Nicole Welch Photography

We have moved! Change your bookmarks...

2008-07-01T12:03:00.004-06:00

So much is changing, so this will be an update post...Try to stay with me. ;)

1. First and foremost, THE BLOG HAS MOVED!!!!!!!!!!!
Please visit us at the new blog: www.nicolewelch.wordpress.com.

2. AND don't forget to stop by to see the website redesign at : Nicole Welch Photography Website www.nicolewelchphotography.com. I'd love to hear feedback from anyone and everyone.

3. If you still have my email listed as either nicole.poppe@us.army.mil or nicole.welch3@us.army.mil, please delete those. I can still access those accounts, but I RARELY do. So if you've sent an email to those accounts, I'm sorry I haven't written you back. Please enter nikkiwelch@mac.com as the new address, and I promise to write you back. Thanks.

4. If you try to contact me through MySpace, I'm locked out of my account somehow. So see the above entry to contact me.

5. For snail mail, please send that to my mom's address. If you don't know it, see #3 again and drop me a note.

Thanks everyone!

Sparkly eyes

2008-06-30T07:36:00.004-06:00

Aidan has the most gorgeous eyes I have ever seen. They're a beautiful shade of blue, and they hold such a love for life. Watching Aidan watching his daddy with those sparkly eyes is such an amazing thing. After missing so much time as a family for 15 months, these moments are completely and totally precious. Aidan seems to be so fascinated by his dad. Everything Dan does, Aidan watches very intently. At the pool last week, Dan was doing canon balls off the diving board, and Aidan was so enthralled. This picture is of Aidan watching his daddy. Does is get any better than this? I'll post more from the pool later, but I just loved the expression on Aidan's face as he watched Dan.

New website coming soon!

2008-06-26T09:29:00.003-06:00

And I'm so excited! I really decided that I didn't like the entire thing, so I started from scratch. I think the result is much more me - for now. Eventually, when I'm doing this full time (some day), I'll upgrade to something a bit more fancy, but I'm happy with the new one so far.

In the meantime, here are some pictures from a day at the pool.

Back from a mini hiatus...

2008-06-24T21:06:00.003-06:00

Our lives never seem are never boring. That can often be a good thing, but it can also be a not-so-fun thing...And in the midst of all this not-so-fun stuff, I hadn't realized it's been 2 weeks since I posted. Yikes! I haven't been taking many photographs lately. I haven't even touched my camera in more than a week. But we're back, and I'll try to become friends with my beautiful Nikon D2x once again!

We recently went to stay with my sister Michelle and her family. So, now it's just the 10 of us. Yup - T.E.N. It's busy and loud - but mostly fun. Aidan is having a blast having a huge yard to run in, lots of kids to play with, and a dog to chase laps behind around the house (smart dog).

We're still plugging away on the job search, but we're honestly not having much luck. It's beyond frustrating, so we're looking at a zillion new options for our little family. Please cross your fingers that something comes along soon. We're very thankful for my mom and Michelle + family for taking us in!

These pictures are from a trip to Sugar Creek Winery in Augusta more than a week ago. Aidan befriended an adorable little girl there, though I have no photos of her. We were celebrating to lovely ladies turning 50. My mom and a wonderful family friend, Lois, both turn 50 this month.

Early riser

2008-06-11T11:42:00.006-06:00

Since we've been in Missouri, Aidan's been waking up earlier and earlier. And anyone who knows me, knows that I'm NOT a morning person, so this has been an adjustment. I thought being out of the Army would allow me to sleep past 5 a.m. Not much - he's been waking up at 5:30 recently. It's ohhhh so fun. Ok not really, but at least there's good light to play with that early in the morning!

Ooops

2008-06-10T21:56:00.002-06:00

I forgot one. It was too cute to pass up. He may not like her too much now, but give it a few years....

A summertime BBQ

2008-06-09T09:55:00.009-06:00

Yesterday Aidan and I went to a family friend's graduation party. Despite crazy warm weather (though it's still not nearly as awful as Texas was), we had a good time. I recently bought Aidan some buckets and shovels, and he had a great time in a pile of rocks. Aidan also got to see Sunnee, an adorable 4-month-old baby girl, at the party. He even got to hold her on his lap, although I'm not really sure he enjoyed it too much. Here are a few images from our Sunday afternoon. And if you were wondering where Mr. Dan was, he joined the Missouri National Guard and was doing his first drill with them.

And....introducing Miss Sunnee to the blog. Could she be any cuter?

Blowin' Bubbles with Nana

2008-06-05T08:47:00.005-06:00

I think of all Aidan's words, bubbles is the clearest. He can pretty much repeat anything you ask him to say, that is, except his own name. But bubbles is clear as a bell. His Nana recently bought him the coolest little contraption - a no-spill mini bubble bucket. Let me just say that thing rocks. It literally entertains him longer than anything. If you don't have one for your little ones, RUN (don't walk) to the store to get it. You'll be thankful you did.

Trains, trains, trains.

2008-06-05T08:41:00.003-06:00

Aidan discovered another new love about 2 weeks ago: TRAINS! Everything was WOW! WOW! WOW! He especially loved running through the trains, and he always wanted "More!" Oh, and how his pants got unbuttoned, I have no clue.

Happy 40th L + S !

2008-05-31T10:07:00.008-06:00

So I'm a little late in posting this, but whatever. Last weekend, we headed out for a surprise 40th wedding anniversary for the parents of a good friend. They're amazing people, and we were so thrilled to be there for the party. I've known Leonard and Sonje since about 8th grade, and they are the ideal couple - such good role models, especially these days. Here's to 40 more!
(And yes, Aidan had a great time, too!)

Aidan's new friend

2008-05-25T17:24:00.003-06:00

John and Heleena, Dan's parents, recently sent Aidan the most adorable gift. It was a stuffed animal - a dog that looks exactly like their golden retriever, Ben. They said they sent it to him to tide him over until Aidan can meet the real thing. The dog is the softest thing, and Aidan just adores his little Ben. Although, it's nearly as big as he is. Can ya feel the love?

Just 2 for today

2008-05-21T21:38:00.003-06:00

More Dan and Aidan

2008-05-20T21:40:00.003-06:00

I didn't think you guys would mind, especially after not seeing much of Dan for 16 months! Right? Right. So we went to my grandparent's farm on Saturday, and Aidan had a blast feeding the fish and feeding the horse. Unfortunately, my camera battery charger was MIA, so I only got 3 shots off before the silly thing died. I was completely bummed, but alas, here are 2 of the 3. And yeah, ya can't even tell we had left the St. Louis metro area. Oh well. I'm sure we'll be back soon.

