The Person You're Becoming

Dear Ayden,

You're 18 months old now!!!! I can't even believe it, sweetie! You are so beautiful!!

You are growing into such a beautiful little lady! You make me so proud every single day! You are the best big sister ever and Ellie adores you! We love you, sweetheart!

You are so cute with Elysia, you are always trying to help her drink her formula, whenever you see her binky anywhere you run to give it to her! When you come around (as long as you haven't hurt her recently) she gives a huge smile and gets so excited to see you! You sometimes like to try to be a little bigger than you really are and you've pulled her out of the swing before because you're trying to pick her up like mommy does haha When you wake up from your naps, you immediately start looking for your little sister and it warms my heart how much you love her :) I was so nervous when I was pregnant that you might not like having another little person around. But, ever since the beginning, you have welcomed Ellie into our lives, you've been patient with me as I've had to feed her often and attend to her needs. You impress me so much! 

You are inquisitive as ever. You have always been my curious, wild child! I love that about you :) It definitely keeps me on my toes but, you're so unique and wonderful and you make me see the world in a different way. You make the world so exciting and new to me :) You have always been, and seemingly will always be, unstoppable! My parents laugh because you're a lot like me, you're independent like crazy! The other day I took you and Ellie to a splash pad over in Riverton, it was awesome and fun! At the end, you were over at the water with Braylin and Mille just playing, next thing I know you're running to different families (a lot of people were around sitting on blankets) and you just sat on a lady's lap and started talking and playing with them! My gosh girl! After that, you went right up to another lady and took Cheetos right out of her bag! There was this little boy who was sitting on the grass with his head down..you went right up to him, crouched down to his level and just stared at him for a minute before I could drag you away haha I had quite a time packing up and getting things to the car with you running away every time I let go of your hand! Luckily, they all thought you were adorable and couldn't care less but, still, gotta somehow teach my one-year old "stranger "danger." That's what I get, I get a child who runs wild just like I did :P 

You are beautiful! You will sometimes let me do your hair without a bunch of fuss either, which is nice! You are so friendly and happy all of the time. You are already speaking sentences! Your first sentence was "Hi mama" :) You can imagine that I loved that! You say "buh-bye now" and "hi dog!" You love watching Curious George, you get so excited when you hear the theme music and you start chattering like a monkey! :) The first song you started trying to sing along with is the theme music to Good Mythical Morning and I love that :) We watch that show almost every day of the week! It's our mealtime tradition! 

Honestly, when I imagined how my children might be, I don't think I could have ever imagined how amazing you and Ellie would be!! You two are the light of my life and I want to make sure you know that every single day! I love you :) 

Love, Mommy

You Learn So Fast!!

Dear Ayden,

You are so smart, sweet girl!!! :) I just wanted to write down the words you know and can say :)

Words you can say:

• Book (da-book)
• Diaper 
• Hot
• Heater (sounds like dada cuz you can't say your r's)
• Dada
• Mama
• Dog
• Fish
• Bird
• Bear
• Yum yum
• Please
• Help (dep)
• Up (dup)
• Night night
• No (that one is recent and scary-you pronounce it perfectly)
• Done (you raise your hands above your head and say it when you're "all done!")
• Uh-oh
• Soft (ssss while patting peoples' faces)
• Hands
• Tickle tickle
• Hi (you say it so cute! "Hiiii")
• Kiss (diss)
• Shoes
• Sock
• Ball

Words you understand:

• Yucky
• Come here
• Where are you?
• What are you doing?
• Shake shake shake (you always shake your shoulders and body when we sing that little song)
• Look
• Here you go
• Let's change your diaper (you go to your room when I say that and get ready)
• Be soft
• Can you go get a book?
• Are you hungry?
• Milk
• Dance
• Music (when I say that, you always go find something that makes music and turn it on and dance haha it's adorable)
• Let's go brush your teeth
• Tell dad night night
• Meeko
• Yay (you always clap when we say that)
• Where's your belly?
• Knock knock (you find the nearest door and smack it haha)
• Get up
• Go get it
• Pick it up
• Sit down
• Play
• Dada's home (you go "dada dada dada!")
• Time to go
• Do I need to tickle you??
• I'm gonna get ya!!
• Run!
• Do you want some?
• This?
• Want to watch a video? (you go "na na na" cuz I have videos of me singing the Rich Man song from Fiddler on the Roof and you shake your little arms and dance to it haha I don't know why but you love those videos!)
• Can I have a kiss?
• Outside
• All gone/done
• More

Obviously you understand all the words you can say as well and there are tons more I can't even think of right now haha it's crazy how much you know at this age! When we went to your 12 month doctor visit the development paper said you should be able to say like 2-3 words...you could say like 10 at that point and you're learning more every single day!! 

