Welcome to our World!

And a beautiful, wonderful, exciting, happy 8 months it has been...today, our little baby turns 8 months old. On October 18, 2007, at 5:47 PM, Ayden Ali was born safe and healthy at 8 lbs 5 oz. It was the worst day of my life with the c-section gone wrong, the horrible recovery, him being taken away - but also the best because my son was born - and I couldn't imagine my life without him. He has 5 teeth and is sprouting two more, he's eating lots of solids and loves squash and peas and bananas - he loves to coo and razz. He says "Momma" and "dadadadada" and loves to sleep on his daddy's chest or in mommy's arms. He's wonderful and has changed so much. He's growing so fast. I wish I could stop the clock sometimes because before you know it, I won't be able to hold him in my arms anymore and kiss his head, and tell him I love him - at least not without him telling me to stop because it's embarrassing. This is my time with him now, and I'm loving every moment.

Here's a trip down memory lane...

Whose that baby in there?
Mommy's big belly...she is still paying for that!
Just born....mommy's favorite picture.
Mommy saying hello for the first time...the greatest moment of her whole life.
One day old...
In the car seat on the way home...October 21, 2007.
In the carseat today...June 18, 2008.
My sweet baby boy today...all grown up...

So Ali's first Father's Day has come and gone - and the best father in the whole world seemed to have a wonderful time bonding with his little baby boy in Richmond. We visited my parents again this past weekend and enjoyed Ayden's little coo's and cah's - and him pulling himself up onto EVERYTHING! We gave Ali a lovely collage of his favorite pictures of Ayden and he also got a 30.00 gift certificate to Home Depot (his favorite hang out!).

Here are some pictures to celebrate the best daddy in the world - of course ,they're mostly of Ayden, I mean he makes Ali the father he is ... doesn't he?

Ayden and his daddy!
Chillin' in the stroller (it was pretty hot though!)
He still loves his mommy!
We would die for that smile!
We swear ... he IS perfect!!
He loves his feet!

Oh he just melts my heart...every...single...time, as you will see why - in the following video and pictures...oh heaven help me - hold me up! I'm in love! (and in the video towards the end, yes, that's me saying "Can I have a kiss?" - and yes, he gives me one right back!)

Ayden had his first experience in our pool today. He absolutely hated it. I wish he would have liked it more - but it was slightly cold on his cute little "feets" as his daddy calls them. He got a little used to it but never warmed up completely - we're going to have to work on that! I wanted to share some pictures from the day...Ayden's first pool experience...sort of.

Getting ready for the day...I got my cool beach clothes and my neat beach hat...
I'm ready, Mom. Bring on the water...and the chlorine...and my cool float.

Leaves from the storm? Oh that's ok. I'll eat them.
I dunno, Daddy. It's a wee bit chilly in there for a pint little one such as I!
This is not a happy face!
She's tryin' to talk me into it...not so much!
But I don't wanna!!


Now this is livin'!
See, I forgave her!

As everyone knows, I'm a big promoter of child welfare. I used to work as a Volunteer Coordinator for a wonderful non-profit organization known as CASA, the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children. My beautiful co-workers sent Ayden a onesie - in particular, his onesie is special to Henrico County, VA CASA - which is where my heart is.

I wanted to present Ayden modeling this cause today and hope that you will check out the national CASA site to better understand their great cause - and see if you would be interested in volunteering or donating!

http://www.nationalcasa.org
http://www.henricocasa.org

Another lovely day here in central Maryland - so of course, we met up with the mommies group and went to a park. It was great fun. We had a little picnic and enjoyed a child across the way who decided to pull down his pants right in front of us - and pee right there in the mulch. Needless to say whenever Ayden dropped a toy - I was a little weary of what the mulch actually consisted of.

It was lovely fun. The weather is supposed to turn bad again - and this morning when he looked up at me with those glowing brown eyes and said "Moooommmm" (he really did) - I thought, how could I deny him the last nice day of the week? The basement doesn't do him justice! Here are some pics from our day in the park with friends...

Ayden and his friend, Scarlett, she's 13 months - and so adorable! When Ayden was eating his sweet potatoes, she kept going "Yummm."
Speaking of yum, I know you wanted to see what I had for lunch!
How am I supposed to start my ride without the keys? Darn it, loosen the belt!
Callin' all grandmas - Mommy is letting me chew sticks!
Just kiddin' ... that's a teething stick...it's not really a stick. I am going to love to do this out in public though, like at parks, or on hikes...I can only imagine the looks I'll get when my kid is doing this...
He even went down the slide again today! I think he had fun!

Oh boy. Ayden has become expressive. He has a personality - now when I say personality, it's not like when he came out type of personality - like "oh isn't he cute, look at his little dimples, aw, he has the sweetest cry when he's hungry!" - no, not like that.

I mean pure personality. He has such spark, such wit, such a way of getting what he wants. He knows exactly how to press my buttons. He has learned to squeal. He has learned his "fake" cry which is "tearless" and sounds like a literal "Wahhh." He whines worse than his mommy! He's so funny the way he tries to manipulate the situation - "maybe if I look cute, I can have that toy instead of this one" - "maybe if I give her the puppy face, I can have sweet peas instead of winter squash." Oh what a spitfire we've created!

I swear each time I think I love him all I can - like I have no love left - I find more. It's amazing.

So I introduce to you, without further ado, the many faces of Ayden.

"Okay mom, I know I did something in my pants, but I'm not sure if it's a Code Yellow or a Code Brown...it doesn't smell like roses though!"
"Mom, as if?! First off, I want the plastic keys, not the plastic car, and secondly, why are you all up in my face? Pipe down. We all know I'm cute, you don't have to prove it!"

"I do love you, mom, but you're flat out weird."
"So if I'm quiet - maybe they won't find me with my hand stuck in the VCR...she's going to give me that darn alphabet ball again - and I really want this cool ditty instead...so shhh."

"If I show 'em my munchers, I'm more likely to get what I want - just because it's THAT cute!"

"Okay, Mom. It's gettin' old. Don't make me break out the squeal."


"If I give you this face, can I sleep in your bed tonight?"
"How much cuter do I have to be so you'll let me climb up the treadmill? Come on now!"
"Ah...indecision...the walker looks fun too...I'm not sure, Mom. Gimme a few minutes!"