Sarah did a great job capturing our family and some really beautiful moments. I love how she framed some of the photos, like the one above. So cute!

I really wanted to capture Aiden pre-big-brother, since I know a lot of attention will be on the baby after he is born and on Aiden as big brother, with baby. This was our last chance to really just showcase Aiden. We took a few belly shots and family shots and it was just the perfect mix. 

View the full set of photos here.

Aiden is 2.5 years old today! What a milestone! It’s been a really hard month for me, particularly the last 2 weeks, but it doesn’t stop me from being amazed at how much my little Aiden is changing all the time. He still shows an astounding ability to retain facts & memories; just last week, he told me about the meal he ate on our return trip from Hawaii. Just astonishing. It makes for some very interesting conversations, to be sure!

Not all changes are great – we’ve had some temper issues in the last month or so. Areas where Aiden used to be very co-operative, like brushing his teeth, are suddenly now a major issue. There is usually a lot of screaming involved when it’s time to get him dressed in the morning. He’s being defiant just for the sake of it, and we know it. He’s worse with Daddy, sadly. We do our best to curb the behaviour, but it’s easier at some times than at others. 

Some of the changes in the last month include:

• Weighs 29.3 lbs (finally an increase!)
• 88cm / 34.5in tall
• Favourite foods include: Life cereal, oatmeal, grapes, carrots, apples, bananas, cereal bars, hot dogs, sausages, pizza, corn on the cob, seaweed
• Is starting to actively engage in game-type play such as tag, hide & seek and ‘I Spy’
• Loves to take photos (we gave him a digital camera about 1.5 months ago)
• Continues to struggle with nighttime issues (some are behavioural, some are developmental such as night terrors and nightmares). Added new issues such as “I heard a noise” to his stalling tactic list. Was good for a while but a cold brought back all his issues.
• Is loving the return of warmer weather. Enjoys time at the parks, playing with his friends in the alley or even going on photo walks
• Is proficient at many iPad games. Quite astounding. That said, he’s developed some behaviour issues over wanting more device time or more tv time in general, so that’s no fun. Curious George is still his favourite show.
• Aiden likes to say: I smell something, I hear something, Mommy tell it, no like it, that’s funny, what’s Aiden having? [related to food], I need to ____ [do something, have something]
• I love to hear Aiden say: Let’s talk about “____”, that’s my favourite, we go there / do that all the time, please pick me up please Daddy, let’s go inside and check if [Oma or Babby] is there

In the end, he chose to make cupcakes with blue icing, but the result was the same – a very happy Aiden!! He absolutely loves baking with his Babby. Such special memories!

Although Aiden talks fondly of the train ride, he looked like he was freaking out for most of it, and he definitely freaked out in the helicopter. After 3 times around, and a little up and down, he was crying to come out. It was “too fast”, he said.

Aiden is a sensitive little guy, easily started or upset by loud noises or things he deems scary. At times, that list seems to grow to include things that he was previously ok with. He’s a tentative little guy in some ways and very brave in others. We had several conversations later that day telling Aiden how brave he was to try the ride, even if he didn’t like it.

We try to re-enforce Aiden’s willingness to try things, even if they do scare him. I’m also personally trying to be more careful in labelling him as cautious or clumsy or anything like that when he’s in listening distance – he does hear everything!!

So, we had fun at the carnival. Even though we were there only a short time, it was probably enough time given that the remainder of the rides were even faster than the 2 he tried. A little exposure is sometimes enough! We’re hoping to head to Playland this year – more options there for things that are “not scary” ;)

As I shared previously, it hasn’t been an easy pregnancy. I have pains in my pelvis, my back, and my legs to go along with my regular issues with my neck, shoulder and arm. As I approach my due date, my Braxton Hicks contractions have become quite strong – tricking me sometimes into wondering if labour is near. They are way stronger than they were with Aiden. Since I didn’t go into labour on my own with Aiden, I am always left wondering if “this is it”, even this early on. I spend at least an hour a day in the bath trying to calm down all the parts of me that get sore!

The midwives are currently in disagreement about when to induce me early, if at all. Nobody really wants me going past 40 weeks, but some advocate for an even earlier delivery. It’s likely I’ll be referred to an obstetrician, though I haven’t been called with an appointment yet. My blood pressure is also rising, so we’ll need to keep an eye on that.

I feel pretty useless most of the time, not being able to stand or walk very much at all anymore. It makes it difficult to be a mom to Aiden, which is the hardest part. I know he’s found it frustrating that I can’t play with him on the floor or run after him or actively engage in physical play with him. I miss it too.

