Last weekend you may have been 14 weeks or you may have been 15 weeks. I think it was 15. I've kinda lost count. But that's only because there's so much more to keep track of now, like all of your accomplishments.
You're 15 weeks old, and you had a HUGE weekend for awesomeness.
All of a sudden, you're almost rolling over all by yourself! You can get to your hip, but just can't get it to tip over. (almost there!)
You're smiling, positively glowing with happiness.
You're Laughing...like seriously Laughing!
You're Holding Head Up Better than Ever!
But, you're not all grown up yet. You still have time to cuddle and curl up on your Mom and Me for a good long nap. Face-in...
Or Face-out:
Or on-ward...
You're a beautiful dreamer, that's for sure. You're also a strong gripper. You're grasping things so well now, including my hand!
So, you're really getting a hold on us, and you're really getting a handle on big girl activities. For instance, you napped and spent the night in your big-girl crib for the first time!
And, you've started taking your baths with some company!
This next one isn't so awesome, but it was a first: you got sick for the first time. We went to the doctor and found out that you- at week 15- almost way 14 pounds ! (13 lbs, 15 ounces).
We also found out that you were fooling all of us- you weren't sick at all! Maybe you just weren't feeling good. But, no medicines, no ear infection, no nothing. So, by that point you were all smiles again, and back to your regular 15-week routine of smiling, eating, playing and sleeping.
Life's good when you're a gorgeous 15 week old princess.
And we're so proud of you and in love with you...even if we can't totally remember how many weeks old you are!
It might seem like it's been a while since I've talked about our potty training efforts and successes. Well, it has been a while, but that doesn't mean the successes aren't flowing. But, they're not exactly a royal flush either.
We've rewarded with Reece's Pieces, Whoppers, M&Ms, Marshmallows, Episodes. We've read countless books on the potty (your favorites for potty time are "Give a Mouse a Cookie," "I can read with my eyes shut," and "Everyone poops." We've sung countless songs ("Drip drip Drop it's an April shower"). And we've created memorable characters, like Little Bunny Poo Poo, The Flower that grows in the window, Thunder and Lightning Pee Pee Guy. And we'll keep on keeping on with all of that too.
But, we're still not ready for prime time.
You're such a busy boy, and a bit stubborn too, and with Julia's birth we've taken a few steps backward (just make sure you don't step in anything). You're a big boy, and we're super proud of you for all you do, and all you doo-doo.
So, there's been a disconnect between our desire for you to go potty and for your desire to go potty.
Things have been moving in the right direction recently though.
I developed a sticker chart system: one sticker for pee, one for poo, one for dry diaper and one for telling us you need to go. When you fill up a chart, you get to go see a BIG movie!
Here's the first chart! And you'll notice, I might have gotten a bit too excited about making the chart. Even before one sticker was put on the chart, it was very full already. But, you got the idea, and you filled it up (and filled the potty too!)
And we went to go see "Frankenweenie!" You, me, Julia and Mommy! The ticket taker was very pleased to see that you've been earning so many stickers! You loved the movie and even yelled "night night Sparky" when Sparky, the dog, died. Good stuff!
You were in awe of the movie. We were in Awe of you. 25 stickers
So, we started charting a second chart (and you can tell, I chose a simpler design this time). And guess what?
You pee-peed, you poo-pooed (this might be slightly embarrassing by the time you read this) and filled another chart to the brim! So don't wipe that smile off your face...you got to go see another movie! This one was "Hotel Transylvania!"
You, me, Mommy and Julia. The (same) ticket taker was not as amused to see us again telling him the storied success of your bowels and urinary tract. But we were impressed, and so glad to reward you for your fine work!
I think you were very proud too.
Your review of the film was pretty substantive:
So, we did another potty chart!
And guess what? Give me poo, give me pee, Aidan gets to see another BIG MOVIE!
Way to go! This time it was just you, Julia and Mommy and you went to see a good one: Monster's Inc!
note: Julia slept through all three films.
You love going to the movie theater, and request it: "Big Movie and Pop! Pop! Popcorn!" So, the reward system is working.
But, we still have a lot of resistance, and you tell us 'no' more often than not when it comes to potty. We don't want to force the issue, and give you anxiety about the porcelain throne, so we've decided to alter the tactic a bit, based on a book we read.
We're going to be getting a LOT MORE STICKERS! We're going to get stickers for all of the good big boy things we do, not just potty stuff. So, hopefully, by taking the spotlight off the potty it will feel like the pressure is off. The last thing you need on the potty is too much pressure...you just gotta relax and let it all go.
