Tanner Top 5

On Christmas Eve it was brought to my attention that I have not posted to the blog in quite some time!  (Thanks Madelyn)  Always something I wish I did a better job of, but just something that continues to be pushed to the bottom of the to-do list.  Since there is much to catch up on and not enough time to do it at the moment, I figured it best to start with something small - a Tanner Top 5 list.  

So (in no particular order) are my 

TOP 5 FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT AIDEN

1.  SIGNING

I have always had a fascination with sign language, which was heightened by the hearing-impaired student I taught a few years ago.  I tried to take sign language classes in college, but in the education department, hours and internships did not allow for it as an elective class.  After teaching Yaseen a few years ago I was able to learn some basic signs to be able to communicate.  I told Matt I wanted to teach our kids signs to be able to communicate at a time where speech was not yet possible.  I was only too thrilled to learn in August that his two teachers would also teach signs for communication.  In this photo, Aiden is signing "more" (or his version of it in October/November where he slapped one fist into his palm rather than the two fists together).  Presently, Aiden can sign several different toddler necessities (in his own versions, of course).  He now signs "more" with his two fists together.  He signs "milk" by squeezing his fists in and out.  He signs "please" by patting both hands on his chest.  He signs "thank you" by putting his open palm in front of his mouth.  He can also wave bye and nod "yes" and "no."  We are working on "mommy" and "daddy."  It may be a double-edged sword because Aiden has been a little slow to talk, something the doctor suggested could be because he communicates so effectively with signs and doesn't need the verbal language to tell his wants and needs.  Either way, I love that the little guys is soaking it all in and am eager to learn more signs to be able to teach him in the future.  

2.  BIG BROWN EYES

I certainly have a little brown-eyed boy!  At times I am not even sure it is fair to call them brown, but a deep chocolate.  They are almost so dark that it is hard to tell the pupil from the iris in his eyes.  He has these big ol' eyes that tell me when he is sad, scared, happy, mischievous, or sleepy.  I love his big brown eyes and have adored them since the day he was born!  

3.  BOOK WORM

Over the past 6 months Aiden has developed a love for books.  (Not that I left him much of a choice)  He would almost rather read or flip through a book than play with any other toy. The first week of school Aiden's teachers told me that he would pick up some of the books around the room and offer them to his friends who were crying, sort of a "here, this helps me feel better" offering.  Aiden absolutely loves board books and flipping the pages on his own and we spend a lot of time pointing out animals and objects in the illustrations on the pages.  It is usually only before bedtime he has the patience to actually allow me to read the story on the page.  Some of his favorite books are currently Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, Five Little Pumpkins, Baby Beep Beep, and Little Blue Truck.

4.  TRANSPORTATION FASCINATION

If it is a form of transportation, Aiden is ALL about it!  For several months now he has been fascinated by an airplane flying through the sky.  We can be eating, watching tv, or playing in the house and he will stop suddenly and point to the sky and - sure enough - you can faintly hear an airplane fly overhead.  He can see the smallest plane or light flying through the sky and follow it until it is out of sight.  Living close to a railroad track, we often hear the train come through, sometimes several times an hour.  Aiden can be playing in the house and suddenly stop and start pumping his fist like a train conductor, his sign for the train.  Aiden loves sitting in the front yard and watching the cars and trucks drive by.  He is usually content for quite some time to take his toy truck, car, or bus and run it along the couch, making his car sound by sticking his tongue out and making his car sound.  After this Christmas he certainly has a wide array of trucks to choose from!  I am hoping this interest sticks around - I feel a theme already in the making for his second birthday party!

5.  HAPPY LITTLE GUY

Aiden is such a happy little guy with such a great temperament.  My sister has said it best several times that he "just loves life."  The smallest things intrigue Aiden and the biggest things fill him with overwhelming excitement and he jumps up and down and flaps his arms with glee.  He laughs all the times and is truly filled with curiosity and wonder.  He watches everything we do and if he gets in trouble, it is usually trying to copy something we are doing that he shouldn't be.  (Don't get me wrong, he is all BOY and TODDLER and gets into messes and tests boundaries!)  Aiden smiles so much and gets tickled so easily.  I love hearing his laugh and watching him run and dance and jump.  I am so thankful for this little guy and the joy he brings to our life!    

ALL ABOUT AIDEN!

