Exfoliated, Buttered, Battered, and Egged

This week poor Aidan has been exfoliated with sand, buttered with a popcorn bag, battered with muffin batter, and he egged himself. His scalp sure is clean! It's funny to look at the smile on Alex's face while he tries to keep the bowl away from his little brother and Aidan just wants the bowl and wants it now!

Things have been good at the Julian house. We have been so busy with days at the park and getting ready for Alex's first school day next week. I have been nostalgic lately due to getting ready for the new year of pre-school. Looking around I realized that we needed new school shoes and Alex has outgrown (length wise) all of his pants. I also realized that Aidan was outgrowing everything so it was time to get out the hand me downs and see what would work for him. To my dismay Aidan is wearing 2T tops and some bottoms, Alex is now in a Boys size 1 shoe and we jumped from 3T pants to 5T (with the adjustable waist of course). I guess that's the law of life your little babies grow up and you get to enjoy watching it all happen.

Aaron has been getting ready for Football season. This year he is in 3 fantasy football leagues. Don't expect anything but football from him on Sundays! He is very into his leagues and I enjoy watching him do it.

I am looking forward to the holiday weekend. I hope everyone gets to enjoy their 3 days off.

Love to all!

PS- Tank was the chosen nickname and Alex has a black eye in the picture, AGAIN!

Hercules or Tank?

Since Alex was in the spotlight last week I thought it was Ade's turn. So many of our family members live out of town so you don't get to see his personality in the making. He is quite different then Alex was at this age but in many ways they are the same. He is opinionated, observant, fun, determined, wild, and STRONG. He did give me the concussion... Anyway, Aaron came home last week and was thinking of the nickname Tank for our little guy. He walks around with his broad little shoulders and his arms hanging down like he's a body builder. He loves carrying things from room to room, things a not yet 1 1/2 year old shouldn't be carrying, like a gallon of milk, fisher price farms, 5 pound weights etc. This weekend we went to the store, (back to his personality,) when he decides he's done with the shopping cart ride he flails around screaming "Ouch, Ouch, Ouch." It sounds funny but it's not when people are watching. Then he flails until I let him down all the while screaming, "Ouch, Ouch, Ouch." I let him down and he walked over to a package of 24 bottles of water, picked it up and moved it. A lady walking by asked how old he was and said, "He's a little Hercules." So that's how the second name came up. I don't know if he's just strong from keeping up with Alex and his determination to defend himself at a young age from his big brothers antics or all the whole milk! Anyway, you decide, Hercules or Tank.

Picture taken by Alex, August 17th, 2008

Growing Up

Yesterday we were going to the store and Alex asked if he could get a toy. I told him no so he asked if he could use his money for the toy? What could I say but YES, so we went with his money bag from his piggy bank to Walgreen's. On the way to Walgreen's you could see him analyzing the situation and processing if this was something he really wanted to do. He asked, "Mom will I have money left for my bank?," "Mom, I don't know how to count money will you help me?," "Mom, What if I don't have enough money?," and of course all of the answers were, "Yes." We went in and picked out his toy, decided we had enough money, and went to the cosmetic counter to pay prior to our other shopping. We paid with his money and he actually had change. He asked, "Mom, Do I have to give this to her now?" I told him it was his change and that he could return it to his piggy bank. He was so proud of himself and the Power Ranger he purchased with his own "kid" money. I found that he has played with that toy much longer then he would have if Mom or Dad would have purchased it.

Today we went to the grocery store. He was upset that he didn't bring his money for a toy so I told him he could repay me when we got home if he found something. He didn't find anything but to my amazement while I was chasing Aidan in the check out aisle he was bagging my groceries and putting them in the cart. He pushed the cart out and helped me put the groceries in the car. I told him that he earned a dollar for all of his help in the store and I would give it to him when we returned home.

I am amazed with how grown up Alex is becoming and how thoughtful he is. He had actually taken the original money out of his piggy bank to give to Kim for Kyan's party. He wanted to help purchase party hats and some slippers for Kim since she is pregnant. I realize that this time with the boys is precious. I have been given the opportunity to raise them and watch them grow into young adults when many parents aren't fortunate enough to be given such a wonderful gift. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family and not for one second will I ever take it for granted.

Love to all.

Blurry

I guess the big news from the past week is that I've had a concussion. It's funny at first when you think of a stay-at-home mom with a concussion but as Aaron said, "then it's not so funny." I have been living with this for 9 days now and I still feel like I am in slow motion thinking, speaking, moving. My response time is much slower and my vision was affected which is very strange. Last Monday I went to see the Dr. and he confirmed the concussion and I had a CAT scan. The CAT scan showed no bleeding or fractures so everything is well I'm just supposed to relax, (right) and not hit my head anymore and within two weeks everything should be back to normal. Much of this is my fault, I'm busy, moving constantly, and not paying attention to my surroundings. I hit my head twice, once on the freezer and once on the kitchen table, the last blow was Aidan throwing the bar stool down on my head while playing on the floor in the basement. I've always been a tough girl I deal with pain well but when your thinking is "off" it's hard to just deal with it. I hate not being able to just push though and get over it. Aaron and my Mom have been wonderful. The family spent a few nights with my Mom just to get some help with the boys and allow me to try and rest. It was nice also since Aaron and I got a night out alone.

To other news about our week:

Aaron and I spent a couple days away last weekend. It was very relaxing and much needed. I also think I would have been really nutty by the time I got to see my Dr. if we wouldn't have had that time away to unwind and have some fun.

Aidan had a virus this week but is back up to par.

Alex had Kyan's party yesterday and had a wonderful time at Cosmic Bowling. Kyan loved his present so much he took it out to the car before the party had ended so that was fun to watch. I love giving presents...

Love to all.