22 months!

You love listening to daddy's ipod!

At 22 months you.....

*have had your first stitches!

*weigh 25 pounds 6 ounces and are 34 inches tall

*Just today you said "I love you mama" and "I love you dada", before it was always "Love you", these 4 simple words melt my heart!

*still only drink water, sometimes you'll drink an organic juice box

*are still nursing 2x a day, before nap and before bed. Dr. Sears and the WHO rec nursing for 2 years so I guess we are going to meet their recommendations:-) So far I'm just too tired in my pregnancy to fight it, maybe in a week or so when the fatigue is over I'll focus on weaning you more.

*will pee in the potty like a champ if mommy stays on it but still won't poo in the potty. If I ask you if you have to poo when I know you do you say no and run and do it in your diaper.....so I'm not pushing going #2 on the potty yet b/c I don't want you to freak out and refuse to poo or something

*wheels on the bus is still your favorite song, followed closely by itsy bitsy spider

* are very opinionated and tell me if I'm doing something wrong or if you don't want to do something....you aren't very easy to persuade otherwise

*your laugh is so contagious, mommy and daddy always end up laughing with you!

*love to play in the water, with the hose, water tables, dog bowls...you name it

*your pretty bossy with Fifi and for some reason she listens to you, daddy and I both laugh when we hear "no no didi, this way" "didi this way now". She probably listens to you b/c for every bossy moment you give her at least 10 kisses and hugs so your love is far superior to your attitude:-)

*love to help cook, whenever I'm making a meal or anything you have to be "up up, watch mama". So you sit on the counter and watch or help with what you can. Yesterday you made brownies and poured all the ingredients in the bowl by yourself and helped me stir. You have to help whenever possible. When we make oatmeal you have to pour the oatmeal in the pot.

*when you wake up in the morning you give me a kiss to wake me up and then say "up mama" and pull me out of bed. And RUN to your playroom to start the day playing. I don't know how you have so much energy so quick!

Your an absolute delight to be around all the time and I'm so in love with everything you do and every new adventure we go on together! Love you baby boy!! Can't wait to see what the next month will bring!

Kayden's Perfect Day

Driving the train car:-)

The model train room, he loved watching the train go round and round

Yummy!! Loves his ice cream like his mommy!

His 1st Carousel ride

The train he made go!
Pushing the magic button

Walking with the "train conductor" to do some business
He chose this train car, the only "different" one on the train

Waiting his turn

Last weekend Kayden had a perfect day. We woke up and went to Starbucks like we do every morning. He had his "saturday blueberry muffin" and his tall ice water (he thinks it is his coffee:) and mommy had her ice water.....yes the new baby has made me have a HUGE aversion to coffee, even decaf coffee is totally out of my diet:( We ate our breakfast and daddy drank his coffee and we walked to watch the ducks. We let him sit and watch the ducks for longer than usual b/c it was a nice morning and then we walked back home. We packed up the camera and headed to the Railroad park in Scottsdale. Kayden was SO excited on the ride to the park, talked about riding choo choos the whole way. We got there and parked and he went running for the trains. We rode on the train and he was in heaven as it chugged along. The highlight of the ride was going thru the tunnel, everyone raises their hands up and says "choo choo" as you go through the tunnel and he thought that was the greatest thing ever. We went through an old train and the conductor held his hand and walked him to a special button, he pushed the button and got to see the choo choo go through the train car, he was SO proud of himself for making that happen. After that we rode on the carousel, his first time ever and he wasn't so sure about it as we waited for it to start moving, but once we were going he had a HUGE smile on his face the whole time. Then off to get ice cream, he got his own cone and we sat in the shade and ate our ice cream watching the train go by. We ended with some playtime at the park and a viewing of the model train room and off we went to lunch. He fell alseep in the car so we couldn't eat right away, we went home and of course he woke up and wouldn't go back to sleep. So we loaded back up and ended his perfect day with his favorite food...PIZZA at Oregano's!

He was so happy all day with mommy and daddy and the choo choos. I loved giving him a day all about him and full of his favorite things. The happiness in his eyes was priceless and something I will remember forever!