I focus on just getting through each day right now. I’m so glad that Ianiv is currently working from home!

Aiden was the perfect age this year to appreciate the fun of an Easter egg hunt. I didn’t really play up the ‘Easter bunny’ aspect, as I could care less about whether he buys into this particular mythology or not (and yet I’m sensitive about Santa?), but instead focused on making the day fun.

We made some coloured eggs the day before (BTW, the dye is not super toddler friendly), as well as some cupcakes, and on Easter we laid out various chocolates and some little toddler-friendly surprises in the courtyard. I don’t really see the point of presents on Easter (where the heck did that come from?), but I wanted some non-chocolate goodies, so we put out bubbles as well as big eggs with stickers and whistles and animals that grow from pellets. The toddlers just wanted the chocolates, of course.

While Easter did create a few moments of tension (I want a cupcake! More chocolate!), it was well worth it. Aiden loved the Easter egg hunt and has continued to be sad that we can’t do it again. Sometimes we hide things around the house now just so he can ‘hunt’ for them.

I think Aiden’s really going to get into scavenger hunts this summer!!

This is the first picture ever taken of my daughter. She was less than 1 hour old. I was thrilled to be able to hold her skin-to-skin right after she was born. That moment didn’t last long, and unfortunately my husband, who had caught the baby, was still cleaning up. Regardless of the lack of a physical photo, the memory is permanently etched in my mind, and I’m so thankful for it. It was one of the last times I would get that precious contact for days; one of the last times I would hold my baby wire and tube free for almost a month.

My daughter was born with a Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA), a Ventrical SeptalDefect (VSD) and Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) and a Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA); all various forms of congential heart conditions. All these acronyms spell out the fact that her aorta and pulmonary arteries were on backwards, so the life sustaining oxygenated blood was cycling between her heart and lungs, and the oxygen depleted blood was traveling between her heart and body – a defect that would, under normal circumstances, be fatal at, or shortly after birth. Thankfully my daughter is anything but typical. The “extra” defects she was born with meant she had several holes within her heart which allowed the oxygen to mix enough to keep her alive until she could have surgery.

She underwent open heart surgery at 17 days old at BC Children’s Hospital. What I remember most, was not the ache to hold my baby, but the nurse who gave me a damp cloth to wipe the crusts from my daughter’s eyes. I remember them pumping my own breastmilk through her feeding tube when I couldn’t nurse her myself. I remember tucking her in with her very first teddy and the hand stitched one-of-a-kind quilt a volunteer made for all the infants in the ICU. I remember the support workers who shared photo albums of children now in their teens and twenties who had had the same surgery she had and were now thriving. There are countless other bright spots like this in an otherwise bleak time thanks to the incredible staff at the hospital.

Now I’m sharing these memories so that I can give back. As the General Manager of Gymboree Play & Music in North Vancouver, I have the perfect opportunity to support such an essential service. Throughout the month of April we will be running Jeans Themed Open PlayGyms (click here for schedule). Our staff will be decked out in denim leading all the fun activities. All our Open PlayGyms (scheduled Tuesday through Friday), are open to everyone by donation to BCCHF. Activities are geared towards children from birth – 5 years old. One adult must stay, more are welcome!

Of course it wouldn’t be Jeans Day without pins and buttons; we will be selling those all month long as well! We’ll wrap it up with a big party on Jean’s Day; Thursday April 26th!

RSVP is needed for this event only at 604-739-1190 or nshorebc@gymboreeclasses.com. Entry is $10 for members, $20 for new families and friends. In addition to the activities and music, we will also be raffling off various prizes, from instruments to classes to birthday packages; entries available by donation. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the Jeans Day Fundraising efforts in support of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Please join us for one – or more of these great events and help us support them in continuing to create bright memories for so many more families like mine.

To borrow one of Aiden’s favourite phrases, he’s getting “bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger,” which is true in oh so many ways (except his weight). As Aiden puts it, he’s getting “like a man like Daddy,” but for now he’s not a man, he’s a “big boy.”

I haven’t posted much this past month – it’s been a busy one. I haven’t enjoyed being pregnant with what is apparently a big baby, and it’s made for a stressful month.

