Aiden's Big Mouth

Here's a video of Travis feeding Aiden. He loves to feed himself with a fork or open his mouth really really big! You can see both in this video.

Valentine Update

Just some cute pictures of Aiden in his Valentine hat he made at daycare and another video of him continuing to enjoy his musical Valentine from Didi.

Aiden's First Valentine: Besa the Beagle

It was love at first lick...

We are having a great Valentine's Day. Aiden and I started out the day at My Gym for an hour of toddler romping around. Then we headed to posh Santana Row for Sweetheart Paws Photos. All proceeds benefited the Humane Society of Silicone Valley; a very worth cause. Then off to Borders where we had a coupon for a free beverage at Brewers Coffee Shop. We enjoyed a Red Tea Latte, yum-o! Then we headed back outside where we left Travis and Besa. We ended our afternoon with a stroll down the Row.

Everyone is back home enjoying the quiet as Aiden takes a much deserved nap! He was such a good boy today!

Aiden Takes it Slow Down the Slide

Aiden loves the slide just not going down the slide fast. He goes at his own speed!

Aiden's Special Valentine Card

Aiden got a special Valentine card from his Didi. Here's a video of him dancing to the music. He's been picking up this card so much to play the music its starting to sound less and less like a song. Its on its last leg... but he sure enjoyed it!

Woo Hoo! Aiden is a Gambling Boy!

Hopefully he has better luck than his father normally does! Aiden's Nino Pat in Michigan picked four football squares in Aiden's name.

• 1st Half numbers: Arizona/Pittsburgh: 6/6, 5/4, 1/3, 3/2

• End of game numbers: Arizona/Pittsburgh: 5/1, 8/0, 0/4, 4/5

GOOD LUCK AIDEN!

My Boy is Just Like Me

I was talking to Malena (Aiden's caregiver at daycare) yesterday when picking up Aiden.  She told me the funniest story about him.  She sat the four boys at the table to eat and everyone was happy.  Once she brought the food out Aiden puts his head down on his little arm and started crying.  Well, more like wimpering.  All because he knew he was going to have sit and eat lunch!  

My poor baby does not want to be bothered with things like eating.  He would much rather explore and play and take bites of food here and there.  He can graze all day long.  

Aiden also loves being outside.  So much so that when outdoor play is over and its time to come back in, he crys.  Which I am not the least bit surprised to hear.  Aiden and I spend as much time outside as we can manage.  We garden/play in the backyard, take strolls to our neighborhood park, and long walks to the dog park and beyond.  We are working our way back into hiking.  Thank you California sunshine! 

P.S.  To those that question Aiden's diet, don't!!  He gets a healthy dose of fruits and vegetables every day. Nor is he lacking protein.  His pediatrisian is extramely happy with his diet and development.  

Aiden's First Birthday Bash

Aiden's First Birthday

We had a great time celebrating Aiden's first birthday. My sister made him a train cake and my mom spoiled him with Little People galore! His cousins couldn't get enough of playing with their little baby cousin. My niece Kora is a natural with babies! My nephew Connor loved to teach him how to ride his rocking horse and go down the stairs. It was just fun all around!

Aiden's First Snow Fall

The Friday after Thanksgiving it snowed in Spokane WA. It was the first snow of the season and Aiden's first snow. My sister held him as I took a quick snap shot of all the white fluffy stuff. Then we all bolted back inside. That was about all the snow any Verdugo could handle!

Keeping an American Tradition Alive

You guessed it... forcing my child to sit on Santa's lap no matter how badly he screams.  It was the best setup ever.  Tiny Tots is a cute little baby boutique located in downtown Campbell.  They offered four days of Santa by appointment.  Far away from the hellish line that can be found at Valley Fair Mall.  Even better, you get a CD of all the pictures for free and a 20% off coupon.  Which was easy to spend since you are in their shop waiting for Santa.

I dressed Aiden in the cutest little brown vest I got from my mom right after he was born.  We headed to Tiny Tots where Aiden got a chance to test out the latest in trendy toys and I got a chance to chat with other moms who like to shop at trendy baby boutiques.  Finally it was our turn.  I really thought my social little butterfly would sit quietly on Santa's lap.  Maybe not smile but not cry either. 