Animal sounds you know:

• Tiger (you do an adorable little growl)
• Bee (sss and you touch your fingers to your chest because I do that to have the bee tickle you haha)
• Elephant (you do a quick little spit thing)
• Rhino (you make a sound with your tongue because we don't know what it actually says haha)
• Giraffe (you smack your lips together cuz I make a giraffe spit haha)
• Snake
• Cow (mmm)
• Pig (you do a little snort)
• Dolphin (you're not super consistent with it but you do a little squeal thing haha)
• Lion (rawr)

Honey, you learn so quickly and you're so smart!!! Most of these things you get in like a day! You're learning at such a quick rate and I am so proud of you! :) I love teaching you and watching you read your little books. It's so fun to watch your eyes flick across the pages and take in all the pictures! I love seeing you grasp concepts (like you say "hot" every time the heater comes on or I open the oven and you don't get close because we've told you it would hurt)! I'm just so glad that I can be your mom and help you learn everything you need to know in life :) Daddy loves it too! I love watching his face light up when you solve little puzzles or say a new word :) We love being your parents!!! You're the best and I know that you will be a fantastic teacher to your sister :) 

Love, Mommy

While I Carried You

Dear Ayden,

I've been thinking about getting the new blog started for your sister, Elysia. I was gonna start it by telling her some things while I'm still pregnant with her and then I wish that I had done the same with you! So I'm gonna tell you a little bit about how I felt while I carried you :)

Ayden, I had waited so long to finally carry my own child inside of me instead of looking on and talking to others about their pregnancies. When I was younger, I just dreamed about what it would be like. I knew that it would be hard, I'd be tired and I'd probably have plenty of the nausea and what-have-you but, I could not have known how amazingly special it would be! I couldn't have known what it would feel like to have an angel kick against my tummy, saying hi and wiggling around, just waiting to be brought into the world by me :) What an honor, what a gift, what a blessing.

When I first became pregnant, I wasn't sick right off the bat. We had our first doctor's appointment around my 7th week of pregnancy and I guess I thought I was further along and had maybe gotten away with not having any of the nausea..well, I was not quite so lucky! haha I definitely was sick. I threw up a lot and especially while I was working the early morning shift (5:00am) at the Aquatic Center, I had a really rough time of it! Finally, my boss had me switched to the shift later in the day and that helped a little bit because I wasn't struggling through the mornings trying to make myself hold food down that early and rush to get to work. The sickness was hard and I could not wait for it to be over! Finally, pretty much right when I hit the 2nd trimester, I was blessedly released from nausea prison haha and I felt very normal again. Towards the end there was discomfort and pain because I got so big and my uterus is so small. Oh, my uterus is heart-shaped so, you got stuck inside the right half of it once you got bigger. That was very uncomfortable, as you might imagine, having a 6 pound baby smooshed into one side of your stomach! Most women have their whole stomach and still say it's rough being so crammed inside there so, yeah, it was tough! But, it was ok :) Every time I would contract, the right side would be elevated way above the left and my stomach was soft-ish on the left side and hard as rock on the right side haha it was interesting to be unique in that way.

I started showing pretty early, around like 3 months. Not very big at first but around the end of my pregnancy (like from 6 months on) I started to get very big! I felt huge! I had plenty of people tell me that I wasn't very big at all, but when it's you going through it, you always feel huge! Well, at least, that's how it was for me. I could tell I wasn't as big as many other women that were pregnant, but for me, I was bigger than I ever thought I could be! I didn't mind though :) I liked having that big bump there for the whole world to see that I was carrying my precious little one and she was growing and that she was safe and sound!