"Wowie"

His poor little finger

He was actually in good spirits that night!

On Wednesday Kayden had his first big "wowie" or owie as we would say. Kyle has been sweeping and mopping b/c I've been so sick but he skipped doing it this last weekend and I couldn't take it so I decided to put a Thomas the train video on for Kayden and quickly sweep and mop. Of course w/ my Kayden a video doesn't entertain him for more than 5 minutes....so he wanted to "help". We couldn't find his mini broom and mop (come to find out daddy had hidden them b/c he was tired of Kayden dragging them around everywhere). So Kayden used my big mop while I swept. Then I went to get mop water, and he helped me put the mop in the water, I thought he had let go. I lifted the mop up to squeeze the water out and I hear screaming. I look down and his finger is caught in the area b/t the handle you push down and the metal part connecting it to the mop. I FREAK. He is frantic. Then I can't get his finger out, it was squished into a hole it shouldn't have fit in. While I'm trying to figure out what to do next he yanks his finger out and blood starts squirting everywhere. I knew it was bad right away, the skin was stuck and he pulled it so roughly. I rush him to the sink and blood is trailing behind

us:(. After rinsing it and seeing how big the opening is I know we have to go get stitches so I put a paper towel around it and by the time we get to the garage it is soaked through. I go in and get lots more, put him in his seat and tell him to hold it tight on the owie and he tells me "okay" in b/t his cries. My heart was breaking for him b/c I can only imagine how bad it hurt and how scared he was by all the blood. I couldn't decide if I should take him to the urgent care or ER so I call Auntie Jac Jac thinking my 24 hour on call nurse will know, she told me to stop by the UC to check. I called the number on the building and thankfully they could do stitches. We were luckily the only people in the building so we got right in. He cried through the entire 10 minutes of paperwork I had to fill out and mommy cried with him. Once we were taken back I started worrying about him dealing with the nurses and doctor's messing w/ his hand but he did better than I could have expected. We first had to soak his hand and he kept saying "all done" but listened and kept his hand in the water. After the doctor looked at it he said it did need stitches so we had to give him a shot of lidocaine so they wrapped him in a sheet and I sat next to him to divert his attention and this is where mommy decided to be a patient too. I don't do well with blood, never have. But being pregnant and watching my baby go through this must have been too much b/c they looked over at me and said I was white and I needed to sit on the ground. Of course germophob me thinks, yeah right crazy ppl, no way am I sitting down on this floor in a medical center. So I stick it out sitting next to him as the doctor stitches it up. After he is done stitching and they are doing whatever else they had to do I start feeling really funny. So they look again and tell me I need to lay down. I decide to sit down and pass out for a brief moment after I got clammy and the room started to spin and my whole body got tingly. They brought me wet towels and had me lay on a bed and got me apple juice. I felt horrible that I couldn't suck it up for my own kiddo, but no matter how hard I tried I just kept feeling that way. After Kayden was done he was laying with me on the bed and I continued to have the "pass out" feeling and according to them was looking very white. I was a bit scared to drive home b/c I couldn't shake the feeling but as I was deciding if I could Kayden fell asleep instantly in the Tahoe. So I went thru the drive thru to get some food and headed home. My baby slept from 1-5, he was so tired from all the crying. He woke up showing me his "wowie" and as soon as Kyle got home he pointed to the mop and said "wowie daddy" :( He will now probably have a fear of mops! He was very careful that night when daddy bathed him and held his hand high in the air to keep it dry:-) And whenever I say "be careful with your finger" he is sure to be very gentle and baby it with whatever he is doing. When we have to change the dressing he usually cries, not sure if it hurts when we remove it or if looking at it is what upsets him but he handles it all well b/c he gets a doggie bandaid to make it fun. He also got to go to Target yesterday and pick out a new train for being such a big boy at the doctor, and chose the orange train named Billy.

I told the doctor I couldn't believe that mopping was a dangerous activity (I mean who would EVER think??) and he told me that with a toddler everything is dangerous and all 5 of his kids have had stitches multiple times and I'd have to get used to it.........I hope he is wrong!! It was a very traumatic experience for Kayden and I and I don't think I can handle it over and over!

