AJ Turns 3

For AJ's 3rd birthday, Brian and I took him out for the day to spend some quality time with just him before Anna arrived. We had planned on taking him ice skating (you know, to get him ready to become a great hockey player), but considering he had spent the day before doubled over with belly pains, a hign fever, and getting chest x-rays (ended up being just a quick, but wicked virus) we decided to take it a little easier.

It was Steak n Shake for lunch since you get to put stickers on a cool, classic car.

And of course, get a big milkshake.

We also went to Toys R Us to pick out his birthday present... a bike. I had planned on taking pictures of AJ picking out his bike, but we had a little bit of drama when trying to get AJ to hold still long enough to check what bike height he needed and it all became a bit overwhelming. However, he made it out with a smile on his face and even loves wearing his bike helmet.We're still working on the pedaling, but he loves getting on it.

The next day we celebrated with the family, and AJ sat on Uncle Eric's lap the whole time he opened presents.

New trucks of course...

and lots of new games to play outside this summer.

Birthday pizza with cousins Heidi and Ryan. AJ's cake... he picked out chocolate cake with chocolate icing and funfetti sprinkles (the boy likes chocolate).

Yes, he sang Happy Birthday to himself (so cute)!

1,2,3... BLOW!

AJ even experienced the joy of licking the candles!

After pizza and cake the games began... a little soccer, sandbox of course (hmm... I wonder how 4 of them will fit in here next year),

and T-ball (when he actually pays attention he can hit the ball across the yard, and he has since learned how to hold the bat with both hands).

At the end of the day, he was such a happy guy that he smiled nice with both mommy

and Daddy.

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY AJ! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!

As the Belly Grows... Week 33

The progression... I am now 33 weeks and hoping I only have about 5 more to go (I am counting on this little girl coming early like AJ). Everything always looks and sounds good at the doctor's. I have been measuring a little big, but the doc has assured me that I am still in the normal range for this point in my pregnancy. I am all baby, having only gained about 13 pounds. I am tired with pregnancy brain, sleeping on the couch, getting weird back pains like I did with AJ, and have now gained a few LOVELY varicose vains right in my groin. I am more than ready to be done and meet our little girl!

Painting

AJ has been fascinated with the painting of Anna's room. As you can see from the pictures, he helped Daddy touch-up the room. I will post room pics in a couple of weeks once we get the furniture put back and some finishing touches done!

Will the Snow Ever Stop?!

The snow has been non-stop this month. I don't ever remember having this much snow to play in when I was a kid, and luckily I was able to make it out a few times with AJ. We built a snowman one day (from which I had to promptly go in and take a nap), and the other days I just watched AJ as he ran around with Nuge, falling in the snow and making snow angels.

I tried to get AJ to pose BESIDE the snowman, but he had other ideas...
He really just loved diving in it. Nuge enjoyed it too!

A previous start to a snowman that AJ enjoyed climbing over.

"AJ's Anna"

Just wanted to post a cute story about AJ and his baby sister to-be. AJ now claims that Anna is in HIS belly, and shows you too! We talk about Anna quite a bit now, and he asks almost daily about when she is coming. He remembers going to the doctor with me last month to check on Anna, and going to Home Depot to get the paint for her room (he points it out when we pass it on the freeway). He is going to be such a GREAT, BIG brother!

Poop Reward/Picture/Friends

AJ FINALLY POOPED IN THE POTTY!!!!! YEA!!!!!! Of course he did it at the babysitter's last Tuesday, but we have had two more successful potty poops this weekend! Emily said his eyes became wide with surprise when he heard the first plop, and when she asked him if he was done he said no and continued with two more plops. We all made quite the HUGE deal out of it. Here's AJ showing off the truck he got to pick out at the store for pooping in the potty. One night when AJ was working at his easel, he announced that he was going to make a circle and then he said he was going to make eyes (which he did). I then asked him if he could make a nose (he did), a mouth (he did), and arms (once again he did). He also added some legs at the bottom. I have no idea where he learned to do this! This kid's amazing!

One of my best friends just had her second baby, so AJ and I went to visit a couple weeks ago. Here's little baby Gavin, and such a cutie he is! Congratulations Amanda, Ryan and big sister Natalie.

AJ with his buddy Natalie. They used to see each other at the babysitter's, but now Natalie is in Kindgarten.

Week 27 for Baby Girl Sauer

Just wanted to post an updated belly picture. Here I am at 27 weeks - 10 weeks after the first picture I posted. She's sticking out like a ball now, and moving like crazy. Brian actually got to feel her for the first time tonight.

Cute story: This morning, AJ asked Brian where mommy and his baby sister were. Brian told him "at work," to which AJ replied, "I want to go work too." Brian then explained that she had to go with me since she was still in the belly just like he did when he was in the belly. This seemed to satisfy AJ. He's starting to ask more about her, espeically since 2 of his friends have very recently acquired new siblings.

Snow, Puzzle, and Potty

We actually made it outside during our 6-inch snowfall. Here's AJ trying to shoot some hoops. The kid loves his sports. He asks to watch football or basketball most nights. When the basketball didn't work out, we just ran around the yard until AJ landed face first in the snow. It was time to go in anyways!

So, AJ loves this dinosaur puzzle that Grandma got him for Christmas, and one night when I couldn't help him with it right away I told him to just dump out the pieces and start turning them over. However, when I came in to help him, I found that he had already put together the first 6 pieces ALL by HIMSELF!

I simply directed him with statements like, "Try another piece," or "Find a match..." and he successfully finished it!

