Aiden has been a great traveler, and hotels make for fun photo opportunities.

I like to call this one “class of 2026″ LOL doesn’t it look like a little senior picture.  He was killing me with cuteness.

Cheek touching and kisses were all his idea.  He even wanted to give Parker a bottle.  I think he is ready to be a big brother (Ok Ryan? OK!)

and big brother Peyton who is such a loving big brother!

and Amy and Beatrice if your interested these were all shot at iso 1250 NO noise ware!!  I’m in love

I think Aiden likes it too!

Yesterday (July 29th) after photographing/welcoming baby Parker Pitman into the world I met my parents and Aiden for dinner at Taco Del Mar.  We had a great little dinner.  Aiden got down and started running to the back.  I took him to the bathroom and then he ran back out to grandma and pop pop.  All that running got him excited.  I asked him to stop running and turned to take my plate to the garbage.  He tried to run around me tripped on his shoes and went forehead first directly into the corner of the garbage cabinet.  He screamed I threw my plate and grabbed his forehead and scooped him into my arms.  As soon has he hit I knew it was bad.  It makes me sick to think of it now.

What amazed me was how awesome and quick the other patrons were.  By the time I had him in my arms a guy was at my side with a cup of ice for the goose egg they though he received.  The employees came with a first aid kit.  I just looked at my dad and said, “we have to go to the hospital it is bad”.  We got a washcloth and a bag of ice from taco del mar and ran out the door, leaving a stunned silent restaurant and blood soaked napkins behind.

Besides the scream he let out when he hit Aiden didn’t cry.  He had an owie on his forehead and I told him we were going to the hospital so the Dr could fix it.  He seemed totally fine with it.

See he was even smiling.

I’m so thankful my parents were with me.  I couldn’t have done it without them.

We also couldn’t have done it without the ipod!  Aiden avoided sedation and an additional $800 bill because he was so pre-occupied with the Toy Story 3 trailer and Plants vs Zombies.  The doctor was impressed and thankful as was I.

before and after: 2 stitches under the skin, 7 on top.

We met up with Daddy after words and got our little guy a “pink ice cream in a cone”.

This morning you wouldn’t even know that anything happened.  He keeps telling me that he has an owie on his finger from a little paper cut, no mention of the forehead.

All photos were via camera phone and my camera, since I was working it was tucked in my bag.

Well we are 2 weeks in and I think it is working!  Aiden has been using his potty before bed, bath, naps, etc. for months now, but we weren’t ready to take the plunge into full on potty training.  Two weeks ago I dove head first in and haven’t looked back.  There wasn’t anything magical about 2 weeks ago, it was just the only time since his birthday that we were going to be home for an extended period of time (which actually ended up being only 3 days).  I stopped at the store the night before and got some underwear (Toy Story for the Buzz addiction and a Disney mix).  When I got home Aiden insisted on putting them on right away.

I did no research besides listening to the advice of a few friends and found Erin’s method to work the best for us.  We moved the potty down stairs and got out some potty treats.  Potty treats:  the first day it was fruit snacks, but after getting sick in the middle of the night we switched to chocolate chips.  1 treat for each success.   Number 2 was a little more difficult to and we upped the anti to watching Buzz Lightyear.  It took 3 days.  The current potty treat for 2 is a mini sucker.

He has been in underwear full time since the first day, except for naps, nighttime and 6 hour car trips.  He is even waking up from naps and nighttime occasionally dry, and was dry our entire trip to and from Idaho with two potty stops.

Is he “trained”?  Not really, he still has good days and bad days, and he will rarely tell me that he has to go, so I’m probably more trained then he is, but it is going great.  He is much better at being accident free when we are out and about, even though we did have a Costco incident, and a 2 minutes before the wedding incident.

Are we done with diapers?  besides sleeping I think so, and hopefully those will be phased out soon.

What has helped:

- Lots of cheering and praise - Aiden was so excited for his first potty #2 that he started shouting excitedly about watching Buzz Lightyear and then leaned over and tried to kiss it.  (probably tmi but I want to remember the sheer excitement)

- Accidents aren’t “naughty” or “bad” we just try to do better next time.

- Special treats “if you go you’ll get a special treat”.  Special treats go everywhere with us, but I’m trying to phase them out so that he doesn’t ALWAYS expect it.  So I’ll only give him a treat now if he asked for one.

- Aiden’s older cousins have been using the potty for the past 2 years.  So he has grown up understanding the potty process so it didn’t have to be explained.

- Cloth diapers - He knew what if felt like to be wet and dirty.

- Visiting potties - When out and about we make seeing knew potties an adventure.  “Lets go see Dr. Ron’s potty, the library potty, etc”

Another funny tidbit about #2.  He’ll say “It wants to come out of its home” or when flushed “it is going to see its babies” hehe

On our way to the lake 3 days into potty training Aiden announces he has to poop.  I tell Ryan he needs to stop.  He thinks in 3o minutes at the gas station, no now!  He gave us a few drops.  Stinker.  Me I’m annoyed that it is cold, windy and Aiden won’t go, Ryan thinks to document it with the camera phone, thankfully.

2.  Since I’ve been away I have a lot of catch to play on this little blog, stay tuned

3.  Buzz Lightyear is a new favorite (scratch that… addiction)

4.  Aiden is obsessed with my itouch.  He knows how to work EVERYTHING.  Every time I pick it up there is a new wallpaper.  He always picks photos of him though.  His favorite app: Plants vs Zombies, age appropriate not a chance, but he can’t read, and doesn’t know what a zombie is so we’re good for a little while right?  He also likes to mix it up and play DJ, selecting his favorite tunes (also not always appropriate it is was my ipod after all)

5.  Because of his ipod obsession he tells us that he has to “check his phone” and “check his email”.  If you ask him to do something he’ll reply “I’m still checking my email”.  I think I’m in trouble.

6.  Speaking of email, Aiden has one.  We thought we’d get him his name at gmail so that he’ll have it when he is ready.  :-)  Like next week.

7.  My back went out AGAIN.  I’m hoping physical therapy will do the trick.  Cross your fingers!

8.  I’m hoping all is well in a few weeks because I’m running a 5K, yikes!

9.  Congratulations to the Kramer/Johnson family who tied the knot this weekend!  We had an awesome time!  More to come on that!

10.  I hope you have an awesome week!

Aiden (2 years old), Keegan (3 years old) Petyton (2.75 years old) (he was leaning in for the hug and isn’t really that short)

PS who taught my kid how to smile? goof ball!

More fun photos to come!  I hope you had a great 4th!