My second wedding of the year

2008-05-19T20:46:00.006-06:00

I had a great opportunity to second shoot for another photographer about a week and a half ago. It was such a fun experience, (thanks Ashley!) despite the nasty, nasty weather. Here are a few of my favorite images from the day.

Hello sunshine!

2008-05-16T21:41:00.003-06:00

Today we experienced the first nice day since Dan's been here. Before today, every single day was gloomy and gray, and often rainy. Poor Aidan couldn't spend much time outside, so he was thrilled to see us pull up to one of his favorite playgrounds in St. Charles. His latest word is "Wow! Wow!" And there were plenty of 'em coming out of his mouth when he spotted the kids playing. I've gotta tell you, I think it's my favorite Aidan word. It's just so hysterical because he uses it all the time - and sooo emphatically. Makes me giggle, and he just won't stop saying it when he's excited. I mean, Ma ma and Da da were great, but wow is just too cute!

I love them

2008-05-14T14:46:00.003-06:00

The Welch boys

2008-05-12T21:26:00.003-06:00

We've been so busy lately, and that is my simple excuse for not posting many photos lately. We've been busy looking for jobs and places to live. I also shot a wedding Saturday, and Aidan had a doctor appointment today (shots and all!) so things have been a little hectic lately. And Dan has only been home for a week now! Nothing like throwing him straight into the mix of everything, right?!

Last week, we decided to take the little guy to the Jewel Box in Forest Park, where his parents got married - well, for wedding #2. ;)

Together at last

2008-05-08T21:44:00.002-06:00

Dan finally got here yesterday at about 3 a.m. An end to a long 15 months - finally! It's so wonderful to have him back. I'm sorry I have no photos to show, but my card reader is broken. I'm going to try to get a new one tomorrow.

Aidan is loving having his Da Da back, too. It didn't take much time for him to warm up to him. It's much easier this time than it was when Dan was home on R+R back in December, and I'm so thankful for that.

And...Today, the little man got his first haircut! Aidan has been sporting a lovely mullet for a while now, but Dan made me promise not to cut his hair until Dan was back. He didn't want to miss it. So I kept my promise. Today, the three of us went to this kids-only salon. It was so cute. There were lots of toys and a movie and bright colors everywhere. But Aidan didn't care. The second he was in the chair, and the lady strapped him in, he lost it. He was crying so, so hard. His face was red, and the tears were streaming down his face. His little arms were wrapped about my neck, and he was gripping my shirt so tightly. And the woman cut his hair with him just like that. She did an amazingly quick and accurate job. I was happy with it, although I felt so bad for Aidan. I don't know if he thought I was leaving him, or he was just scared, but it was NOT a fun experience for us. I took some before and after pics, but none during...

I'm thinking it'll be a while until we attempt another haircut. Luckily, his hair grows pretty slowly. But he did get a little certificate and a sticker for being so brave. And mommy and daddy got a small lock of blonde hair for the baby book that I desperately need to update - someday.

A park a day

2008-05-05T21:49:00.005-06:00

Aidan and I get bored sometimes. We're not used to all this time together, sometimes just staring at each other for hours on end. Ok, maybe not hours, well, maybe not at all, really. But sometimes it feels like it. So we try to go to a new park everytime we plan a trip. It makes things a little more exciting for both of us. We're probably been to at least 10 in the St. Louis metro area, although we do have a favorite 2. And sometimes, when I'm feeling motivated, I bust out the jogging stroller. It's a real hoot because Aidan peeks his little head around the stroller and just laughs at me, as if saying, "Mommmy, what the heck are you trying to do?!" Nice. At least someone gets a good laugh.

A random one

2008-05-04T21:53:00.002-06:00

I found this today. I don't even remember taking it, honestly, but I really liked it. It's just so him. Don't get me wrong, he loves to laugh and play, but he also really concentrates on things. He's incredibly thoughtful, and this photo really shows that. I love that kid.

Trash the Baby

2008-05-03T08:45:00.003-06:00

So I don't know how familiar you guys are with Trash the Dress sessions, but they're pretty popular these days. A woman puts on her wedding dress (post-ceremony), and photographers shoot her in various (usually messy) scenarios. Well, this week, Aidan and I put on our own version: Trash the Baby. It totally wasn't planned, but Aidan and I were taking a drive and Aidan happened to see a playground. He started shouting in his sweet little voice, "Doe doe doe doe!" Now, I don't know what doe doe means exactly in Aidan language, but I do know that when that word is uttered, he is extremely excited about something! Well, when he saw the playground, I knew we would have to go. After playing on the equipment, we went over a bridge. "Wa wa! Wa wa!" Aidan exclaimed. Have I mentioned how much he loves water!? Probably. Anywho - Being the crazy person I am, I took Aidan, and my camera (yikes!) down a little path to a creek. And that is where Trash the Baby began. Enjoy. (And if anybody has tips on getting out mud, let me know!) (Oh, and PSS, he did NOT get the rock in his mouth.)

Nana's little helper

2008-04-30T15:56:00.002-06:00

Aidan loves to help, especially when the task involves water. Today he helped Nana wash the potatoes.

More from Faust Park

2008-04-28T08:28:00.007-06:00

Here are a few more from our trip to the park where the carousel was. It was sooo hot that day - a big change from the weather we're experiencing lately. It's been in the 50's. Brrrr.

A ride on the St. Louis Carousel

2008-04-23T21:44:00.002-06:00

Tanya, Aidan and I took a trip to Chesterfield today. We went to Faust park, and can I just say that Aidan loves, loves, loves riding the carousel. As soon as he saw where we were going he ran as fast as his little legs would take him, shouting a bunch of mumbo jumbo and pointing excitedly at the flashing lights awaiting him. We had a blast, and I think he liked the horse he rode this time because it was stationary. Last time he rode on a carousel, the horse went up and down, and I think it freaked him out a little. Tanya took this. Yay Tanya! I'm just glad we took one this week. I didn't get around to it last week. Thanks for looking.

Crazy haired boy

2008-04-22T10:06:00.003-06:00

Dan made me promise I wouldn't take Aidan to get his hair cut until he gets home. I am so excited he's almost here because the child seriously has a mullet going on. I have trimmed what I dubbed his "wings" cuz they stick out on the sides as if he's going to fly away!

My little Cardinals fan

2008-04-20T21:12:00.002-06:00

Before Aidan was born, actually, probably when I was only about 10 weeks pregnant, Dan and I had the big talk. We had a discussion about which sports teams our future child would root for. It was a long, long talk, but we came to an agreement. It was then that we decided Aidan's baseball team would be the Cardinals, his football team would be the Redskins, his hockey team would be the Capitals, and his college sports team would be Mizzou. Dan and I shook on it. Now, he's not allowed to wear apparel from other teams, unless it is agreed upon by both parties. Needless to say, I'm having fun buying all his Cardinals apparel, even when he doesn't like it...Like a hat. I know...Why do I even bother buying him hats since he doesn't even like them. He rips them off his head in .02 seconds. Well, because he just looks so darn cute in them! Don't you agree. And occassionally, if you smile really big and clap really hard, he'll leave one on for about .05 seconds, long enough to get a photo.

