Wednesday, August 31, 2011

My Sweet Aiden



In a matter of hours my sweet baby boy will turn 2 years old!  I find it very hard to grasp the thought of being a mother to a 2 year old!  To say that this boy is my life would be an understatement!  He is the reason that I smile, the infinite worth to my life, and the beginning, middle, and end to my day!
After a very long and difficult pregnancy, Aiden Ellis Gunderson was welcomed into this world, with the cutest cry and grump face, on September 1, 2009 at 2:35 am weighing an even 7lbs and stretching to a lean 20 inches long.  After 13 hours of drug free labor, Aiden was delivered via emergency C-section.  After the pregnancy that I had, hearing him cry was the single most amazing sound that I have ever heard!  I couldn't help but breakdown into tears...he was (and still is) PERFECT!!!
Everything you have ever heard about being a parent is true...as much as I hate to be cliche, I have to admit that there is NO OTHER love than the love that a mother feels for her child!  I absolutely love my husband but there are no words to describe how I love my son...it isn't a matter of how much...it is just simply "how" I love him.  It's a deep, selfless, protective, proud, providing, challenging,careful, nurturing and extremely emotional kind of love.  It is the kind of love that can make you extremely crazy...like you would beat another child for making your child cry kind of love...and also make you a big cry baby...like they poop on the potty and your cry over it kind of love.  I think the best way to sum it up is to say that I love my son in a way that I want to protect him from all the bad in this world, from everything that is unfair, and from any harm.  I want him to trust me and know that I will always be there to catch him when he falls and I will always put his best interest at heart, no matter what.
As I look back over my pregnancy and these amazing 2 years of my life, I can't help but get extremely emotional.  I was given the greatest gift...the ability to create, carry, birth and nurture a child.  I was given a happy, healthy little boy who is the absolute light of my life!  The good Lord trusted me with this innocent canvas and I feel no shame in saying that he is with out a doubt a masterpiece.

To my sweet Aiden,
Somewhere, someway, and somehow...someone thought enough of me to allow me to be your mother!  I try, every day, to be worthy of that title.  You have given me a kind of happiness that I never knew existed!  In the morning when you whisper "Momma, me happy" or when you are driving your little red car around the house and you scoot past me, stop, back up and lean out the window and say "Momma, I wanna kiss", I can't help but wonder what I did to deserve your sweet unsolicited love and affection!  You continuously amaze me with your knowledge, your compassion, and your confidence to try new things.  You are a funny little character especially when you fold your arms, mimic my mannerisms, dance to your own singing, clap (and tell me to clap) for your own accomplishments, that little eye roll that you do and the way you carry on a conversation with Buddy as if he knows exactly what you are talking about.  You have become such an independent boy always saying "momma, I wanna do it".  Today, as we were eating lunch, you just had to name every item on your plate, "hot dog, chicky (chicken), strawberry, tomato, chips, water"...after asking if you could have some cookie Daddy said 2 more bites of hot dog...you shoved 4 pieces in and said "cookie pwease"...we can't argue with that!!!  Speaking of eating...you have great eating habits!  You love fruits and vegetables and would pick a strawberry over a lollipop any day!  You are such a sweetheart, always ready to kiss Momma or Daddy's "boo boo's, and you still believe me when I tell you I have a boo boo on my mouth just so I can get another kiss on my lips hehe!  I could really go on and on but I will end with this.  THANK YOU...for being patient with me as I learn how to be the best Mommy possible, for making my job so incredibly easy and fun, for being so laid back as we (and the Navy) keep you in a constant transition, and most importantly thank you for being YOU...sweet, compassionate, affectionate, silly Aiden!  My life, my love, and always my BABY BOY!  Mommy loves you more than you will ever know!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET AIDEN!


Sunday, August 28, 2011

"The ornaments of your house will be the guests who frequent it."

My bro enjoying his vacation!

