Balls, Balls, Balls

Ayden LOVES sports!

I find myself playing, watching, and talking about some type of sport everyday with him. He can point out and say all the names for balls. He spends lots of time with his new basketball hoop! It is usually the first thing he plays with when he gets up and often he asked to do "one more hoop" before he goes to bed. He also loves to have people watch him do this and cheer for him. If you are not watching he will often come up to you and say "watch" then clap or yell until someone else does after he makes it. If he misses he usually yell 'oh man' or 'ahhh'. He has just started to run up to the hoop, bend down and "dribble" the ball then shoot. I think its so cute!!

He also loves to play baseball. He was given a baseball glove when he was born and now puts that around his wrist and then gets his ball and little bat and tries to hit the ball on his own. He used to want help with hitting the ball but it has been fun to watch him start to try things on his own. He also likes to throw it to you and to catch the ball too. He does much better catching the basketball but he does catch little balls sometimes.

When he plays football he now bends over to hike the ball between his legs then runs down the hall. He then turns around for a catch and yells "touchdown"!

He has started to notice when we get on the computer when he is awake and will come and close it so we will play with him. But, sometimes when I am on the computer he will start singing a song he wants me to play and when Brett is on the computer he will tell him the sport he wants to watch. Its usually football (he knows how to get his dad's attentions) and they watch different Hawkeye plays over and over! It is so cute to see them get excited and spend this time together!

What a little sporty toddler we have! I have always said I want active kids but I didn't realize what I was hoping for! Ayden is very busy these days but it is so fun to watch him run around and play so hard! Brett and I both grew up around sports and have enjoyed watching sports together while we dated and now into our marriage. I get excited that Ayden enjoys these things too but I understand that his interests will change over the years. He has such a passion for sports of all kinds now and I just pray that he keeps that passion his whole life no matter what he does!

32 Weeks

Wow, I can't believe I am at 32 weeks! I must say the second pregnancy has gone pretty slow for me up until this point! The first time around everything is new! You get to register, have baby showers, decorate the room and so on. The second time around I feel pretty prepared as far as all the baby items and the few new things I need or need to replace.

But, here we are 8 weeks away from our due date! Every week that goes by I get more excited to meet our baby girl! With the new week has come lots of the common discomforts. My back all of a sudden started hurting, I am starting to get tired again, its harder to get around and my clothes are starting to get tight... Even the clothes I wore at the very end of my pregnancy with Ayden!! I had expected this to happen but it is never fun when it does!

This next week Ayden and I are tagging along with Brett on his mission trip to God's Mountain in MO. I went along two years ago when I was preggo with Ayden and now back again this year. I pray for safe travels, the relationships we strengthen and the new ones we build with people on the trip, good sleeping conditions, spring weather, and a all around good trip! I am excited to slow down and just enjoy being outside, playing with Ayden and watching Ayden play with some new friends! It will be a great trip! But, when we get home I have told myself its will be time to get everything ready for the baby!! Get everything washed! The crib set up for a newborn again! Rearrange the kids room and ours to make sure everything is ready to go!

We are excited to enjoy the last weeks of a family of 3 but also excited to meet our baby girl and become a family of four!!!

Daydreaming About Our Baby Girl!

I find myself sitting here feeling our little girl move around (all the time!) and it I am starting to feel her different body parts, her arms/legs, her little feet! I can't help but daydream of what she will look like and the first time I get to hold her! I remember looking at Ayden after he was born and thinking, wow, how did I make such a perfect little baby. Now, I am making another perfect baby! This is truly one of God's amazing miracles! I can't wait to meet her and see what her personality is like! I can't wait to see how Brett is with his daughter! And, I can't wait for Ayden to come to the hospital and meet his baby "sissy" for the first time!

The first time around I was so excited about getting his room ready, and making sure I had all the clothes I needed and making sure my house was clean and ready for life to stop when we brought home our little boy. Now, since the kids will be sharing a room we aren't changing to much and I realize I don't NEED a lot of things for a new baby and I am just focusing on the nacessities till she arrives. Now, I have more time to be excited about this little girl still growing inside me! And, how our life will change when she comes. I know the first child is a major change because life is so different when you have to start thinking about naptime and feedings and where we can go that I can get a stroller around. But, I can't help to wonder how life will be with two kids! How will Brett's and my relationship change again? How will Ayden react to this baby coming into his world? Will he be able to share his Mommy? Will I be able to enjoy the summer with Ayden at the pool and park between feedings?

