THE BISHOP EXPRESS

Aydan started school this year! He's been at home with me for the majority of his little life but he had no problem with the transition.  He is attending the pre-school that both David and I went to as kids. He loves it and is doing great :)

Both of these pictures are very up close to his face.  He has his arm hiding half of it!  You can see one of his eyes and nose in both and his lips in the second.

January 2010: The beginning of potty training! 

It was a long two months but he got it down--with a little help from 'Teddy Bear'.

February 2010:  Ready for the Superbowl!  Go Saints!

March 2010:  Aydan's first time in New Orleans

Aquarium of the Americas

May 2010:  First airplane ride in his own seat. 

On our way to Baltimore for a friends wedding.

Aydan and Shelby

Aydan: 2 1/2

June 2010:  Father's Day

Aydan and his best friend, Rory.

July 2010:  First boat ride!  He wasn't sure about it at first :)

September 2010:  Aydan's first trip to Oregon....

and, first time on a horse!

What's wrong with this picture?  Yes! 

McKay is taller than me (and wears a bigger shoe)! 

Where has the time gone?

Aydan and Momma :)

October 2010:  We LOVE this Fall festival!  Our first time going was 2009 and we will go every year from now on.  I had a bazillion pictures from that day but narrowed it down to three cute ones :)

This is a HUGE air filled jumping pad.  David and Aydan jumped and played on it for close to an hour.  These pictures were hilarious!

 My 31st birthday.....sigh.

November 2010:  Aydan turns 3!  We had a superhero party and all the kids wore their favorite superhero

t-shirt.  I made masks and capes (with A LOT of help from Janeille's sister, Cindy!) for all of them to wear and take home.  It was a great party!

 Our family pictures and Aydan's 3 year old shots.

Christmas night with all of his Iron Man gear :)

 February 2011:  Mardi Gras parades!

The traveling carnival

We're having a baby!  7 weeks along.



March 2011:  T-ball

April 2011:  Crawfish!  YUMMY!

 

May 2011:  Soccer

 A trip to the Baton Rouge Zoo with David's family

 June 2011:  Father's Day at the Aquarium in New Orleans

Aydan's first time bowling.  He beat Daddy on their second game :)

He's a total beach bum.

I think that covers our last year and a half in a nutshell :)  Our baby story is kind of funny.  At 17 weeks we were told that we were having a baby girl.  At 18 weeks I had a fetal anatomy ultrasound at the hospital and they confirmed that we were indeed having a baby girl.  I was feeling really bad one day (at 23 weeks) and went in to see my doctor.  During that ultrasound I was told that it looks like it may be a boy...but they couldn't get a good enough angle to confirm.  I had to wait until my next appointment, 4 weeks later, to find out.  At 27 weeks, as you can clearly see from the ultrasound picture, we are having another baby boy :)  His name will be Elijah James.  Our due date is October 16th.  It was weird returning the little girl items I had purchased and deleting our baby girl registry to start over choosing baby boy items.  But, that's OK.  We have a healthy baby--maybe we'll be blessed with a baby girl next time :)  It has been a great and relatively comfortable pregnancy so far (just like with Aydan).  Monday I will be entering my third trimester.  I can not believe how fast the time goes by.

Aydan starts part time pre-school this September.  He is really looking forward to it!  We purchased his new backpack and lunch bag last week and he came straight home to pack it.  He is such a social bug, like his Daddy, so I know he won't be shy going in.  I just hope he saves the socializing for recess :)  He is SOOO excited that Mommy is having a baby.  He loves to rub my tummy and talk to the baby.  It is the sweetest thing--I can not wait for them to meet.  I have no doubt he is going to be an awesome big brother.

I've spent the last year and a half as a part time nanny.  I really enjoy doing it and LOVE that I can bring Aydan with me.  I will be taking about a year off after the baby is born and plan on returning to the family that I currently nanny for.  Their oldest is starting pre-school with Aydan and their youngest will have just turned a year old when Elijah is born.  Between breastfeeding round the clock, a very busy one-year-old, two pre-schoolers who need constant supervision (because they OCCASIONALLY get into it!), a busy schedule juggling pre-school and days out, and vehicle complications (our Sportage can only accomodate two car seats--theirs can accomodate all 4 children at once BUT I can't leave Mom without a vehicle everyday!).....we thought taking a year off would be best :)  I'm glad I have the option to return.  I really love working for this family.  I am hoping to start my Master's degree sometime in the next six months or so.  I'll just go part time so we can afford to pay tuition out of pocket instead of taking out students loans.  I'm actually looking forward to it!

David is doing well.  He has been home for almost two months now recovering from hernia surgery.  He had an umbilical hernia (by the belly button) and one in the groin area.  He healed with no problems and is now able to return to work with no restrictions.  We've enjoyed being able to spend more time with him (versus him working 70-80 hours a week!).  He spent a week in San Francisco with a childhood friend for about a week this summer.  He had a blast...I'm glad he finally had the opportunity to go.  It is something he's wanted to do for years.  We are moving in the next week and he is busy painting our new place....he's an awesome painter and I love the colors we have picked out.  We are really looking forward to getting out of our current residence--we have outgrown this place big time!  And, I am way over eggshell white walls....blah!

I hope this finds everyone doing well.  I'd love to hear from you all.  Big hugs and kisses.....