You loved to move and you were always getting the hiccups :) 3-4 times a day you would get them! Bump, bump, bump, bump, for a couple minutes I'd feel them, the tiniest little bumps :) I really loved apples when I was pregnant with you and craved dirt and ice towards the end! I loved the smell of the basement at daddy's work, I would go through there any chance I got so I could smell it haha

I thought about you constantly. I always had my hands on my tummy, partially to keep you from digging into my ribs haha but, mostly because I liked to feel close to you :) I loved that. The feeling of you being right next to my heart, curled up safe and sound. I loved being able to provide you with everything you needed! I was your home, your food, your safety. I was your everything, and you were mine. :)

Sweetheart, carrying you was the most amazing experience I had ever had! I don't miss the sickness, but I do miss some of the things about being pregnant with you. Feeling your little bumps and wiggles, being kept up at night by your dancing around in my tummy. :) Any discomfort I had while going through those 9 months was swept away when I finally got to hold you in my arms. I could remember that all the pain had happened, but it was like a distant dream that faded in comparison to the dream I had entered when you came into my life :) That's the dream I'm still loving and living. Thank you for being mine, little one.

I love you so much Ayden Elizabeth. a million times a bajillion-million ;)

Love, Mommy

Likes and Dislikes at 12 Months of Age

Dear Ayden,

Sweetheart, you are 1 year old now!! I am just ridiculously awestruck over how quickly that year passed! I can still feel you in my arms at the hospital the day you came into the world :) You were so tiny, only 6 pounds! Now you're almost 18 pounds, you're walking around like a pro and you can say like 10 words and know about a dozen more than that!! I wish you could stay little forever but, since I know that can't happen, I promise to enjoy every moment with you as you learn and grow into the beautiful woman you will be :)

Here's one of your beautiful birthday pictures:

Likes:

You like to play all day long (the energy you have is amazing)
You like to chatter to yourself and to anyone who will listen :)
You like (LOVE) to read books!
You like to spend time with your grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins
You like to flip your head back to look at the lights when you eat at restaurants :)
You like (LOVE) to splash in the bathtub or anytime you can reach into the sink
You like to eat mommy and daddy's food
You like exploring everywhere and everything
You like (LOVE) when daddy comes home from work
You like running around with your arms flailing, it's so cute!
You like to wave hi to everybody
You like dancing to any music or humming or whistling :)
You like stomping your little feet on the ground
You like doing a little yell that you do when you go into new rooms to hear if it echoes
You like sitting in peoples' laps
You like to back up until you can sit in a lap or lean against a wall
You like to sit on the heater vent with your books or toys
You like to mimic mommy and daddy
You like to cling to mommy's legs while she makes food
You like to be where the action is :)
You like spending time hanging out with mommy and daddy
You like to get tickled and thrown up in the air
You like (LOVE) Cuties!
You like going places and seeing new things
You like (LOVE) Christmas lights
You liked to unwrap everything you got for your birthday and for Christmas
You like getting loves and hugs and kisses
You like (LOVE) bath time, we can hardly get you out of the tub!
You like making funny noises
You like riding on daddy's shoulders
You like the piano and your toy piano
You like making people laugh
You like playing "where's the baby"
You like running away from mommy and daddy when we chase you
You like to play with your tongue
You like to pull stuff out of laundry baskets or drawers (we had to lock the lower drawers in the kitchen because you were obsessed with getting into them)
You like (LOVE) to climb stairs
You like when we put ChapStick on you, you laugh every time
You like when daddy rubs his head against your tummy, you think it's hilarious!
You like doing dishes with grandpa
You like snack time
You like to eat the toothpaste when mommy brushes your teeth
You like to get your hair brushed
You like to run across the couch over and over again
You like to climb on the bed
You like waking daddy up in the mornings
You like to pull off any hats or headbands mom tries to put on you ;)

Dislikes:

You dislike having your nose wiped
You dislike getting your diaper changed
You dislike being stuck in the car too long
You dislike being kept from something you want
You dislike vacuums
You dislike not being able to see what mommy's making for dinner
You dislike not being held when mommy goes into the kitchen at all because you know she's doing stuff that you'd like to see
You dislike being laid down to get ready for bed
You dislike being woken up too early
You dislike having your schedule thrown off for too long


This is probably the last of these posts I will do. Maybe I'll do one at every year mark :) But, I just want you to know that your father and I are so grateful to have you in our lives and I could never have asked for anything more when we got you! I had dreamed about being a mom since I was a child and when the Lord gave us you, Ayden, my dreams were exceeded by far!! I love you so much, my sweet little angel!! I can't get over how beautiful and special you are. You have an amazing personality, so much warmth and intelligence, love and vivacity! I am so proud of you. I am so grateful for you. I love you.