As our time here in Charleston comes to a close, we have been extremely busy with all of the details that go along with moving 3 times in 10 months...yes, you read that right!  I will blog about that adventure soon but for today I want to share one of the last minute perks of our move...the surge of visitors!!!  Although we have lived here for almost 2 years, it seems as though we are being inundated with guests now that we are slated to leave!  Believe me when I tell you that this isn't a BAD thing...in fact it is a very exciting thing!   Although a few of our dedicated friends and family have made the trek here to beautiful Charleston, MANY have not!  For what ever LAME reason, AHEM, I mean totally validated reason, the large majority of our friends have not come to visit us!  Sad, I know, but if you don't want to visit this beautiful city and have a free place to stay...well you need to have your head examined immediately hehehe!!!  As usual, I digress!  Two weeks ago (yes I am behind), we had some wonderful company....after many many many years, my big brother FINALLY came to visit his little sister!
We had such a great time...here is a quick synopsis (in pictures OF COURSE) of his week long visit!
A Day on the Boat...

My Big Brother and his love Tammy...

Operation Dolphin watch...SUCCESS!!

Operation Starfish....SUCCESS!!

Hanging out with my big bro...

Aiden had such a blast with "TIM" and "TAMMY"

Just relaxing on the porch...
We did our best to stay busy and show our family a good time!!!  It was so nice to show my brother that his little sister has actually grown up...I think that he sometimes forgets that I am not the same little 8 year old pony tailed girl that I used to be...before he left, my brother paid me the ultimate compliment.  He said that I "epitomized southern hospitality"...Mission Accomplished!!!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Having a soapbox mommy moment...


Prior to being a Mommy, I was a very eager and passionate business women who absolutely loved the thrill of closing "big deals", I enjoyed working and I was pretty good at what I did!  I was actually kind of a workaholic.  However, after this followed by being put on bed rest before I even announced that I was pregnant, my hubby and I had to make some serious decisions!  Would I go back to office life after having our baby or would I become employed by the most demanding boss ever, my baby!  For many reasons we decided that the right thing for our family was for me to take some time away from my stressful job.  Although it is a thankless job, one with out pay or recognition, I know that it is the best job in the world!  The only problem with this job, in my opinion, is the way others treat you because you don't leave your house every morning and go into an office.  I often get the "oh, you don't work" comment or the "I could never do that because I would get bored" HAHAHAH BORED...what is that?
Yesterday, I was telling my hubby about our morning.
Me: yeah, Aiden sat in an empty bath tub with his clothes on and turned the water on and off for about an hour.
Hubby:  You let him run the water for an hour?
Me: YEP
Hubby: Why?
Me:  Well, in that 45 minutes to an hour I managed to use the restroom alone with out my 23 month old offering me an extreme amount of toilet paper, shower, shave my legs, actually dry off and get dressed, brush my own teeth, dry my hair, put on make up without any "help", clean up the bathroom and the bedroom, sort laundry and fold the load of clothes in the dryer. I made the absolute most of those 45 minutes...don't you think?
Hubby: Yep


I know his first thought was $$$$ water running for an hour!  But for me that time, where my son was in sheer water Heaven, meant 45 minutes of GO GO GO...a preoccupied child is incredibly priceless and so are the few moments of solitude while on the potty!  Most of the time I am rush rush rush...I am not in any way, shape, or form complaining.  I am just marveling in the innocence and naivety of those who get to actually eat at least 1 meal a day with out little fingers in the food, use the restroom at least once a day ALONE, have moments to themselves for thought, reflection or even just a jam session in their car!  I am completely aware that I made the choice to be at home and that I am so incredibly lucky to be in the position that I am.  However that doesn't mean that I am any less intelligent, career oriented, hard working or even that I don't have a bad day at the office.  My job isn't easy, the pay sucks, my "boss" is demanding and  there is no respect for a women who puts her career on hold for the baby she so desperately wanted.  But there are so many things about my job that I wouldn't trade for even the biggest deal out there!  I have seen EVERY first and almost every waking moment of my son's life.  I kiss his boo boo's and comfort him when he's hurt.  I would be lying if I said that I didn't miss the thrill of a signed contract because occasionally, I do...but what I would miss even more are these incredible moments...


