Holidays 2009

Merry Christmas to everyone! Things here at the Laskey household have been busy, Aaron is 14 months today wow where did the time go. I can't even express how fast he is growing not only physically but he is talking...he says everything from mommy, daddy, to Ellie and Sandy ( our sitters name) M & M ( Erica gets for going potty) , ball, bye bye. He is running, climbing and has the cutest though very mischievous smile. When we visited Santa he did not scream though from his facial expression I bet he was wondering " who is THIS" !
Erica is almost 2 1/2 and she too is amazing me everyday. She has been doing well with potty training she wears big girl panties now except for sleeping. She does have an accident but not often. Erica was very excited to santa this year, she knows he is "watching her" to see if she has been good. She asked Santa for baby Elmo- I hope she gets it! She has been so into christmas this year, she loved decorating the tree- while Aaron of course tried to take the ornaments back off! We had a cookie exchange and she loved baking with me- we have cute holiday aprons!
As for Jimmy and I it has been lots of work, lots of shopping, and lots of playing with the kids. Yesterday there was a point where I truely felt the xmas spirit,the xmas music playing in the background while Jimmy and I were finishing the cookies, the kids were dancing I just looked up and felt so happy I just had to watch how cute they looked.

time is flying by...

Can't believe that the summer is almost over- it is just starting to get hot! We have been super busy this summer and it does not look like the fall is going to let up. Before I know it I will need to start xmas shopping _ YIKES- So updates, well this week Aaron will be 10 months, he is all about food he will still eat his baby food though he loves big boy food. He eats anything from beef, turkey meat to chicken, all veggeis and fruits he likes cake which we have had at a few birthday parites and he had a donut today! He is cruising and standing- I think he will be walking before Erica who was walking at 13 months. He has great Giggles like his big sister! He is getting his top two teeth in now which are causing some pain though overall he is a happy baby! I cant beleive I have to start planning his first bday soon. Erica is doing awesome too, she loves to read she will sit on her chair and read her books on her own, she likes to do flashcards - of course me telling her what is on them. She does all kinds of building with her blocks or tea party play. She loves pushing her baby in the swing or pushing in the stroller. Aaron is just trying to keep up with Erica.
As for Jimmy and I we are trying to keep the kids under control most of the time. It is great when we see them playing together for a few short minutes where Erica is not ripping a toy out of Aarons hands! A glimpse into maybe the next year where they will begin to play together better. I have done 3 triathlons this summer - my first summer doing them I have one left on 8-31-09 will be in chicago, then I need a break from cardio- maybe do more pilates or weights- my legs are killing me! will try to update with pics next time

summertime

So we have had a good summer thus far, trying to enjoy the nice days. We have gone on a bunch of walks, bike rides, zoo trips here are a few pics from the 5 k we did in June the Heart for Life this was our first time doing it but Becky and the girls have been doing it for a few years now, and it raises money for heart disease and is great for awareness. Jimmy pushed Aaron and I pushed Erica for the race, of course jimmy beat me by 8 mins. oh well! We went to the arboretum which I have not been too before and it was great, Erica had a good time! We will be going again this weekend for a bike ride.

Erica and Aaron in the playhouse on the deck

Me and Jimmy at the Heart for Life race

Erica before the race "just chilin"

Erica and her medal after the kids race

Becky and Mia before the kids race

Cole in the childrens garden

Don't fall in!

Erica looking back

Erica and Cole

Aaron almost 9 mos

Aaron is almost nine months but the key month has been 8. He has progressed so much this past month I can't believe he is only going to be 9 mos. We did have his appointment this week as well with Erica and like his sister he is maintaining his growth at 28 7/8 in 25-25% in ht and then 18.3oz 10-15%. He has been eating his foods well and trying table foods like chicken, waffles, pancakes, bananas, watermelon etc. He is doing a lot of babbling and making noises with his tongue, he has his two bottom teeth, poor little guy did not like teething. He is pulling up standing, walking along furniture and now he has mde it all the way up the stairs! he tried to turn around and go down head first though - YIKES! Way to much mobility for such a little guy, I was hoping to not have to worry about walking until closer to a year but who knows! Here is our little stinker by the stairs.

we went for a short bike ride after doing some adjusting of the helmuts, aaron did not like the bumps so erica held his hand- so cute!

Erica 2 years old

Erica is now 2, happy birthday to you! We had a party for her but sadly it rained almost all day. It did clear up for fireworks though which she did stay up to watch, she was not afraid at all. She got some great toys and clothes for her birthday I am wondering where I am going to put everything though so my house does not look like a toy bomb all the time. At Ericas 2 year apppointment she is consistent on her growth chart barely hanging on in the weight category at about 23 lbs - 5th% and 31 1/2 - 25% .

