My Kid's a Genius

Aaron has been doing something very interesting as of late as he becomes more familiar with his letters and that these letters spell words. He loves anything with his name on it so he tries to create his name anywhere he can, sometimes using ordinary household objects. This reminded me of a Flickr application that a lot of you have probably seen, where you can spell your name using photographs that people have taken of single letters. Here's my name:

Here is how Aaron created his name, using things around the house:

Can you make out that it's supposed to be "Aaron"? Yeah, you have to use your imagination, but still! And I love how he couldn't figure out how to create an "n" so he just grabbed a notepad and wrote one. This kid cracks me up.

Easter 2009

Finally! I got my Easter slideshow to work like I wanted it to! Here are some pictures from Easter last Sunday. During the week, Aaron attended a total of five Easter egg hunts plus Easter parties plus, oh yeah, a visit from the Easter Bunny at home too! He's really starting to understand this whole holiday thing and it's becoming so much fun! Enjoy! Click on a picture to make it bigger and to read the caption.

He Sings! He Dances!

Today, at the end of preschool, Aaron's teacher invited the parents to watch a singing program that she and the kids had put together. It was so awesome because my son actually participated in the singing and the movements! I was quite impressed! And notice, he's the only one who bowed at the end! So cute! (He's the second one from the left, by the way; one of only two boys in the class!)

Future Pilot

My dad got Aaron this pedal-powered airplane for Christmas and Aaron loves it! He got in it and the first thing he said was "Mommy, I can be a pilot!" You betcha! It's in your blood, after all!

Spoiler Alert!!

Hi! Remember me? Yeah, it's been over a month since I've posted. I'm so lame. I'm just so bored with my blog. I need a new template or something. Anyone have any ideas?

Anyway, we found out about five weeks ago what the sex of the new baby is. Anyone who doesn't want to know, look away right now! I'm serious! O.K., here it goes:


Yes, another boy! We are excited! I think there was a slight twinge of disappointment at first, because we are definitely done after this one and I will never have a beautiful little girl named Lauren (I have loved that name since high school). But then we started thinking about all the stuff we're not going to have to buy (girl clothes, weddings, etc.) and we started feeling better about it. My only real major concern is behavioral issues. It has been no secret that I have struggled with Aaron for the past couple years (aggressiveness, stubbornness, just pure defiance) and I'm not sure if these are Aaron-specific behaviors or boy-specific and I just haven't handled them very well. I thought if I had a girl, things would calm down around here (even though I know that's not always the case; I'm sure those with girls would probably agree with me!). I think we finally have a name picked out, which adds to the excitement, but that's a secret until Birth Day!

So, here we go. My journey with two boys. I grew up surrounded by girls so I feel like everyday is a new learning experience for me. But honestly, I would much rather play cars than Barbies anyway. That's the way I've always been. Maybe this is just another one of God's ways of showing me what's best.

Playing with Their Toys...

...ignoring me...

Future Rock Star

Helping Dave and the boys (Foo Fighters) rock out...


P.S. Could there be any more crap on my coffee table? Ugh!

Being Pregnant Sucks Sometimes

It's 2:00 in the morning. So sick. Can't sleep. Throat is on fire. Chest hurts so bad. Nose won't stop running. Still some nausea left over from the wonderful first trimester. And not a darn thing I can do about it. Going to go watch The Big Bang Theory on the DVR because my Sheldon makes me laugh.

Let the Real Fun Begin!

As you can see from my new header picture, Aaron is getting a new brother or sister! I am due June 29th. So, yes, exactly twelve days after Aaron's birthday. Due to the fact that I will be having this one by C-section also (strictly no VBAC's allowed, thank you very much, my doctor says. And I am so totally O.K. with that.), their birthdays will mostly likely be even closer. This wasn't really what we had originally planned to do, but God has a way of making sure you know He's the one in control and you can only plan for so much. Anyway, we are thrilled. I am a little overwhelmed, I think, but I just keep thinking that people have more than one kid all the time and seem to come out of it relatively unscathed, so here we go. We will be finding out the sex in about five weeks or so, so stayed tuned! If you don't want to know, I will post a spoiler alert first. Wish us luck!!

Only 176 more days to go as an only child!

Merry Christmas!

A Christmas carol...

Shuttle Landing

Today the space shuttle Endeavour landed here at Edwards and we were able to watch it from about a couple miles away. It was so awesome! What a treat!

Waiting...


and watching...


and fighting an evil bush while waiting some more...


And now, a digital flipbook of the landing, 'cause it's so cool!! (Click on the photos to make them bigger so you can see the shuttle better)

Whattup, Dudes

Why Mommy Yells in the Evening

Water, Water Everywhere!

20 Questions

O.K., maybe just four...

Even Laundry Can Be Turned Into A Game

Exciting Times!

Election Day 2008

Seriously. We should have snacks.

He Would Totally Rock Paper Mache...

One of the many reasons why I love preschool for Aaron is that he comes home and is magically able to do things. One of these things is cutting with scissors. He's so good at it now! I tried to teach him a couple months ago but was really afraid for his fingers so we stopped. Now, however, he cuts like a rock star. I guess it was probably a combination of Ms. Heather having better teaching skills than me (that's why I pay her, right?) plus the added benefit of watching his classmates do it.

Now if I could just make sure, when I send him off to kindergarten, that he's still not chanting, "open, close, open, close..."

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is sooooooooo much more fun with a three-year-old. Last year, trick-or-treating had to be cut short due to Aaron's gigantic tantrum because he didn't understand why we were knocking on people's doors but not going inside! So this year, Bill and I actually "taught" him what trick-or-treating was all about and even held a few practice runs this week as well. And he did so well tonight, especially considering he filled the Halloween candy bowl back up with his own loot after I had just finished emptying it to all our trick-or-treaters. Halloween in the new neighborhood rocks!! Here are a few pictures from our night:

Spiderman costume without the Spiderman headpiece. There was no way we were getting that thing on him.

Aaron with his pumpkin. (There was a "Daddy Pumpkin" and a "Mommy Pumpkin" too but the Mommy Pumpkin died and molded under the 80+ degree heat! So wrong!).

Daddy even dressed up! Well, at least it made it easier to find him in the dark.

You'll Bawl. Trust Me.

Handsome Boy