Lately I have been meaning to write about Aiden, not just for friends, but as a keepsake for me.  I am sorry to say that life has gotten in the way so many times and I have not done the job I should at keeping track of his milestones and life.  It certainly makes me nervous for future kids if I am this bad with the first!  He is at such a fun age right now and I absolutely LOVE watching him learn each day and the excitement with which he does it.  I have treasured this summer and the time I have been able to spend with him, because I realized this weekend that it is quickly drawing to a close.

Right now Aiden is about 32 inches tall - he was in the 70th percentile at his 1 year check-up.  Aiden is around 22 pounds now - in the 7th percentile at his 1 year check-up.  This little guy is still wearing just a size 2 diaper and still fits into some 6 month clothes, like the onsies.  He mostly wears 9 month clothes.  His head is where we impress the doctor - at over 21 inches he was in the 99th+ percentile at his one year check-up.  (The plus being because he was off the chart!)  He has sandy blonde hair and big brown eyes.  He has four teeth now - a top tooth and third bottom tooth broke through the second week in June.  Unfortunately, this means we are still cutting up food into little tiny bites, as he is still gumming most of his food.  He still has one crinkled ear, just like his dad.  He wears a tiny little size 4 shoe and is doing well with actually walking in his shoes and keeping them on!  He seems to be right-handed, despite what we thought earlier.  He tends to use his right hand to do things, like eat or pick up his toys.  He then passes things to his left hand to hold while he walks around or picks up something else.  He still loves the show "Blue's Clues."  While he no longer watches a full episode, it is the only show that will hold any attention of his at all.  Well, that and the theme song to "Big Bang Theory."   

Summer has spoiled me in many ways.  The best has been being able to get Aiden when he wakes up in the morning.  Aiden usually wakes up around 8:00 right now, but will sit in his bed and talk and walk around for about an hour.  It is so funny to hear him through the monitor talk with himself and try to form words.  He will walk from side to side and even play with his bumper.  The game usually ends, though, when Aiden throws his paci out of the crib and onto the floor.  It is then that he starts to cry the classic, whiny, tearless cry until someone comes to get him.  I have loved getting to see the BIG smile when I come through the door.  I have also come to adore our nighttime routine.  I am the one that gets to rock Aiden to bed each evening and it is one of my favorite times of the day!  He has come to know the routine - plug in and turn on the night light, turn on the monitor, turn on the sound machine, and turn off the light.  By the time I sit in the rocker, he has taken hold of both of my arms and laid his head on my chest.  With as active as he is these days, it is usually not long before he is off to dreamland!

Aiden still crosses his feet often.  Here, he he asleep (on his tummy, his new preferred way to sleep) with his feet crossed.  He even crosses his feet while sitting in the high chair and eating.  Aiden also still has very busy hands!  It is easy to tell when Aiden is becoming upset or anxious because he curls his hands.  Mom and Dad says he is revving his motorcycle.  The funny thing is that he even does it with his feet!  If he is in the carset or high chair, it is so funny to see all four turning in circles.  He has been doing this since he was very small, but I am surprised it is something that has stuck with him! 

Aiden is still quite the curious little guy.  He still lives true to the nickname "Analyzing Aiden," which he has had since he was very small.  He loves to look in things, check things out, and will turn things over and over in his hands.  Unfortunately, this curiosity ends with him sticking the object in his mouth.  This was a the case a few weeks ago when Aiden popped a live wasp in his mouth.  Aiden was in the pack and play next to me while I was taking a shower.  While rinsing my hair, he began to make a choking noise.  I quickly jumped out of the shower and swiped his mouth, only to pull out a wasp, still squirming.  Needless to say, the wasp didn't make it - and mommy about didn't either.  I don't know how it didn't sting him, but it sure gave me a scare!

Aiden started walking on Father's Day this year.  As with everything else he has done, it was as if a light switch flipped and he decided today would be the day he made it happen.  He had taken a series of three or four steps for a few weeks, but that Sunday he let go of the coffee table and walked across the den.  Then he did it again.  And again!  Then he woke up the next morning and did it ever more! The next week he was able to change direction and turn around.  The next week he was walking quickly and not holding his hands out in front of him like a zombie.  He still falls on occasions, but has never once cried or whined when he hits the floor.  He gave up crawling for good and has been quite the little mover and shaker ever since.  The other day he crawled across the floor and it took me a moment to realize what looked so unnatural.  He really hasn't crawled since he found out walking was so much better!