Big Bro!

Kayden is going to be a big brother on November 7th and mommy and daddy couldn't be more excited!

I found out I was pregnant on Thursday, February 26th. Auntie Sara and I were taking the kiddos to the zoo that morning and I decided I'd take a test b/c on zoo days I always stop and get a mocha frappacino from Starbucks....so I needed to know if I could get my coffee buzz that morning. I was sure it would be no, it was the first month we were trying and I thought I'd see a negative sign and go get my coffee. But to my surprise it was a very positive test, I had trouble breathing b/c I was so sure it would be negative. My shock turned to instant happiness and I called daddy right away to tell him......he was very surprised too! After that I called Auntie Carly, she was the first friend I told that Kayden was on his way so I wanted her to be the first for this baby too, but she didn't answer. Since I was picking Sara up to go to the zoo of course I told her my news right away, I couldn't keep it in because it was so brand new and exciting. We told Grandma & Grandpa Westerbuhr by sending them a video of Kayden telling them that I had a baby in my belly:-)

Around 5 1/2 weeks the nausea set in and hasn't decided to leave my side since. I always thought when I was pregnant this time it would be so much easier b/c I don't have to go to work. But I was very wrong, being pregnant and feeling awful is way easier at work than at home with an energetic toddler that wants 100% of mommy's attention 24 hours a day. I think how awful I feel has helped Mr. Kayden develop more independent play though because mommy is definetely not the same mommy I was 3 months ago! The evenings are the worst right now, I think it might be b/c by then I'm so tired from the day that the tiredness combines with the nausea and makes it a train wreck. If I throw up it's always in the evening (w/ Kayden it was always in the morning) but the nice thing about pregnant puking is you can eat right after:-) I'm super sleepy too which makes Kayden's afternoon nap the highlight of my day. And most nights I go to bed with him at night. I've gotten too tired to do his bed time routine and since he won't let Kyle lots of nights he just comes to bed with me. I know I'm setting myself up for night time issues but by 8 o'clock I can't think about that, all I can think about is laying in my bed! But on the nights I do have the energy he has went to his bed just fine, so hopefully it's all going to be okay once this sleepy time passes!

Kayden is very excited to be a big brother! He gives my belly kisses all day long and will come up to me and say "baby" and lift my shirt to kiss the baby. The day I took the pregnancy test Kyle randomly asked Kayden "what's in mommy's belly?" and he said "baby" and from that point on he hasn't forgotten about the baby in my belly and that he will be the big brother. He loves to read to my belly, show the baby his toys, feed my belly and talk to the baby. He gets mad at me b/c I can't reach my belly to kiss it:-) so I have to kiss my hand and then my belly...which isn't what he wants, already watching out for his sibling. I love how excited he is for our family growing and I love that he gets to have a sibling.

We had our first doctor's appointment on March 24th and we got to see the tiny bean on the ultrasound machine and see it's little heart flickering and of course mommy cried at the sight of the little life growing inside of me. I had another doctor's appointment yesterday and as soon as the nurse put the doppler on my belly Kayden and I got to hear the thumpity thump of the baby's heart beating in my belly. I remember that sound being so wonderful when I was pregnant with Kayden and it was the same excitement hearing it with this baby. I love having a little life growing inside my tummy.

Daddy & I are thrilled to have a new baby to hold, kiss, smell, cuddle and watch grow and love that our family is growing from 3 to 4.

You are the sweetest!

Kayden I really don't think you could be any sweeter than you are. When mommy is busy doing chores and your off playing you will randomly come up to me and softly kiss me on the leg, just above the knee, where your tiny little head meets my leg. Everytime you do it, it melts my heart and reminds me of how lucky I am to have you as mine. Today I was doing my progress reports for my clients and you were playing with daddy, you left him, came and found me in the office and gave me my "leg kiss" and then headed back to playtime with daddy. You made my day in that moment and I will forever cherish my leg kisses as you grow and pass me up in height, I'll remember at one time you were so tiny that your head hit a couple inches above my knee and you would give me kisses there. I'm the luckiest mommy in the world to have you and I love you more than you could ever imagine! Thanks for my leg kisses baby, they are the best!
Love you~ Mommy

Kayden's 2nd Easter

3 Generations of Hingst Men!

The cutest lil bunny I've ever seen!