So, your Mommy drew and developed a whole new sticker system for you. Her drawings are so adorable and informative.
You really seemed to like them too. You already got 3 stickers before you went to school this morning!
Now we just have so much more to celebrate!
Before you know it, this chart will be loaded to the brim with stickers too and we'll be off to see a BIG MOVIE yet again.
I know it'll be a while until we can close the lid on this whole potty training business and I really don't believe Mimi when she says I was potty trained in one day. But, it doesn't matter how long it takes or how it all comes out, what does matter Aidan is that we love you and we are very proud of you.
Here's to stickers and big movies and songs and books. I hope that our new reward system really continues to click with you, but we know you'll figure it out eventually. And that day may be very sad, though. One day I won't get to spend 20 minutes reading to you and doing silly voices and songs to convince you to stay on the potty long enough to let nature happen.
So, just getting to spend an extra twenty minutes with you, sitting on the edge of a cold porcelain tub is reward enough for me.
But I may steal one of your M&Ms from time to time anyway.
We may be on the scenic route to getting there, but we still think that you're Number 1 when it comes to Number 1 (and 2) (on the potty).
Last week you turned three months old! I know, I know, I always say this kind of stuff, but I have to reiterate. I mean, just the blink-of-an-eye ago you were nothing but a growing belly bump:
And then you were here! A lovely little newborn babe, completely dependent on us for everything. So sweet, and calm, and warm. Well, now that you're 3 months old, you're still sweet and calm and warm (most of the time, unless it's cold in the house). And you're still lovely and little (though not AS little)...but now, you're not really a newborn anymore! You're a little lady, a charming baby, full of personality and light in your eyes.
You smile great smiles!
You giggle, you 'talk', you laugh!
You grasp items with your hands. You sit in your Bumbo chair, sit in our laps and hold your head up wonderfully! Your neck strength and muscle control has gotten so good! All that tummy time has really paid off! You're a sturdy little girl now.
You 'play' with your brother and seem to really be developing a relationship with him. You light up when he's around, smile at his jokes or when he's being silly and try to eat his nose!
You are such a precious, precocious little girl now, and while we can't wait for the next step, your mother and I both are thoroughly enjoying the three-month-old you (even with the occasional clawing and screaming, which is totally natural for a baby with sharp fingernails and a slight aversion to bedtime).
You are sugar and spice and everything nice, handing out smiles without restraint. You're Three months old now, and look how far you've come!
I mean, just look at that face! Those cute little eyes! That smile! Sorry, I'm biased. But, c'mon. You're just a peach of a little girl, my Princess Jules.
And everyone seems to know it! Even 'the boys' couldn't stay away from you during your all-important photo shoot!
It's amazing how far you've come in such a short time. And whether I want to believe it or not, it's happening all too quickly! It seems like we've never been without you, little daughter of mine, yet every minute that your with us (yes, even the slightly loud ones) seem like a new, amazing gift in our lives.
Last night I flew to the surface of Mars in a rocket ship.
I journeyed to the wilds of Africa and befriended a fierce lion.
I hid in a desolate cave with only a flashlight, a blanket and an adventurer.
I swam under the sea, while a wiggling fish tickled my toes.
I am a father. My children are my passport.
I have a hard time convincing Aidan not to 'smoosh' bugs. Once you smooshed a slug, and I felt awful. But life and death is a concept you luckily haven't had to learn about yet.
But, I imagine by the time you read this, issues such as life and death will be easier to understand.
This past weekend we lost someone. She passed away, but I don't want her to be forgotten. So I've written about her for you...and for me.
You might not remember her, but your Mother and I, Preston and Toby, and the two of you had a wonderful, unique, kind neighbor named Dorothy. She lived two houses down from us and had a special place in her heart for both of you and Luke and the kids across the street. She was like the neighborhood's grandmother, and a good friend. She cared about us and we cared about her. She is no longer with us.
Meeting Julia for the first time.
Dorothy really liked both of you kiddos.
Aidan, you got to spend more time with her than Julia.
You loved playing in her front yard. She had an awesome birdbath, windchimes, a wooden duck and lots of pin wheels. You really like her pin wheels. Once Dorothy gave you one of her pinwheels. You smiled so big.
At Aidan's Second Birthday
Dorothy had a special way of saying things. Every time we would say goodbye, she'd tell you that she loved you. She'd point to her eye. She'd cross her arms over her heart. She'd point to you. You never quite got the hang of repeating the gesture back to her. But you gave her plenty of hugs and high fives and talked to her a lot.
