Andrew is 1

Andrew turned yesterday. We celebrated with pizza and cake with our local family. He had a really fun time and really loved the cake. Andrew is walking a lot now but still likes to crawl, it is so much faster! He has 3 teeth, and 1 more trying to pop through. He has several words-mama, dada, byebye, nightnight, uhoh and maybe a few more I can't remember. He loves climbing onto everything and has figured out how to get on and off the couch.

Pictures from his birthday:



Smash cake

Tooth #3 for Andrew

Andrew popped his 3rd tooth a few days ago, around the 7th of August. Quite different from Aidan who didn't pop his first one until 13 mths.

Aidan's 2 yr checkup

We had Aidan's 2 yr checkup today, almost 1 mth after his 2nd birthday. He weighs 28 lbs, is 35 1/4" long. He also has a double ear infection, he just had an ear infection 3 weeks ago. We have an consult with an ENT on September 8th to discuss tubes. Talked about development and he is spot on for most things--he walks, runs, climbs, jumps, can go up and down stairs, shows me what he wants-most of the time. He is on a 10-11mth level for speech-which is right about where we expect him since he has only had one ear turned on for 11 mths. He has a few words-mom, uh oh, tries Up, tries hand(an), tried TaDa(ah), occasionally he will clap when we say YAY, and will wave when we say BYEBYE--those are without visual cues. Still a ways to go, but we will get there, right now I'm trying to teach him names of objects--working on dog, ball, kitty, and several others. English is like a foreign language to him-he hears what we say he just can't make sense of it yet. Our speech therapist is supposed to be contacting Louisiana Tech to see if they can give him more therapy there. We should know something next week sometime if our ST remembers to call. If she forgets then I will call them later next week. I'm confident that will take him though as around here the chance to work and learn from a Cochlear implant kid doesn't come very often. So I'm sure we can persuade them to do therapy with him.

First steps

Andrew is starting to take steps, he has done as many as 4 single steps, I think me have a walker in a few weeks.

Aidan swimming

Singing Happy Birthday to Aidan

This is the first year you could hear us sing Happy Birthday to you so I wanted to get it on video. I think you paid more attention to the candle though. It took 3 tries to get a good take as Daniel decided he needed to change up the words to his own name so I had to get him to sing correctly, silly boy. Happy Birthday Baby!

Happy Birthday Aidan

Today you turn two. It has been a long road to get here yet seems like it has gone by in a flash. You amaze me everyday with what you do-whether it is copying your big brother by carrying your chair into the kitchen, climbing onto the stove just to get to the microwave to see if there is food in there, or you sitting with me on the couch, content to let me read you a book. You are finally doing really well at holding my hand to go down the stairs and not running off the moment I ask for your hand while walking in a busy parking lot. You love to help me with the laundry, I hope that lasts! Since your recent surgery, we are in the middle of a battle of the wills with your other implant. Anytime something pisses you off, you yank your ear piece off the moment you can, and believe me, you get pissed off quite a bit in any given day. Alex likes to take your toys, mommy doesn't let you help walk the dog or run around outside in 105 degree temps, etc set you off and off comes the ear piece. You did this for a few months when you first got it and then eventually realized it allowed you to hear and then became eager to use it. So I am hoping soon you decide to like it again. We are all looking forward to having your left ear activated on August 3rd and are all hoping it gives as much hearing as your right implant. For your birthday you got plenty of things--a new big wheel bike from Mimi, some dino pajamas from your Great Aunt, some money from different people, Alex picked out a shape sorter-I think that is your most favorite as you have carried it around all day. You also got a movie(Space Buddies) from Aunt Jennifer, and your online birthday buddy Rylee got you 2 really cool puzzles and a coloring book. We usually go to the zoo for birthdays, but since yours is in the summer and 100 degreee weather, we decided to let you have a pool party. Everyone loved it. You have a swim vest and you can go all over the pool with that thing. You love jumping into the pool, such a daredevil you are. In the last few days I have really noticed your words and that you have 2 consistent words now that are correctly used. You love saying UhOh and when someone drops something, or something happens on tv or any other situation, you use it correctly. You also have been saying Mom and seem to have finally connected it to me. I thought you had over the last few days but on your birthday I went to the movie with Aunt Katie after the party, and when I came home at 10:30, yes you were still up for some odd reason, you said "MOM" I asked daddy if you had been saying it all day or if you had only said it when I came in and he told me he hadn't heard it since I left the house and then came home. So it seems like you have finally figured out that I am mom! Yay!\

Mimi gave you presents early since she was here when you had your surgery and post op appts:


Dino pajamas:


Birthday party fun, we had pizza, Sesame street cake, presents, and then the pool





At the pool, you are a little fish!