Aiden!!

I thought that it was appropriate to title this blog post after my baby boy since every blog posting here after he will have to share the spot light with his new baby sister. =)

Life in 2013 has been good to us thus far and we were excited to kick off the new year celebrating Aiden's 2nd birthday!

Vic and I decided to keep this birthday low key, especially since we had a huge party for his first birthday and Aiden is a little more weary of strangers now. So we celebrated with those nearest and dearest to us, close friends and family.

We threw Aiden a truck themed party, inspired by Chuck and Friends, the favorite cartoon of the moment. Aiden had a great time feasting on pizza and chips and enjoying the new lego table Daddy made him for his birthday.

We also celebrated with Vic's family, complete with a delicious dinner made with love by Grandma and lots of great gifts, including the cutest little Radio Flyer tricycle. Grandpa has been doing a miraculous job teaching our little man how to pedal away.

I think Aiden loved the balloons we had decorating our house the most. "Boos", as he calls them, provides endless entertainment! I tried to strategically place them around the house to make it look more festive, but somehow they all ended up in one place... around him! =) Funny how Chuck and Friends' colors are the same ones as the state of Maryland!

Daddy and Aiden before the party

This is the lego table Daddy built for Aiden. Daddy originally built one table for his Christmas present, which included a small farm and gas station, but added on a couple more to hold a working train and construction site! Aiden LOVES it and plays with it every day... I think Daddy likes playing with it too.. I keep finding new buildings being built! =)

I baked Aiden cupcakes in lieu of getting a birthday cake. He loved the truck toppers on each.

He even blew out his own candles... with a little help from Mommy and cousin Logan! =)

We gave all the kids that came little construction hats as part of their goodie bag, Aiden loves putting his on and playing with awesome tool bench that Uncle Joong and Aunt Sunmi got him.

It's hard to believe that Aiden is 2! Where did the time go! Our little baby has grown into a full fledged toddler! It's amazing to see how much of a sponge his little brain has become. He can count to 15 in English and to 10 in Vietnamese (with a little help). He's speaking 2-4 word sentences and can understand both English and Vietnamese! He can sing the alphabet with Mommy and Daddy and identify letters, colors and numbers. He loves trucks, trains, stickers, and loves when Mommy and Daddy draw him apple trees or trace his hand on paper. He loves to color and build towers with blocks.  He has recently discovered Lightening McQueen and Mater from the cartoon Cars and also loves playing Angry Birds on the ipad. Speaking of the ipad, he knows how to turn it on, navigate through the apps, and play them! Definitely got that from his tech-y Daddy. He's learning how to throw, catch and kick balls, loves to hide and say "I see you" when peering out. He loves music (especially songs that the Bubble Guppies sing) and shakes his little booty to the beat. He has a naughty side and is beginning to test his boundaries, but is quick to realize that Mommy and Daddy mean business with it's time to clean up or eat. He doesn't like bedtime, but loves the bath. He especially loves making Mommy and Daddy "all wet" when in the tub and gets a kick out of splashing the water so it gets all over us. His laughter is the sweetest sound I have ever heard, and I love when he freely gives me hugs, kisses, and says "oh Mama" when he's holding me tight. In 2 years he has given me more joy than I could have ever imagined.

Baby Girl is coming next week! April 17th is delivery day! Vic and I wanted to make sure that we spent a lot of one on one time with Aiden before the arrival of the newest member of our family. Our first big outing was to the National Zoo in DC!

Aiden really loved seeing all the animals. I think some of his favorites were the zebras and cheetahs.

Aiden also really likes looking at birds! (Not sure if it's because of his new found interest in the game Angry Birds). We took Aiden to the bird house at the zoo and he loved the "noisy" ones the best. But I think out of everything at the zoo he saw, he was MOST interested in the random every day birds flying around... and the rocks. =)

We took some random pics of Aiden near the gorillas. =) He was very interested in the self- timer on the camera.

Passed out on the way home! I think he had a good time. =)

One of the things I have been the MOST grateful for these past 2 years is for Vic's parents! They have been an absolute blessing to both me and to Aiden. It's amazing to see them interact with their grandson and to see how much they really love him. I don't know what I would have done without them! Here are some super adorable pictures of Aiden with Grandpa and Grandma!

This past weekend, we wanted to take Aiden to see the Cherry Blossoms in DC.. but being 9 months pregnant (and after seeing how exhausted I was after walking around the zoo), we decided to forgo DC and visit the Kenwood neighborhood in Potomac. My mom showed me this neighborhood many years ago as an "alternative" to DC; it's filled with beautiful homes and lined with tons and tons of Cherry Blossoms!

Pre- Cherry Blossom tower building.

Look at that belly!

Aiden loved taking "pictures" of Daddy. He would say "Dada, Cheeeese!!"

Family of 3, almost 4!

It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed sitting outside watching our little guy pick up flower buds and run around in the grass. 

Here's a most recent sonogram picture of our little girl! To orient you, it's a profile pic with her hand up by her mouth. Amazing that she's growing in my belly and will be here soon!!

I am a bundle of mixed emotions with the impending arrival of our daughter. Excited to meet her, nervous to become a mother of two (yikes!), and even a bit sad that Aiden will now have to share attention that has been solely his with his new baby sister. These past few days I've been trying really hard to enjoy my one on one time with him, taking time to snuggle with him a little longer and give him a few extra kisses. The love I have for him is so immense, it's hard to imagine having another to love! I have no doubt that Aiden will be a wonderful big brother and I am excited (and nervous) to see how he will react to the new baby.

Of course with my delivery date just around the corner, my mom has been on my mind more than usual. I know she would be so excited that Vic and I are going to welcome a daughter... a boy and a girl (a "gold medal" pair is what she called it). I wish more than anything that my mom were here to help me welcome her into the world, but I am sure that my mom will give her a kiss from heaven.

Until next time!