Erica 2 years old

playing put the princess in the castle- erica did well with her eyes blindfolded

Erica's princess cake

yummy cake, much different than last years screaming!
Laskey cousins
Erica's typical headlock on poor Aaron

Aaron 81/2 months

happy 4th of July daddy and Erica waiting for fireworks

Erica

Mommy and Erica waiting for fireworks

updates

Well there have been a few new things since I last updated! First off I did my first triathlon this month in naperville, it was a goal I had set for myself and while it was tough I did enjoy it of course once it was finished :) I am doing a coupe more this summer. As for Jimmy he is busy with working he had to work a few weekends this month as well. We are doing the Heart for life 5K this sunday as well. we will both have a jogging stroller with Erica and Aaron but now that AAron is getting so big I don't know which will be less wt to push!
So I am sure you want to hear about the kids not us, Erica is almost 2 yr old! My gosh I can't beleive it...She is starting to act like a two yr old for sure throwing her little tantrums. So is using her imagination with her tea sets and baby dolls. She likes artwork, mostly with a pen which drives me crazy, she has tons of crayons! Her favorite sentances are "no mommy no", and "have a good day". She is hysterical though her little laugh just makes you laugh with her. Aaron is now 8 months and oh my god, all boy! He is pulling himself up and walking along things now which to me seems young. He is doing his army crawl still though Erica did that for a long time too. He will fall like all kids but it does not seem to phase him, he just gets back up and gets back to the toy he was plaing with. I have not gotten his wt since he was 7 months but I can tell you have does not feel that much lighter than Erica! He is a good eater and getting to be a good sleeper as well.
We have taken the kids to the pool a couple times now, Aaron is not to happy about the pool especially in the first few mins warms up to it a little. Erica of course loves being in the water and she keeps playing with her buckets and shovels. I think it is time to do some swim lessons for the both of them.
I will update some pics soon

black tie

Well this past weekend we were invited to a black tie party in Chicago by our friends Karen and Chris. It was so much fun, we got all dressed up and Grandma and Grandpa Laskey watched the little ones for us! So a night out with all adults was nice, we had a few drinks, good dinner and of course an awesome selection of desserts- there were a few different dessert stations including Eli's cheesecake and melting pot chocolate fountain. Here are a few pics from the night thanks to Karen.

Jimmy and I

Karen and I

wow! its been awhile

So it has been a long time since I have updated! Aaron is now over 6 months he had his appointment a couple weeks ago. He has maintained his weight in the 25% at 15lb 11oz and his height was 40% at 26 in. He is doing well and eating well! He is swaddle free and has been since that appointment but it did not come easy, poor Aaron had to get used to sleeping without it for a couple nights before bedtime came easy. So now Aaron and Erica are both down between 7-730 and it is nice to have out nights back! Though Erica has started a new trend of waking up at 6 am especially on the weekends! Aaron is sitting up and even getting on his knees wanting to crawl though we can wait on that for awhile.....Erica is taking a break from activities this month and we will most likely start swimming this summer. She is using more words these days but she loves to sing, we are not sure what she is singing but it is so cute, she sings to Aaron when he cries in the car sometimes. As for Jimmy and I we are learning how to get things done with two kids and it is getting somewhat easier thank goodness that we have eachother. I am still training for the triathlon one in June and Chicago in Aug. hopefully losing some of this babyweight. Here are some random pics.

Happy St Patricks Day

We hope everyone had a great day! Of course it was beautiful which made it even better! Things here are still crazy as ever- Erica's gymnastics is winding down though she has two classes left, I think we will try swimming then maybe enter gymnastics at 2 she will be at a different class then. Aaron is doing well he is eating oatmeal well and we have started to add some formula to his bottles at Sandy's since he is now eating more than I am pumping at work. Still trying to figure out how to get him to sleep without his swaddle. I have taken my first step into the triathlon sport...I did an indoor tri this weekend at lifetime. I was very proud of myself in the under 40 group I was 13 out of 25...not bad for my first time and just under 5 mos of having Aaron. I better get a move on though I have signed up for the Naperville womens in June and chicago in Aug.

misc....

Well we know Erica is a Laskey- here she is having her first very own OREO- and of course as predicted - she LOVED IT!

She was not sure what to do at first but she soon figured it out!!

Aaron has been doing well sitting in the bebe pod and now in his exersaucer! He is learning to push and pull the toys attached! Erica of course is helping him- being the great big sister that she is! It is so cute to see the two of them though- Aaron definitely knows who she is and smiles at her- awesome! I can't wait till he can play with her - I know she cannot wait either!