Luau Layout

A new Tahiti Layout

Kayaking and swimming around our hotel. Some of the shots are looking through the glass section in the floor of our overwater bungalow into the water below.

Back to scrapping, again....

Moorea Pearl Hotel, a perfect paradise!

Paper is done, that was tough! My topic was really interesting, but the research was challenging and getting focused on writing the paper was even harder. I ended up taking Aaron to day care for 5 days and spending that time in the library. Since Chris is in summer school, it really was the only solution. The work is to big brain to concentrate on while interaction with

Aaron. But that is done (along with my second masters class!), the Rothes are here, and I am back to scrapping. I have A LOT of summer fun scrapping to catch up on, I need to get started on a wedding album soon and the cute pictures of Aaron and cousin Cameron are already rolling in!

Potty Progress

Aaron playing in the Forest of Fun, Busch Gardens in July, taken by Grampy

After 2 weeks at the start of summer pushing and agonizing (Aaron and I both!), we decided to back off on the potty training. I got a lot of advice from mom friends who said, just wait! And yesterday and today, Aaron has been telling us when he has peed or pooped in his diaper! Not every pee, but every poop today has been reported! Not only that, he says, "I pooped" and walks right to the bathroom to get a clean diaper! It's really exciting. :) I was feeling a lot of potty pressure, self-inflicted, to get Aaron all neatly potty trained during the summer, like it was going to be that easy. Also, I have worry in the back of my mind that he will take "too long" or be traumatized. But already he is more ready than he was two weeks ago! Patience Mommy, patience!

Aaron loves me best at Bedtime

Aaron and Mommy in the Land of the Dragons Treehouse at Busch Gardens, taken by Grampy

Because of the way our school mornings go, we decided when it was time for me to go back to work after having Aaron that Chris would be in charge of Aaron in the mornings, and I would do nighttimes. There are a few exceptions, but we stick to this routine pretty closely. Aaron thrives on routines. I think that is an age thing, but is also pretty true for most of our household. No matter how cantankerous a day Aaron has had, or how much he fights during instructions, or resists brushing teeth, or hollers while changing into his jammies, once Aaron and I are in his chair and he is drinking his milk and cuddling under his blanket, a switch is flipped and he is at his very most loving. It has been widely known that Aaron is a Daddy's boy. He prefers to be with his Dad in almost any situation. That is starting to even out a bit, but even at his most Daddy-loving, Aaron is so affectionate with me during our nighttime together. Here's how it goes, I want to make sure I remember this years from now:

1. Aaron brushes his teeth, checking for sugar bugs and now he flosses.
2. He walks to his room in his diaper and then puts his clothes in his hamper.
3. He picks his jammies and I put them on.
4. He calls "DAAAAAADDDY BWING MIOUK PWEEEASE!!!!"
5. Chris brings up milk and Aaron turns on his twilight turtle, closes his door, and turns off his lamp (he is especially proud of that).
6. He gives Chris a hug, Chris puts him in my lap in the chair and covers him up with his blanket.
7. Aaron drinks his milk and requests his first song, Baby Mine. He then requests LaLaLu and then You'll Be in My Heart
8. Then, Aaron cuddles up in his blanket and puts it over my arm too. He then pushes on my chin so I lay my head down on the side of the chair and says "Close you eyes Mommy, go to sleep." I pretend, he keeps his eyes open watching me, but makes a fake snoring sound. Then I open my eyes and catch him watching me and he giggles. He also sometimes rubs my face or hair during this part.
9. Finally, it's time for kisses. One lip smooch, kisses on each cheek, rub noses, and then noggin. He says "Noggin, Dude."
10. Then it is into the big boy bed, where he lays on his big stuffed "Dude" as a pillow and insists on having both blankets put on him. I always make him say love you Mommy, goodnight, no matter how many times it takes.

Many times Aaron has done excruciatingly sweet things during this ni-night time like singing to me or holding my face, and it is not at all unusual for me to come downstairs crying due to the overwhelming love I feel for my boy. Chris humors me and listens while I tell the stories, which are repetitive to be sure. I love this time I have with Aaron. Sometimes I am tired or cranky and I don't want to wrestle with him while trying to brush his teeth or even trudge up the stairs and Chris tag-teams for me. But really, it is my favorite time of day with my little man.

The End of the Inner Island Safari

More Inner Island Safari