Myrtle Beach August 2011

This year we went with Brandi's family to Myrtle Beach. We decided to drive and it took 2 days to get there each way. The whole family got to go which was great. Cale and Aiden didn't do too bad in the car. The way down was a little stressful. We left on August 13th and Cale wasn't used to such long car rides so like 1 hour in he was asking are we there yet so there were quite a few fits and tantrums on the way down. Aiden was such a trooper. He didn't fuss much and was just so good. We got to Myrtle Beach and hit the beach. Cale was amazed by the beach and totally loved it. His first time seeing it, he loved running into the water and had the biggest smile. He did get a little scared of the waves a few days in since he one went over him, so from there on out he wanted to be held, but overall he really enjoyed playing in the sand, boogie boarding with Aunt Mallori and Aunt Stefani, hanging with cousin Judah, feeding the ducks and geese, and looking for seashells. One night we even got to go with just the four of us to a carnival. Cale got to play his first carnival game (fishing) where he won a stuffed shark and he got to ride a few rides-a train of course, and he drove a car with Jeff. It was wonderful to spend time with family and just relax. The weather was great and the water was beautiful. Here are some pictures from the trip!


Cale playing in the ocean for the 1st time!


Stef and Cale walking on the beach


Aiden loved the beach, and found it so relaxing he slept most of the time!

Love this shot of dad and Aiden


Cale boogie boarding with Mal and Stef


Jeff and Cale


Jeff built Cale a train sand castle and he loved it!

Cale and Judah playing in the sand


Feeding the ducks, geese and fish

Hanging with gaga on the lazy river


Bummin with Aunt Stef


Lazy river with Uncle Jason


Ripley's Aquarium


Cale playing in the ocean

2 months

Aiden, how did you get to be 2 months old already? How is it that mommy has to go back to work in a little less than 2 weeks. This time off has been wonderful. I have enjoyed my boys even though it has been exhausting and I can honestly say I truly miss sleep. Although I think I will be ready to go back to work (only because I know I get to go back part time and get 3 days a week with my kiddos instead of 2 and also because I enjoy my job and co-workers), it will be bittersweet to not be with my kiddos everyday. So exhaustion and all I am going to treasure these last few weeks before I have to go back to work!

Aiden is sleeping great at night! He is going anywhere from 7-9 hours which has Jeff and I singing hallelujahs and wondering could this be true. Cale didn't sleep well until after he was a year, so we are just so excited that Aiden is sleeping this well. Even so I am still exhausted a lot of the time, I wish I could say I felt more rested! But this whole having 2 kiddos is tiring stuff, good stuff, but tiring! He is 13 pounds 7 ozs now and still 23 1/2 inches long. He smiles a lot, talks more and his head is getting stronger-he's holding it up on his own a little. He likes to eat a lot still :) He is just such a mello baby, just goes with the flow. We have done a lot this summer and he just kind of goes with it and really only gets upset when he's hungry! We love this kid so much. My love and heart just continue to grow each day for each of my boys! Don't know how that is possible, but it does-God is so good!

Cale

Cale loves, loves, loves to talk and he is so smart for his age and talks a lot, sometimes we wonder where he hears some of the things he says! It's amazing all he knows and continues to learn about. Lately he has started calling me and Jeff mom and dad instead of mommy and daddy. I kind of miss the mommy to be honest, it is just one more way my big boy is growing up and some days it just happens too quickly. Cale loves to watch trains at Kirkwood station. He would sit for hours and wait for trains even if he only saw a few. He is so patient and loves to sit and just wait for a train. We have been going to the train station quite regularly since I have been on maternity leave and have the Amtrak schedule memorized! :) He still adores his train table, plays with it everyday and the most out of any of his other toys. His favorite thing is to see how long he can make a train and let me tell you this kid has a lot of trains! He is so cute with Aiden most of the time, he kisses him and talks to him and helps me with him on occasions. He is such a social kid and loves being with and playing with other kids. It's so neat to watch him interact and have such a great time with friends! He adores his aunts and grandparents and loves spending time with them! Here are some fun things he has been saying lately:

The other day when I wasn't paying attention to him he said "mom, mom, Brandi" We cracked up that he called me Brandi. He understands that everyone has a name now, it's hilarious.

"what you got"-we can't sneak anything by this kid anymore, we share everything food related, including sweets-he always figures out we have something-I don't know how kids do that!

"How bout that"

"slowler" instead of slower when he's talking about his trains slowing down like they do in the book "The Little Red Caboose" which is one of his favorite books right now.

"Hey guys" when he wants are attention

"Yeah, actually" when he thinks he's right in telling us something. If we say something he doesn't agree with he will say this and say the opposite of what we say. Like when he wants to go to the Museum of Transportation and we say it's closed he will say something like "Yeah, actually guys it's open"

Cale-you are such a fun age right now. We love watching you grow, explore the world, blossom in relationships, love you love of reading, and just adore you kiddo! We're so proud of you as a kid and proud to be your parents!