Yes, we're in full potty training mode. AJ really does quite well with peeing, especially if you just make him go every couple hours. He is getting better about telling you, but he usually waits just a litttle too long and has the accident on the way to the bathroom. The pooping is a whole other issue, and I'm looking for any creative ideas to get my kid to poop in the pot. I honestly thought he might do it when I took this picture, but it was just gas. He'll hate this picture when he's older, but I couldn't resist with the book and all (slightly strained face included).

Christmas 2009

WARNING - Contains MANY pictures (finally making up for my lack of pictures lately).

What a wonderful holiday season it's been for us, with much of the time spent with family. It's actually been quite enjoyable and relaxing for us as we spread Christmas out over a week. We miss those we did not get to see, and wish everyone lots of love and happiness in 2010!

Many batches of cheesy potatoes were made from Thanksgiving on, and AJ has become quite the little helper in the kitchen.
AJ has become quite skilled at putting ornaments on the tree... notice that several of the lower branches have multiple ornaments on them. I LOVE IT!

We were able to take AJ to his first hockey game this month, and he took to it like he does most new events. Period 1 - sat and observed as he took it all in. Period 2 - relaxed with a box of popcorn and became quite interested in the lady making the play-by-play comments behind us. Period 3 - Loving every minute of it while shouting "Go Jackets" and jammin' to the music.

My sister and her family were able to visit for a week. This was the first time we got to meet baby Evan, and the week started with his baby blessing.

Nothing like gangin' up on Uncle Eric after church. This was a frequent event throughout the week in order to burn some excess energy.

Grandpa Joe introduced AJ and Megan to his trains. Of course, AJ was fascinated and spent quite a bit of time just laying on his belly watching the train go around and around

Megan and AJ also got their first foosball lesson from Brian and Eric, but it turned out to be a little dangerous as the handles were right at face and throat level.

No Christmas would be complete without cut-out cookies.

AJ and Megan had quite the fun week together trying many new things including jousting on the Wii. Let's just say Megan had the hang of it, and AJ just liked waving the controller around as hard as he could. He also couldn't keep himself in one place.

To AJ, everything is a garage for his cars... including the nativity. Apparently, baby Jesus was lost temporarily when AJ stuck him in his pocket to keep Megan from getting him. Ah, the joy of having cousins. They actually had a very good time together with very few, minor incidences.

On the Wed. before Christmas we headed down to Easton with Brian's parents for dinner at P.F. Chang's and to show AJ all of the lights (we banished the zoo trip due to weather and crowds). They have a small train display, which AJ loves of course, and this time one of the trains was decked out in Buckeye gear and roses!

AJ and Daddy in front of the BIG Christnas tree,

The best picture I have of my new nephew, Evan Hyun. He's big like the rest of boys!

McLaughlin family fun on Christmas Eve... food, laughs, and Wii.

Thanks to Emma and Tommy, the bonky-bonk tradition lives on. AJ and Megan caught on quickly and even terrorized Grandma with them.

Uncle Eric good again for more family fun!

Christmas morning before the ripping began. AJ made a direct beeline towards the "big" (fire) truck that Santa brought him, and then went on a rampage opening all the presents under the tree, including most of Brian's, mine and Nuge's.

My men and their Christmas underwear... a first for AJ who is now doing pretty well with potty training!

Nuge enjoying his "once-a-year" stuffed animal toy.

Yes, I got my son a baby doll (notice he's much more interested in his Buzz Lightyear), so he has his own baby to take care of when his sister comes.

This was the BIG hit. It didn't leave AJ's hands for two days. Lights, buttons, sounds and it's BIG.

Aunt Barbie, Brian and I laughed when we saw the towel was purple, but AJ declared to me today, "I like my towel!" He even posed for me in it, which he rarely does. Thank you for thinking of him. We love you!

AJ using his new easel and paints to make "birds."

The fun on Christmas day continued at the Glandon's with a comeback of the punching balloons.

Brian freshin' up on his baby-holding skills with Evan. More Wii... AJ was able to pretend to play along with his own remote. I think this was tennis.

AJ trying out Megan's new scooter.

And learning the finer points of Hungry, Hungry Hippo with Grandpa.

Mom, Angie, and I took Megan on a girls' day out to Build-A-Bear as part of her Christmas. Here we are showing off "Molly," her roller-skating, princess horse.

Family photo time, since we are rarely all together. The Sauer's (and the fire truck).

The Hyun's.

The grandkids (and the fire truck). The kids and the grandkids.

The grandparents and the grandkids. AJ once again with his fire truck. I wasn't kidding when I said it didn't leave his hands for two days.

The day after Christmas was spent with the Sauer's with more cousin fun!

Okay, so I just deleted the picture of AJ and Heidi opening gifts, and of course there's no way to insert it right back where I want it. Here's AJ enjoying one of Heidi's new gifts (the shoes).

Mamaw's little helpers... making Christmas dinner.

At the Engle Christmas gathering, Heidi decided that the tree needed topped with her ballerina Barbie.

AJ and Heidi were trying to help gather all the kids for a photo. TOO CUTE!

More Christmas fun with the Sauer's.

Mamaw braved the pile-on from the kids. She's under there and she did survive!

AJ and Heidi lounging in their new jammies listening to music on Heidi's Ipod-like toy.

Nuge enjoying his present from Santa. A new comfy, fluffy, soft bed that he can curl up into. The dog has to have a soft spot to lay.

Video comments in the order they appear: 1) AJ in the bounce house at Medflight's family Christmas party. There is a picture with Santa from this day, but I have to get my husband to email it to me. 2) AJ putting on ornaments. 3) Megan and AJ scaring Aunt Beth with their dinosaur roars. 4) AJ's reaction on Christmas morning.