Decorating his Easter Eggs

Frosting the cake Grandma wanted for dessert
Running in the rain Saturday morning with Daddy

He had to have EVERYONE on the floor playing with him!

Grandma Hingst giving him a bath

Kayden celebrated his 2nd Easter this past weekend. He was spoiled by having his Grandpa & Grandma Hingst fly in to celebrate w/ him. He was so excited for them to come before they arrived, he kept talking about them flying in, going for walks with "didi" with him and reading books. Daddy and I were a little worried he might still be sick when they got here (he had been running a 101-103 degree temp from Tuesday-Thursday and was just miserably sick, sleeping all day, only wanting mommy to hold him, not eating, etc). Daddy was sure it was a virus but I convinced him to take him to the doctor on Thursday and he was glad he did, Kayden had a double ear infection. His first ever! So he got some medicine and was starting to feel better by the next morning when we pick G&G up from the airport. On Saturday it rained so his Easter egg hunt was cancelled. But that night we dyed Easter eggs and Sunday he woke up to an Easter egg hunt in the house and his Easter basket was waiting for him on his little white table. We all went to church, I love our Easter mass b/c it's outside in a big tent and Kayden loved church outside too. After church we came home and made Easter dinner and then all went for a walk to the park. Kayden loved that Grandpa brought him "Do dos"=donuts every morning while he was here. And he really loved going to Target and picking out his Easter gift from G&G, of course we showed him lots of toys but.....he chose a Thomas the train set, big surprise:-)

Thanks G&G for coming and spending time with Kayden! He loved having you here and can't wait for your next visit!

21 Months

Kayden this month mommy is way behind on your update so I'll keep it short and sweet. This month you changed a million more ways as you do every month and I have gotten to know you a little more better. Your personality is so big and I love being around you so much. You can make me smile when no one else can and I love that about you.

*This month you are doing great with potty training. You are doing it without any real nudging from mommy or daddy. We just introduced it and you have taken off with it. You tell me when you have to go potty through out the day (of course not all the time but lots of times through out the day) and can keep your diaper dry for a good while all on your own. You haven't gone poo in the potty yet though, you keep waiting to tell us about that until after it's already too late.

*You are sleeping through the night! This happened a couple weeks ago and mommy is loving it! I night weaned you using Dr. Jay Gordan's gentle night weaning methods and it did take awhile, you'd still wake up crying for milk but I would give you hugs and kisses and tell you I was there but we weren't having milk....and after several weeks you now don't wake up asking for milk anymore! And thus...you don't wake up anymore! You are now down to just nursing before your nap and before bed so I'm hoping we can gently phase those both out here very soon.

*You are a little communicator talking almost continuously throughout the day....you definetely define talking your ear off! You love talking and mommy gets her verbal workout during the day responding to all you have to say. Your vocabulary is huge and people often tell me that there are sure you have to be way older than you are for all you have to say, you talk in 3 and 4 word phrases alot now and I seldom hear less than 2 words at once coming out of your little mouth. It amazes me how well you can communicate with daddy and I (although sometimes I do have to interpret for daddy:-). One of my favorite things you say right now is "hi mama" you have the cutest way of saying it, your inflection is so distinct and it brings a huge smile to my face when I enter a room or come through the door.

*Most of the time you are the sweetest little boy ever and full of hugs and kisses for everyone and big smiles for the world. But sometimes for no reason at all you will hit, bite or push a friend or random stranger at the park. You must have a reason for it in your little mind but for mommy it always seems so unprovoked, so when I read about how to "deal" with it in toddler books it's hard b/c they talk about "situations" that occur, like a friend taking your toy and a kiddo biting b/c of that, or 2 kiddos wanting the same toy, etc....so when I can't see a reason it's hard to "reason" w/ you. So we have resorted to time out for these unacceptable behaviors and it seems to works sometimes. I'm hoping this is just a short lived phase and I don't have to deal with it very long b/c it is very frustrating. But like I said...most of the time you are as sweet as candy baby boy!