Here’s a snapshot of Aiden at 29 months:

• Weight: 28lbs. Still.
• Favourite foods: carrots, apples, corn, sausages, pizza, crackers, applesauce in squeeze containers, Oat bran cereal
• Is very developed, emotionally. Able to express things such as “I’m getting tired” or “I’m upset”, though also has an active imagination, telling us he’s hurt, tired or sick to get attention, Advil or more tv time
• Asked to stop wearing his sleep sack at night. Uses a toddler blanket, sometimes.
• Can recognize the whole alphabet, mostly without mistakes. Is learning lower-case letters. Can sing the whole alphabet song (though only if nobody notices – he’s shy about singing)
• Is very excited to meet his baby brother. Talks a lot about the baby and is very curious about how he’s growing. We’ve had to explain some details of how the baby is born, as he thought it would ‘break Mommy’s tummy’.
• Has been throwing more tantrums. Age and household anxiety likely play a part (when Mommy has to say ‘no’ to many things, it makes it hard on him)
• Was potty training excitedly for one week and making great progress. Started to develop major anxiety over any mention of the potty. Likely me getting hurt and sick in one week added to his general anxiety. Back in diapers.
• Has a very active imagination. Loves to pretend to be dinosaurs, in particular. Knows many dinosaurs by type, with T-Rex being his favourite.
• Aiden’s favourite phrases: No way, poor Aiden, roar, Mommy want to read a book?, where are we going?, wait a minute, I’m sick, want some?, steam on you! (with trains), I need it
• My favourite Aiden phrases: I love you mommy, I’m taking a break, Where’s Mommy’s baby?, that’s funny, that’s strange

It caught us a little by surprise… Aiden wanted to begin potty training. We’ve had a lot of wonderful playdates with Jessica & Zayden during Spring Break and, perhaps unsurprisingly, Aiden wanted to be just like Zayden… who just began potty training. He got very upset one morning when he didn’t have underwear and had to wear his diaper instead.

Our “plan” was to put Aiden in his big boy bed this month then potty train during the summer; turns out, we were missing several key parts to convert Aiden’s crib (he’s upset about this almost every day) and the potty training wish came early. I wasn’t sure Aiden was ready, but how can you ever really know? Given he knows when he’s doing something in his diaper and his new desire to try, we figured we’d give it a go. I knew he had “most” of the signs.

After some emergency shopping for some big boy underwear and some cloth training underwear, we were set to begin. Our first day was mostly accidents. Once Aiden had a success and realized candy was involved? Well, that was a great incentive. He seems willing to go pee at the drop of a hat.

Aiden still has accidents, even at home, but he’s making progress. He’s not confident of his own ability to hold his bladder yet, though he did stay dry during his nap today (even with his diaper) and overflowed his night diaper (likely a big pee let go at once). He doesn’t completely void his bladder when he’s sitting either, which means he can have an accident even right after a success. But his skills are slowly developing.

Since nobody in this family enjoys staying at home, we’ve ventured out early. That’s just the reality of how we live. He goes out in his cloth trainers and is learning to ask to go pee when it’s time. He tends to need to be told to pee after one hour – his max point before he has a little accident. At least for now.

Being naked at home has helped Aiden be able to use the potty whenever he needs to – and it’s very often. It’s a fixture in the living room, at least for now.

We’re all VERY tired. Aiden has unfortunately been going through a bad sleep cycle, making us all more grumpy than is ideal in this situation. There have been a lot of tantrums in this house in the last 3 days.

We have, however, survived 3 days of potty training. It hasn’t been fun, but we are making progress and Aiden seems excited about that. Hopefully his bladder control catches up – I don’t want to back-track on potty training now that we’ve started, so I’m hoping his body catches up with his emotional readiness.

Wish us luck – I hope I’m not still reporting lots of accidents a few weeks from now!

We have a set of shelves in our living room that organizes most of Aiden’s toys and has one shelf that can hold about 15 books. I rotate books into this shelf every few months, as these serve as Aiden’s primary reading when he’s downstairs. He would prefer to read (or watch tv) to playing with toys, so we often negotiate that he play before he reads, or he reads X number of books then has some playtime.

Aside from this unscheduled reading time, Aiden reads 1-2 books before his nap, spends about 30 mins reading after his nap (most days) and reads 4 books before bed. All of this reading is in his room where most of his books are.

As much for our own sanity as for Aiden’s benefit, we have a large collection of books. Most of our books have come from swap meets or library book sales, though many have been purchased or given new as well. We tend to be overwhelmed when we get new books, as Aiden wants to read them constantly, so I actually visit the library very infrequently. We’ll see if that changes in the future.

Aiden’s new bookshelf arrived just today – I’m SO happy with it. It definitely beats having some books up too high on his hutch, stuffed into his side table, or simply piled up on the floor. I’ve taken away a few dozen baby books, moving them to baby #2′s room, and now have a fairly organized system for his books. He has a dozen or so anthologies, which I’ve organized into his side table shelf, and the rest have a new home on the above shelving unit. Off-season books, or books he’s not ready for, are up on his hutch.

I <3 organization.