Aiden has a big, beautiful smile and he smiles and laughs all the time!  He is ticklish on his thigh, tummy, and neckbone.  Tickling his neck gets a good, hard belly laugh!  When he laughs really hard he squeals and it is hard not laugh with him.  The easiest way to get the squeal out of him is to chase him.  It is so much fun to hear him laugh so often and I am so blessed to have such a happy baby! 

Even though it has been summer, we have been doing a LOT of learning!  Aiden is still not able to do a lot of things that require fine motor skills, such as a wave, pointing, or touching specific things like his nose.  We have been working on word recognition with some of his toys, learning the name of a new toy each week.  So far, we have learned paci, juice, Baby Beep Beep (the name of his favorite board book), monkey, Blue (his stuffed animal from Blue's Clues), and giraffe.  It is fun to see him scan the room for the item I call out and when he sees it, there's a big grin.  Then he walks over and picks it up. 

We also worked on meal time in June.  His high chair has two cup holders on either side.  We have taught him to put his paci in one cup holder and his cup in the other.  Despite his small weight, Aiden is quite the eater, shoveling food in without looking up, much less chewing.  He scoops all the pieces of food like jacks or stacks the pieces like checkers and pops them in his mouth.  We have to tell him "Juice" to get him to slow down and take a sip.  He'll take a sip, then put the cup back in the cupholder.  The funny part is to call "Juice" several times and he promptly picks up the cup, then immediately places it back in the cupholder and looks for his next food.  We have also learned he tends to throw the cup on the floor when he is full and done eating, a habit we are trying to discourage with a stern "NO!" but his his smile makes it difficult to be stern!  At the beach he dangled his cup over the edge and looked at each family member at the table to hear each individual say "No Aiden!"  After polling each person at the top, he then dropped it to the floor.  Let's just say it's a work in progress.

After finishing his meal and taking away the tray I always turn around to find Aiden digging.  He has learned that the catch all at the bottom of his bib usually holds a few extra surprises!

Aiden is a funny little guy that always makes me laugh.  Lately he has started planting on one foot and pivoting around.  Matt is sure he is to be a basketball player.  He will spin himself until he falls down.  He has learned how to step over the open safety gate by holding on to the side and is wanting to crawl up stairs less, but go up and down them with help.  He loves to take things out of something and then put them back in.  (Lately this has been emptying my purse and instead filling it with his large legos)  He loves taking his toys out of their box and putting them back in.  The toys or anything else he can find to take out...

 

Aiden is also in love with a box lid in our bedroom.  He has had the best time lately stepping into the box...

   
...and then sitting in the box triumphantly with his juice or toys, looking around to see if anyone has witnessed his accomplishment.

Aiden has also become fixed on stacking things.  I think it comes from playing with his big legos, which he got for his birthday from our neighbors.  It is funny to walk in a room and find little things stacked on the floor, a sure sign that Aiden has been there.  He loves stacking the cups in the kitchen in a cabinet we made just for him.  He loves stacking anything else he can find around the house...

I also forget how Aiden is a sponge and soaking up everything he sees and hears.  It's amazing how fast he learns and what he picks up just by watching his parents...

Last week Aiden had another first - we played hide-and-seek.  I went to pick him up from my parents' house and after changing his diaper in the bedroom, we suddenly became engaged in a game!  Aiden would toddle out of the bedroom into the den and Mom and I would quickly find a hiding spot - nothing too tough to find, just a spot behind a piece of furniture.  Aiden would toddle back in, find my mother first, and then my mom would prompt him to look for me.  He would walk through the room and when he found me, squeal with delight, and walk back out of the room.  My mom would hide in the same spot each time, while I tried to move spots.  He would find my mom, my mom would prompt him to find me, and he would go back to the last spot I hid.  It would take him a few minutes to find me in one of my three hiding spots, but when he did he would squeal, walk back out of the room, and come back in a few minutes later.  The game went on for about half an hour!  It was a small step, but made me very excited for the games to come!

We have had a lot of fun this summer and been able to spend some time with friends.  The friend Aiden has spent the most time with is his cousin, Haleigh. 

Sweet Haleigh has come to think that Aiden is SO funny!  She loves to watch him walk around the room with a BIG smile on her face!  She doesn't even mind when Aiden takes her toys right out of her hands.  It has been such a fun summer hanging out with her and Lauren!