Boy was I wrong.  He not only cried, he screamed.  He was not even happy with me holding him near Santa.  Once it was over, he waddled on back to the basket of balls and was his happy self all over again.  Oh well, maybe next year!

Aiden's New Hat

Nick's mother-in-law made this cute little hat for Aiden.  Doesn't my little man just look too cute for words in these photos! 

Damn Cute Videos of Aiden

Hope is in the Air; Change is Upon Us

Many people are probably wondering what I've been doing since Obama took the election by storm! Well, besides that feeling of calm knowing our country is finally in the right hands after 8 years of pure evil; I've been taking in all the Obama media.

In doing so, I've come up with my own predictions for his first term of presidency. I know most people don't care about what predictions I might have but this is my blog. So on with my predictions.

First of all, I feel many people will have unrealistic expectations for his first 180 days, first year and first term. It takes an average of 5 years to correct problems created by our government. Although I think we will be better off in four years than we are today, I don't think many people will be about to speak of large significant changes. The McCain crowd will use this as ammo to discredit the Obama presidency. I feel that will have as much weight as allocations that the democrats didn't do enough with their 1% majority. Its just laughable.

Sorry, I got side tracked... back to the topic at hand. Our world view has already improved. One possitive change down. Next the Iraq war. Obama will bring our troops home. Not in victory but as the right thing to do. In doing so he will save thoughsands of American and Iraqi lives and the US economy billions.

Healthcare, this will start out slow. I think he will start with coverage for American youth and it will also create new jobs. Thus helping our economy in the process.

Finacial institutions, banks will loan again. Small business loans will start flowing again. Helping create another base of blue collar jobs. When money changes hands the economy grows and jobs are created.

I'm not even going to comment on the housing market at this point.

The real changes will start in his second term. That when real strides will be made with the enviroment, real regulations to oversee corporations. I don't want to hear anymore about too much governement. Without governement there is too much greed.

I want to end this blog with a disclamer. I'm not looking to have a debate or to defend my thoughts. That is why I have a private blog. This blog will never come up in an internet web search for a reason. I'm just sharing my perspective. Comments are welcome, just not argumentative ones. You can disagree just do it politiely. If you want to rant, feel free to create your own blog and do it there.

Wine Country with the Yoga Moms

Wine Country with the Yoga Moms

My yoga moms group took two days to visit wine country with our babies. We went up to

Geyserville, CA which is a little northeast of Napa and Sonoma. The fall colors were at the peek with bright hughs of oranges, reds and greens. It was breathtaking. One of our members has family in that area with rental housing on their property. They allowed us to stay there for nothing more than a cleaning fee. Which, between 9 moms, turned out to be 10 a person! You can't beat that!

It had a full kitchen enabling us to bring tons of food. We ate like royalty! Aiden had a great time playing with all the other babies and getting into mischief. The weather was also on our side. We had high 70s and low 80s during the day. The nights dropped into the 40s. Not bad for November!

The first day we hit 4 wineries and a picnic before the kids started to breakdown. The second day we took in 3 wineries and a picnic on our drive home. Only 5 mom/babies tasted wine on Friday. The others had hit the road. Which was really too bad because that is when we found the best port EVER!

I'm not much of a port person but a fellow yoga mom loves them. She took us to Kunde winery were we tasted the best port I've ever had. Although you can puchase their wine throughout the country you can only get the port at the winery. We each took one home. This will make the perfect Christmas Eve treat. I can't wait!

Aiden & His Music Teacher

Here is Aiden with his music teacher, Katlyn. She is a bit goofy but the kids love her and she really loves kids.

Since class was the day after Halloween she asked us to bring the babies in their costumes. I have to say that Aiden had the cutest costume hands down! He was also the only kid that stayed in it until the end of class to get a picture.

We Went there for the Food!

Yes we took the boys to Hooters... I've never been to Hooters before so it was not really for the food but for the photo opportunity!  Although I have to say the fried pickles were quite tasty...  The waitress says she gets the photo request all the time but usually the boys are a lot older! I don't think she minded as much this time.