Love, Mommy

Likes and Dislikes at 11 Months of Age

Dear Ayden,

You are 11 months old already!! I can't even believe it..in one month, you will be a whole year old! You are growing into such a beautiful little lady and I am so proud to have you as my daughter!! :) You learn so quickly and change every passing day. I love watching you observe the world and love life :) Here you are:

You're so beautiful!!! It snowed today (first of the year) for your special day :)

Likes:

You like to get into anything and everything you can find

You like to play with mommy and daddy

You like your cousins

You like your Meeko :) 

You like (LOVE) all animals

You like to make silly noises and talk all the time

You like to copy mommy and daddy and you love when they copy you!

You like to climb into your toy basket to play

You like to see out the windows

You like to be outside

You like watching videos of yourself on our phones

You like to read stories

You like when mommy and daddy laugh

You like playing peek-a-boo

You like when mommy and daddy chase you

You like when we play hide-and-seek with Meeko

You like to snack

You like to try all of our grown-up foods

You like to suck on your bib after every bite of food (you've always been like this)

You like climb stairs (can't keep you away from them!)

You like to see your grandparents 

You like going to scouts with daddy 

You like (LOVE) shoes and you always have (especially mommy's moccasins)

You like the leaf garlands that mommy made and hung in the entryways

You like to be on the move (always)

You like playing with things that make noise

You like trying to talk 

You like to walk and you try to do it all the time now (first steps were on Oct. 23)

You like to play on the couches, going back and forth across them

You like playing with people's hair

You like to put everything into your mouth, often causing mom to panic when you start to choke

You like to climb on Meeko, and then to try the same on other dogs (they don't have as much patience for it as Meeko does-she's great with you)!

You like to try to share your food with Meeko

You like getting tickled

You like to drop stuff on the floor so we have to pick it up

You like having free roam of the places you go

You like your oyster and graham crackers

You like pumpkin rolls and banana bread (can't blame ya!)

You like to clap your hands

You like (LOVE) to play the piano

You like drinking from your sippy cup

You like going to the store with mommy as long as you're not stuck in the cart too long ;)

You like crawling with your right hand in a fist

You like carrying things in your mouth while you crawl (we sometimes call you our second puppy haha, you're so cute)

You like to make it hard for mommy to do chores or make dinner by clinging to her legs

You like getting attention and making people laugh

Dislikes:

You dislike (HATE) having your nose wiped

You dislike the cold

You dislike being in your high chair or car seat for too long

You dislike being kept from things you want (you get very determined to get at things)

You dislike having shirts pulled over your head

You dislike having your nails clipped

You dislike (usually) having your diaper changed, unless we make a game out of it

You dislike when mommy closes the fridge door before you can get into it

You dislike being taken down off of the dishwasher

You dislike being kept out of the bathroom when mommy or daddy are in there

You dislike when mommy gets tired of holding you in front of the window

You dislike feeling stuck in any way

You dislike not being able to see what mommy's making for dinner

You dislike when mommy and daddy don't share their food

You dislike the oyster crackers that aren't whole any more (if they break into halves, you won't eat them unless there's nothing else to choose from, you'll purposefully drop them so that you can have a whole cracker instead haha)

You dislike getting shots

You dislike when mommy leaves the room (you have to follow even if she is just getting up to grab something real quick)

You are so sweet, my little Ayden! You just love life and you teach me so much every day! I am so grateful to have you in my life and I know that dad feels the same! You are everything to us :) Elysia loves you too! Every time you're near me, she starts kicking and moving like crazy :) 

Love, Mommy

Likes and Dislikes at 10 Months of Age

Dear Ayden,

Can you believe it!? You're 10 months old already!! I definitely cannot get it through my head that you're already so big...I swear I just had you yesterday! You were 6 and a half pounds, teensy tiny, your whole body fit in one of my arms. Now you're 16 pounds and climbing and crawling and already trying to walk and stand!!

Here you are, you gorgeous girl:

We took you to the Jazz game to celebrate :) You had so much fun! The noise kinda startled you at times but you loved all the lights and the distractions :)

Likes:

