5 months old / Pumpkinpalooza

Xander turned 5 months old on Friday. So what is the 5 month old up to these days? Well, he is really into eating his feet and laughing with Daddy. He also likes Daddy to throw him in the air, hang him upside down and many other things that gives Mommy a heart attack. I think we may have a daredevil on our hands. He has this really cute gurgling noise that makes him sound like a Wookie. He also has been eating rice cereal 3 times a day. He tried peas, and made quite the stink face. He wouldn't let me get that spoon in his mouth after a few bites. I think we will wait a few weeks and try a new food. He is getting good at sitting up and is trying to get his knees under him when he is on his tummy. He can scooch forward a bit and rotates like a clock on his little blanket.

As for Ais, we have had a few monumental firsts with the potty training. First, she went poopoo in her little potty last week. it was so awesome. I went a whole day with out changing her diaper. Second, she went tinkle in a foreign potty. She used the toilet at her friend Morgan's house. 3 1/2 year old Morgan is Ais' newest friend. The 2 girls really get along. We had a play date at Morgan's house on Friday and they were entertaining each other for 4 hours. But back to the potty thing. The final first was..... She fell into the toilet. She managed to climb up on to the toilet at Morgan's house without taking down her pants and before I could get her off to help her she jack-knifed and fell in. Her little tushie was all wet. It was pretty hysterical.

We are also getting all geared up for Halloween. We have been watching "The Nightmare Before Christmas" , Ais loves it and is always quoting lines from the movie and she takes her stuffed Jack toy everywhere. We went to Disneyland and she went on the Haunted Mansion and loved it. Today we went to Underwood farms for some pumpkin picking fun. We went on a wagon ride, walked through a corn maze (or maize), and of course picked a couple of pumpkins which was the highlight of the day for Ais. She is really into pumpkins and all things Halloween these days. She really is getting the hang of this holiday thing. It is so fun, I can hardly wait till Friday when she goes trick or treating.

Xander gets his first taste of solid food.

Ais shows Xander how to eat.

Mickey Pumpkin.

Daddy and Ais in the corn maze.

Our little Jackolantern

On the Wagon ride.

The kids in the pumpkin patch.

Aisling looks for the perfect Pumpkin.

Xander Dr. Appt

Xander had his 4 month check up last week, of course he is really closer to 5 months, but close enough. He is now 17 pounds 5 ounces and 26 3/4 inches tall. He is doing great and hitting all his milestones and then some. He is trying to stand now if you can believe it. He can sit pretty good for a little while and now he likes to try to stand on his own while he is leaning against me. He has been sleeping pretty badly lately too, both naps and nights. Not too sure why, but we think he may be hungry and ready to start solids. We bought rice cereal and he had his first tablespoon today in a bottle. He seemed to really like it too. We may try some peas or something this weekend, but I am going to wait and see how he takes to the rice cereal. I like to dip my toe in slowly when it comes to solids and my little ones.

Ais is doing great too. She is back on the potty and is doing really well with it this time. She tinkles with no problem. We are still waiting for the big numero dos, but still haven't had success with that one yet. She decided she was ready last week, when she started to take off her diaper and tinkle in the corner of the living room and after she tried to clean up her own poopy diaper one nap time, ugh what a mess, I knew we had to hop back on the potty train. And so far so good. She is also on the waiting list for preschool too. Probably around January she will be starting to go 2 times a week. I am looking forward to it and dreading it at the same time. It is going to be hard to let my little Miss out into the world without me, even if it is only for a couple of days a week. But I think she will love it.

They still love each other.

Aisling and Arianwen drawing at Arianwen's desk at a visit to her house a couple of weekends ago. It was the one good picture we got, it was pretty much the clash of the Titans after that. 2 two year olds in one location was pretty interesting to say the least.

Ais playing with Daddy in one of her favorite toys. Why do kids love Laundry baskets so much?

Xander trying to stand. Crazy little baby, slow down!!!

