A year of Aidan

Dear Aidan,

Last year I made a calendar for your Vancouver parents as a surprise gift. They had visited us for your 1-year birthday party and they were heartbroken when it was time to go back to Vancouver. I had a great idea to send them a calendar, which btw I had made through iPhoto, and sent it to them so that they would get it by the time they went home. The other day while they were Skype-ing with you they were showing you last year's calendar and the photos of you when you were younger. Daddy turned to me and said that we should make another one for 2011 since it would be the perfect time to do it. I thought it was a great idea! Today I ordered some calendars- one for your Vancouver grandparents, one for your Toronto grandparents, and one for us. Here's a sneak peek at the 2011 calendar:

This was when you were much younger, but I loved how silly you were being.

One of my favourite shoots- when we went to the pumpkin patch. What great shots these were!

How can we leave out your Halloween costume! You were the cutest (and fiercest) tiger that mommy has ever seen.

Family portrait- Part 2

Dear Aidan,

Do you remember our family portrait last year? Daddy wasn't happy with how he looked last year because he was a little bit 'cherub' so he kept insisting that we retake our family portrait this year. Plus, daddy has a tendency to slouch when taking his photos so I didn't really have much to choose from last year...

Today we decided to take our family portrait. You are usually in the best mood in the mornings so we decided to take it then. I bought a remote for my camera a few months ago so that came in handy this year. Last year, I had my camera set-up on my tripod and had to set the camera to a self-timer. I had to constantly run back and forth with you to get each shot. It was tough. This year was so much easier. That's why I was able to capture shots of you smiling. Yes!

I also liked how daddy tried his best to sit upright. He really tried! The only thing I wasn't happy about was how he wore his jogging pants. He refused to wear jeans. We can't always win...

Shot of just the boys.

Mommy and the love of her life.

All I want for Christmas is... a naked Aidan!

Dear Aidan,

I love when after we take off your clothes for a bath we let you loose to run around naked. It's so cute! Once, daddy did that and you started peeing everywhere so he doesn't like letting you run around for too long.

You are known as the butt scratcher because as soon as we take off your diapers you start scratching your butt like crazy!

Compare yourself to back in July.

BTW, I included more blurry pictures of you because I don't think you want your private parts to be seen by everyone on the internet...

Anyways, Merry Christmas! We had a pretty low-key day today as we didn't go out. Your Toronto grandparents left for their California vacation yesterday night so we didn't do a family get-together this year. I am, however, hosting a New Years Day dinner party at our house next Saturday with everyone so that should be exciting.

I leave you with a video of you playing with daddy on the floor today.

Nap time nightmare

Dear Aidan,

Are you too old to be taking naps now? The past few days you have been fighting sleep even when you are tired and cranky. You are fine sleeping at night, but during the day you fight it like no other. Daddy tried holding you, rocking you back-and-forth for a while, but that didn't work. He then tried putting you down in your crib while he lay beside you on the ground so that you wouldn't start freaking out. However, you kept standing up and talking. That's where I stepped in. I'm much more tougher than daddy and I have no patience for stuff like this. I believe that if you are tired you should just sleep. End of story. I put you firmly down in your crib and blocked out all the side rails with a blanket (so that you couldn't see who was in your room) and left the room, shutting the door behind me. Of course, you started crying like crazy. I usually let you cry because eventually you will fall asleep. I know that sounds cruel, but it's for your own benefit. However, in today's case, you didn't stop crying. You were crying so hard that you were having trouble breathing. I had to go back in and get you out of your crib.

This is the scene of the crime. Look how you just messed your whole crib area.

Mommy: Are you proud of yourself?

Trying to give me the puppy doggy eyes.

Mommy: Umm... why are you smiling now?

Always trying to touch mommy's camera lens... Sigh.

Shots from daddy

Dear Aidan,

One thing daddy loves doing is sending mommy photos via Ping Chat. And not just any photos, but photos of you and him. I love getting these because I usually get these when I'm working late at work and I can see what you guys are both up to. These photos kept me sane in the days I came home from work and you were already sleeping. At least I got to see you before you went to bed...