Aiden has also been able to spend time with his birthday buddy, Madden!  We have run into Jordan and Madden several times and the boys have been able to walk and talk together - and even share breakfast!  It is so crazy to think that this time last year both boys were just tiny little babies!  I cannot wait until next summer when we can do some many fun things with our friends!

 If there is one thing I have learned about this little boy this summer, it is that he LOVES the water!  It doesn't matter when or where - he has a blast!  It doesn't matter if it is in the bath...

 

  or if it is in the ocean...

or if it is just in his little pool in the backyard! 

He absolutely loves the water!  He splashes his arms into the water and completely soaks himself, but he seems to think it is funny!  He loves the splash pad at the neighborhood pool and is learning how to navigate the baby pool.  It is hard to believe that his first steps ever were back in May in that baby pool.  He used the water to help pick up his feet and learn how to move.  Now, he is walking all around the pool!  He even has a float that he uses with Matt in the big pool!  He has been tough to keep up with this summer around the pool, but I am sure next summer will bring an even bigger challenge!

Last update on the list is the beach!  We spent a week in July with the family at the beach, and what a trip it was!  Aiden of course loved the ocean, but HATED the sand.  He would sit in the sand and play, all the while moaning a tearless cry.  He didn't like the sand on his toes or his hands and was perfectly fine sitting in someone's lap in a chair. 

The place where we stayed was perfect - there was plenty of space for Aiden to run until he wore himself out!  Aiden was free to check on my mom in the kitchen, peek in on Lauren, Hunter, and Haleigh in their room, pop into our bedroom, swing by the couch to check on Grandmother, and double check on my dad as he read his book in one of the chairs.  The place even had plenty of room for the kids and their toys!  (Which was great, because we spent WAY more time in the condo than on the beach!)

The place even had a HUGE patio outside overlooking the harbor.  It connected to a large patio where we were able to set up the baby pool and let Aiden roam around until he needed to take a break.  Aiden even had a good time playing in the rain one afternoon! 



The beach was certainly a lot of fun and a learning experience!  The ride down and back was double the usual time it takes, the amount of stuff we took down was easily doubled, but we also doubled the fun!  I can't wait for next summer, when I am sure Aiden will then hate the ocean and love the sand!

As summer gets shorter each day, I am realizing that I won't be there for each and every milestone anymore.  I am envious that his teachers will hear his giggle more than I will and see him play with his new friends and cross his little feet while he eats his lunch.  I wouldn't have traded our summer together for anything!  I never take a day for granted and remember to thank God each night for such an amazing little boy.  He is truly a joy and so happy about life.  I look forward to each and every day we are able to spend with him! 

And last, but not least, I will leave you with sweet Aiden's first trip to play at the neighborhood park...

How Do You Measure A Year?

To my sweet Aiden,
How do you measure a year?  In kisses?  In bedtime stories?  In dirty diapers?  525,600 minutes.  That's how old you are!  It has been a year since God gave you to me and entrusted me to watch over you and take care of you.  What a year it has been! 

We have both changed so much in just a relatively short time.  It is easier to see the changes since the day you were born.  You are several inches taller and a little over double your weight from birth.  You are just over 19 pounds, the 7th percentile for weight for your age and almost 31 inches tall, the 70th percentile for your height.  But just like you impressed the doctor in the ultrasound the day before you were born, it is your head that continues to impress - at just over 20 inches you are in the 99+ percentile.  (A plus because your sweet head is off the charts - doc's words, not mine Buddy)  You are quite the loud little stinker, the loudest in your dayschool class this year, according to your teachers.  This is very different than the little boy that didn't make a peep during our three days in the hospital.  Your are quite the little mover - crawling around as fast as I can walk, pulling up, standing all by yourself, inching along tables and chairs, and walking by holding our fingers or your walker.  I know it is only a matter of days or a few weeks before you are walking all by yourself!  Even as I type, I am listening to you up in your room, just woken up and in your crib, standing along the side and hitting the rails, calling me to come get you and play. 