Sea World

So Aisling has finally been initiated into childhood in Southern California with her first trip to meet Shamu. We made the trek down to San Diego this weekend and met up with Grammy, Grandpa, and Uncle Allen to enjoy Sea World. Aisling had the best time. I don't think I have ever seen her so excited. Her favorite things were the Penguins, The Walrus in the Clyde and Seymore show, and of course, Shamu. We were lucky enough to see Shamu doing some jumps from the underwater viewing area. It was so cool and Ais just loved it. She kept blowing kisses at Shamu and chanting the Shamu mantra she heard during the show. It was Grandpa T's birthday too, so it was fun to celebrate with him. We spent the night down there and Ais could hardly stop talking about it at night. It was really cute and really fun.

The trip to Sea World also made me realize how much she in growing up as she is losing her adorable speech impediments. She used to say Kwenguin when she was talking about Penguins and at Sea World I heard her pronounce it correctly. It was cool, but at the same time it was a little bitter sweet. No more Ahh Ahh for airplane, purple Ganket is now purple blanket and Ahhbush is now Octopus. At least she still calls elevators Elegators and Mustaches are still Musmaches, but I know their quaint pronunciation will be disappearing soon. Well, at least I still have Xander who will one day charm me with his mispronounced words, but for now his raspberries, and the way he snuffs and blinks when the wind blows in his face will have to do.

Last, but not least, Tuesday we took Ais to the Doctor. She is doing great. 33 pounds and 36 1/2 inches tall.

Grammy, Grandpa and Xander

Aisling and Daddy waiting for the Shamu show to start.

A very happy Aisling and Daddy at the Penguin exhibit.

2 1/2 years old

Aisling is officially 2 1/2 today. Holy Moley!!!! I can't even comprehend the idea that she is already 2 1/2. In honor of such a momentous milestone, I think a list is in order.....

Things about a 2 1/2 year old gal named Aisling:
1. Favorite Things to do: Going to Disneyland, drawing on her aquadoodle, magna-doodle or with crayons, going to the park, rough housing with Daddy, making Xander laugh, Going to Gymboree, making little pretend birthday cakes and having pretend parties for everyone and every toy in the room, playing, playing, playing.
2. Favorite TV shows: Mickey Mouse Club House, Little Einsteins, commercial for Clone Wars.
3. Favorite Foods: Dinosaur Nuggets, Hash Browns, Chocolate Chip Pancakes, Goldfish, peanut butter pretzels, anything with chocolate in it.
4. Favorite Toys: Anything she can draw on, rocket, lamby, nemo, Dumbo and Mickey and Friends' stuffed animals. Stickers, "Cars" cars, Anything Xander is playing with, Toy kitchen and accessories, books.
5. Thing she gets in trouble for the most: Screaming
6. Potty trained Yes or No..... No, ugh!!!!
7. Favorite lovey: Purple Ganket (blanket)
8. Least favorite thing: getting time outs, having to wait for things, sharing. But she is getting better at all of them
9. Funniest thing she does: Sits at the table and makes the silliest made up words and then laughs hysterically.
10. How is she adjusting to being a big sister: Amazing. She loves to kiss, hug, give noses to and entertain Xander. He loves her too and they are just so cute together.

Oktoberfest

Last weekend we took the kids and both sets of Grandparent's and Uncle Allen to Oktoberfest. It was really fun, Brian and I haven't been to Oktoberfest since our first date about 6 1/2 years ago. It was really fun to go with the kids, even though Ais was being on the shy and grumpy side. She did love seeing the tuba in the oom pa pa band, but was a little reluctant to run around or do the chicken dance, but aren't we all really??? She did do a good Ein Prosit toast with her sippy that was pretty hilarious. It was a fun day with the grandparents and the anthropologist in me loved the cultural celebration.

Here are some pics.

Also, I have added a link to our video site under the photo link.

Our little family at Oktoberfest

The rest of the family at Oktoberfest.

Grammy doing the Chicken Dance with Xander.

Xander wants a sip too.

Oops, one too many for the little guy.