We had our "holiday card" picture taken professionally. It was a bit of an ordeal because as soon as one kid cooperated the other would resist. The shoot was at a daycare with lots of toys and animals so Aiden was way too busy to sit down for a picture. Sky was cooperative until she got too hot (the room was hot and her outfit was warm). We finally got the shot we were looking for and we were relieved to be done. When we got home, both kids were smiling and ready for more pictures. Wouldn't you know it. That's just my luck. So...I got my camera out and took these pictures.

so cool

Aiden discovered one of childhoods greatest fall activity...jumping in a pile of leaves. He played in the leaves for almost two hours.

Can you believe this is Sky?

Dullah was in town this past weekend and he showed me some old picture he had on his iphone. Check out these three pictures of Sky and me, Sky and Grandpa and Sky and Uncle Dullah. Can you believe how dark her hair is???

surfer hair "all gone!"

Well... we finally broke down and cut Aiden's hair. In exchange for a lollipop, Aiden sat still (no more than 4-5 minutes) for my mom to cut his hair. She did a fabulous job. The short hair suits him but I still miss his Hawaiian surfer hair.

Here are some before, during, and after shots.

Elllllllmo

So Adam has this thing that whenever he sneezes, he gets a strange sharp pain in his elbow. I have no idea why, but I think its kind of funny. Well, the other day I was in the kitchen washing dishes or something when I heard Aiden sneeze. AAAAH - CHEOWWWW! Of course the first thought in my head is oh boy, he needs a tissue pronto before he touches Sky. Before I could even grab a tissues, I hear him running towards me --

Aiden: "Mommy, Mommy! Ouch Ouch! Elmo, elmo!"
Me: "Oh, did you find your Sesame Street book, Aiden?"
Aiden: "Noooooo. Elmo ouch! Elmo ouch!"
Me: "Ok, Where is Elmo? Is he hurt?"
Aiden: "Nooooo. Elllllllllmo." as he holds his ELBOW up to me.
Me: "Oh your elbow! Your elBOW hurts."
Aiden: "Yea-um" (that's how he says "yes") He then points to his nose and fakes a sneeze to explain to me that the sneeze makes his "elmo" hurt.

Like father like son...

four month check up!

Yesterday was Sky's four-month appointment. She did very well. She is still off the charts chubby and tall. According to her pediatrician she is also advanced developmentally - fully controls her head, uses her hands, keeps eye contact and babbles (she loves to talk).

At the end of the checkup she received her four month vaccinations. Two painful shots to each thigh. Ouch! I wish I had the guts to opt out of that! On one hand I feel that some of the vaccinations are totally unnecessary but on the other hand, we do live in a very integrated area of the country. People travel to the Washington Metro area from every corner of the world...and its better to be safe than sorry. Right? Interested in hearing what you all think. Please comment!

they call me "Blondie the Kid"

In response to your votes - Aiden dressed up as a cowboy for Halloween this year. "Blondie the Kid" was the youngest at our neighborhood Halloween party but I'm pretty sure he had the most fun. As you know, we moved into this neighborhood this past summer. Our first neighborhood event was a "Halloween Party" for kids ages 0 - 12. We had a multiple scavenger hunts (for various age groups), face painting, music, pizza, candy and drinks. Aiden did very well playing with the other kids. Since most of the party was in our back yard, he was a gracious host sharing his playground and showing other kids around our yard. By the end of the evening he was the center of the party. I barely had to watch him he was just doing his own thing. When I finally stopped him to come inside he had lost his cowboy hat and his gun, his chaps were falling off, his checks were red and he was sweating from all of the running around. I guess he was having a lot of fun.

At 7 pm while I was putting Sky down for the evening, Adam took Aiden trick-or-treating. They hit a whole 3 houses. He learned very quickly that saying "trick or treat" means you get more candy. Halloween must be a real crazy concept to learn for little little kids. Hmmm. I came home from school and suddenly there's a party in my backyard and all the kids are here, and oh they're all dressed in funny cloths and mom is allowing me to eat candy!?! Whao??

After trick or treating Aiden came inside and helped his dad give candy out to other trick or treaters. Each time the door bell rang, Aiden ran to the door as happy as could be just to give out candy. I think he may have even enjoyed giving out candy to all the kids more than trick or treating himself...wait 'til next year, kid.

Adam and I also enjoyed meeting our new neighbors...it was quite easy to meet people since we're Aiden's parents. Everyone kept approaching us and asking "Are you Aiden's parents" or "you must be Aiden's parents" or "how's Aiden's new little sister?" I felt like a celeberty!