Driving the tractor

2008-04-16T21:10:00.003-06:00

He really is such a boy. He loves getting dirty and being outside. Here he's driving his great grandpa's tractor.

Oops

2008-04-16T08:31:00.001-06:00

I forgot to post our weekly picture last week. So here it is. We still have to do this week's, too.

A cold day at the farm

2008-04-14T22:04:00.004-06:00

This past weekend, we took Aidan to my grandparent's farm, which is south of St. Louis. It was cold (it even started snowing a little at one point), but he had a blast, especially during the short time we went outside. He loved sitting on the tractor and looking at all of his great grandpa's "toys."

I'll have more tomorrow, but I'm really tired. So here's just one for today.

Tanya's photoshoot

2008-04-11T21:46:00.004-06:00

B + W kick

2008-04-10T07:49:00.002-06:00

So there's not much going on right now, nothing except trying to find a job, place to live and waiting for my husband to come home. Yipeeeee! I suppose that's why I haven't been shooting much lately. I'll try to be better.

Anyway, I found some great apartments, but we're still deciding on when to make the big move. I must say I'm utterly thrilled the movers have to bring our stuff the new apartment and unpack it. It's so wonderful! The places I've found are by a wonderful park, and one has a view of the Arch. Yay!

Long time no post!

2008-04-08T21:39:00.002-06:00

Sorry I've been a little MIA lately. Here's a quick shot of my little juice lover. I'm trying to wean him a little. He drank juice all the time at his former school, and now he sooo loves it. :)

Park playin'

2008-04-02T22:03:00.008-06:00

Despite the cool weather yesterday, Tanya, Aidan and I headed to the park. It was one I went to as a child, and I hadn't been there in years. It was so strange, especially since they've redone the entire thing. It's going to be fun to show Aidan all the places I went in my childhood.

Aunt Tanya is so much fun!

Looking at the birds.

Such a happy boy.

Spin me faster!

Who's there!?

Me and Aidan: Week 3

2008-04-01T22:01:00.003-06:00

More handsome boys - my nephews

2008-03-28T21:12:00.003-06:00

I'm so glad to have other child to photograph! Not that I don't enjoy photographing Aidan, but a change is nice once in a while. :) Plus, they're 2 of the sweetest boys around AND they aren't so sick of the camera being pointed in their faces.

Mr. Welch

2008-03-26T20:10:00.003-06:00

I think Aidan and I are really loving the cooler Missouri weather, although not the rain so much. We're both sick with colds still, so this'll be a short one. Still great to be back. Now time to begin job searching - yeah, I know. It's about time, right?

Me and Aidan: Week 2

2008-03-25T19:22:00.002-06:00

We're back in Missouri

2008-03-23T20:43:00.011-06:00

Our trip wasn't too bad. I ended up splitting it up into 2 days because I knew Aidan wouldn't sit in his seat long enough to get here. We drove to Oklahoma City the first night and stayed in a hotel, and then drove the rest of the trip on Saturday. We arrived about 5 p.m. I'm still exhausted and trying to recover from everything that has been going on.

We had to drive by crazy flooding in St. Louis County. Especially in Fenton, where the water was so high the only part you could see of a stoplight was the light itself. I would have stopped to take some pictures, but Aidan and I were soooo sick of being in the car. The little guy is such a trooper. He hardly complained. It was almost as if he realized he had no choice but to sit there and play with toys and watch Barney/Elmo.

It's so great to be back, although Aidan is sick again and is on breathing treatments. I'm going to have to find a pediatrician quickly. Poor little guy is coughing constantly.

(I finally found my phone charger, in case anyone was wondering why I fell off the face of the earth!)

Oh, and though it doesn't even feel like it : Happy Easter!

Free at last....Goodbye Army! Hello civilian world!

2008-03-19T20:48:00.003-06:00

Tomorrow is my last day. It's so hard to believe the day has finally come. It seems I've been dreaming of this moment from the day I signed those papers and raised my right hand. Well, ok, maybe not THAT early, but nearly. Ironically, during the packing of our home, I found an old journal. It was a journal from late 2002 to early 2003. In it, I wrote of my decision to join the Army, one that was suprising to many, probably most, in all honesty. "You have a degree," they'd say. "Why would you throw all that away?" They asked. Well, I didn't see it that way at all when I was considering my decision.

Looking back, I wanted to make a difference, do something "more" with my life, do something important. It was strange to go back and look at those words I had written seemingly a lifetime ago. I wanted to travel and see exotic places, little did I know what the Army had in store for me. I only wanted to sign up for 3 years, but they said it had to be 5, since I wanted to be an Army journalist - a "prestigious" job for servicemembers. Fine, I said. I just wanted to get on that plane to basic training as soon as I could.

My time in the Army was not what I expected it to be - not at all, actually. Once I got through basic training, I rode on a bus with about 30 other young soldiers, many of whom went with me to AIT (job training) to Fort Meade, Md. Little did I know, that bus ride would determine the future of my entire life. I met the man of dreams, my future husband, best friend, the most amazing man I know, on that bus. And slowly, despite the Army training we were going through, we fell in love.

We shined boots together, walked to the Post Exchange together (back in the days when we couldn't wear civilian clothes EVER), we went to the weekly movie on post together, and then one day, I received my orders sending me to Fort Hood, Texas, for my first duty station. I was sad, because I was sure it would mean saying goodbye to Dan. But he had other plans. We got engaged before I left AIT, and we were married about 6 months later, and he joined me at Fort Hood. Shortly thereafter, I received orders once again taking me away from Dan. This time thousands of miles away to the deserts of Iraq.

I did my job over there in Baghdad. I wrote my stories and took my photographs. Nothing I did was particularly astounding, nothing earth shattering, but it was the most proud I had ever been to wear the uniform. I got to meet the Iraqi Olympic team, I interviewed the Multi-National Corps -- Iraq commanding general many times, sitting alongside reporters from the Washington Times, NY Times, LA Times, etc, I wrote of a woman's shelter started by an Iraqi man, I befriended our Iraqi translator who worked with us in Public Affairs and learned so much about their culture. (I also ate a goat eyeball once, did I ever mention that? Ugh. Oh, and NO, I didn't know what I was eating.) Sometimes I was just taking group photos for different work groups who were in our palace, too. Was it exciting? No, not really. But hopefully somebody can look back and be happy they have those photos.