The changes in me are not so easy to see, but they are there.  Sweet Aiden, you have made me more compassionate and understanding towards other people.  I am much quicker to give people the benefit of the doubt, knowing that I am doing the best I can each day to be the best mother I am and raise my son in the best way I know possible and with the means I have.  I am quick to remember now that others are doing the same.  Sweet boy, you have also made me a better teacher.  I sat in on years of college classes teaching me about classroom management and parent communication, but it has been you that has changed the way I teach and my relationship with my kids.  With every conversation I have with my students - especially the "bad" ones where I am having to fuss at one of my kids for not thinking before they speak or act - I think of you.  I think of how I would want your teacher to speak to you.  I think of what I would want your teacher to say to you.  I think of what I would say to you if you had just done what that student did.  I think of how you would react.  In such a short time, you have some how wiggled your way deep into my heart and crawled into each little thought I have!   

Last week we celebrated your 1st birthday by inviting family and closest friends to the pool for dinner and cake.  We wanted a fun evening with time to laugh and swim on a warm summer night.  With a lot of planning and help from your Aunt Lauren, I was confident you would have a wonderful birthday party.  However, the very blustery night ended when chilly temperatures and strong winds made you and your cousin tell us you had enough and wanted to go in.  So, we packed up - without eating cake, swimming, or even opening presents.  You, however, got to eat your cake and LOVED every minute of it!

I went home from the party frustrated and disappointed.  I had spent days planning a great party - booking a place, ordering a cake, buying decorations, getting balloons, making a banner - all for you and it didn't turn out to be at all what I hoped it would be.  It reminded me of the day your dad and I got married, which was full of things that went wrong - mommy got sick, mommy's dress was wrong, the flowers weren't delivered, the power went out at the church, and we ran out of food at the reception.  Much like our wedding day, your dad was quick to remind me that I was missing the big picture.  Your birthday party, much like our wedding day, was merely a celebration of love and an event to mark a wonderful beginning of a new life.  It didn't matter that your balloons blew away before the party even started or that you ended up wearing footed pajamas to keep you warm instead of your cute birthday outfit.  What mattered is that we were able to take time with our families to celebrate your life and the gift God has given to us - YOU!       

Sweet Aiden, one of my greatest fears came true at the doctor yesterday morning.  I am sure every mom wants to be sure to pass on the BEST of themselves, whether it be anything from physical features to personality.  I have constantly told your daddy over and over since you were just a little bump in my belly that I hoped you would not have my allergies.  I already knew it would be my allergies that would hold you back from ever having a puppy and probably the reason why you can't even play at a friend's house one day.  I only hoped that you would not have to go through the frustration, inconvenience, and sometimes pain that I have had to go through.  But this morning at the doctor you had a reaction to one of your shots; they believe the chicken pox vaccine.  The doctor asked if either parent had an egg allergy and I had to tell them I did.  The doctor wants to have you tested to see if there are other allergies.  I know in my heart that there are far worse things out there, but even as I type I brush away a tear knowing that I could be the one who has given you something that will cause you pain and frustration throughout your life or take away that precious smile.               

Each day is a new challenge, but one with the greatest rewards.  I have been counting the days, not of school to end, but to the days I get to spend with you.  When people ask what I am doing this summer I smile to say, "I'm going to be a mommy."  I am so excited that I will hopefully be able to see your first steps now that I am with you each day.  You and I do have some homework though, little man.  First on our summer agenda is to get you walking!  You are SO close and I am sure you will be running around by our beach trip!  Second on the list is to get you to drink out of a sippy cup and off that bottle.  I had to be tough yesterday and know the only way you would get your afternoon milk was through that sippy cup.  (You won - it didn't work.  We played a game of "fetch" as you tossed your sippy cup from your perch in the high chair and mommy picked it up.  You wanted NOTHING to do with it and decided you would skip milk than drink it from that cup.)  Third on the list is shoes.  I didn't buy shoes early on because I didn't see much of a need and didn't want to spend the money on something you would not use much and outgrow quickly.  Well, now that you need them you, again, want nothing to do with them.  All in good time, little Aiden.  Fourth on the list is to get you waving - and not the moment someone finally walks away.  Fifth is to work on saying "mama" when you want something instead of whining.  It will take time, but time is something we have a lot of for the next few weeks!   

I fall more in love with you each day and love seeing a new Aiden wake up each morning.  You are our sunshine and I am so honored to be your mom.  There are a thousand things I would do differently if I could take the last year back, but I wouldn't change you at all!  I am quickly learning that being a mommy is trial-and-error.  Mommyhood takes a lot of

great ideas and high hopes...

good intentions...

and going with the flow when things don't go as planned. 