*You have decided you hate bugs, must get this from mommy. You love to find them and smash them and flush them down the toilet:-) You also find them at the park and "smash smash smash" them. I'll be up ahead walking Fifi and you'll be behind me stomping like crazy thinking your going to get the ants. One day I thought it was ants and it ended up being a swarm of bees...but somehow they didn't sting you!

*Choo Choo, is a sound I continue to hear very often. Your favorite toy other than books and Jax continues to be your Choo Choo train. You wake up in the morning saying Choo Choo and want to play with it for alot of your day.

*You LOVE to eat and snack and just hang out at your little table. You would do every meal there if mommy would let you but we have to keep it to the non-messy foods for now. You like mommy or daddy to sit there w/ you to eat to and if we can't Jax is always a great buddy for your meals......but the best is when a friend is over to eat with you!

Alright baby boy, I'll stop for now b/c I need to keep stuff for your 22 month post which will be here before I know it, hopefully I'll be more on top of it then! Thanks for being you and giving us the gift of going from a happy couple to a happy family! Love you!

Paige is a Big Sister!

Evann Hope & Molly James

Auntie Carly had her twins this week! Her water broke and they were delivered by C-section and mommy and the girls are both healthy and home. I'm pretty bummed I live so far away and haven't gotten to hold them yet or see them in person but hopefully soon. When I talked to Carly on the phone she said they looked very different and she was right! Evann looks more like her mommy's side of the family and Molly looks more like her daddy's side of the family. I'm just so happy she carried them so long (36 weeks and 6 days!) and that they didn't have to go to the NICU at all. CONGRATULATIONS Armijo family on two gorgeous additions to your family!

Nekkid Gymnastics

Of course he has to have a cheese picture!

Kayden is doing awesome with potty training....not due to mommy at all. I haven't really "jumped" on the potty training band wagon yet. Just going with his lead and he is definitely ready. I guess I wasn't expecting him to be ready until he was 3 b/c that is when I've always read and heard most boys gain control of the "sphincter" muscle and before then potty training is worthless. I guess his little sphincter is ready b/c he tells me he has to go potty often and whenever he does he actually goes. He even empties it in the toilet, and then flushes the pee pee down and says "bye bye pee pee". We've had some dry diapers and he always tells me when he poos now (although it's after the fact). So mommy needs to get on it and finish what Kayden has started. I will, I promise..maybe in a couple weeks.

BUT w/ potty training comes a nekkid baby. He thinks he has to take all of his clothes off to go potty, shirt included. And then he would rather just stay nekki. So today after he told me he had to go potty, went and then wouldn't get dressed, I found him in his room doing somersaults in his bed in the nude. He is very good at somersaults now and loves doing them and I thought it was so funny seeing his naked booty sticking up in the air!

Mini "Neigh Neighs"

Getting as close as he can to the "big Neigh Neighs"

They were both so excited!

Tula wasn't so sure about petting the horse

Kayden loved it!

The horse had pretty baby blue eyes!

Last Wednesday Christa and I took the kids to a mini horse show in Scottsdale at Westworld. On the drive there the kiddos were pretty good but decided they wanted to sing songs....nothing like singing Wheels on the Bus over and over to make you feel like a mom. And Tula and Kayden thought it was SO fun (and funny) to have 2 mommies singing with them. Kayden kept saying "more", after a couple rounds of the bus song and itsy bitsy spider our voices were shot and luckily we were very close. As soon as we got out of the Tahoe someone was walking their little horse by and the kids got to pet her and Kayden was in heaven. He LOVED being that close to a horse just his size. Tula wasn't so sure about it. And after we left the horse Kayden kept saying "more neigh neighs" and then we walked up to an arena where there were big horses and he went running and saying "more big neigh neighs" over and over. He had the best time watching the horses, petting them and "neighing" at them. He just had pure joy, I see why people say they see God in children under 5, the joy they have for everything in the world is the closest thing we will ever get to God in this World.