I just love her!

We have had lots of excitement this past couple of weeks. My cousin Jessie had her little boy, Iroh Ji Redder Rust, who is absolutely adorable and looks a lot like her!
We also had our 9-month check-up yesterday and got a fantastic review- allow me some extensive bragging for a paragraph... Although things are always subject to change, our doctor said that Aiden's growth in all areas is so consistent that it seems likely that she'll continue along these paths. Meaning: That she will quite likely be taller than both Dan and me, perfect weight and exceptionally bright. The doctor was so impressed with her cognitive and motor skill progress that he said she is a rather exceptional child and already measuring along with the average 13/14-month child. WOW! You can't get better news than that!
Enjoy the pictures of my big, beautiful, super-smart baby girl!
We brought in some snow for Aidie to play with the other day, as it's just too nasty to go outside. She tried to eat some, but it was so cold!

She has been so cute lately. She has been flipping through books and babbling as she looked at the pictures- reading to me! I love it!

Here we are, having a fun mommy, baby day, as she was pinching my cheeks.

She has really been working on her "gentle hands". We practiced by petting daddy's beard!

We love laundry baskets!

This past week, grampy turned 54! We went over to my Mamaw and Papaw Champlins to visit a little!

She just love playing with plastic water bottles- something we discovered at Mamaw and Papaw's house.

We played with a flashlight, which is the coolest thing ever in her opinion.

I have been reusing the glass baby jars I had to fill with her homemade food and puffs and formula. They have been great!

Aunt J.J. even came over for a bit to visit!

Aiden and Mamaw giving kisses!

Papaw is just in love with her... which is hillarious as he is generally terrified of babies- they being so breakable and all.

Grammy finished Aidie's hat this week. Cutest thing ever! Thanks grammy!

More practice with the gentle hands. We love our big "papa bear".

We always love looking out the window and saying "Good Morning World!" first thing.

And more pictures for the masses- 9 months old, plastic bottles and homemade baby food...

Needed to add a little to my previous post. Enjoy my little family photo session!
Three way tug of war. Love my kids!

At nine months old, we have realized how much we love this puppy who drives us crazy. It's hard to stay mad at a dog that Aiden loves so much

Check out that hair! It's longer than mine!!!

Everybody look up... I think I see a ninja.

We discovered that we love playing with plastic bottles and Mamaw and Papaw Champlin's house. So we played with some of our own!

We love to look outside and lick the window too!

I think this picture makes her look like a movie star baby. Some one told me the other day that she has nice features and she really does. She's just so darn pretty!

Smiling at her reflection!

Making that baby food! I've been a little lazy and bought a few jars of the organic store bought stuff. Now we have homemade again. Much yummier!


Diligently pouring little bitty portion sizes!

GG's birthday and a FIRST STEP!

What an exciting time we have been having! We had Aiden's GG's birthday party a couple of weeks ago and it was a great time. We got to see a lot of family and Aidie and Ella got in some play time too!
Our time has been getting busier and busier it seems. Aiden is still working on those top two teeth. I would feel an edge and they would get covered back up. Now I haven't felt anything forever, but you can see them right under the gums ready to pop out any second! Poor thing is in so much pain. I can't wait til they come through and give her a bit of relief.
We also had some excitement hear day before yesterday. Aiden took her first step!!! We are so proud!!! She was holding onto the chair and Dan just decided to see if she would try. So he called for her to go to him. She let go, took a step, and promptly fell. But she did take that initial step. So I think it counts! We'll have a walking bundle of trouble before we know it!
Speaking of bundle of trouble... I had my first having a baby dream since Aiden was born. I dreamed Dan and I had two more little girls and Aiden was at the hospital with Dan meeting one of them that we named Claire. Not saying that we are thinking of having another one, but it was still kind of a sweet dream.
On to pictures of GG's party:Kathy and her beautiful cakes! She really is amazing when it comes to baking!
Aiden and Ella getting in some play time. You can't really tell from her but things have reversed a bit. Aiden is now the chunk and Ella the tiny tot! So funny!

Got to love this look. It's the "I'm so gonna get into something!"
Here we are seeing GG! Happy Birthday!



All of the boys gathered around the food. You can see where their priorities lie... and they're sucking Aidie into it!I just love this! Aiden loved this end table. She would climb up it, get to this shelf and rest her head. She does this a lot these days. I just love it. So cute!
Here we are practicing some walking for that first step!
She loved getting under this table. It was the perfect height for her!
All of the cousins, including the second generationers!
Dan, Mark and Mary posing for a birthday photo!

I think you can tell we had a great time!

She makes me laugh

I just can't help it! I don't think I have ever laughed so much as I have this week. Aiden is so funny and I just love spending all of this time at home with her. This will all be lessened slightly as I am taking a homebound student soon (only 5hrs a week though!), but I think we will get by. I just wanted to share some absolutely hysterical things she has been doing lately.
Aiden has decided that the greatest fun is had in laundry baskets. She has been climbing in and out of them all week, as well as everything else; in fact, she actually climbed over a barricade, went down face first, and just kept going- yes determination- we see you shining through. Yesterday, she got stuck going in. Rather than fuss or reach out for help or even try to help herself, she just laid there and got cozy!



Aiden and Caina have always had their fun together, but it has really escalated lately. Here we see Aiden stealing Caina's bone once again. In a moment she will be laughing hysterically as Caina takes it back. They probably did this 20 times before I finally got the camera.



Oh yes... the "I am so sneaky" look. This is Aiden deciding to tap away at the computer keys (corner seen on bottom right). Not even thinking that I might be able to stop her...



She thought it would be great fun to take a bunch of toys under this little bassinet we have in her room, that holds blankets and stuffed animals, and play with them there. It was so cute. I can't wait for Dan to see her first fort!



We have been having a heck of a time capturing her standing alone on film. I don't really think it's lack of confidence (this child be not lacking in the confidence area), but I just don't think she realizes she can actually do it. So after she grabbed a chicken and stood shaking it a couple of times, I grabbed the camera. Of course by that time the chicken was gone and she was pulling herself up on the rocker, but hey! I got my proof!

I Got a Little Monkey for New Year's!

After Christmas this year, we went to see my some of my family. My cousin Jim and his wife Betul flew in from Turkey for the holiday season and it was nice to see all of them. I think I probably gained 20lbs just from entering my Uncle Herb and Aunt J.J.'s door, but it was all worth it. Betul brought beautiful shawls and an adorable jacket for Aidie that her mother knitted. They are so pretty and I've got to get out a thank you note, as well as some pictures!
We had a very quiet New Year's this year. With a baby parties are a little out of the question... so we saw a few friends we haven't seen in a while, opened a bottle of wine (still half full- see how much we drink!) and wished each other happy New Year at 6 min past. LOL! Although our celebrations may have taken a bit of a change, it was great to see old friends.
We also had Daniel's grandfather's birthday celebrations this past week. Several of his aunts, uncles and cousins came over. It was nice to see all of them as many of them hadn't met Aidie yet. It was very fun introducing her and Dan had a fantastic time playing poker which, with me not playing, he won!
To end off the charming post, I have to comment on my daughter's recent doings. First, her hair has decided to grow at an outrageous rate and now must be put into pig-tails to keep it from being in her eyes. She has also started climbing on everything. I turned away for two seconds the other day and there she was climbing the baby gate. Definitely her father's genes. I was never this much of a handful until later!