Summertime and the livin's easy...

June 1-3: We kicked off June in Disneyland! We needed a little family get-away and it was awesome. He LOVED the pool and was working on his skills with the ladies. We couldn't keep him away from the water or the girls!

Inside the park: He didn't like the characters up close, but he loved the rides. He was in awe and loved the parade. He would say "Quack Quack" when he saw Donald Duck and "Rrraww!" when he saw Simba. The only thing he wanted was a giant balloon, so of course, Martin had to chase down the balloon man to get one for him.

16 months and I can barely keep up with Aiden's development. He is such a happy boy. He spends most the day laughing, eating, and running around playing with his toys (mostly practicing his soccer skills and yelling GOAL!). He is fearless and is climbing and jumping off things now. He is helpful and wants to do whatever I do, so he has been wiping up some of his messes. But my favorite thing is he has grown into a little love bug. He is super affectionate, always giving kisses and saying, "MMMMWA!" He waves to everyone and grabs their hands to take them to play. I love how outgoing and social you are-- I hope you never outgrow that.


Growing Vocabulary- Added to: car, bath, duck, quack, woof, dog, meow meow, go, sit, car, fish, mama, dada, shoes, roar (when we ask him what a lion or oso says--its so cute, my favorite thing he does).

Ball
Toodles (the character from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse)
GOAL! (he runs around kicking his balls into everything and yells "GOAL!")
SSSS (when we ask him what a snake says)
BaBa (for his bottle)
Uh-Oh
AhAhAhAh (Monkey sounds!)
This
Ooooh (whenever he sees something cool, like the ocean)
Wow!
Cracker (he is addicted to Whole Wheat Ritz Crackers)
One...Two...Treee
Onta? (Donde Esta?...where is it?)

We rented a row boat at Loch Lomand. Of course, Aiden wanted to swim, but they don't allow it, so I had to hold him over the side of the boat so he could kick and splash in the water.

Aiden is 11 months!

Jan 1-17: Yesterday, Aiden turned 11 months! It has been an action packed month so far and it seems to go by faster now that Aiden spends more time awake and active. He is always on the move. The only time he is still and quiet is when he is nursing or sleeping. He has started to demand food. He opens his mouth like a bird and makes a fire alarm sound until whatever we're eating makes its way to his mouth. Aiden now gives me kisses and hugs when I get home from work or back from an errand. The kisses are slobbery, and sometimes more bite than smooch, but they are the sweetest kisses ever :) Aiden stares at my face so intently when he is eating and he reaches out and rubs my eyelashes very gently and giggles. I can't help but laugh back at him, he is always doing silly little things that crack me up (like his veijitos face). He is walking around more than crawling now and has started to shake my hand loose when I hold it. He is becoming more independent but still needs his mama (or papa) within eye sight. Not only is he getting more independent, but he has become more curious and interested in his surroundings. He notices everything and loves feeling different textures- even the smallest spec or crumb on the floor can't escape him. Even though he is getting bigger and older, he is still the cutest baby, "look at those cheeks! what a cutie!" I can't even count how many times I hear that when we go somewhere. Oh Aiden, my sweet boy, I love you so much!

Some of his loves:

• Dancing: anytime he hears music he stops what he is doing and rocks side to side
• Waving: he has started to wave both hands simultaneously while he walks around
• Crawling on me: he loves to lay across my lap to sleep and he crawls in my lap to play
• Reading: Aiden will sit and read his books all alone but he loves it when I sit him in my lap and read to him
• Dogs: he loves to say, "dog," and watch them out the window and visit them in their room
• Kids: he is so curious about other kids--touches them and follows them around
• Pelotas: "Donde esta tu pelota," he knows that means "where is your ball" he will crawl or walk to his ball and will kick, throw, and carry it around.

Jan 3- kicking the ball while walking. He can dribble the soccer ball like a little pro.
Jan 4- he was fussing and rubbing his face in my shoulder, and then I said, "Say bye, bye to Alex (his babysitter), and he popped his head up, became very quiet, and very seriously waved her goodbye. So funny!
Jan 5- facing forward in carseat and loving it, and so am I! Makes the drive sooo much better!

(Thanks Aunt Freda and Uncle Mike! He LOVES Elmo!)

See all his videos: Aiden's YouTube Videos