I love you so much, Aiden, and I am thankful for all the smiles, tears, laughter, hugs, kisses, and cuddles you have given me in the past year.  May this year be as wonderful as the last.  

Happy FIRST birthday Aiden!  



A Rose By Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet

I realize I am terribly behind on posts, so I will make it my mission to provide a more thorough update soon.  There is much to write!  As for now, I will keep it short(er) and simple(r). 


I have been thinking lately about all the different names we have for Aiden.  I laugh at how often we call him something other than Aiden!  I have tried to notice on what occasions we use what nicknames and who tends to use that nickname the most.

Formal Name:  Aiden's legal name is Aiden Matthew.  However, if I could have used every name given to Aiden before he was born, his full name would be..

Aiden Austin Logan Hayes Cameron Matthew Tanner

Quite a mouthfull, isn't it?  Since we were a little slow in picking Aiden's name (like, finalized it on the way to the hospital), we found that people started naming him on their own.  I called him "peanut" most of the time.  The 8th grade cheerleaders I coached through most of my pregnancy decided to call him Logan.  The 8th grade cheerleaders I coached in the last half of my pregnancy decided to call him Austin.  (In their words - "We've never met an Austin that isn't cute.")  Hayes is one of my grandmother's maiden name and one of the names we were considering as his first name (until one of Matt's close friends named their little boy) and then was the runner-up for Aiden's middle name.  The students I taught in my class decided to call him Cameron - mostly after Cameron Newton, Heisman winner and Auburn's quarterback for their national championship season.  I enjoyed going through each day and having my baby bump constantly checked on and renamed every hour - "How's Cameron?"  "Is Logan kicking?"  "Can I feel Austin kick?" 

Aiden:  Matt and I ultimately went with Aiden - a name we both liked since the beginning.  (It is not an easy task for a teacher to name a child and find the perfect name that is not already designated to a former or current middle school student - especially a boy name at that!)  After seeing Aiden at the first (unofficial) ultrasound and watching our very active, kicking, twisty, squirmy, bold little boy, we began going through the baby name book we bought that night.  When I got to the name Aiden, Matt asked what it meant.  The book said "fiery one."  Matt looked at me and said, "I think the kid just named himself."  


A-Man:  Not sure where this one originated, but Matt and I both use this one.  Matt usually uses A-Man more in an email than he does in person.  I seem to call him A-Man when I am in a more playful mood and we are being silly.

Booger:  Matt and I both love this one when we are around the house.  It almost sounds silly to say it unless it is in that high-pitched baby voice!

Buddy:  This one comes out a lot, especially when Aiden is crying and we are trying to soothe him.  It is usually soft, almost in a whisper, and usually accompanied by "shhhhhh."   

Cricket: Aiden has this funny little habit of kicking his feet back and forth while he is sitting up.  He has done it for months, especially in his swing and bouncy seat.  We thought he would outgrow it when he started sitting up, but we were wrong.  Matt says "Cricket" is Aiden's super hero alter-ego and his superpowere is starting fire with his feet.  While that might be going a little far, it is amazing how fast he moves his feet (and how quickly it tears up his socks!).  


Lollipop:  It is no secret that Aiden has a large head (95th percentile) and very small body (5th percentile).  Lollipop just seemed fitting to describe his big head on his little bitty body.  We don't use this one much, unless we find that one outfit that he can't wear because it won't fit over his head.

Matt's Nicknames:  There are a few nicknames that only Matt uses with Aiden.  Some of the usual ones are Stinker, Poo Poo Pant, and A-Train.  While 2 are obvious, A-Train usually comes out when Matt is in a silly mood.  

My Nicknames:  There are a few nicknames that I use and Matt would never dare say.  One is the name Booginhead.  His pacifier strap is made by a company called Booginghead and I am not sure how the name stuck for me.  I always seem to call him My Little Man at night when I get to rock him to sleep and hug and snuggle with him.    

Grandmother Nicknames:  Let's not forget about these!  We all know that a grandmother is going to find her own nickname for the grandbaby, as he will find his own name for her.  Matt's mom calls Aiden "my precious little angel" and my mom calls Aiden "doodle bug." 


Any way you name it, he is certainly our sweet little boy!