Our Little Elves

We have successfully transitioned into the new year. So far we are LOVING 2011!!! We are so blessed to have two healthy, beautiful children! We are still getting used to the word "kids", and are trying to give our dogs as much love as they deserve. We had such a WONDERFUL Christmas, and are so hopeful for the future.

We had such a fun family Christmas. Asa was so excited to open presents, and we were even more excited to see him open them!

We went to Adam's moms on the Friday before Christmas to celebrate and spend more time with her and Adam's brother, Tiffani and Lily. We went to Adam's moms church and then spent the night playing games and hanging out.  Tiffani is due the end of February, and we can't wait to meed the 2nd baby boy in the family!

 We woke up Christmas Eve morning and started the big schmorgasbord of food that we have every year at the Heeren's. Adam's Mom LOVED having the all of the grand kids there to run around and play with all of her toys. We are so blessed to have her in our lives, and LOVE her passion for our families, and kids.

 Lily, Sophia, and Asa (L - R) posing for a picture. You can tell Sophia is REALLY excited to take a picture!

 This is the Christmas outfit that Adam's mom Andrea got Aria for Christmas!

 Adam is reading the Christmas story at the Heeren's

 

This is Adam's Christmas (Notice the "real" kids in the backgrounds and toys)

 This is Adam's Grandma Genevieve. She is such an amazing, beautiful, caring woman. Her husband Al, loves her SO much. It has been so wonderful for Adam and I to witness such an amazing couple...Gen (Genevieve) has Alzheimer's, and no matter what state Gen is in, Al is always by her side, holding her hand, getting her a plate of food, and asking her if she is OK. They have been such a Godly example of what marriage should be, and amidst everything, she holds a baby and it is like it is her own.

 So now again to transition to my family Christmas...

We got a Keurig from my parents!!! Adam couldn't believe that it was actually a Keurig, so he had to open the top to see the foam that held the top together to believe it. It was funny. I think he held the full box in his hands during the entire gift opening.

So Sweet!!!! Chuck wrote on Asa's Christmas gift. (He gave him an air guitar that plays like a real guitar) SWEET!!!

My brother Joey decided to wrap everything in duct tape...well almost everything in duct tape. He wrapped Asa's Pirate ship in normal paper. Asa LOVED his pirate ship! With the duct taped presents, we would cut into the tape we would open one side, and then the boys would put them on their heads and cut holes into them and act weird...

I think this is the biggest difference between families...i LOVE having fun with them though! How crazy!

 Then we let Asa go to town with his gift. I don't really know where he lost his pants, but he did along the way...

 Another box that Joey made that Adam is wearing

 My mama, loving on Aria

 The puppies Caeda and Chloe hanging out

 The day after Christmas we went to my aunt and uncles house to celebrate there with my aunt/uncle/cousins/and grandma.

What a sweet picture of Asa huh?

 I got a Christmas tree from my grandma with money and Asa thought it was the COOLEST thing!

Asa kept bringing my the tree to my aunt to hold.

 This book is actually Aria's, but Asa wanted to pose with mama

My cousin Johannah is Aria's godmother, She was one of my bridesmaids in our wedding. She is in her second year of college at Mankato University and was just accepted into the nursing program. What a hottie, and smart girl huh? We couldn't be prouder of her! We know that she will be such an amazing role model and provide such guidance in Aria's life. She gave Aria a cute crib sheep that plays music for Christmas.   

My brother Chuck saved Christmas this year by being persuaded to dress up like Santa. My grandma did last year, and this year no one was willing to do it until Chuck stepped up and was the best Santa EVER!

Here is Asa's face when he saw "Santa" peering through the back yard window.

 Here is "Santa" at the window greeting Asa

 He came around the house and in through the front door down the stairs to Asa

 Santa even got a picture with Aria

Great grandma is just watching as Asa watches "Santa" leave. Great Grandma played Santa last year :)

 The rest of the night was spent hanging out and having fun. Here is Asa peering down at us from the upper level.

 Here is Adam and my two cousins hanging out by the computer (video games) which is typical.

We had such a wonderful Christmas being 4 the 4 's this year (Adam, Ana, Asa, Aria), and maybe 2 C's (Chole and Caeda) ;)  We are so blessed and could not be more thankful for everything that we have been given this last year. We can only hope to be as blessed this year as we were last year. PRAISE JESUS!



Christmas Preparations

I CAN'T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS! This is by far my favorite time of year. Adam keeps scolding me because every time i run out to run an errand, i come home with another gift for one of the kids. My excuse is...."but it was only $5!" I think Adam is VERY ready for me to be done shopping! My family plays bingo for dollar gifts every year. In the past, we would all go to the dollar store and buy 10 - 15 different dollar gifts. Most of the time they would end up not being used, or a few people would get the same gift. This year, we decided we would all only purchase 5 things, and really put a lot of thought into them. I went out today, after doing a lot of research on some steals, and BOY DID I DO GOOD! I can't wait for people to open my gifts!

I think the nasty bug of sickness has finally started to subside in our house. Adam did get it, and so did Aria. They are both feeling much better. One of the kids will occasionally cough, but that is about all that is left. Thank goodness!! Aria is also sleeping like SUCH a trooper lately. She usually goes to bed around 9 - 10 pm and doesn't wake up until about 7:30am. She eats, and then goes back to bed until about 9:30 - 10:00 am. We are so blessed to have had two kids that are such good sleepers. Asa still sleeps from 7:30 pm, until 9 am. He takes one nap a day from 1:30 - 3:30/4pm.

