Happy Happy New Year from the Walkers

2010 has been a whirlwind... a rollercoaster of emotions and happiness.  2010 brought us our sweet Aiden - a bit early and a bit tiny, but healthy and happy and perfect in the end :)  It was very scary at the beginning, but I think that Jim & I have started to get a hang of this parenting thing and are really settling into a routine that we are both comfortable with and enjoy.  Aiden has been such a blessing and is growing faster than I could have ever imagined.  Though still smaller than some of the older kids in his class... I think he is just ginormous!! ;-)  He is now sitting up on his own & rolling all over the place, I just know he is about to take off!  He is eating SO much - if this is any look into his teenage years, I am going to need to look into owning a grocery store =) 

2010 also brought me a new and exciting job that I am looking forward to starting in the new year.  God is slowly but surely answering many of mine and Jim's prayers and we are ever so greatful!  Although this year had many rocky roads, it has come to end very smoothly and gives me much hope for a healthy, happy, successful 2011.  May God bless everyone in 2011 and may you have a FABULOUS NEW YEAR!!!

Just to cap off 2010 w/ a smile, here is my sweet man just a playing... ENJOY!!

Holiday Pictures by Shannon Hellen =)

Just a few more holiday pictures courtesy of my wonderful sister-in-law:



Aiden in Motion

Here I am trying to do a better job at posting :)  Check out some cute little videos of my little dude...

Noni introduced him to the drums... the drums stayed at Noni's.

My little guy entertained himself for a good 45 minutes :)

On a side note... My little brother FINALLY did it!! He's getting hitched!!! CONGRATS Stu & Megan!!!

Holiday Wrap Up

The Walker's have been very busy the past few weeks w/ all the holiday festivities!!  I have been HORRIBLE about posting the past few months, but as part of my 2011 New Year's resolution, I am going to try to do better ;-) 

I will start w/ Thanksgiving...  We had a day full of the Mississippi Delta!  Aiden had his first and last helping of processed meats :-/  I thought it was a cute idea to let him try his first helping on Turkey day and give him some turkey and gravy - GROSS!  He will be a vegetarian until he can chew the meat  =)  Despite the nasty baby food, we certainly had a fabulous first Thanksgiving as a family!!  Next year should be even better w/ teeth!

Christmas shopping w/ mommy :)

Riding in the buggy like a big boy!

Since Thanksgiving I have been a busy bee traveling w/ work (gone 3 of the last 4 weeks) and Jim has taken on the Mr. Mom role.  Although at times he may feel pulled in a million directions while I'm gone, I can tell he really enjoys spending one-on-one time with Aiden :)  He has taught him Patty Cake and this FABULOUS new clicking noise w/ his tongue.  Sometimes this fabulous noise sounds like he's choking - I have almost had a heart attack on a couple times... THANKS HONEY!!!  In between here and there we managed to upgrade husband to a new ride - introducing the new addition to the fam... the 2011 GMC Sierra.

My travels have taken me to New Jersey the past few weeks and I managed to make it into the city for the lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas tree.  I sure wish that my baby and my hubs could have enjoyed the awesome experience with me, but it is something that I will never forget!  Absolutely beautiful!

Moving on to our first, most perfect Christmas!!  We had a crazy four day Christmas Extravaganza =)  We headed down to Clarksdale on the 23rd and spent the day w/ the Walkers.  Christmas Eve we spent the day preparing for Santa.  We went to our first Christmas mass as a family w/ all of the Hellens and Roes and then headed to Noni's and Poppy's for dinner and the gift exchange. Aiden experienced his first Mad Minute at Noni Annie's and Christmas day we woke up to find that Santa had visited and brought Aiden lots of toys!!  Jim spoiled me, once again... he did pretty well this Christmas too :)  We enjoyed Christmas lunch at Noni Annie's and the spent the rest of the day being lazy - PERFECT day!!!  Of course, we had to take advantage of the after Christmas sales... so we spent the 26th running around town making exchanges and picking up some "much needed" sale items.  We wrapped Christmas up at Mimi's in the OB.  I can't wait for next year - Aiden will have SO much fun!!!

Aiden w/ Matthew, Katie, Mary & Christopher

Look at all my loot!  Thanks Santa!

Daddy's Little Elf

All tuckered out after all of the holiday festivities! Comfy?!?

