyn.

CrAzY cousins!! Jackson, Brooklyn and Aidan

After Jumpy World, we came back to our place and let the kids ride on Aidan's jeep and play outside. I had my parents and my brother over for a BBQ. After dinner, Aidan opened presents (he's so spoiled) and sang him happy birthday, right before eating the yummy Jake and the Neverland Pirate cupcakes that I had made him...

Look at the sneaky girl in the background blowing out Aidan's candles. 

"YOU BLEW OUT MY CANDLES!!!"

"HOW DARE SHE BLOW OUT MY CANDLES!!"

Re-Do of the birthday candles

Just before going outside again we all hung around inside watching a bit of TV since the kids were all so exhausted from the day activities. When it finally got dark we all went out and played with sparklers. The neighbourhood kids came over and played as well. After that, Glen put on a fun fireworks show which a couple other houses pitched in with.

It was such a fun day and I'm so happy we had a low key family party rather than a big party with friends. Now I get to plan another party all over again for Dylan next month :)

Sparklers and fireworks

My birthday boy <3

Almost 1 Year Old!!

Dylan's 11 months old!! Crazy right? I can't believe I almost have a year old baby, and a 4 year old!! Time flys by fast when you have a crazy routine life. And when it flys by fast and my kids age in front of me, that means I'm aging too!! YUCK!! ;)

Last time I give him a chocolate chip cookie!! Who would have thought it'd make such a mess!!!! 

Diapers- Size 4!!!! Love your chunky little thighs!!!

Weight- 23 pounds! I don't know the exact weight with ounces, because I weighed you at home.  

Feedings- 4 times a day. You love pretty much everything! You have also started to beg for food if you see anyone with something you want. You'll crawl up to them, pull yourself up and stare at them with your mouth open. You'd eat all day long if I let you. 

Routine- You usually wake up at 8am. I love it when you wake up then!! You're changed and fed by 8:30. You get 3 tbsp of pablum and a cup of water, I'm going to start to give you a yoghurt with breakfast once I get my butt to the grocery store. Your spitting up has slowed down a lot, so I'm going to try you on yoghurt again. Before, you'd spit the yoghurt up and you would smell like sour milk- YUM! You play for a while after your breakfast and then get a bath, 4oz bottle then nap. Lunch at 12:00 which is some sort of vegetable and then prunes (prunes keep you regular!!), mozzarella cheese and then a cup of water. More playing then another 4oz bottle and nap around 1:30-2:00. Dinner is at 4:00. You get some sort of meat and fruit, then water. 3 tbsp of pablum and a 7oz bottle before bed. Some times you squeeze in a cat nap but I'm trying to cut them out. I wish you would sleep for longer periods throughout the day so you wouldn't need a cat nap. 

Playtime- It's crazy how fast you're doing things now. Not too long ago you just started crawling and then a few days later you pulled yourself up. You do a lot of standing throughout the day. Your favourite spot to stand is the couch or your brothers train table. You love pulling it apart on him. Today I caught you pulling yourself up at the mirror and staring at yourself. Then you licked it and made a mess for me ;) No furniture cruising yet, but I'm sure that's not too far off. You and your brother are really starting to play more together since you're doing more mobile things. I can't wait for you to start walking and chasing after him :) 

Happy 4th Birthday Aidan!!!

WOW!!! That is pretty much all I can say. WOW to the 4 years that have just flown by since I gave birth to you. They have been the best 4 years of my life. You have made me a better person and I can't imagine not being a mother. I always knew I wanted to be a mom one day. But I didn't know what it was going to be like until you were in my arms. I can't believe you're 4 years old already. It still feels like yesterday that you were swaddled so tight and warm in the co-sleeper next to my bed. I miss those days, but I love these days with you now.

You're quite the mischievous monkey!! You love testing your limits and pushing your luck. It's hard to get mad at you sometimes because you're so damn cute. The words that come out of your mouth sometimes are super cheeky, smart and frustrating, ha-ha! You are always listening. When I say that, I mean you are always listening to our conversations and pick up on everything we say. I wish you would listen that well when we ask you to do something *wink, wink*

Like I have mentioned in a previous post- you are such a great big brother. You love Dylan so much and love making him laugh. You both play together a lot more now since Dylan is crawling and pulling himself up. Dylan admires you so much.

