Aidan's Fall/Winter Wardrobe

I am lucky enough to be complimented all the time on how well/cute I dress Aidan.  People ask me all the time where I shop for him.  It's really no where terribly exciting.  I especially love to shop for his fall/winter wardrobe.  I always get annoyed at the amount of clothing available for girls in great fabrics and prints and how limited we moms that have boys are when shopping for our little guys.  And it seems to only get harder as they get older. I am of course always on a budget {because I realize they are just going to grow right out of things} but I try to buy individual pieces here and there and I almost always buy on sale.  I find great deals for Aidan on eBay, Gap, the clearance rack at Nordstrom and when I find something I am in love with out of my price range on a website, I just continually check back until it goes on sale!  In past years I have found great items at TJ Maxx and Marshalls but I think the secret is out there because they have been a little dry lately.   I am also very blessed to have an aunt that loves to shop for Aidan and she has great taste.  I have been buying clothing here and there to build Aidan's wardrobe for the upcoming seasons.  I tried to find as much of what I have purchased as a I could to give you some great ideas for your little men.  You might notice a trend in blue.  He looks so good in it!


Baseball Tee from American Apparel.  Comes in a few different colors. We have it in green, light blue and black.  Aidan looks so cute in this shirt.   They run deals on buying three at a time often.

 I love this Oxford shirt from Gap Kids.  I can use it when I need to dress Aidan up and he wears it with Khaki shorts, Chuck Taylors and with the sleeves rolled up. We have it in blue and white.

I recently fell in love with the company Boden.  I love this shirt with a pair of jeans.

Another shirt from Boden. These can also be purchased at Nordstrom.

I believe this is the Monster shirt. It comes in a few colors with different fabrics as the monster.

The waffle shirt from Gap Kids.  I buy this shirt for Aidan every year in every color (white, navy, grey).   They are great for lounging around, wearing alone and layering under his favorite tshirts.

I enjoy throwing in a little pop of color here and there.  Love this polo from Gap Kids.  So far this is the only color I have purchased (they had it at the outlet) but I will probably find a reason to buy a few more.

The following two polo's we layer underneath the pullover below them. This polo is on sale online right now for $11.99. I paid $9.99 at the outlet. Gap Kids.

If he gets hot he can take off the pullover. I love these polo's.  They are so soft. I am pretty sure we have them in every color. Gap Kids.

The pullover I own does not have the number 9 on it or the embellishment on the sleeve.  Aidan is just navy with a pocket in the front. Pockets are important to my kid.  Gap Kids.

Adam bought Aidan his first vest when he was around 6 months old and I have bought him one every year since.  They are so cute and add just the little extra bit of warmth you need in the fall before a full coat.  This was the first year I bought a red one.   Gap Kids.

I bought Aidan this North Face jacket in black last year a size too big so he would be able to wear it for a couple of seasons.

This would be one of those items I am waiting to go on sale.  Every year I buy Aidan way too many coats.  A pea coat is essential. This one is by Ralph Lauren.

Cords.  I buy him a pair every year.  Gap Kids are nice and soft.

I buy more pairs of jeans then we need.  I think I have purchased five pair so far.  He wears them daily in the fall/winter and I buy different styles and washes. 

The staple Gap Kids sweat pants. This is the first year I have seen them available in black as well.

Gap Kids Khaki shorts.  These I purchased at the beginning of the summer and down south they will last us until late September. I hope.

I was so excited I could buy Aidan some fun shoes this season.  Shoes are my other weakness with Aidan.  These are Adidas Sambas in white.  Available at Nordstrom.

Hunter wellies for kids in Orange. Overstock.com

Standard.  Black Converse All Stars. 

I had to have these socks from Boden for this season. 

I love great accessories too.  Remember his scarf from last season? It will be making another appearance this year. 

Etsy is also a great resource for unique shirts and accessories for boys.  These are a few items in my cart for the season:

I love a knit hat for my little guy. He looks super cute in them.

I think this is so cute and simple and would be fun to layer over a grey waffle shirt.

I'm southern so naturally I love to have a few things with Aidan's name on them.  In the past I have had one made for each of the holidays for him to wear to school.  When he grows out of them we use them for night shirts.

