Walking in New Shoes

So as I sit and write this blog...it is hitting me hard, a month from tomorrow my baby boy will be 1! It's crazy. Aiden went fast, but I feel like I blinked and JP was 6 months old, then 9, and now almost a year. Maybe it's because I know I'm done having babies....maybe it's because he's # 2........ or maybe I'm just getting too old.

Anyway, he continues to grow,learn, and amaze us. He's starting to repeat sounds and says (or so we like to think) Aiden, Dada, Momma, Elmo, Apple and Banana. He's also my adventurous one- he's climbing stairs and  sitting on tables and is always so proud of himself. Mommy and Daddy not so much- LOL. He loves to climb the chair Santa brought and fling himself off the side....Santa should have realized how dangerous these chairs are.

JP got his first AFO (ankle-foot orthotic) last week. It's actually a different one then we thought (which I had posted a picture of a while back). It's a typical AFO with lift. So it's molded to his leg, but will also train his foot to go inward and help balance him and make him even. He's still adjusting. For the most part he's doing well, but now he's wearing shoes, something he has never done, so he's still not sure. We have Early Intervention coming in to do PT and get us all comfortable with it. We're currently breaking him in- he wears it a few hours on and a few hours off, eventually he'll move to wearing whenever he's awake. Hopefully he'll feel better with it soon and then start taking off, but this is the true start to his new journey....no longer a baby and now starting his FH treatment plan.

Now we're gearing up for his birthday party....so stay tuned!

Baby Steps and Snow Fun

So I know every parent gets excited when their baby takes their first steps, and I'm sure it's the same feeling whether it's baby #1 or #3.  For us JPs first steps are even more sweet. It was a little over a year ago where I had anxiety and worry if JP would every walk and hit "normal" milestones. Well this kids is ready to prove me all my negative thoughts and worries wrong. Santa brought Jonathan his own activity walker and right away he put it to good use. Here's a video of him "walking" with it, a very bitter sweet moment, but proud moment for me.

We also experience our first winter storm of the season...and I almost think Aiden was more excited to go play in the snow then he was Christmas morning- LOL. I went out and did some shoveling while he played and then built frosty.  Needless to say, he's ready for more...Mommy is not.

Christmas has come and gone...

So all the preperation and Christmas was over in a flash....especially with a 4 year old this year. We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and got to spend time with family and friends.

We had a great Christmas which spread across 4 days this year. We started on the 23rd, where we got to spend some time with the grandparents, Uncle Marc, Aunt June, Natalie, Marc, and Matthew.

It was a nice low key night without us having to race anywhere. We had our typical Christmas Eve dinner (pizza, chicken fingers, & hoagies), hanging out............

And then what all the kiddies were waiting for opening presents. This year, since we had time, we let the kids open their gifts one by one, starting with the youngest (Matty) to the oldest (Natalie). Typically we are throwing presents at each other, so it was nice that we got to see what each kid got! And the older ones had a lot of fun with it and did well being patient. It was great family time and the adults got some great laughs as Keith's parents gave each boys a box of old photos of them when they were young.

 Christmas Eve...we got experience a "white" christmas...okay so it was just a coating, but it was still nice as it's been a few years. We went to church and then spent time with Keith's extended family his Mom's sister, brother in law & kids and grandkids- Dracups. It's always a good time and I love watching how much they all grew. And we got to celebrate the boy's First Christmas!

Aiden was super excited for Santa to come this year. He was loving putting out the cookies and milk, wondering if Santa would eat them. Then the next morning, he came in and asked, "do you think Santa came?"

Which clearly he did. Aiden opened his gifts in rapid fire. I had trouble taking pictures because he was going so fast. It's so funny when I think about how two years ago it took us all day to get through the gifts. He love almost everything he got, but his favorites include his green guitar, his clock, and his monster truck.

Jonathan didn't know what to make of all it. He would rip some wrapping paper, but he was more excited to play with it. So of course, big brother Aiden helped A LOT. LOL. Jonathan would open one gift and be done with everything and just play with whatever that was. 

After presents...the boys went on to their stockings...and Santa left a little surprise....personalized chairs.

After things settled down, we went to brunch at our friend's house the Lovings. We got to spend sometime with them, which was nice. After that we headed over to my Aunt and Uncles and got to see them, my cousins, and their kids.

The day after Christmas, we celebrated with my family as my Dad had to work Christmas day. It was nice, we had lunch, and exchange gifts and this is realize my kids are spoiled and loved because we have way to much junk! Ha ha.

Again we hope everyone had a terrific holiday and a happy and safe new year. Best wishes in 2013!