I love how you are determined to do everything that your Daddy and I do. Whether it's watering the garden, doing house chores, or getting your own drink or snack, you're determined to do it.

You are the most stubborn child I have ever met! If you don't want to do something, you have a freak out and fall to the floor- we are currently working on that and have been for a while.

I could go on, and on in this post, but I have recently written about all the amazing little things that you do in a previous post and nothing has really changed. One thing that will never change is how much I love you. You are the most amazing little boy. You make me so happy and proud each day. I hate that you're growing so fast! I love you Aidan!!

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

Newborn, a few minutes old <3

1st Birthday Party <3

2nd Birthday Party <3

3rd Birthday Party <3 (Your little brother was there too- sort of)

Easter 2012

A Daily visit to the Marble Slab

Dylan's 10 Months Old!!!

Ok, so he was 10 months old almost a month ago. But I've been so busy lately that I've barely had a chance to check my e-mail these days. We bought a house a few weeks ago. Well, sort of. We put a conditional offer on one so we've been super busy getting our house ready for listing. Now I'm doing the pain in the ass house showings at random times throughout the day. People love coming when the kids are supposed to be napping... FUN!!! I have such happy children now *sarcasm*

Diapers- Size 4!!!! Yeah, that's right. My chunky little boy. 

Weight- 22-23 pounds. I loooove squeezing your fat little legs. Poor thing inherited my ass and thighs. 

Feedings- 4 times a day. You eat all kinds of things. I think your favourite food is french fries. Yes, I feed my child french fries!! I have happen to get some nasty fast food, I share my fries with you. You shovel them into your mouth and can't get enough!! 

Routine- You usually wake up at 8am. I love it when you wake up then!! You're changed and fed by 8:30. You get 3 tbsp of pablum and a cup of water. You play for a while then bath, 4oz bottle then nap. Lunch at 12:00 which is some sort of vegetable and then prunes (prunes keep you regular!!), then a cup of water. More playing then another 4oz bottle and nap around 1:30-2:00. Dinner is at 4:00. You get some sort of meat and fruit, then water. 3 tbsp of pablum and a 7oz bottle before bed. Some times you squeeze in a cat nap but I'm trying to cut them out. I wish you would sleep for longer periods throughout the day so you wouldn't need a cat nap. 

Playtime- You are FINALLY a professional crawler. It's the best crawl. You look like a robot. I love it and your brother loves that you crawl now too. Although, he doesn't like how you crawl into the playroom and rip apart his train table. You are pulling yourself up to your knees and will stand any day now. Slow and steady wins the race I guess ;) You are such a happy baby, except right now because you have a cold. We love you soooo much! 

Laughing at his brother!

Hey!! What's up with the gates???"

A Hoppin' Easter!!!

I am a bad, bad blogger!!!!! Easter was a week ago, and I'm just getting to this post now. Oops.

I love how Aidan is old enough now to get the concept of the holidays. I love how he is so excited and can't wait to participate in them. I told Aidan, the day before Easter how the Easter bunny was coming that night. I cleaned house that day- no one wants dust on their eggs ;) When Aidan went to bed that night, I waited a couple of hours before I got into Easter Bunny mode. Around 10pm, I quietly placed his Easter gift and basket by the door. I made a trail of eggs down the stairs, and then Glen and I got "egg happy". We placed them everywhere. High, low, in sneaky spots. We even balanced them on the cupboard door knobs. When we went to bed, I put my camera on the floor next to me, so when Aidan woke up I could start taking pictures right away. 7am rolled around and Aidan never came into my room... I laid there waiting for him. 7:20 came and he still didn't come into the room. Then I heard some noises from downstairs. The little bugger had started without us!!!!!! He had already gathered all the eggs down the stairs, and in his playroom. He was already half finished!!! I managed to get a few good pictures of Aidan collecting his eggs. Dylan woke up when Aidan was finished the egg hunt. The Easter bunny had left him a gift too :)

Later on in the day we all went over to my parents house where we had a yummy Easter dinner, and the kids got even more chocolate. My mom also made me a birthday cake because the next day I turned... 27- yuck!!!!! I love the holidays!!

Testing out his chocolate eggs!!!! The Easter bunny brought way too many ;)

I had some Easter pictures taken about 2 weeks ago. I would have posted them right away, but the first ones turned out to be a disaster. These are my favourite re-edited ones below.