My Baby Turns 3

Now there are lots of things that change your perspective, none quite so much as having a baby. Perspective on priorities, needs, and especially time. Before I had kids three years didn't seem like that long, but now it is the measure of a lifetime. It has been three years since Aden was born and he changed my life in so many ways. I love him and think the world of him. He is a great fisherman, a fantastic big brother, and the reason I laugh daily. We had a party with Grandma's and Grandpa's, Aunt Tammy and some cousins. There was ice cream and cake and a great haul of presents!!Aden couldn't even wait for me to bring the cake to blow out the candle! So we re-lit and blew them out a couple more times for good measure. Aden got to help cut his cake...which he was so excited to be finally eating it!

...in fact he couldn't even wait for a fork!

Thanks to Tammy and the kids for the great power toolsThanks to Great Grandma and Grandpa Peacock for the cool outfit and cars with a twirly track for them to go down on...and the plaid tissue paper which Aden was a fan of for some reason.

And a big thank you to Great Grandma and Grandpa Lake for the cool card and MONEY.Thanks to Grandpa Bert and Grandma Belinda for the loudest toy ever....and an awesome truck that has compartments for all Aden's toy cars. ..it also came with a ton of new ones!Chris and I gave him a RC car that he absolutely LOVES...sorry no picture, don't know why...and Raleigh gave him a book of puzzles...Tonka trucks and that sort of thing :)

And we can't forget Great Grandma Barbra, Thank you for the card and gift card I am looking forward to seeing what he picks out to buy with his own moneys.

Aden's Cake!

So I found some adorable little lights at the craft store that inspired this cake for Aden's birthday
Aden loved helping mommy make the cake....he was the official taster....he did a great job :)

He even kissed his brother so he could share some with him

Here is a little video of the cake from all angles again it is a video from my phone so the quality isn't great but it gives you a little bit of an idea of what it looked like with the lights flashing :D Aden was so cute! He loved his cop car cake so much that as I was finishing the decorating he told me "good job mommy good job!" He was beaming and I have never felt such a sincere compliment in all my life...so worth the all day project it turned out to be. He also had to see the cake every few minutes...it was the last thing he wanted to see before bed on Thursday and the first thing he wanted to see when he got up on Friday...thankfully that night we ate it so the madness could end, but I loved that he got such joy out of something I made for him.

Bath Time Stories

My good friend and coworker Kresta gave Raleigh the cutest bath robe for Christmas. I couldn't help the mini photo shoot that followed his bath. There is also a short video that I shot with my phone...so sorry for the poor quality but he was so cute and he was even telling stories :)

Welcome Visitors!

Chris's dad and step-mom came all the way from Washington for a visit. We were so happy to see them and this was their first time meeting our new little man. Now I'm not one to put words in someones mouth but I think from the pictures it is perfectly clear they are as in love with this little boy as we are....but then again, what's not to love ;) Grandma spent much of their visit just like this...loving on baby Raleigh.

She told me that holding babies gives her peace and calm :) Grandpa likes to play tough guy but you can tell from the pictures when it comes to his grand babies he is a softy :D

And while they were here Grandpa fixed our drain (thank you so much by the way) and Aden had to get his tools out and help Grandpa...he was so cute down there fixing the dryer along side his grandpa!

Christmas 2009

The loot...this is what it looked like after Santa came but before the kids got to it. Chris gave the kids a ride in to see what Santa brought.
I wish I had a better angle but Aden's face was priceless!

Aden using his new walkie talkies....with

Grandpa....who is going to kill me when he sees this....bed head and all...holding one of the cutest babies ever! This is Raleigh's idea of a great Christmas....sleeping and being held. The dynamic duo together on Christmas morning!

When Aden discovered his stocking it wasn't the candy that interested him.....and he was bound and determined to hold every one of the cars all at once....he obviously needed more hands :)

More of Raleigh doing what he loves!

Christmas Eve

This year we had EVERY member of the family present for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. It was fantastic! We all stayed at my Mom and Dad's house (even though Chris and the boys and I live in town) It was so fun all being under one roof. We got up Christmas eve morning and had a HUGE breakfast. After that had digested some we went sledding...I didn't sled due to the fact that I had surgery a little over a month before, Grandpa also sat out the sledding because of recent surgery/injury...but we made ourselves useful all the same. Grandpa shuttled people from the bottom of the hill to the top and I took pictures and watched the baby's. Every one had such a great time!

Luke and Tianna made it to the bottom

Mom enjoyed her ride...grandmas can have fun too!

Chris and Aden riding....Aden didn't like it so much

Still not happy about it.

Laura swooshes by...

..Eric catches air on his way down....check the gap between his back and the sled!


Mary and Tianna had a major WIPE OUT!

A close up of the wipe out...in case you missed it on the animation

Courtney zooms down.....and you can see Tianna and Mary still recovering from their spill

Dale had a nice tumble in the snow as well!

Speaking of wipe outs....This is Chris totally "eating" it check the saucer flipping over him!

After every one recovered from sledding with some Cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate....got showered and changed and warmed we did a little Christmas nativity. Mary brought some cute little books that told the story of the Jesus' birth and had a song for each little part of the story. It was so much fun and the kids really got into it....some were willing participants (Tianna did such a good Mary...VERY reverent) and others were bribed (Notice the skittles all down Aden's face) and yet others were cute little by standers that we still have some control over...Adelia made the cutest little lamb and Raleigh played the part of a newborn seamlessly :D.

One Month Old

I couldn't help but document the one month mark of the life of this beautiful boy with a mini photo shoot.

SNOW!

When it snowed in the beginning of December Aden was itching to get out into it. Because I had a brand new baby and because Chris was plowing said snow, he had to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house and play with Aunt Laura to get the experience. But his reaction tells me it was worth the wait :)