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!
