Pooping, Bribes and Popsicles

It is amazing to me how a bribe will always work for Aiden. He is currently working on potty training, and this week, he is starting to finally do number two on the potty. All it takes is a bribe of getting to go down to the park and play on the swings! Remember- we are in Maine...it has been so cold, and we have had so much snow that going the playground hasn't been an option for a long, long time. What an easy bribe!

Oh- and chocolate always works too!

Last night, we used popsicles for him to finish his dinner. The most surprising thing- Aiden actually formed a sentence!!! He said, "Daddy, milk please." For him, that is a HUGE step! And the finale, Eli, at age one and 11 days, ate a popsicle, and only had one drip on his high chair! He amazes me!

I Belong on Food Network

We are in the process of redoing our kitchen. Russ and I have been struggling with how we wanted to organize our spices. It is amazing how much space they take up! We contemplated getting round tins and put magnets on the back and mount them either underneath and along the cabinets OR taking a piece of metal and making a piece of "wall art." Instead, we decided to get square tins with clear tops and put them all in ONE drawer. I made labels with clear return address labels...and this is our process:





We are very happy with our new spice drawer. I feel professional; I feel like the chefs on Food Network~! Ha! I think we will like it more and feel more organized when the last bits of this remodel are done, so we can really put things were we want. I still haven't hung up the paper towel holder yet because aren't sure where we want things and don't want to hang it up yet until the work is all done...

My Baby Baby Turned One

Where has time gone? I just had Eli. And now- he is one! Man, oh man! We had his birthday with Aiden the week before his birthday, but on his birthday, I made homemade meatballs, we got him a little cake and a small present to celebrate his big ONE!





Eli is such a different child than Aiden, and I don't mean that negatively. It is amazing how well they interact and how horrible they interact. Aiden is such a good sleepr; Eli is so horrible. I am anxious to see how they bloom, and the people they become. I keep reminding myself that I can compare for development stones but that they are different people. He is so close to walking. I can't wait to see how fast he runs; his crawling is so fast now!

My Baby Turned Three

He is growing up so fast...he is potty training, talking more, and gets cuter by the day with his words. He loves running around nakes...and is sweet and mean all in same second. We were going to take him out on his birthday to a fun activity place but Eli got sick...so I, gasp, went out and bought a cake.





We bought him this little radio that plays music, and for days, he carried it around wherever he went. I think he liked it!!!

The Holidays and Time

WOW!!! Where has the time gone and how come I haven't posted a single thing! Phew!

Here are some highlights from our holiday:


Aiden didn't enjoy Santa- although if you ask him what Santa says...he says, "Ho, ho!"


Eli thought grabbing Santa's beard was a blast!


We made sugar cookies!


Eli enjoyed chewing on any paper he could find!

Thanksgiving and Happenings

The boys are growing so fast, yet it can be the small things that remind me that they are still my babies. Aiden got his first ear infection- wait- let me correct myself- got a double ear infection for the first time and it is the first time he got any type of ear infection. Besides moving his room around and displacing him, he has been sick. I have been sleeping near him or with him, for days now. He just wants me to be near him. As I type this, I am sitting in his room in the rocking chair listening to his breathing change from being awake to being asleep.

Eli is almost crawling. For weeks, he has been pushing himself backwards or rocking...but tonight, he actually lifted his arm. Crawling will fast be approaching. I was looking at pictures of when I was pregnant with him...it was not that long ago but yet so far away.

I must say, it has been sweet to have Aiden near me only because he has never been a cuddly child...and lately, he has been so close. I am sad it takes him being sick, but I do enjoy the closeness of him.

Trick or Treat

Aiden had a blast with Halloween this year. We went to visit Russ' coworker first. We then we went to my brother and sister-in-law's church for trick or trunking, which was an absolute blast! My sister-in-law was dressed as a moose, and it scared him to death!





He seems to be afraid of anyone with a costume that has his/her head covered. It took him a bit to get warmed up to the idea of asking people that were dressed up for candy but he got it. We then went to his great grandmother's to visit.



Eli was very ready for his supper, so while Russ fed him, I took Aiden door to door. After the first house, Aiden was ready to go! He knew what to do and was running! It took quite some time for Aiden to calm down and in the process, couldn't eat dinner due to his excitement. At bedtime, he looked at me, said goodnight, and bye-bye. That was my cue! He was one tuckered out boy!