I bought Aidan one of these lounge sets when he was a year old and he looked so comfortable in it and we wore it out.  They just recently started making them in toddler sizes so I bought one for him today.  In the winter I let him wear it all day and if he passes out in it, it's perfect for jammies too.  I love the guitars.

So there you have it.  Now if you see Aidan on the street you'll now it's him because I just told you what he'll be wearing. 

P.S. I am ALWAYS looking for cute clothes for boys.  If you have a secret on where to find cute things please let me know. 

The Little Love of My Life

Dear Aidan,

I wanted to take a minute out of my little blogging life to write you a note.  To tell you that you are what makes this little blog so fun.  To tell stories of our life with you and to record the memories that we are so blessed to make with you.

I often lay in bed and I get a little weepy thinking about all the fun we are having that you will never remember.   Like how Daddy smiled the biggest smile ever when you came in to this world and how my heart skipped a beat the first time I met you.  And how those things still happen every day with you.  You are the light in our lives, the skip in our step. 

Everyday you do and learn new things and we look to each other so proud and we tuck away the memories to share with you in our hearts and another day comes and goes and you fill our lives with so much happiness.  We promise to tell you all about the funny things you did, the milestones you conquered and how you changed our lives and made us a family.   How you filled the spot in our hearts we never knew was empty.  And how the best times of our lives have been with you.

I love you little man.

Love, Mommy

I'm on the phone

Twas the night before Ruby had four little kitties

Yeah we had no idea Thursday was the night before Ruby decided to have her 4 little kitties.    But it was and on Friday, she did. 

Adam and I were laying in bed watching a movie and at some point there was a quiet point in the movie and I heard a faint little meow.  I looked at Adam and we both knew what was happening.  Our orange junk yard tabby cat, Ruby, was in labor under our bed.    We got up and decided we were going to have to take our bed apart.  We have the Stratton Bed from Pottery Barn and it is put together in a U shape and then a flat piece is screwed to the center.  Our mattress then goes on top of it.  Make sense? 

Anyways, we took the whole bed apart and there she was in all her glory with two new kitties.  I was a little freaked out that she was giving birth on a rug so I picked her up while Adam slid some towels underneath her.  We decided there was no way she had only had two kittens in her humongous belly so we put the bed back together and set up the video baby monitor near her so in case we heard any ruckus we wouldn't have to take the bed apart again. 

When we woke up we were both kind of giddy to find out how many more kittens were under there.  Personally I was hoping not too many because although we did think it would be fun to have the kittens around for a couple of weeks, I didn't want a ton of cats to find homes for.   So we took the bed apart and she had had 2 more.  4 little kitties.  3 orange ones and one that is a weird color but Aidan says it looks like me.  Adam says that is not a compliment. 

I moved Ruby and her babes to a basket in our closet and she loves it in there.  Every couple of hours she comes out to eat and get something to drink and we steal the kittens while she is gone.   They are so soft and sweet. 

Here are some pics of the little cuties...

(now almost 4 weeks old)

P.S. They are free to good homes, as is Ruby. 

 

We Went To Boston

(prepare for world's longest 3 day vacay recap ever)

Adam and I had such a great trip.  You would not have known by looking at me standing in the security line to come back. I was a big ball of tears.  Sunday I was going on two days of not having my voice and  I was so mad at myself for booking a flight that included a two hour layover in New York.   Also known as the extra amount of time between Aidan and I reuniting.  Ha!

Thursday we got up and headed to the airport. I was having anxiety because my license does not bear my married name and my plane reservation did. I know that I should have changed my license by now but it hasn't expired and it's really no secret that I still wish I was a Decot.  Well if I had ever wanted to hijack a plane today was my day because no one cared and off we went.  I have never in my life ever flew on a more uncomfortable plane.  I don't know what the deal was but it felt like the smallest airplane seat ever.  Adam said the same so I know it wasn't just my big buns.  The plane wasn't small either.

We arrived in Boston and my girlfriend Natalie picked us up and we headed in to the city to pick up her husband Pete for some lunch. We ate lunch at Jacob Wirth's (Boston's oldest German restaurant) and by the time that was over, we knew we were going to have a great time. I always love talking to my dad when we are there because he is a wealth of info since he grew up there.  When I told him where we had eaten lunch he said "When I was young, they used to let us drink beer and eat lunch standing up at the end of that bar." He has a story for everything.