Here's some samples of what daddy has sent mommy in the past couple of weeks.

I don't know what daddy did to make you laugh in this photo. You look quite delirious here...

I love how daddy sticks his photos in these shots. He could just send me photos of you, but he always has to pop his face in there... BTW, he takes these from his iPhone.

Look at grumpilicious here. Aigoo aigoo...

The last milk before going to bed.

Bunny ears!

My 2 favourite boys (minus Rosco)

Good night sweetie.

Have his cake and eat it too...

Dear Aidan,

Now that you are pretty comfortable eating solid foods you constantly want to eat whatever the rest of us are eating. I was over at my parent's house and my mom had made a feast for us (Auntie Sara and Uncle Dan were over too). You kept coming to the table and lurking. I had asked my mom to make a few extra chicken fingers for you and you ate 4 whole pieces! Then when we were eating cheesecake for dessert you went to you Toronto grandpa and practically climbed up to his lap to get a piece of cake. What a pig you are...

Your Toronto grandpa was watching the hockey game and you started climbing up his leg to get a piece of cake.

Look how you're trying to grab his attention.

You had your mouth open wide so your Toronto grandpa could give you a little piece. What a guy!

Score! Auntie Sara was trying to take some pictures of you in action.

BTW, you got a special Christmas present from Auntie Sara and Uncle Dan- a stuffed Piglet toy and a Paul Frank PJ set. It's a little big for you to wear it now, but I love it!

Photo with Santa

Dear Aidan,

Mommy is off from work until the new year and daddy had a half day today so we went to Yorkdale in the afternoon. Daddy wanted you to take a photo with Santa. Luckily the lineup wasn't so bad. However, when we sat with Santa to pose for our shot you were not smiling. When you realized that the person you were sitting next to was a complete stranger you burst into tears. We were only able to have 1 shot and that was it. I don't have the print scanned yet so I will have to post that later, but let's just say you and I don't look our best in the photo. There was a fan beside my head when we were taking the shot that made my hair all messy in the photo and you were just grumpy looking.I think daddy looked the best which is pretty funny because he always looks horrible in photos.

When we got home from the mall daddy and you were playing a game where he was putting hit hat on your head. You guys were being so cute together I couldn't resist taking some photos of you.

Look how dashing you look in your Tommy Hilfiger button-down shirt. This is what you wore in your Santa shot.

You were laughing so hard when daddy put his hat on you.

The hat was so big that you couldn't see at all.

Aidan: Peekaboo!

With the hat on your head, you suddenly started dashing across the room. Mommy and daddy were so scared you were going to run into the wall!

Welcome back Aidan~

The boy with a more clothes than a girl...

Dear Aidan,

Boy, I noticed that you have A LOT of clothes. I'm pretty sure you have more clothes than daddy and you aren't even 2 yet! Today, you got even more clothes in the mail. Auntie Jane sent you 2 new winter jackets. Yesterday you got a button-down shirt, a vest, and a sweater from your Toronto grandparents. Sheesh, can I get some of that???

The jacket is huge on you because it's a size 3. You looked so small in that jacket.

We tried putting you in the 2nd jacket, but you were not having it. I think you have entered your Terrible Two stage right now. You tend to throw fits now and then when you aren't happy about something. In this case- putting on a winter jacket.

Look at that bad temper!

You landed smack on your forehead on the hardwood. That's your fault! Usually, though, you snap your head backwards. It's scary because I'm always afraid you are going to get hurt.

Wah, wah. Life is so hard when you're Aidan Kim...

Both jackets were from Gap. I guess Auntie Jane ordered it online and sent it directly to us. The invoice had a note from her- "To my handsome nephew Aidan. Merry Christmas!!! Love Auntie Jane & Coco".

You were more interested in playing with the invoice papers than your gifts.

Uh oh, looks like someone's hungry.

Munch munch.

It's not as tasty as your bbong twi gi (rice rusks), is it?

You look disgusted.

You just threw the paper away in disgust.

How can I say no to a face like that???