Aiden's 3rd Birthday

Who else can't believe it's August already?  Boy, this summer has really flown by.  Maybe it's the lack of sleep, but my baby just turned 3 and I have no idea where the time has gone!

Aiden at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 3 years

I love seeing the developmental changes in Aiden.  But, the funny thing is, his personality really has been the same all along.  While pregnant, the amount of activity in my belly made me sure I was not just having a busy boy, but one with a lot of spirit.  And from the first smile, we could tell there was a lot more excitement to come.  He was smiley throughout his first year.  Friends and strangers would comment on how smiley he was and the midwife said he was the wriggliest baby she'd seen!

Aiden continues to be such a happy and busy boy.  He's so friendly, wants to say hi to everyone and introduces himself, "Hi!  My name's Aiden David Baker!"  While he enjoys meeting new people and making friends, his cars are his daily playmates.  He has been completely obsessed with cars since he was one and still is.  He usually calls them by their color and type (e.g., blue car, green truck, yellow taxi).  Don and I really think they are his imaginary friends.  He began imaginary play over the last several months, when the cars began talking with each other instead of just zooming back and forth across our coffee table.

Aiden's accomplishments over the past year include counting to 20, singing his ABCs, being day and night-time potty-trained, and using an extensive vocabulary.  His favorite things are water-play, music, strawberries, scooter rides, tumble time at the gym, cars, Cars (the movie), jumping with Daddy, art, swimming, reading, yogurt, surprises, pancakes and going to the beach.  He is happy, polite, sweet, energetic, testy and cheeky.  Aiden's perkiness and self-confidence was quite apparent the other day.  During dinner, Aiden whined, "I want chocolate milk!"  We reminded him to be polite and Don asked him if he could turn that request into a question.  He responded, "Can I have chocolate milk, please?"  We were super impressed and said, "Wow, Aiden, you are such a smart boy!"  His reply was: "That's right!"  We busted out laughing and Aiden made the same joke several times, looking for more laughs.  What a riot!