Bitter Sweet

I am naming this post 'bitter sweet' because every time I go to write something that has happened that is AWESOME, I find a moment that is not so awesome in it. This weekend has been big for the Adams. We left for KY on Friday afternoon. Mark has been working massive overtime for the past several weeks, I have been in orientation for work (I'm going back to work a few days a month), and we have been trying to prepare for our great long adventure in Alaska. We arrived in Melber Friday evening (after fighting awful traffic) just in time for Aaron to go to bed. Saturday we had his first birthday party. His first birthday is not until Thursday, but Mark wasn't going to be in town, so we chose this weekend. So much family showed up for the party and we had a blast. Aaron was so good. He dove into his cake and almost seemed to enjoy everyone watching him, although he was pretty confused by the singing of the 'Happy Birthday' song. Today (Sunday), Mark and Jerry left in the truck and trailer for Alaska. Yes, you read correctly, they are DRIVING to Anchorage, Alaska. Aaron and I said good-bye to Mark for 2 whole weeks....that's the bitter part. I know Mark is so excited to spend this time with his dad, it's a trip of a lifetime...sweet part. We (Aaron, me, Jenny, Luke and Sarah) will leave in 2 weeks to meet them for a few weeks and fly home together....another sweet part. We had a great time at Aaron's first birthday and really are so thankful to ALL the family that were able to come and celebrate with us...that's the sweet part. Vana did a GREAT job making the cake. Although we don't want Aaron to be obsessed with presents, I have to say that he got some really great gifts. Aaron's favorite seems to be the 'car' that the Willefords got him. It's one of those red cars with the round yellow top. Aaron has spent HOURS climbing in and out of it. That's all for now. Aaron I will be in KY for this week. We will have fun swimming and spending quality time with family.

Took a break from eating cake to pose for a picture

Love this one of him with his grandparents

Mommy and daddy helped Aaron blow out his candle

AWESOME cake - thanks Vana!

Birthday Boy with his mamma

Checking up

So every night before Mark and I go to bed, we go in together to check in Aaron. We say that it's because we want to make sure he isn't cold, or lost his nuzzy or whatever, but REALLY it's about just looking at our little boy and commenting to each other (very quietly) about how he's the cutest little boy we have EVER seen. Last night, we did our nightly ritual and when we walked in, we couldn't help it...I just had to take a picture.

Just practicing....

Corynn had a orthodontist appointment today so I volunteered to watch Cambree and Griffin. Thought I would try my hand at 3 youngins'. Yes of course I babysat even more than this many children...but that's when I was younger...things have changed. Everything went fine. Granted Griffin stayed in his car seat and slept the whole time and Cambree and Aaron were angels....but still...it was a good experience for my first.

Strong Baby

Here is Aaron doing "strong baby." Mark did this as a child (it looked a little different). When Aaron started doing it on his own I just had to get it on video. My favorite part: the squishing of the peas.

Lone Ranger

Aaron wants to ride now EVERYTIME Mark goes out to ride. He starts moving his body up and down and reaching out toward Mark on the horse. He doesn't want to get off the horse either when it's time to quit. We are thrilled that he loves it so much and hope it lasts....at least through the trail ride this year. Mark says he can tell that Aaron's balance is really improving. He doesn't have to hold him upright much anymore. So here are some pictures of this sweet boy on a horse....again.

This one is my favorite!

Sweet Smile

This is perhaps the sweetest smile I have EVER seen. He randomly looks up at me while he's playing and does this exact face. I love it! Thought I would share.

Mother's Day gift

For Mother's Day my husband and son got me two beautiful pots of Lillies. I was sick on Mother's Day, unfortunately, and couldn't get them planted. Today I finally got them planted and they are BEAUTIFUL.

Rock Island

This past weekend, we met Matt and Lori at Rock Island and had a day of hiking. We enjoy our time so much with Matt and Lori. They are family, but more than that they are some of our best friends. The waterfalls were gorgeous and the weather was perfect. Even Copper got to go and enjoyed running with Max (M+L's dog).

Brother and Sister with their kiddos

by a pretty waterfall

Aaron was so proud that his daddy and Uncle Matt

let him 'drive' the car

Family picture

Single Mom...again

Yes you read correctly, for the next 24 hours I am a single mom. My husband had to go away again for work. It's not an enjoyable experience for anyone involved, but it's something that happens when you work. Of course I do make something good come out of this un-enjoyable situation....I go visit family. I dropped Mark off at the airport and headed over to Raich's for the rest of the day and to spend the night. We will go to Nashville tomorrow to spend the day with Jenny and Sarah. They came down for the day to help Aunt Frankie who is moving to Nashville and hang out. We took such cute pictures tonite, I thought I would just go ahead and start the pictures now and blog again about tomorrow with Jenny and Sarah as there will be a ton more pictures.

In his new PJ's from Aunt Rachel....

he's seconds away from walking

sitting with Aunt Rachel before bed

Ride a little horsey...

Andrea and Joel came over for dinner tonite. Actually they brought dinner to us...which is VERY sweet. Aiden was asking the whole meal to go look at the horses. So after dinner, Mark and Joel took Aaron and Aiden over to 'ride' a horse. It was cute. Aaron sat up there posing for each shot and as comfortable as can be. Aiden was a little more uncomfortable with the whole situation, but still seemed to have fun.

ELEVEN months

Today my newborn boy is 11 months old. He is such a sweet little boy. Here is an update:

• Still only 2 teeth and no signs of more.
• He LOVES his daddy! When Mark comes home Aaron practically jumps out of my arms to see him.
• He does that 'wounded-solider crawl' as I call it ALL OVER NOW.
• His favorite thing to do is crawl into one of our bedrooms, shut the door, wait for me to come with him, and giggles really loud when I do.
• He's a speedster in his walker and on his rocket.
• He really likes riding horses (the real thing). The excitement on his face is too much to handle when he sees his daddy riding. He starts bouncing up and down in my arms because he wants to ride. Doesn't seem to have any fear.
• He can give 'high five.'
• He loves to 'pat' everything.
• Favorite toy is a ball. Basketball, baseball, soccer ball...anything that is a ball. Mostly I think he just likes to throw things and balls are easy to throw.
• His balance is getting much better. I just know he is going to take off walking any time now.
• words consist of 'ma ma' and 'da da' right now. He says them in the correct context too, so I'm taking that as a sign of being gifted. I promise he said 'night, night' one night last weekend, but he hasn't said it again, and sometimes he will get out a 'hi' when you first see him.
• Favorite foods: green peas and vanilla wafers.

A new look

Yesterday we did some more yard work. Yes, it was awful weather most of the day. And yes, we were out in it most of the day. For some reason, my husband thinks that home improvement projects....no....OUTSIDE home improvement projects about 15minutes before bad weather hits. Before the morning weather (very hard rain, freezing wind), Mark decided that we needed to build another fence. So we went out and built a fence, in the pouring rain. The rain stopped a while and so we went inside and did some house work. (Does that seem backwards?) Mark came in (because he was still outside working) and said he had started a NEW project outside. Raich and I went outside to find that the tree out front,the one I have wanted to chop down since we moved in, had been trimmed. MY HUSBAND IS AWESOME! He made that tree look so much better. I actually think it could stay now. We just have to do some landscaping underneath it, but it definitely changes the entire look of the house. Here are some pictures. If any of you don't remember what it looked like before, the branches went all the way down to the ground and went several feet out in the driveway.