Play dates

We have had lots of play dates this summer. Our friends Crystal and Greg came over with Bennett, Kara came into town with Hannah and Timmy, and we went to the zoo with our wonderful friends and neighbors Gina and Payton! Bennett and Cale are good buddies and love playing together. Kara is one of my best friends from high school and it's always so refreshing and wonderful to see her and catch up! Gina and Kelly are wonderful neighbors and friends and we adore Payton! Here are some pictures from the play dates!

Cale and Bennett jumping on the bed!

Cale and Payton at the zoo


Kara bought this awesome rocket launcher thing where the kids jump on a button and foam rockets launch. Cale had a blast with it! Here he is with Hannah.

7 weeks

7 weeks ago tomorrow our sweet Aiden was born! I can hardly believe it's already been that long. Aiden just feels like a natural part of the family, from day 1 he has felt that way, he just fit right in and we love it. He has grown so much already that I feel like he's been around for longer than 7 weeks. I don't remember life without that sweet little guy and love him to pieces. He is getting stronger with his head and likes to lift it all the time! He is getting good at sleeping at night already with sleeping around 6 hours in between feedings which is great! He smiles and he talks and really is just an easy going baby for the most part. He has his fussy moments, but for the most part seems to just have a laid back personality. He just kind of goes with the flow-we are on the go a lot this summer and he just flows with it and goes where we go. He's been everywhere with us-to friends houses, to the lake house 2 times, to the pool, to the store, to great-grandparents houses in Carbondale, IL, to church and he just goes and is so good everywhere we go almost always! Thanks for being such an easy going kiddo Aiden. We love you more everyday and are so glad you are part of this family.

Summer time fun

We have had a great summer this year with trips to the lake house, outings with friends, trips to the Museum of Transportation, and finally last week we got a chance to go to Whitecliff pool as a family. Cale loved it and Aiden just lounged the whole time in a pool chair in the shade and slept. One Saturday in late July we went with Erin, Mark and Abigail Wilkins to Tower Grove Park. Erin is one of my dearest friends and we all had a great time together playing in the park and checking out the farmers market they have there. They also have some wonderful fountains and a little pool for the kids to play in. There have been lots of visits with friends including fun with Bennett and all of Kirsten's kiddos in Troy. Cale had a blast when we went to Whitecliff pool. He was so brave and went down the water slide in the kids area all by himself after a few times with daddy. Then you couldn't get him off the slide. It's so neat watching him become more and more adventurous at trying new things! We went to the lake house this past weekend and Cale rode a jet ski for the first time. He loved it. First he went out on the lake with me and then he rode back with his papa. He had a great time and kept wanting to go "faster." My parents also broke down and got a golf cart mainly for the grandkids I think-ha! Cale and Aiden both took a ride in the golf cart for the first time this weekend. Aiden slept through it and Cale loved it!

Cale's first ride on a Jet ski the weekend of August 5th. Cale loved it!

Cale loved it!

Mom and Dad got a golf cart-Aiden's first ride

Cale riding in the golf cart

Cale fishing with papa and gaga


Visiting with MiMi (Grandma Benz)

Visiting with the Caubles the weekend of August 5th

Aiden loves to play on his playmat!

We had a great time with Erin, Mark and Abigail Wilkins at the farmers market at Tower Grove park the last weekend in July!

Cale checking out the Farmers Market

Buying some peaches

Buying corn and peaches at the farmers market

Swimming with daddy in the little pool at Tower Grove park

Love the expression on Cale's face! This boy has some expressions!

Cale thought he needed to hold Stef's hand like Judah held Kristi's!

Hanging with Aunt Kristi

Playing in the play area at Chesterfield mall with Judah

Riding the carousel at Chesterfield mall

Aiden's first trip to the museum of transportation and first train ride


Cale riding the train at the museum of transportation

Cale's first trip to yougurtland, he loved picking out his flavor of yogurt and toppings


Date night to the Cards vs Dodgers game!


Aiden just looking cute as always sporting his MN onesie Kristi made for him


Visits with Grandma and Grandpa Koziatek

Seeing his smile makes it all better

I have to admit that with being overly tired with a new kiddo there are some days I wish I could fly to an exotic, secluded island and lay on the beach and just relax and sleep for days. My patience is a little thinner these days and honestly this mom thing is just really tiring! But Aiden has started smiling lately and cooing and oh my, it doesn't matter what kind of day I am having-see his smile and hearing him start to talk a little melts my heart instantly and brings me to a better place and helps me realize that althought this parenthood thing is really tough, the good far outweighs the exhaustion, frustration and sometimes not so good days!!!