I went through many difficult times during my deployment, but one thing always remained constant - I had incredible family/friend support. I was constantly receiving emails, hand-written letters and care packages, and they really kept me going.

Once it was time to go home, it was hard for me and Dan, but eventually, we endured that storm and became closer than ever. I continued to work on our installation's weekly newspaper. Sometimes the assignments were exciting and new, and sometimes they were dreadfully boring, stories I could write in my sleep because I'd covered them a million times.

A year and a half after I returned from Iraq, we found out I was pregnant. We were ecstatic, waiting for our baby to arrive. I was so sad baby Welch would have to be born at a military hospital in Texas, but in the end, we were just thrilled to welcome the most amazing child into our lives. But the event was clouded by a package sent from FedEx, ironically, originating from St. Louis. The Army had thrown yet another curveball to us. Dan received orders of his own. He was going to have his own adventure. He left when Aidan was just 6 weeks old. That was the hardest day of my life, saying goodbye to him. At that point, we didn't even know where he was going. It could have been Tampa, Qatar, Iraq, or Cuba. My prayers were answered when we found out he was going to Cuba.

Now all that is coming to a close. The good and the bad. But overall, it was a good experience, and despite the many days I hated the Army and everything it stood for, I learned a lot about myself and other people. I learned I am stronger than I ever knew I could be. I feel like I've been tested so many times, even in these last weeks, my commander decided to cancel my dental surgery and reschedule it at her convenience, knowing I was going to be preparing to move, my husband was gone, and I was trying to clear the installation. So many times, I thought nothing else could go wrong, and then I found out it could and would, it seemed.

Sometimes during the midst of everything, I'd think, "Why did you waste your life? Why did you sign those papers so many years ago?" But then I have to stop myself and realize it wasn't a mistake. I wanted an adventure, and I got it - just not in the form I thought I would. Best of all, the Army esentially gave me my family, a wonderful husband and an amazing son. Now, I always tell Dan that we would have met anyway because we are soulmates, but the Army made it happen quickly.

But you know what? It's over; my time is done. Now I can just look back and *hopefully* say that I've made it through the roughest of times and came out a better person. I've always been quite independent, but I think now I've come to a point where I know I can do anything I want. So while it became more of a personal journey than a professional one, as I sit in my empty home, with my sleeping baby, knowing my husband is almost home, I don't regret it. It certainly wasn't a mistake. It wasn't a waste.

Oh, and did I mention my student loans are paid off? :)

Sorry this was so long. Hopefully somebody made it through the whole thing. In honor of my last day, here's an old photo of me before my first ride in a Black Hawk.

A challenge

2008-03-16T20:50:00.002-06:00

We're doing a challenge on a photoboard I frequent. The goal is to take a photo of yourself with your children every week. Here's my first entry. (Like the swollen cheek!?)

Goodbye friends

2008-03-16T20:04:00.008-06:00

Aidan and I are down to our last few days in central Texas, and I'm suprised to find it actually bittersweet - mostly because of the friends to whom we had to say goodbye. On Saturday, we had our last playdate in Austin. It was nearly impossible to get Katherine and Aidan in a photo together, so this is all I have. It's crazy to think how much they've grown since this post and this post.

Wisdom teeth are OUT!

2008-03-11T09:51:00.002-06:00

Just wanted to say I'm back from my surgery and actually feeling pretty well. I'm going to go take a nap before my drugs wear off. :)

Looking more like Da Da.

2008-03-10T21:41:00.002-06:00

Don't you think?

A lazy Sunday

2008-03-09T21:49:00.005-06:00

The weather was dreary, and Aidan and I were sleepy today. I was so thankful the little guy slept in today, and he also took a good nap. We had lots of photoshoots today when it wasn't raining/sprinkling. Here's one. Doesn't he look so much older? I'll post more tomorrow.

Our playdate in Austin

2008-03-09T21:37:00.006-06:00

Yesterday, Aidan and I went to Austin to see Katherine and Belinda. We're so sad to be leaving them soon. It's been such a treat to have such wonderful friends during this difficult year. Unfortunately, the last two pictures really suck (a setting on my camera got bumped, and I didn't double check it before I was shooting. Grrrr.) I had to post them anyway. I love Katherine's big beautiful eyes. Aren't they gorgeous? During the first few months, Aidan and Katherine payed no attention to one another. Then, Katherine began to notice Aidan, though he didn't want much to do with her. She would try to give him a love bite, he would try to run or pull her hair. Lately, though, it's so cute to see them play together. They do fight over toys and books, but Katherine likes to give him cuddles now. And he'll usually let her, for a second - sometimes, they even hold hands.

Aidan with a hat on

2008-03-08T21:45:00.008-06:00

It's a miracle! Thanks to Belinda for helping me get a photo of Aidan with a hat on - and SMILING! More from our play date to come tomorrow.

My little outdoorsman

2008-03-04T21:39:00.008-06:00

Have I ever told you how much Aidan likes to be outdoors? Any mention of "outside," and he makes a mad dash to the door, trying to reach for the handle. Many times at school, he's tried to "sneak" outside, even long before he was walking. He would casually sit near the door, make sure no teachers were watching him, and when other kids, older kids, were going outside, he would crawl as fast as he could to get out there.

He loves everything about nature. If the wind blows in his face, he doesn't get angry or upset. He gives a tiny gasp, and he lets out a big giggle. When it's warm outside, we drive home with the windows down, so he can enjoy the fresh air. Sometimes, even when it's a bit cool outside, I still roll them down and blast the heat as high as it will go. This also gives him the chance to hear the birds. The grackles of Texas have been in abundance lately, and Aidan is highly amused by their chirping. He looks to the right, looks to the left and points, points, points. "Bir" he says. "Yes, Aidan, those are birds," I say, and he just laughs.

There's nothing like viewing the world through the eyes of your child. Nothing. Everything becomes beautiful and new. Even those grackles. Those annoying little birds I used to yell at because they would poo on my car and wake me up in the middle of the night with their squawking (and once actually pooed on Dan's head at our old apartment) now have become the highlight of our day. Ironic, isn't it?

(BTW, Hopefully everyone voted, if applicable. I did! It was a record turnout in our county. Great news.)

Here's Aidan trying to get mama to take him outside.

Get it off my head!

2008-03-03T20:38:00.002-06:00

Aidan hates things on his head. Baseball hats, winter hats, and in this case, bunny ears. I took 3 shots, and this was the best one. He's way too fast. As soon as he sees my hands heading toward his head, he's reaching in protest. So this is all you get - for now. I may give it another shot this weekend.