I am excited to start my new years resolution of working out! I feel like i have been so lazy since Aria was born. Part of it is because when Asa goes to bed, i enjoy sitting and holding Aria. I can't do too much holding of her when Asa is awake because he wants to play. Once Asa goes to bed, i usually eat dinner and then spend then next hour with Aria again because she is awake, and then it is time for me to go to bed. I am going to work in working out starting the 1st of the year...

These pictures are from the hotel and the surprise party for my Grandma in Granite Falls.

This is the day where Asa started feeling crummy. You can just tell by looking at this picture that he doesn't feel the greatest...poor guy!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Wow

After having Aria you would think that blogging would be just as much a priority as it was pre-Aria, however that is not the case. I'll be honest, i love blogging, and reading others blogs, but i just have not had the desire to go online to blog lately. Boo me!

Things around here for the most part have been great. We celebrated my grandma's 80th birthday last weekend by having a surprise party for her. My family headed out Thursday night to Granite Falls, MN and stayed in a hotel. My grandma swims at the community center every morning, so we went to the community center Friday at 6 am to set up for the 7 am party. My aunt and uncle and their family drove in Friday AM, which means they left their house around 3:30 YIKES!! Needless to say, the party was a hit, and my grandma was surprised! We noticed that Friday Asa started not feeling so well. Coughing, runny nose, and just seemed more sad then usual. We made it home from Granite Friday night before the storm hit.

Asa is officially the sickest he has ever been. Adam took him to the Dr today to have him checked. We thought he might have croup, but it is just a bad cold. He has a hacking cough that sometimes seems like he coughs so hard he is going to throw up. His butt is raw and bloody from all of the diarrhea, and his nose runs like a faucet. We feel so bad for him. He has been so good through it all, and will just look at us and tear up and cry. We have had him in the bath so much because that seems to feel the best.

So far Aria has not contracted the sickness. She is such a good baby. She sleeps so well, eats well, and is just really content all around.

Asa still isn't talking much. The majority of his words (which are few) aren't really words, but we know what he means. For example, he will look at our coffee cups and say Ha, which means hot. He also does this to lights, and steam. He does say baba, which is his sippy cup, and can also say dada. He tries to say mama, but it usually sounds like baba. he says papa, which means puppy. He also really loves to hug things. He will pick up anything fuzzy, or that has a picture of something on it, and put it to his cheek and say ohhh. He has been such a good big brother, and really doesn't notice Aria much. He does try to put her pacifier in her mouth if she is crying, he helps us burp her by patting her back, and also helps pat her back if she is laying on her tummy.

I started back to work on Wednesday, however am home today due to Adam taking Asa to the Dr. If Aria wasn't so little he would have taken both to the dr and i would have worked, however i don't think it would have been easy for Adam.

Here is a picture of Asa when we went out and played in the snow.

Aria swaddled laying in her bouncy chair

 This is Aria's favorite position. I know it looks weird, but she loves laying like that and it puts her to sleep every time!

 Daddy and Aria

 I have a picture that was taken professionally of Asa with our rings on his toes. I took a few like that with Aria, but found that i like this one much better.

 Here is Asa at thanksgiving at the Heerens. Sweet chair huh?

Month 1

I can hardly believe it has been a month since Aria was born. Things have been a bit of a whirlwind this past month. It has been an adjustment getting a handle on having two kids around the house under the age of 2. Adam has been working a lot, so i have spent almost every Saturday home all day with the kids, along with every evening. I am getting used to it day by day. Adam's mom has come over a few times to help out, and have some quality time with Asa, which helps me to be able to both relax and scramble to get things done around the house. I took the kids to the Halloween festival at our church the Friday before Halloween BY MYSELF. It was fun to see Asa run around, and i kept Aria in the front pack, but it was not easy and i will NOT do it again by myself.   We have also made the transition to Asa going down for naps and bedtime with out his sippy. We should have done this along time ago, however we just kept putting it off. He has done really well, and cries for a few minutes after putting him down, but has adjusted well. Asa also has his first ear infection. We took him in for his 15 month appt, and sure enough...he loves the medicine though. He is 75% for height and head, and 50% for weight. He for the first time hated his shots and the rest of the appointment. He was leery of both the nurse and the dr and cried quite a bit. Aria is doing so great as well. She is so beautiful and has such a personality. She makes funny noises all the time when she is awake, and loves being held. We swaddle her tight when she sleeps, which Asa hated! We love having a little girl!



Uncle Chuck

 

Step Great Grandma Mary



Great Grandpa Pops



Grandma and Grandpa Erickson

Grandma Heeren



Aria's cousin Sophia giving KISSES!

 
Here are some of our friends that came to visit Aria this past month.

Adam's best friend Mike (Best man in our wedding)



My dear friend Sarah who was my college roommate



My great friend Charity who is expecting in under 10 weeks!



My amazing dancer friend Katie!

One of my oldest friends John. He and i have been friends since 1st grade!!

The family went to Apple Jack Orchards on a gorgeous day!\

When my grandpa and grandma came to visit, Uncle Chuck went outside and raked a big pile of leaves for Asa to jump in. Grandpa even got in on the fun!!

Carving pumpkins was a blast...Asa hated the goop.

Asa was a ninja for halloween!

This last week i cut Asa's hair. I thought it might be a nightmare, but once he got used to the buzzer and had some cookies in his cup, he actually cooperated. I guess this will save us $10 every few months.

Finally, i will leave you with Aria

New Pics

Still trying to adjust with two under two....more to come :)

Aria Jolyse Heeren

I be putting a post up about the birth story soon. I wanted to get pictures up as soon as possible, however yesterday time just got away from me. I actually have not slept since 5:30 am yesterday...all of the adrenaline and events from yesterday just made me have to take time to contemplate the blessings of the day, and didn't end up being able to do so until i was alone and relaxed through the night.