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

This and That....


I really feel like this summer is just flying by...it is probably because we are approaching some big changes here in Gunder-land!  Over the past few weeks we have been extremely busy!

One of my Hubby's best friends got married.  So we packed up the family and headed north!
I tried to pack "light"
After making at least 10 trips to Maryland from SC with a baby, I think we have our system pretty down pat!

Once in MD we wanted to devote almost all of our time to Phil and Jillian's Wedding...
VOWS

The new Mr. and Mrs.


I had the hottest date...

In Laws...BIL, SIL, FIL, MIL, Me and Hubs

Hot Mommas...my Mom, Me, My SIL, and My MIL

Although I swore that I wouldn't try to be superwoman and visit every friend imaginable in a short period of time...I absolutely HAD to go visit my best friends little miracle Wyatt!
3 whole pounds

Precious Dreams

Wyatt giving his Momma and I the grump face...we were too loud!

Look at those itty bitty feet
At this point Wyatt was 10 days old and a whopping 3 pounds...but he is BEYOND perfection!  He looks like a little man in a teeny tiny body!  Wyatt is doing so well and his continuous progress has been such a blessing for his parents (and all of us).  I felt so honored to be able to visit him and I, of course, LOVED having girl time with my bestie, Courtney!  Court was not up for pictures...I managed to take 1 but promised it was just for memory and not for facebook or bloggy world!  I will tell you this though...she looked as beautiful as ever and was such a pro when it came to handling her lil preemie!!!  Have I mentioned how much I love that girl!
There are a ton of things that I really want to blog about but right now I am enjoying the company of my big brother, who is visiting us this week!!!  One day I will make more time for my blog...if the fun ever stops!!!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

23 Months...why did you arrive so fast?

I would put a million dollars on the fact that Aiden's second year of life has flown by much faster than the first!

It is almost heartbreaking to think that my BABY is a little boy!  In 1 short month he will be TWO!!!  I will probably be the millionth mom to say it, but every stage gets better and better.  Although I haven't done monthly updates consistently on my blog, I have to say that I have a mean baby book!  That puppy is thicker than any of my husbands fancy nuclear engineering books!
So here is a little bloggy update on what 23 months looks like for my pride and joy!

He is a "hearty" 22 lbs 9 oz (poor boy isn't even on the growth chart)
31.5 inches long




You are still our little Monkey...climbing and flipping all of the time!

Your vocabulary is crazy....you know exactly what you want and if you can't say the exact word you give it your best shot..you always want Momma and Daddy to "sit" "walk" "play" and of course the famous words of "No" and "Stop"...sometimes I have to tickle you just because I love the way you say "Stop"

You love "Choo Choo's"
And "Keys"...you are beyond obsessed with keys...you can spot a key a mile away....you love to attempt to unlock doors and have even fallen asleep with your keys in your hands!

You are a fantastic eater...I couldn't ask for a child to have better eating habits!  You love blueberries, strawberries, peaches, and even spinach!
You are a fantastic traveler...we have been to Maryland and back twice (500 miles each way) in a months time....and you were an angel in the car!!!


You are so incredibly sweet...you actually ask for kisses!!!

Your absolute favorite person...besides Momma and Daddy is POPS!!!  You are always asking for POPS...he is your best bud and I am pretty sure that you run him ragged when you two have "playdates"


You don't like the word "NO"...whenever we tell you "NO" you will say "Elmo" "Abby" Superwhy"...I have no idea why????

And you, my love, are Mr. Independent!!!



I know the age of 2 will be fantastic...there is so much to look forward to but I can't help but feel a little sad and even scared...I hope that my boy is never too big to love his Momma and give me lots of snuggles!