Afternoon at the lake

2008-03-02T20:39:00.004-06:00

Aidan and I enjoyed an afternoon at the lake today. He loves the ducks, and loved chasing them even more. He even wanted to get in the lake to get them. Don't worry, I didn't let that happen.

Here comes the heat

2008-03-01T20:09:00.010-06:00

I'm so glad we're about to get out of here. I can't stand the Texas heat. It was nearly 80 today. And then it's supposed to drop again to 40 on Monday. No wonder so many people are sick. The only good thing about the warm weather is Aidan gets to play outside.

Great news!

2008-02-28T22:27:00.003-06:00

My transition leave form was finally signed after much drama, so I'll be finished with the Army on March 20! Yay! I can't tell you how relieved I am that this is all almost over. Shortly thereafter, Aidan and I will be headed to STL. And Dan will join us about a month and a half later. We're very anxious to be done with all of this. And don't worry, you're getting a photo today, too. (Man, I've been on top of it this month!)

Another Aidan obsession

2008-02-27T22:23:00.008-06:00

BOOKS! This is definitely a good thing, since books are much easier to have than dogs. Plus, I think it'll be a while before we can get a dog. I'm not taking care of a child and a dog by myself! No way. He likes books with textures and pull-out pictures. Last weekend we were in Target, and he found some Curious George book that he just loved. The thing was about $20 (*gasp*), but he loved the textures in it, and they were colorful. I ended up putting it back, and he was so mad. So I decided to pull a little trick on him. We went to the dollar bin and picked up a little wooden car and a book. For a total of $2! That probably won't last long, though. I'm sure he'll figure out my plan one day. He's an intuitive little guy. Here's proof he actually does like something other than dogs.

Crazy kid

2008-02-26T22:25:00.002-06:00

This is Aidan in mid-yell. He was hollering at me because he heard the dog down the street barking. He tried to run to the street, I'm assuming to find that dog. He got mad when I picked him up and took him closer to the front door. We were playing ball outside, but he kept trying to run away. He would point and grunt, like I'm supposed to know what he wants. Well I did, but it wasn't about to happen. Yeah, so we ended up going inside to play.

More Aidan

2008-02-24T19:14:00.005-06:00

2 more from last weekend

2008-02-23T21:02:00.007-06:00

Aidan has a nasty stomach bug today. He's been vomiting every time he eats. Poor baby. I hope he's better tomorrow. Since I have no pictures from today, here are 2 more from last weekend.

Dog lover

2008-02-22T08:36:00.005-06:00

This first photo is Aidan after he heard a dog barking down the street. "Daw! Daw! Daw!" He tells me, pointing to where he hears the barking. He is obsessed with animals. He just adores them. The last one is Aidan running away to the neighbor's house. Boy is he fast!

By the way, do you like our hay, uh, I mean grass!?

See some changes?

2008-02-20T19:41:00.003-06:00

No, I'm not trying to freak anyone out by changing the blog every single day. I'm actually in the process of updating my website, and I'd like to have the blog really match this time, soooooo I've just playing with a few ideas. Thanks for putting up with me!

When the weather is too bad to head outdoors, Aidan and I usually hit the mall - not to shop for anything in particular but just for something to do. Unfortunately, that usually means we head to Baby Gap. Yes, the prices are ridiculous, and yes, sometimes I don't even like anything in there...BUT, most of the time, I want to buy one of everything. Now I know this is absurd. Aidan is a pre-toddler (that's his official title at school now), and he is still growing out of his clothes every day. But it doesn't matter. I cannot control myself. I must buy SOMETHING! Well, this time it was a little man shirt. I find myself usually dressing Aidan similarly to how Dan dresses (when he's not wearing one of a thousand football jerseys). Here is our latest purchase. It was worth it. Isn't he so handsome?

Our playdate with Kate and Belinda

2008-02-18T21:16:00.005-06:00

Aidan and I had a great time with our friends Katherine and Belinda today. It was a nice day, so we took a trip to the park. It turned out to be a great photo op!

Your daily Aidan pic

2008-02-18T10:03:00.002-06:00

My latest wedding

2008-02-17T22:52:00.006-06:00

Well, I say it everytime, but shooting weddings really does get easier and easier. Not that it's ever actually EASY. Shooting weddings is the most difficult type of photography, in my opinion. This was from about 3 weeks ago, and it's complete with sabers and everything. Sabers=swords ;) (Oh, and there's a new Aidan pic in the post below, in case you missed it!)

Just an Aidan pic for the day

2008-02-17T20:44:00.002-06:00

Naked baby alert!

2008-02-16T22:06:00.002-06:00

Aidan is growing up way too fast. It's now clear that he understands most things I say to him. When I say, "Aidan, do you wanna take a bath?" he says "Baaaaa!" Then he runs as fast as he can to bang on the bathroom door. (I keep it closed because he likes to play in the toilet water.) He also has a few other words, too. He says "daw" for dog. Today, we were in my bedroom putting away clothes, and he went to the window. He looked out and saw a dog in the neighbor's yard. He kept saying "daw, daw, daw, daw!" I said, "Yes, Aidan, there's a doggie!" So I picked him up so he could see a little better. When I tried to continue to put laundry away, he would pull on my clothes and say, "Mama, DAW!!!!!!" It was a little annoying after the 10th time, but he's so stinking cute...Who am I to deny him?

Anyway! This is Aidan running to the bathroom because I asked him if he wanted a bath.

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T21:12:00.007-06:00

We know it's almost over, but Aidan and I wanted to wish everyone a happy Valentine's Day!!!!!!!

The prince of boo boos

2008-02-13T22:37:00.009-06:00

Over last weekend, I took Aidan to a lake to feed the ducks. Aidan was so excited to see them, and he kept walking as fast as his little feet would take him to get to them. Well, he's still a wobbly little guy, and the result is in the photograph. Aidan took a good hard fall onto the concrete. He cried for a good 30 seconds and then was over it. Today, he climbed on a table at school, and fell off, ending up with a giant goose egg on his forehead. Everybody keeps telling me it's because of B.O.Y. What do YOU think?

What a brave, brave boy

2008-02-12T21:55:00.005-06:00

Aidan's visit to the hospital went very well. He was so brave, and he didn't even cry when strangers took him away. Although I can't say the same for his mama. I cried. Nearly the whole time he was gone, which was all of about 9 minutes. They wheeled him back in, and he had just started to come around. He was completely disoriented and groggy. He was also super cranky. We stayed in a recovery room only for about 10 minutes, and then they said we could go. He seemed better when we got into the car. I suppose because it was a familiar place. The hospital was a long drive from our home, so Aidan was able to take a nap in the car. Then he slept for a couple hours once he was in his crib. When the little guy woke, he was as good as new. We even took a trip to the park where he tried to chase a dog.

