Life with 2 Boys

Summer babies are the the BEST...it has been a bit on the warm side (I think mom's hormones are shifting or something, because I'm having a hard time tolerating it) but the boys love it. AJ is taking to Aiden as best as expected, he tries to share his toys; which consists of AJ stacking every toy in his toy bin ON TOP of baby brother. THIS is true, second children are typically laid back and tolerate so much more...mom does too. I've gotten used to crying children, that's for sure! But typically our house is full of laughs and coos so I won't complain.

Aiden's not a huge fan of the camera yet...

AJ LOVES his slide, but he is growing out of Little Tykes toys VERY fast.

Aiden wanted a turn too!

We've been teaching AJ how to flash the "westside" sign to his peeps...JOKING, this is him doing the hand gestures to "itsy-bitsy spider".

I forget the magic of swaddling....both our boys loved being wrapped up like Qdoba!!!

God has truly blessed us, not only once, with our sweet AJ, but twice with the introduction of Aiden Gregory to our family. And let me tell you, he has been a BIG blessing, all 9 pounds and 15 ounces of him (if you ask Adam, he just rounds it up to 10 pounds)! It has been such a great transition, so far. AJ is the sweetest big brother, he's always asking "I hold him". It is going to be busy, but SO much fun. Mom is recovering well, the third blessing was C-sections!!! Here are a few pictures that Eric captured at the hospital, and in the days leading up to Aiden's arrival. It has been so HOT, my sausage toes are returning to their normal size and shape, slowly but surely (don't worry, I didn't post any pictures of them)!

Sweet little fingers! They're LONG

AJ is pretty proud of his baby brother..."That's my bro!"

They put practice footprints on Adam's forearm...would be a cool tatoo!

Paging Dr Strate, it's time to do your 6:30 c-section!!

OOPS- this is a cute picture, but didn't mean to re-post it (I don't know how to remove a pictuer once I've uploaded it)

Angelic boys eh? Announcing the good news of baby Aiden's arrival

Here's proud papa presenting his new son

AJ has been trying to "jumpy jump"...it's true, white men can't jump! But look at the air he gets under one leg!!

Second Day Hair

With the hot Memorial Day weather, comes sunscreen, and lots of it! You know how second day hair always seems to look and style better...well this was a little ridiculous, but it's growing on us. What do you think?

I don't know why this picture is SO small, but Jon is one of AJ's favorite people...Jon is one of EVERYONE'S favorite people!

Boys in the Sun

Thank God for this weather, I am starting to look like I'm alive again, and not a pastey corpse. Adam and AJ have been working hard in the yard...I try, but everytime I bend over I feel like I'm steam-rolling this growing child in my belly. I have a feeling that little brother is trying to out-do his big brother in birth size, please be praying for ME!!! No, it's not THAT bad, I have a c-section scheduled for 7/7/09, so I guess we'll just see, if baby comes early! Just a few random pictures that Eric recently took, thought I'd share.

Am I goint to get THAT tall???

Ooooohhhh, squirrels! Always with snacks in hand, just like his momma!

Our little man is 18 months old now...where did the time go. He's getting so big, and finally getting some hair...albeit a mullet!!! These are a few updated pics and a sampling of my brother-in-law's photographic skills!

A few fly-away hairs, we're still looking for a good hair product to maintain AJ's locks

This is AJ passed out after a fun evening at the park with uncle Eric. He's sportin' his new green Crocs...he will actually keep those shoes on!!

GREAT shot of an exhausted, drooling child...

Just playing a little "chubby" game...Mommy has surpassed the "chubby" phase however!!

This is one of my favorites

This is a little Mother's Day pic...8 more weeks until baby #2 arrives!! AJ barely fits on my lap anymore, but he always finds room to snuggle up with mommy's tummy. He'll point adn say "baby", but I don't think that he has ANY clue how his life is about to change.

He looks like a perfect angel!!

Uncle Eric is getting really good...Adam and I hardly ever take pictures anymore.

It puts the lotion on its skin...that's actually baby powder.

This gives Adam's mom a heart attack EVERYTIME! But, AJ loves it.

He's turning into such a little boy...still got his baby fat though!!!

Whatchoo lookin' at??

A chugging contest between AJ and daddy...all those wonderful things that dad's teach their sons!! Ha-Ha.

Thrills and chills at the Strate House

We decided to go skydiving over Spring Break, none of us have been before...AJ LOVED it, the instructor said that he has the best form of any other 17 month old!!! OK...before you call CPS, this is AJ's face when Adam tosses him on our bed, uncle Eric is a photo shop MASTER. I just had to share though, AJ's pose is perfection!

I'm a little embarassed to see that our last post was 3 months ago!!! Yikes. But AJ is 16 months now, and he's is developing quite the personality. He can "dance like daddy" (which entails lots of shoulder shrugs, repeatedly, and sometimes on beat with the music :). He is pure JOY. We found out that another baby boy is on the way, we HAD to peak this time. Very excited to introduce new baby to his big brother. AJ LOVES babies, but we'll see how he feels about a baby that doesn't go away!!

He's talking up a storm...picking up new words everyday. Our favorite words this week "goat" and "dookie" (which is really cookie).

Wooden blocks...so simple, yet SO fun!

Black wasn't the best background to take a picture of Whitey, but she's in there...see her??

Uncle Eric has been playing around with his new camera, he's offering pictures of cute kids, he's trying to build a portfolio and practice his photography skills. So...if you don't cut the coupons from JcPenny or Sears, call Eric.

So we enrolled AJ in a new class at the gym. Research has proven the cardiovascular benefits of sumo wrestling . Even though he's practically running everywhere, he still maintains those cherub thighs!!! I love it.