8 Things About AJ....

Elise...thanks for tagging me! This is fun to think about!

1. AJ is 100% all boy. His newest favorite thing to do is scream at the top of his lungs, wait for a reaction, then laugh hysterically.

2. AJ loves his food! Even his teachers at school say the same on his monthly reports! He pretty much eats anything but peas. Which, I can't blame him...peas are gross (especially when mashed and pureed into a runny substance they call baby food). He now eats cheerios, and a little bit of everything we eat.

3. AJ is a go with the flow kind of baby. He is so even tempered, and does not HAVE to stick to his schedule. Which makes it nice for trying to get things done on the weekends!

4. AJ's smile and laugh can light up a room!

5. AJ is a very strong little boy...In only his first 9 months of life, AJ has had pneumonia and a skull fracture. Neither one affected him much. When he came down with pneumonia at 5 months, they also diagnosed him with "reactive breathing"---which is asthma, and has a nebulizer machine that he has to have treatments on, but handles everything like a champ...

6. AJ looks exactly like his dad! Fortunately, his dad is quite handsome! Some of his expressions are no doubt mine, but for the most part he really is a miniature Andrew.

7. AJ has always been a good sleeper. (with the exception of the first 2 weeks of me going back to work). He started sleeping for 6 hour stints when he was 6 weeks old! Now, he goes to bed sometime between 7-8, and we have to wake him up at 6:15 to get ready for school!

8. AJ's favorite toy by far has been the jumparoo. He can only stay in it for another 3 pounds, but the day we have to take that away will not be a happy one. However, he jumps so hard, I am not sure the thing will last him a few more pounds!

I will tag Stephanie...you're the only other one I know on blogspot besides Elise!

Here are two pictures with AJ and each of his little girl cousins...AJ & Abby on Christmas morning, and AJ and Natalie...sorry Natalie...AJ wanted to eat your head!

We can finally catch our breaths!

After 2 weeks of extremely busy times at work for us, we can catch our breaths! We had such a great time on vacation! AJ loved the water and playing! AJ also had so much fun on Christmas...it was a 4 day celebration, starting with meeting his new cousin, Natalie!

AJ now has 2 teeth all the way through and is working on 2 more. He is 27.5" tall, and weighs a modest 21 pounds. We found out the day before flying that he had ear infections in both ears; but handled them like a champ! He gave none of the typical ear infection signs. No fever, no crabbiness, no grabbing his ears...so, we were shocked to find out he had ear infections!

We go back to the doctor at the end of the month for his 9 month checkup! I can't believe it!

He is so close to crawling...he rocks and dives and does very well going backwards, so the forward movement is coming any day! Watch out world...

We're Home!

Well, it's super late and I have to go to work tomorrow for the first time in 2 weeks, but I had to upload a couple of my favorite shots from vacation! We had so much fun and AJ was such a good little traveler! I will update more later this week...

Happy Holidays!

Well, we have had a busy few weeks here! I have been bad about updating the blog. Andy and I have both been extremely busy at work with all kinds of year-end pressure! And, this is our last week in the office, because of the holidays and vacation---we are very excited!

Here is a picture of AJ in his Notre Dame jersey that was sent to us by a great family friend...thanks Tom if you are out there!

AJ had so much fun in his jersey and playing with his game-size football from Grandpa Joe! He is destined to be a linebacker!

We also had breakfast with Santa this weekend at Naperville Country Club with Andy's family! AJ was pretty content with Santa until about noon when he decided he was tired...but we had to get the obligatory crying on Santa's lap picture!

AJ also made himself a moose stuffed animal at the brunch with Santa...he enjoyed playing with all the stuffing that goes inside the moose!

AJ's first tooth is pretty much all the way in and getting bigger every day. The second tooth is getting ready to cut through on the bottom, so before we know it, he will have a nice toothy smile!

We are leaving this weekend to go visit Jack, Stephanie and Natalie...AJ will meet his cousin for the first time! What a special Christmas for everyone. We can't wait to share with everyone this holiday season!

Merry Christmas everyone! We love and miss you all!

AJ's New Cousin

Welcome to the family, Natalie! Jack and Stephanie's new bundle of Joy arrived one week ago--December 2nd. Natalie Sophia was 7 pounds, 13 ounces, and 21 inches!

We are so happy she arrived happy and healthy! Jack & Stephanie are doing great as well and enjoying their new role as parents! Check out their blog...http://jackandsteph.blogspot.com/

In AJ's world, not too much has changed. He caught a small flu bug this week, but handled it like a champ. Oh, he did find his "peanut." Andy and I were fully aware of the find, however, I had to pick him up from daycare early due to the flu bug and the teachers informed me that they could not get his attention during his sink bath because he was too preoccupied with his "peanut." Andy and I couldn't be more proud!

I can't believe he's 7 months!

Well, we had a terrific Thanksgiving, and AJ had so much fun playing with his "cousin," Max (I say "cousin" because I can't figure out what the true relation is...Max is my cousin's son that is 3 days older than AJ).

And, on AJ's true 7 month birthday, a tooth started to appear. So, this week has been a little crazy with a fussy child...he is usually not fussy and so for us, this has been a strange week. He is still a good sport, and is learning lots of new sounds. Of course we have the mamamamamamamamamama, and dadadadadadadadada, but now we have the new joy of nananananana. For those of you with children, you know what I am talking about. And, strangely, when he needs something or is fussy or tired, the mamamamama comes out and he looks right at me. But when it is time to play or for fun, the dadadadadada comes out and he looks right for Andy...

At the 6 month checkup, he was 19 pounds, 7 ounces and 26 inches! He is our big boy! No longer in the infant carrier....

Andy and I have holiday parties, and weddings galore now, so we are appreciating all the babysitting help we are getting from family. Jack & Stephanie's baby is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, if not sooner...so we can't wait to find out if AJ's new cousing will be a boy or a girl!

Anyways, that's all for now!

What's New?

Well, as you can see, I have not posted to the blog in almost 2 months! Guess things have been busy! October flew by, and November is almost gone..I can't believe Thanksgiving is this week!

Well, for Halloween, I took a 1/2 day and went with AJ up to Andy's office to show him off in his monkey costume...he was adorable and was very interested in a little girl dressed as a butterfly. AJ also went with his Grandma & Grandpa H to the country club with his aunts and cousin to celebrate Halloween while Andy and I were at a Bears game with Nick & Lauren.

We had a great time at the Bears game, and from the pictures and stories we heard from the country club event, AJ had a great time at the Halloween celebration.

We also went downtown for lunch for Grandma N's birthday with Grandma and Grandpa N and Nick & Lauren. Then, we went to the Shedd Aquarium, which was a great time! AJ really enjoyed all the fish and the colors!

Today, we just got back from going to the Ringling Brothers circus downtown. AJ was very good, and enjoyed the first half. He fell asleep at intermission and then the human cannon ball woke him up for the finale!

And, last but not least, we had the official 6 month checkup and have been cleared of all pneumonia, no longer have to do breathing treatments 2/day (the month of that was hard). And, AJ weights 19 pounds, 7 ounces and is 26" long. He is 75th percentile for weight and 25th percentile for height...but we think he is taller than they measured. Also, he has a tooth that is now starting to try to break through...so we officially begin the "teething stage"!

So, Happy Thanksgiving everyone...I will try to keep this up to date more often so it is not a page long when I post!