Just a Thursday night

Just wanted to put in two pictures that Patrick took of Alden and me.  It was a Thursday night and we were getting ready for bed, but we made a quick batch of blueberry muffins and Alden and I were just having a little snack.  For some reason Patrick thought it was funny and wanted to document it.  His caption was "Alden and Mom on a Thursday night".  This pretty much sums up what we do most days around here.  Alden and I just hang out by eating and playing.  We have a lot of fun and are really good at it!

He accepted!

For those of you that don't know, Patrick has been gone a lot the past few weeks for interviews.  He would fly out of a Sunday and get back either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.  It was hard having him gone for several days, but Alden and I managed somehow knowing that hopefully the interviewing would pay off and he would be able to find a job that we would love.  We are so happy and proud of all of Patrick's hard work.  We're happy to say that this past weekend we accepted a job with Owens Corning and will be moving to Starr, South Carolina in May.  Patrick is really excited about this opportunity and is really happy with his decision.  We're also very excited that there are no more interviews or information sessions or long nights on campus doing the career fair thing.  The end of school is in sight and we can't wait. 
Below are a few pictures of Alden and I hanging out one night eating dinner while Patrick was gone.  I finally got some good pictures of his smile with all his teeth showing.  He currently has four on top and two on bottom.  But I think he'll be getting some more very soon, because he's fingers are constantly in his mouth and are rubbed raw and that usually happens when he is about to get new teeth.

Horse back riding

Patrick's family had a day off of school a few weeks ago and they invited Alden and me to go ride horses with them.  They have extended family that have horses and they only live about an hour away.  It was a beautiful day and we were so excited to go.  Alden loves seeing the horses again and I really enjoyed getting on a horse again.  I hadn't been on one in a number of years, but I've always loved horses and had a lot of fun.  Alden came with me for a few laps in the corral and then we took the horse out in the field.  After Alden was done riding I got to ride solo for about 15 minutes and let the horse run in the field.  I wasn't out there for too long, but definitely was a little sore from riding that afternoon.  Alden and I hung out with family and had a picnic the rest of the afternoon.  It was fun and can't wait to do it again hopefully when Patrick can come and not have school.

Alden is meeting the horses

Thanksgiving Point - Round 2

Alden and I wanted to get back up to Thanksgiving Point and see the animals before the weather turned really cold, so we took Patrick with us one Friday afternoon.  It was so much fun and Alden even got to ride on the ponies twice since Patrick and I both got a ticket.  He loved it and loved see all the animals.  We got to feed the goats again which was one of the best parts, besides riding the ponies.

 Feeding the goats

 That goat was pretty funny

 Looking at the turkeys

 Riding the horses

 Looking at the calf that they were walking around

 Alden is a serious rider

9 month check-up

So, since it's been a really long since I posted I need to start a few weeks back and document Alden's nine month check-up.  He's doing great and is growing and learning everyday.  He weighed 22 pounds and is 28 inches tall.  He crawls everywhere and within the past week has started walking.  He doesn't like to do it very much unless he's playing with his toys.  He will walk from toy to toy and not even think about it, but to walk to someone you really have to convince him. Patrick has had the most luck in getting him to walk.  I only hear about it or see if from a distance.  Alden still loves to read.  If there is a book in the room he will find it and want to read it.  His favorite is a Peter Rabbit pop-up book.  Most of the pop-ups have been ripped or torn out because we read it several times a day.  Even when I put it in the bottom of the book box he will dig through the pile and find it.  Patrick and I laugh at this all the time because it is definitely not the brightest or flashy book, but Alden loves it.  Alden also has fully advanced to solid foods.  No more baby food here!  He will eat anything we do and if he sees someone eating in the room he will find you and want some of whatever you're having.  He's down to only nursing a handful of times a day.  Alden is so fun and has the best faces and most contagious laugh.  We're so happy he's doing well and we are loving the stage he's in now.  We love you, Alden!

Alden getting ready to go to Dad's frisbee game

 Wrestling with Dad

 Just got done drooling all over Dad

This and That

So lately our lives have been all about finding a job for Patrick when he graduates in April.  He has been heavily involved in the Career Fair on campus the past two weeks and we haven't seen a lot of him around here.  He's had several interviews and we're very proud of him.  Since he hasn't been around much, Alden and I haven't really been up to a lot other than playing and going for walks, but we made this little video last night to document some of his new facial expressions, except I can't figure out how to post it.  It's telling me there is an error.  So if I figure out how to do that I'll post it then.  In the mean time here are some pictures I took to go with the video.  Enjoy!

These pictures are from a few days ago when we dressed Alden in his jeans and shoes for the first time.  I think he looks like a stud!

Apparently the flash was a little bright because he closed his eyes in every picture, but I still thought this one turned out nicely.  That is a very classic Alden face.

Thanksgiving Point Farm

So after about a week of hanging around the apartment and taking walks, Alden and I decided it was time to actually get out and have an adventure.  We've been reading a lot of books with different farm animals and decided we needed to see some in person.  We got on the phone and called Mercedes and Lucy right then and there to join us for an afternoon at the farm.  We went to the Thanksgiving Point farm/petting zoo and had so much fun.  We got to feed the goats kernels of corn and Alden has not afraid of them at all.  He held on to the fence and let the goats lick his fingers.  Even at the end, I had him hold a piece of corn and a goat ate it out of his fingers.

Next up were the turkeys and chickens, but we didn't get any pictures of them because someone kept wanting to hold on to their cages and I was afraid someone's little fingers would be pecked.  Then we visited the horses, pigs, ducks, and cows.  Alden loved looking at all the animals and wasn't afraid to get right up to the fences and be face to face with the animals.  The best part of seeing the horses were the rocks on the ground!

We concluded the visit with a pony ride.  I wasn't sure if Alden and Lucy were old enough to know how to do the pony ride or if they would even like it.  But Mercedes convinced me that we ought to try it.  Alden got right on his horse and loved every minute of it.  There were times when he would even do no hands.  Lucy wasn't as thrilled and wouldn't even sit down on the horse.  So we'll have to go back and give her another try.  And I know that Alden would be more than happy to do it again!!  He was so giddy after that he kept laughing to himself and doing his high pitch in take of air.

Waiting for our turn on the ponies - Lucy isn't so sure about this

Giddy up!

Ride 'em cowboy