Did I mention he's a little walking maniac now? And you can just tell he's so incredibly proud of himself. It's utterly adorable to watch him take every single step and laugh the entire way. He still does look a little drunk though.

Anywho, here are some pictures from our weekend at the lake where we fed the ducks and geese. Did I mention he tried to chase them, too? He needs to share his energy with his mama!

Just a quick photo

2008-02-12T09:22:00.000-06:00

FINALLY!

2008-02-06T22:10:00.000-06:00

My ridiculous internet provider has been having issues lately, so I have only been able to access about 50 percent of the sites I want. This being one of the ones I couldn't access, so I'm sorry for the lack of updates. Also, if anyone has called me recently, I apologize for not returning your calls. My cell phone won't turn on! So email me if you need to chat. :)

Aidan is getting his tubes on Monday. It's scary because he will have anthesesia, but the doc said the surgery will only take about five minutes. And most importantly, Aidan will be more comfortable.

My days have been so busy lately, mainly because my unit is returning from Iraq VERY soon, so those of us who stayed behind have had a million things to do....But I'm not complaining. I got to stay in the U.S. with the wonderful little Aidan and didn't have to head for a second trip to the desert.

Hopefully I'll be getting PS very soon, so I will be able to share some Aidan pics with you.

OH! And if everything goes well, I should be leaving the K-Town on Easter. (March 23, if you didn't know.)

Where to even begin????

2008-01-29T21:07:00.001-06:00

Our lives are a little crazy right now, in case you're wondering why I've been MIA. First, Aidan's been quite sick. He has had a never-ending ear infection since November. We've tried every antibiotic and shots, but they're not helping. So he's been referred to an ENT specialist so he can get tubes. :( I'm scared, but I know this will make him better. Plus, it's a super common procedure. But still, he's my baby, and it makes me sad.

Second, and this is much better news, the Army has moved up everyone's stop-loss date. What that means doesn't really matter. All you need to know is that I get to leave Killeen a month earlier than I had anticipated, which is so wonderful. If nothing changes, my clearing paperwork will begin March 3, and I'll begin my terminal leave March 22. At this point, I plan to move that same day. Lucky for us, the Army has to ship everything back to my home of record. So, Aidan and I will be moving back to St. Louis in less than 2 months. That's exciting for me, but it's also scary at the same time. Having 30 fewer days is stressing me out, honestly. But, I'll just have to deal with it. I've already started my transitioning, and I'm in a workshop this week to prepare my resume and do some mock interviewing.

And, more bad news/good news....My stupid Sony Vaio laptop died right before Christmas. Luckily, we were able to purchase a brand new iMac, which I absolutely adore. The only problem is, now I don't have Photoshop that is compatible with the new computer. This means no new Aidan photos for a while, until I fork over hundreds of dollars for the software. Ugh. (I had been using a trial version, but it just ran out.) I'll try to edit a few at work, but I'm not in the office all week. Sorry! (Especially to the grandparents. I know how much you guys look forward to the Aidan pics.) Then I thought, oh, I'll post a movie of him walking. That'll be great! But then I realized the cord that connects the camcorder to the computer is Sony-specific. Sigh.....

Welp, that's all the news for now. I'll keep you updated on Aidan. We meet with the specialist on Friday afternoon.

A walking zombie (aka Aidan)

2008-01-21T23:22:00.000-06:00

So Aidan is learning to walk, and I'm not sure if all kids do this, but he walks with his hands straight out in front of him - like a zombie. Then he starts laughing and looks up at the ceiling, starts blinking really fast, and then he falls flat on his face. Then he just smiles and gets back up again. He really is a tough little guy.

Family pics

2008-01-14T08:23:00.000-06:00

Both of our families came to Texas when Dan was home on R&R. Here are a few from that time.

Aidan's first Christmas

2008-01-08T08:13:00.000-06:00

So I'm still getting caught up with posting photos from Dan's trip home, but here are some from Aidan's first Christmas. Although he didn't seem too interested in the gifts, he enjoyed the paper and the boxes everything came in. Oh, and he enjoyed climbing on the boxes, too.

Daddy and son

2008-01-07T08:05:00.001-06:00

The best part about having Dan home for nearly 2 weeks was watching him bond with our son. At first, Aidan was a little leary of his dad, but it wasn't long before the two of them were having so much fun together. Here are some photos of the Welch boys.

This is from our visit to the tree farm. We went to get our tree the same day Dan came home. Aidan loved the dog that lives on the farm.

Aidan's baby-sized cake

Daddy blew out the candle for him.

Hey! I think that looks good!

Hey! Why's daddy eating my cake?

The cake - after Dan and Aidan got ahold of it.

I think it's safe to say the child likes chocolate cake.

A whirlwind R&R

2008-01-04T22:47:00.001-06:00

Well, Dan has come home and already is gone again. I'm sitting here alone, wondering how those 2 weeks went so incredibly quickly. Luckily, I have tons of photographs to remember those precious days. We celebrated Christmas, Aidan's birthday, and we were able to go see Mizzou win the Cotton Bowl. I have quite a bit of editing to do, but here are two photos from Christmas day. It was a gorgeous, warm day, so we took Aidan to the park. He LOVES to be outside. I'll post much more tomorrow. Hope everyone had as wonderful a holiday season as my family did.

Almost a year old

2007-12-18T13:29:00.001-06:00

So, I think I'm a moron. I always post photos on here, but I'm never happy with the color. So after reading for a couple of minutes, I realized I should be "saving for the web." Duh. Anyway, here are some photos from a shoot I did with Aidan over the weekend. And I think the colors look soooooooo much better! Yay!

You know you're from St. Louis when....

2007-12-10T22:11:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I've seen MANY of these over the years, but this one had a few I hadn't seen, so I thought I'd post it since many of my blog readers are from STL. Enjoy!

You know you live in Saint Louis when....

You can pinpoint exact references in Nelly's songs.

The only thing you and your friends can think about is leaving. And you all go
away to school. Two years later, everyone is back in town and never wants to leave. (THAT'S ME AND GRET!)

Your daily footwear is Birkenstocks.

When crossing from county to city, you increase your speed by 20 mph.

Three words: Gooey Butter Cake. (Oh, how I miss it.)

The first place you go after a Card's game is Ted Drewes. (And this one too!)

You know how to find the Shane Co., you've memorized American Equity Mortgage's phone number and you know the Mattress Giant jingle.

One day the weather is 80, the next it is 40. (Actually, that happened in Texas this week, too.)

You go to another state, order toasted ravioli and wonder what the hell is wrong with the place when they tell you they don't have it. (Yeah, I've been there.)

You know the phrase "Cheap cheap, fun fun."

You measure distance to get from one place to another in time, not by miles.

You or someone in your family refers to a casino as "the boat."