You like to crawl around with your right hand in a fist and your left hand flat (we call it your "monkey fist" haha)
You like to snack
You like to play peek-a-boo and chase
You like to climb up everything!
You like when daddy comes home from work or school :)
You like when mommy and daddy laugh
You like playing with your toys and every now and then coming over and sitting in mommy's lap :)
You like your baby games on daddy's phone
You like watching little kids play
You like babies
You like going new places and seeing new things
You like to always be on the move!
You like to make mommy chase you around the house
You like to pat Meeko and climb on her
You like waking up to seeing mommy and daddy
You like your sister, Elysia :)
You like stealing grown up food haha
You like seeing the puppies Kujo has
You like riding around in the carts at the store
You like when mommy tickles you and kisses your face (daddy too!)
You like your cousins
You like chewing on straws
You like chewing on pretty much anything
You like to put anything in your mouth that mom wouldn't want you to ;)
You like pinching tiny things between your finger and thumb
You like pushing your lion walker around the house
You like climbing on the chairs under the table
You like chasing Meeko around
You like seeing your grandparents and aunts and uncles
You like to feed yourself
You like being independent and free to do whatever you want
You like when mommy gives you free reign of the house
You like playing with the baby swing
You like (LOVE) any kind of animal!
You like when daddy plays crazy games with you (flies you around, throws you up in the air, etc)
You like dancing to any kind of music, even just when someone whistles or hums :)
You like making the music play on your lion
You like noisy toys
You like most things about life, you're a very happy and loving baby :)


Dislikes:

You dislike being blocked from somewhere you want to go or something you want to get
You dislike being held too close and being restrained from moving
You dislike having your nails clipped
You dislike when mommy and daddy don't share their food
You dislike when people are being too loud
You dislike when mommy won't let you turn around in your seat in the carts at the store
You dislike being in the car seat for very long
You dislike when mommy doesn't get your food in your mouth quick enough
You dislike when mommy and daddy disagree
You dislike sitting quietly in church
You dislike when mommy leaves the room (you've gotten very anxious about that lately)
You dislike (HATE) when mommy goes outside to feed the dogs or take out the trash
You dislike missing naps, but you still handle that better than most babies!

You are the sweetest little girl in the whole world, my Ayden! We love you more than any words could ever describe!! I hope you know that :)

Love, Mommy

You're Going to be a Big Sister!

Dear Ayden,

Though you are too young to understand it now, you're going to be a sister soon! In about 4 months, you're going to have a little sister to help mommy take care of!

I often picture the kind of sister you will be...you are such a good example to me of what it means to be happy even when you're struggling with things in life and I think you'll be that good example to your sister as well. I am grateful that the two of you will be so close in age, because you'll be able to experience so many of life's great opportunities together!! I know you'll help me take care of her and you'll love her more than anything. I can just imagine it now, your little face lighting up when you see mommy walk in the room with your little baby sister. I can imagine how you'll slowly figure out that she's here to stay, that she's precious and that you need to be gentle with her. You are such a smart girl and I know you'll help her learn and grow and figure out the tough stuff in life, like how to sit or stand :) You're such a sweet little girl and I know you'll be the perfect big sister!

I hope one of your first words is your sister's name :) That would be so cute and special! I hope you two remain close throughout your whole lives. There is nothing more amazing than having a sister to go to when you need a friend. I know you will stand up for her and be her guide.

She's going to be so lucky to have you for a big sister! :)

I get sad when I think that you're not going to be able to stay with us the whole time at the hospital when I have this little baby. I know I will miss you so much! But, I am so excited for you to meet her! You don't realize it (yet, maybe you will later on when she's bigger), but your little sister kicks every time I hold you. When I feed you and you're laying on my tummy, she pushes up at you :) I know that your little sister is a special little angel that is being sent down to us by God, just as you were. The two of you have been given to each other and to mommy and daddy because we all need each other to get through whatever lies ahead of us in this life. Somehow, I feel that you and your sister are going to be exactly what the other needs. You're going to build each other up when maybe no one else can!

Your dad and I put our faith in the Lord when we decided to try for our second child and He sent your sister to us so quickly! He saved her for us. He preserved her to come to this family at the exact time that she needed to. Just as I knew that when you came to us, I know that with her. Our family was chosen to be together and your father and I couldn't feel more blessed to be given the two of you sweet girls to raise and love!! :)

I cannot wait for all of us to meet your sister! I can feel that she's excited too :) She loves hearing all of us talking and laughing together, and soon she's going to be the source of more laughter and love in our home! I hope you remember how important it is to be a good big sister, to take care of your younger siblings, they need you Ayden. Family is the most important thing in the world! Family is Forever. Remember that, do your best to love and learn with us, and you'll do just fine :)

I love you sweetheart! I know you will be an amazing big sister and I can't wait for this new adventure to start. I am so proud of you already and I know you will give me thousands more reasons to be proud :)

Love, Mommy