these boots were made for walkin...

It has happened.  The day that we had all been waiting in anticipation... my Auden boy is a walking boy!  While we were in Washington visiting family, my mother and sister in law were able to coax/trick him into taking about 10 steps.  Then about a week later, he was doing the same thing! Day after that, more steps.  Now he hardly ever crawls.  I have to admit, when this first started happening... I felt like my baby was slipping through my fingers.  But the blessing is that there is a lot of fun with a walking baby boy.  I love him in jeans, a hoodie with the hood up, and holding his hand as we walk around together.  The other day, he had his box of goldfish crackers, walking around the sidewalk in our front courtyard, waiting for daddy. It was so precious.  And you better believe that people were in awe as they saw the handsome boy! ;)  I love that he now waves at people-- especially the ladies and other little children.

Tangent story that you'll appreciate: there is a little girl, three years old, that Auden is smitten with.  We were at a primary activity and Auden walked up to her and tried to hold her hand.  She kept trying to take her hand away and sweet Auden kept trying to hold it.  He eventually gave up.  Basically I melted all over the floor when I saw this.  What a little flirt!  I can't get enough of this boy and his growing personality...

Anyway, here are some comparison videos.  The first I posted a few months ago.  It was around when he was 9 months (?maybe??) and we had just bought the walker toy for him.  The next video is him when he first started to really walk (April 3rd).  He is so much better now!  I can't wait to see him walk around, holding hands with his friends, his aunties and uncles, cousins.... um, pretty much the most precious thing ever.  Thanks for sharing in this amazing milestone with us!

9 month old baby: 

13 month old toddler:

happy birthday, auden!

oh my stars...

it's been {over} a year of cuddles... kisses... cries... laughter and just so much bubbly goodness. like a really good soda....  It's pretty predictable that my day will include all of these every single day.  And that is not a problem for me.  To be completely honest, it has been the hardest year of my life physically, mentally, and emotionally.  but every night, I realize how worth it this all is.  I have never felt more "at home" with myself in a role that I've taken on.  This is what I was meant to do.  I feel that. I truly feel that all of the things I have learned has led me to become Auden's mama.

So, for this boy's birthday, he didn't have one party-- but two!! Talk about spoilage.... I guess we don't have to do one next year!! ;) Like I said in Auden's birthday banner post we celebrated with the our friends, the Mangums.  On the Saturday of the birthday weekend, we all gathered at the Mangums' home to enjoy the boys' welcome to toddlerhood!

Look at those boys eating their cakes!!! "sugar... sugar.... SUUUUGGGAAAAR!"  

 they're still not the best at playing with each other, but it's pretty much already planned that they will be friends. 

***********

The next day was Auden's birthday, the 24th.  My parents were in town (they would not miss their first grandbaby's birthday... ever) and we had a Korean traditional first birthday (called dol-- pronounced like the "Dole" juice.. but with a stronger "d" sound), well, as traditional as we could do.  We had lots of fun and ate lots and LOTS of great food (which is a great thing about Korean parties/get-togethers), but in some of these pictures, Auden may indicate otherwise.  Disclaimer: we had just gotten out of church, I don't think he napped very long... and he was hunger.  Basically: DISASTER.  Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes got nothin' when it comes to a baby/toddler and their basic needs for survival.

look at that rage!!! 

 what i've learned about Auden: food = happiness. 

.... he gets it from me.... 

 it's like the tears never happened... 

thank you to my sweet aunt in korea who sent the beautiful hanbok! 

thanks to everyone who wished Auden a happy birthday. 

thank you to everyone who has been there, supporting us during this first year of parenthood. 

thanks to my parents who came, and other family who were there in spirit! 

happy birthday, baby boy. 

thanks for coming into our lives and making us the happiest of happy. 

New Haven, CT: check!~

For those of you who have not yet experienced this flaw I'm about to share: consider yourselves lucky! For those who have, I am sorry. 

Hi, my name is Ginnie, and I am a bad gift giver.

It's very true.  I have such a hard time thinking of good, helpful, thoughtful, creative gifts for those I love.  For this past Valentine's, I "surprised" Nelson with one of his favorite meals. That's it. waah waah waaaaaah. Nelson however, gave me a cute "card" from  him and Auden, an {almost} 2 LB. box of chocolates, and, last but not least... a trip to New Haven, CT!!! As this may show, Nelson as a wonderful compliment to me, is an excellent give thinker-upper/giver.  It's a good thing I married him.  Or else I probably never would be invited to a birthday/wedding/celebration-that-requires-a-gift again.  Thanks, love. 

So, I have LOTS of pictures for you from our trip to New Haven.  Stay tuned!! Here are some pictures of Valentine's and a preview of our New Haven adventures.  To sum up: we had so much fun.  

his gifts:

my gift..... 

 

best gift: having this little boy with us for Love Day. 

{insert "aaaawwww" from audience} 

New Haven! 

(aka: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry)

this was me in the middle of telling Nelson to not look so awkward and come closer. it cracks me up how far away he is from us. That man. never fails at making me smile and laugh. 

 

Also....

Can you believe that this very sober boy who rarely smiles for cameras is going to be ONE in less than a week???? Oh my dear.... where has this year gone? I love you my little Auden. Sweet baby boy. You'll always be this baby in my eyes. love you.

puppy love

there are days {ok, fine, lots of days}, where my sweet husband will let me get a couple more hours of sleep and get Auden in the mornings, feed him, and play with him.  He also does the dishes-- can I get a "woot woot" and a "best husband" award over here??? 

Anyway, sometimes I'll hear a "mamamamamama" by me and I realize that Auden has crawled over, stood up, and is trying to climb onto the bed to me.  sweetest. thing. ever. even if I am sleep deprived... so I go and lift him up and bring him on to the bed with me and he gives me loves.  He'll give me kisses... I give him kisses... he lays down next to me.. and just lets me know that he missed and loves me.  Seriously some sweet mama moments going on every morning.  I'm excited for the day when Auden completely realizes how to cuddle and won't wrestle and bite us every time we attempt to teach him the whole cuddling concept... but then again, those days will be a lot more than these.  He's not going to be biting us at age 5.... right?? Crossing my fingers over here.  By then, I hope he understands that when I "cry" it's not a sign for more bites. We're constantly on our toes because of this one.  Sometimes it's because he'll try and nip at our pants but gets actual leg... sometimes it literally because he wants to bite our toes.  I thought we had a baby boy in the family, and not a puppy.  I guess we were wrong! 

this morning, 2/7/2013