You have called 590 with your own rant out of frustration for Izzy, Mizzou, Rams, steriods or college football in general (likely all at the same time)

You love toasted ravioli with Budweiser beer.

"Vacation" is a choice between Silver Dollar City and Lake of the Ozarks.

You can find Pestalozzi Street by aroma alone.(Why do I not know what this is?)

You can get anywhere in 20 minutes, except on highway 40. (Well, now you can't get anywhere on Highway 40, right?)

You can debate for 30 minutes whether Missouri Baking or Marge Amighetti makes the best Italian bread.

You know what "Party Cove" is and where the "lake" is.

You still can't believe the arena and the old stadium are gone. (*tear*)

You first question to a new person is "Where did you go to highschool?" (Yup, I even had this conversation with a native St. Louisan in the middle of Baghdad at a chow hall! LOL.)

You know at least one person who's gotten hurt at Johnson Shut-ins. (Didn't you, mom?)

You know in your heart that Mizzou can beat Nebraska in football. (Yup, they did this year!)

You think the 4 major food groups are beef, pork, Budweiser and Imo's. (Uh, I'll take Cecil Whitakers, please.)

You know there are really only 3 salad dressings: Imo's, Zia's, and Rich & Charlie's.

You'll pay for you kid to go to college unless they want to go to KU. (Down with the Jayhawks! Aidan will be a Tiger.)

You would rather have a root canal without anesthetic than drive on Manchester on a Saturday afternoon.

It just doesn't seem like a wedding without mostaciolli. And you pronounce it "muskacholli." The balance of the menu is ham, boiled roast beef, string beans wth ham and of course pitcher of Busch Bavarian (classy weddings have Bud).

You know what a pork steak is...and what kind of sauce to put on it! (I never knew this until I read one of these and did a survey. Apparently it's true!)

Everyone in you family has floated the Meremac River at least once. (Yup!)

A hoosier is somone who lives just south of Chouteau, not a person from Indiana. (Yeah, I use this term all the time, and no one else gets it in Texas. They look at me like I'm crazy - especially the people from Indiana.)

You have made fun of Mike Shannon and tried to imitate him ordering another cold, frosty Busch Bavarian Beer.

You have listened to Mike's broadcast on KMOX, while watching the game on TV and wonder what game he is watching. A tear forms in your eye as someone mentions their favorite Jack Buck story.

You've said "its not the heat, its the humidity." (Duh!)

Your favorite summer treat is handed to you upside down. (Yummy!)

What'd I do, mom?

2007-12-10T08:35:00.000-06:00

Aidan's first Thanksgiving

2007-12-04T11:23:00.000-06:00

In typical Nikki fashion, here's a photo of Aidan on his first Thanksgiving -- well after the fact. ;) Sorry, we're finally caught up with everything after our vacation. Aidan LOVED Thanksgiving dinner, which we had twice, not including leftovers. I've never seen him eat so much table food. He inhaled the turkey. I'll definitely have to make him some more. It was so cute to see him loving the turkey. He also ate plenty of mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, etc. My mom even went behind my back and gave him a cookie! Can you believe it? She waited until I was gone, and she was watching Aidan when I went to Michelle's to take some pics. Then she and Sandy gave him a cookie, and they said he loved it. Go figure!

This photo is of Aidan with my grandpa. With most people he saw in Missouri, it took a while for him to warm up to. Not the case with my grandfather. He adored sitting on his great-grandpa's lap. Soooo cute!

Is Anybody stil out there?

2007-12-02T21:51:00.000-06:00

Wow, it's been such a long time! Please forgive me for my lack of posts. Aidan and I had a nice trip to Missouri, and it was wonderful to see so many of you. I was a non-blogger during our vacation, but I hope to make it up to you!

Before we left, I shot the wedding of a coworker's sister. They're both in the Air Force, and it was such a nice ceremony. They both have wonderfully warm families, and I was so honored to share their day with them. Here's a little preview of their wedding. (Still have more to go through!)

Only 5 more working days for me

2007-11-08T08:03:00.000-06:00

I'm beyond thrilled to be leaving central Texas for a while. Because of Veterans Day, which allows us a 4-day weekend, I only have 5 days until Aidan and I leave for Missouri. Yay! Sorry I don't really have anything else exciting to talk about, but I do have more Aidan photos for you!

Let me out of here!!!

Give me that camera mom!

Spot Loves Daddy

2007-11-07T07:42:00.000-06:00

That's the book I read to Aidan every night before bed. Less than 2 months and Aidan gets to see his daddy. We're sooooo excited!

Meet me in St. Louis!

2007-11-06T08:25:00.000-06:00

Ok, well, not yet, but Aidan and I will be in MO in about 2 weeks! We're so excited, and we're packing our winter clothes! Hope to see many of you soon.

Better late than never - Right?

2007-11-05T08:15:00.000-06:00

Happy Halloween

2007-10-31T07:47:00.000-06:00

Hope everyone has a spooky Halloween, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DAN! (For his sanity, I will not disclose his new age.)

I tried to post more pictures of Aidan in his pumpkin costume, but blogger isn't allowing me to upload them right now. I'll try again later. Sorry!

Aidan has officially been entered!

2007-10-25T07:02:00.000-06:00

Well, I waited until the very last minute, but I did submit 5 photos! I took everyone's advice into account, but I now forget which ones's are entered. They will notify the finalists next week. :) Unfortunately, I couldn't enter #15 because it had to be taken within the past 3 months. That was taken 3 months and 2 days from the deadline. I was sad, since that is one of my favorites of him, but oh well. I didn't want to get disqualified for something silly. Thank you to everyone who
submitted their votes!

Also, I'd just like to put out a little reminder (if you already didn't know!) that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please, if you're over 40 or have a family history, get your mammogram! (I have to get one this year, and I'm only 29!) And don't forget your self exams too. My amazingly strong mother is proof that early detection can kick cancer's butt, so do it! Thanks for listening.

Go Tigers!

2007-10-21T21:30:00.000-06:00

I'd just like to give a little shout-out to the Missouri Tigers who killed Texas Tech Saturday in Columbia. Mizzou is now ranked #13! Go Tigers!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I must get Aidan some Tigers apparel asap!)

Oh, and if you didn't see it, please scroll down to vote for Aidan's Baby Gap submission photos!

Vote now!

2007-10-21T20:26:00.000-06:00

Alright people, I know most of you NEVER EVER comment, but I really need your help this time. I'm going to enter Aidan in the Baby Gap contest, but I can't decide what photos to submit. That's where you guys come in. The judges will base their decisions on 3 things: cuteness, personality (which is why I included some goofy ones, cuz Aidan certainly has plenty of personality!) and photographic quality. The judges will then pick 5 children in each category, and then the public will vote on those finalists to determine a winner in each of the four categories. So, if you will, please pick five of the following: (THANKS A BUNCH!)