Miss Dorothy attended all of your birthday parties and was a welcome visitor. She didn't have much, but she did like to give you special toys and gifts from time to time, not just on your birthday. A yellow 16 wheeler toy. A coloring book. Crayons. A white baseball cap, which - on one of our last visits- she insisted that I take for you and give to you when you were older.
When we visited her just about 10 days ago when her health was already in decline, you were a gentleman, Aidan. You squirmed a bit and were kind of shy around a living room full of strangers, but you told Dorothy you loved her and gave her a kiss and a hug before you announced that it was "dragon time" (you had just gotten your wagon, and it was time to go).
Dorothy joined us for many tornado watches. We called them 'tornado parties.' When the weather got dark and the sirens started wailing, or if the weather report said that a tornado watch was under way, Dorothy always came over, umbrella in hand, to weather the storm with us. She made me feel brave.
She was so excited for you to arrive, Julia. She called to check on us while we were still in the hospital. She was anxious for your arrival. She bought you a pink hat from Seattle.
Hear Dorothy's Voice. This is the voice of a kind soul who, sure, could get off topic like nobody's business, but in the end, she meant business, and her business was caring about her neighbors.
You guys had a special kinship. When Dorothy got very sick, you made her laugh.
She talked about you to all her friends and showed off your birth announcement as if she were your own Grandmother.
Both of you kids made Dorothy happy. And she made us happy too. She was loyal friend, a good neighbor and a great person.
I'm so glad we got to know her, and spend so many moments with her. She was the first to really make our street feel like a home.
I'm glad we all got to say goodbye.
I want you to remember her.
You never know when your number's up. Dorothy was lucky in that she was pretty much told that her number was up. She got to make last requests, and two of those were to see the two of you. To hold you and kiss you and say goodbye. You both honored her request and put a smile on her face in her final days.
Being so close to a death always puts life in perspective. It makes you realize what you would want to do before you go. Now, rest assured, if I have any say in it, I'll be annoying both of you for a long, long, long time. I'll annoy your children and your children's children.
But, I want you to know that you, my children, and your mother are the best parts of my life. The best part of me. You make me feel whole and I love you forever and ever.
Dorothy is no longer with us, but her kindness and love will never be forgotten.
That's the thing to remember: Love goes on. Life goes on.
We all know that Aidan and Preston and Toby are partners in crime.
One of Aidan's responsibilities (as much as a 2 year old can have responsibilities) is to feed the dogs. He always saves one kibble for himself.
They play, kiss, they chase each other, they eat each other's food.
Mush, you Huskies!
Aidan watched with squealing joy as Toby got a bath and Preston got a bath and a haircut (two bits). For two days after he kept exclaiming "Pressie! Hair cut! Please!!!!!"
But Miss Julia, you are just now starting to understand the joys of having two of [wo]man's best friends hanging around the house.
They can be soft, and cuddly and good for napping.
Or they can be curious (and curious about you too!)
Now I know you look a little freaked out in the pictures, but you were anything but. One night on the couch, Toby decided to investigate. He slowly crept toward you, tail wagging. You started talking to him and smiling.
Toby leaned in even closer and started sniffing. That's when you started giggling.
And a new friendship was forged!
You're still a little young yet to fully grasp how much fun these little doglets can be, but you're certainly getting the idea of it! It's Puppy Love, all over again!
My babies, It's 2013 and we have a lot to smile about.
Julia, you're 12 weeks old, and already so responsive. I can make you smile just by smiling at you!
Aidan, you continue to amaze and impress us. I love it when you say "Daddy, Let's play! Playtime!" It's almost heart breaking when you say that right before bed. But, there's a whole new year of play times ahead of us.
You're getting better at going pee pee and poo poo on the potty, and collected enough stickers on your sticker chart to get to see a BIG movie. You offered some insightful comments loudly through out the movie, explaining it to us ("Sparky, night night"...sparky was actually dead..but he came back. The movie was "Frankenweenie"). But, the look of amazement on your face when we sat down in the theater (now your 4th or 5th time at the big movies) was pure gold.
If only you knew that that's how your Mother and I look at you sometimes. Pure awe and amazement.
In fact, that's how we feel about both of you, Julia and Aidan. We are constantly amazed that we made you...that you are from us, but already so different from us. So new and awesome and unique in this world.
And that's what a New Year is all about, I guess.
But, with amazing kiddos like the both of you, every day is New Year's Day.
So smile, kids! It's 2013, and we have a whole new chapter in our adventure today. And I won't make you wear these hats again...until next year.
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