My Little Indian ;-)

Aiden has decided to be an Indian for Thanksgiving =)

FLORIDA

So, Jim has been working his little butt off @ Sysco and was rewarded with a trip to FL!  We headed down to St Pete Beach (right outside of Tampa) and had a blast.  We were there for four wonderful days, but were most definitely ready to return to our sweet, but sick baby boy.  While we were gone, he developed a pretty bad congestion nastiness and a double ear infection :( but he never seemed to feel bad and now he is much, much better =)

St. Pete Beach

FL

So, now as we approach the holiday season, I am getting too excited to share with Aiden the joy and excitement of Thanksgiving & Christmas.  Christmas is my FAVORITE time of year & has already started in the Walker house.  I got my fabulous new Christmas stockings in today, so I just had to put them up & a few other things as well so that the stockings weren't lonely  ;-)

LOVE em!

And a few pictures of my love...

Oh MY! October is OVER?!?!?

SO, it's been a SUPER long time since I've posted, but we have been SUPER SUPER busy!  But mostly it's because I lost my USB cord for my camera and could not get all of my cute little pics dowloaded :(  Either way, I cannot believe this month flew by so fast!  Here is October in a nutshell...

LOVE, LOVE!!

Pretty eyes :)

I didn't do it... I swear!!

 Bankie... Mmm!

Earlier this month Jim and I took a much needed mini vaca to New Orleans with Ashley and Kyle.  We had a blast!  We went down on a Friday and headed back Sunday, but it was just the amount of time (& drinks) that we needed.  Aiden stayed with his Noni and Poppy and had too much fun staying up way past his bed time and not brushing his hair ;-)

Aiden and I carved his very first pumpkin.  He was such a BIG help!! ;-)   

 He had too much fun carving the punkin'!

My cute little skeleton :) 

We also took a day trip down to the delta for baby Wilkes' baptism.  It was such a special day!

And so- now, today is Halloween and we spent the afternoon at the Botanic Gardens and had our pictures taken by Heather Holland (coming soon...), I just know they are going to be TOO cute!!  After our nap, we got our Lil Lobster all dressed and headed out for some Trick-or-Treating in the Borden's neighborhood.  Aiden had so much fun and was so stinkin' cute in his costume.  

My Lil Lobster!

Aiden & Rhyan... the little love birds =)

Yummy Yummy!!!

This is YUMMY!!  Jim said this one is repeat recipe =)... gotta love the Pioneer Woman!!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/07/grilled-chicken-with-lemon-basil-pasta/

Mmmm Mmmm Good

You have to try this out....Low Fat Wild Mushroom Risotto.  I made it tonight and it was FABULOUS!! 

http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/special-dietary-needs/vegetarian/low-fat-wild-mushroom-risotto/

Sick Little Dude

My poor little man has not been feeling well this weekend.  This is the first time he has ever had a fever and I have worried all weekend!!  He started running about a 101 temp on Saturday morning and by Saturday afternoon he was up to 102.7!  I got scared and called Doc Barrett.  We were told to take him to urgent care when/if it got up to 103. 

His temp started dropping yesterday evening and was about 100.8 when we went to bed around 11.  I checked him again around 3 and he was at 98.7 & again later this morning and again he was 98.7!! I thought for sure we were in the clear.  WRONG!!!!
This afternoon I found a new little rash from head to toes and the temp was back up to 100 :(  I hear from lots of my mommy friends that rash and fever can be several things - strep throat, scarlett fever and numerous other viruses....

Needless to say, I've run every senario through my head and diagnosed him with a million different things.  I finally decided to keep giving him the Tylenol like the Doc ordered and to let good ole Doc check him out and make the diagnoses in the morning.  Until then, I will try to stop worrying. 

He just looks SOOOO sad!!! Bless his little heart!! :(

I don't feel good Mommy, maybe my Banky will help me feel better!

SO SAD :(

Gettin' BIG

My little man had his 6 month check up today and he's getting GINORMOUS!!  He's a big ole 14 lbs and 14 ozs & 25 1/2 inches long :)  He is in the 30th% in weight & 50th% in length. 

I can not believe it has been 6 months already!!  He is just getting so big and starting to develop his own little personality.  He laughs and giggles and babbles all day long.  He is still sleeping through the night and every morning wakes mommy and daddy up just talking and giggling to himself.... it's so stinkin' cute! I can't wait to see what's next =)

Waiting for Doc Barrett...

Making silly faces in the mirror ;-/