#1

#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
#13
#14
#15
#16

#17

More pumpkin fun

2007-10-17T07:19:00.000-06:00

My website is live - Yikes!!!

2007-10-14T21:51:00.001-06:00

Well, the big news is my site is finally up and running. Check it out: ww.nicolewelchphotography.com. What do you guys think?

Aidan and I went to the pumpkin patch with some friends. Here's a little teaser for you. Sorry I don't have more photos edited, but I spent most of my free time (when Aidan was sleeping) finishing my website.

No pics, but there is a video!

2007-10-09T20:01:00.000-06:00

Well, I had a 4-day weekend, and I forgot my batteries on the charger at work, so I have no new photos for you guys. Sorry!

However, I do have a video camera. So, here's an absurdly long video of Aidan at his best, crawling everywhere and pulling up on anything he can find. Enjoy!

Where is fall?

2007-10-04T21:48:00.000-06:00

So the high today was 93. I'm really sick of summer, and I can't wait for sweater weather! It's supposed to "cool off" into the 80's this weekend. Uh, great.

So apparently you can't enter photos that have been displayed for the public (ie this blog). So you guys won't get to see what photos I enter into the contest. Sorry! I think we may tackle that project this weekend.

Things are pretty much the same old thing here. Nothing very exciting is going on at work. Well, there's always drama, but nothing really worth speaking of.

Dan is coming home in less than 3 months, and Aidan and I are sooooo excited. Hard to believe his first birthday is so soon. Yikes.

Cute enough for Baby Gap?

2007-10-02T23:16:00.000-06:00

So they're having a casting call for Gap, and I'm thinking about entering Aidan. Well, actually, I AM going to enter him as soon as I can take some new photos. :)

Happy October!

2007-09-30T21:28:00.000-06:00

Well, I didn't get my recent Aidan pictures uploaded, but I'll still give you something to look at. These are from a wedding shoot a couple of weeks ago. Take a peak and let me know what you think.

WEDDING LINK

Some catching up to do

2007-09-24T13:19:00.000-06:00

I know I've been a terrible blogger this month. Sorry!

Last weekend, John and Heleena came to visit us. Aidan and I had a great visit with them. They even took me out to a great restaurant for an early birthday dinner, which was super nice.

I know I say this on every post, but Aidan is growing up way to fast. Yesterday, he crawled to the window in the living room and pulled himself into a standing position. I am so not ready for him to be walking, but I have a sneaking suspicion that's just around the corner. AAAAAAHHHHHH.

Anywho, here are some photos from this weekend. Some show him on his new toy -- his push-around buggy, or that's what the box said anyway. He loved it! There's also a preview of his Halloween costume. I still need to buy him some black pants to go under it, but I just wanted to try it on him to see what it looked like. I was laughing sooooo hard, and I knew I had to grab a quick shot, so I got the little point and shoot camera out to take it. I don't really think he enjoyed the costume, though. Silly little Aidan.

Last but not least are some more self-timer pics.

Enjoy!

Self-timer pics

2007-09-12T21:21:00.000-06:00

If you look closely in the bottom photo, you can see 1 of his 2 teeth! :)

Where is my little baby?

2007-09-12T07:13:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure when it happened, but Aidan no longer looks like a baby. He looks like a little boy! It makes me kind of sad. But, he's sooo handsome!

I haven't been posting much in the past week because I photographed a wedding, and I'm still trying to get caught up on those photos. And, I was really sick over the weekend. But, I'm feeling great now! Thanks for checking in with me and Aidan.

So many changes

2007-09-04T07:25:00.000-06:00

He loves Direct TV as much as his dad!

Here's Aidan in mid-roll.

He's wondering what he can get into next!

my crawling baby!

He's going to pick out a movie.

Poor baby, his tooth was hurting...And yes, I did cut his fingernails last night! ;)

My little boy is growing so fast. All in about 1-2 weeks, he's learned to crawl, can sit up very well on his own (finally!) and he is getting his first tooth! I can't believe it! The entire weekend, he would only take, at most, a 15-minute nap. I wasn't sure what was wrong with him, but yesterday I saw something in his mouth. I stuck my finger in there and could feel the little ridges of his very first tooth! poor guy, I think it's pretty uncomfortable.

Here are some photos to show you how he's really getting into everything these days. It's hard for mom to keep up with this rolling/crawling maniac! :)

More Army drama

2007-08-28T20:20:00.000-06:00

So the Army has stop-lossed me. This means instead of getting out in April, I'm now getting out in June. I'm really disappointed because I'm so ready to be done with this entire experience. My student loans are paid off and I want out. At least Dan will be here to move with us, well, hopefully. ****knocking on wood******

Sorry no pics today. Things have been busy here. I had 24-hour duty twice in 2 weeks. Luckily, there's an amazing teacher at Aidan's daycare who's totally in love with him (who wouldn't be!) and she watched him for me. She has 3 children of her own and they absolutely loved him too. So he was well cared for. So, that's my excuse for not posting much lately.

A little update: He is just about to crawl. He is up on his hands and knees and rocking back and forth. He can say Da Da. And he is sitting up really well. Oh, and
he's 8 months old today! Can you believe it?

Baby crush

2007-08-26T21:02:00.000-06:00

Aidan and I went to Austin to visit our friends Belinda and Kate. I think Kate has a huge crush on Aidan. Everytime we go visit, she wants to touch him, pull his hair, pat his leg, etc. They are so cute together, especially now that they definitely have little personalities. We all went to the pool together, and we had a great time.

Some more from last weekend

2007-08-16T18:50:00.000-06:00

The heat is on!

2007-08-12T21:25:00.000-06:00

We're finally back to normal temps for Texas in August. That means 100 degrees. Yuck. I took Aidan to the park. We stayed for about 3 minutes. Then he drank a bunch of water, which he loves, and we left. That was all we could take. It's so ridiculous.

Anyway, Aidan finally got his new carseat! It's so nice and soft. I think he loves it. He had completely outgrown the infant seat and was about to go over the weight limit. The little chunkster was too much for that seat. He loves his new seat, he even pets it because it's so soft. I picked this one for it's safety. It cost an arm and a leg at $270, but it's obviously worth it to ensure my baby is the safest possible. It kind of makes me sad they charge so much for a car seat. Shouldn't all babies be equally safe? I'll save that argument for another day.

Aidan has started waving. It's the cutest thing, and I'm really going to try to capture it on video so you guys can see it. He opens and closes his little hand when you say hi to him. It's the most amazing thing ever. He's such an amazing little baby. Well, not so little I guess.