So many exciting changes to come in about 2 months! I can't wait to see how our family changes and grows in the months to come!

Such A Sweet Boy

Tonight, while I was getting Ayden ready for bed he kept talking about the baby! When looking at him you could tell he was thinking and all of a sudden he came over and lifted up my shirt and was pointing to the "baby". Then he proceeded to take his binky out and try to stick it in my belly button then he went and got his blanket and covered most of my belly. Then he gave my tummy a hug and a kiss. He is very excited about his baby sissy and I am so excited to see his reaction when he meets her!!

A 1 Year Old's Perfect Weekend!

A couple weeks ago Ayden and I had a special weekend planned! We headed to the cities when I got off work on Friday. When we got to the cities we met up with my best friend growing up, Ali. It was so great to see her and for her to see Ayden again! I don't think she has seen him for almost a year! She was surprised to see how much he has grown and loved hearing him talk!

We went shopping for a bit at Ikea then headed to the Rainforest Cafe at the Mall of America! What a cool place to eat! Ayden loved looking at everything around. We sat in the Elephant area and our table was right next to a big fish tank! Ayden loved it except during the thunderstorms. We spent a lot of time finding the monkeys, birds, elephants, fish and many other animals! He sat so well and let his mommy and her friend sit and catch up! Ali kept saying, wow I can't believe how good he is! I took the complement but reminded her that he had a lot to take in. He isn't always that good when we are out to eat.



Ali, Ayden and Mommy

We then got back in the car and drove to my brother and sister-in-laws house. We got there at about 8 and let the kids stay up and play! This was the first time I really saw Jake and Ayden play together! They were all over and had so much fun! At one point Jake ran upstairs to get some water and Adyen went half way up and started yelling "Madison" (Madi and him like to yell at eachother to come play) I reminded him it was Jake so then he started yelling "Jake!" and Jake ran down stairs. They spent lots of time putting the balls back on the pool table for Bobby and running around the furniture playing tag! What a fun night!

The next morning was the morning I was waiting for for a long time! Sesame Street Live!!! Ayden was going to see the big "Bobo" (Elmo)! We went with Jake and Jen. Both boys really didn't understand what we were going to do but I think they both really enjoyed the show! Ayden loved pointing out each character and Jake liked dancing! The show was about 1.5 hours and Ayden made it a little over an hour. At that point we had lost his binky so we had to go out for the last 10 minutes. Other than that he did great!! I was so happy I was able to take him and we had such a good time together! We also happened to sit a few rows behind my 2nd cousin's family so we were able to catch up with them a little after the show! Small world!


Jake, Ayden and Mommy

Jake Dancing

The show!


Ayden watching the show in his Elmo shirt!!


Well, after all that fun we got back in the car and headed home! Ayden was asleep as soon as we backed out of our parking spot so I decided we would wait to get out of the cities before we ate lunch. I let him sleep for 1.5 hours and had to stop so then we got to eat at McDonalds! (We rarely go there so this was a treat!) After lunch Ayden stayed awake the whole trip! I was so thankful for our new DVD player for the van from Brett's parents! We watched lots of Barney and Bobo!

When we got home we had just enough time to change and back in the car but this time we were with daddy. We went to Luke and Katie's Patterson's Wedding! It was so beautiful and I loved being able to sit back and enjoy the ceremony. Ayden on the other hand did not want to sit. Thankfully Brett took him out and let his run around a bit. When we got to the reception we sat with our good friends the Hoffert's and the Oakland's. We were right by the dance floor so the kids had so much fun running and dancing out there before dinner! I couldn't get any pictures of all the kids so here they all are perfecting their own dance moves :)


Ayden running then falling down!

Jordann spinning!

Madison's One Legged Bear Crawl!

Ayden's splits!
What an awesome weekend Ayden and I had! I was very tired by the end but I could not have asked for a more well behaved boy!!! I know I will remember this weekend for a long time!