After that we were attacked my an angry parent dropping his child off at on of the million universities in the city.  Not really but almost. Over a stupid parking spot on Newberry Street.  We almost had an Adam Harvey street fighter on our hands. 

Once we gave up our hopes of finding a spot in the over crowded city (move in weekend remember) we dropped Adam off for some man time with Pete and friends and headed to do some quick shopping to do what we will call a Five Minute Living Room Make Over at Natalie's. It turned out wicked cute but of course I took no pictures.  A reoccurring theme of the trip.

We had dinner in the North End. Giacomo's line was a little longer than expected (again move in weekend) and we were already starving so we opted to eat elsewhere.  I do not even know the name of the restaurant. All I could think of was Mike's canoli's and we waited in that line.

Friday we got up and headed to Ogunquit, ME.  In case I haven't told you before, my parents used to own a cottage and now my great Uncle Paul owns it.  Lucky for us, he and his wife Pat were there for the week and we got to stop in so I could spend some time with my uncle (Dad's uncle).  Paul's in his late 80's and it most likely will be the last time I see him. =( . He had some good stories to tell.
We hit up a great pie place and poked around some shops in town before heading back to Nadick (where Natalie lives) to meet up with Pete and grill out at their house.  Did I mention yet how cute Nat and Pete's house is? The cutest house with a huge pretty yard.  So New England.  Dinner was great.  We all went to bed full of food and good times.

Saturday my girlfriend Mariann picked us up with her boyfriend Mike and we headed to Brookline to see her place and eat some lunch.  This was the first morning I woke up without a voice so I was in need of a nap.  We ate and then they dropped us at our hotel for a late afternoon snooze.  The hotel was really nice.  The bed was so comfortable.  I got a little emotional about not feeling well but Adam fixed me right up by giving me a Diet Coke and the Peanut M&M's out of the mini bar.

My cousin Brianne and my uncle Brian came in to the city and treated us to dinner.  It was great to catch up. My cousin is my age and we were really close when we lived there.  After that we hailed a cab to Brookline to meet up with Mare and Mike and some of their friends to hit the town for some drinks. We ended up at The Whiskey Priest right on the water and danced the night away.   Adam and I cabbed it back to the hotel and passed out.  We definitely don't party like we used to.

Sunday I woke up, still no voice.  We checked out of the hotel and headed to The Cheesecake Factory for some brunch with Mare and Mike.  We then headed to the airport and then the crying began.  We got checked through security and waited for our plane.   Once we got to New York I was feeling a little bit better and I was so excited to be so close to seeing Aidan.  He had been really upset when we spoke with him on Saturday night so the guilt of leaving him had really set in by this point.  Adam and I had become the obnoxious couple that couldn't stop talking to people about how excited we were to get home to our kid. 

We made it safe and sound and all I can say is...it was a great trip, we really needed it but it is always so good to come home!

First Day of 3's Class

Aidan started his first day of school on Monday the 30th.  It was a good thing I was in Boston the weekend leading up to it otherwise I probably would have been a wreck.  I really, really enjoyed having him home all summer.   Now I only have him two days a week.  I might as well get a job.  Anyways.  I took a few pictures of him to show you all. 

The day was pretty uneventful.  We drove to school and when we were waiting in the carpool line Aidan started yelling "Let me out".  He was just a tad bit excited.  I had to beg him for a kiss goodbye as he was rushing out the door. Although I was sad about that, it made it a little bit easier to let him go.  I was happy we didn't have to re hash last years crying.  That was heart wrenching.  I did get a little weepy on the way home.  I just can't believe how fast time has flown by.  I wish he would just stop growing. 

And those pictures...

Day 1/Monday

Aidan and his lunch box

I've been trying to get him to open his eyes in pictures but for some reason this is what he wants to do.

I mean seriously. So freakin handsome.

Day Two of School/Wednesday

His shorts look a lot higher than they were in real life.  And he is refusing to wear any pair of shoes but his Crocs. Boring. I am going to have to throw them away while he sleeps.

Conversations With A Three Year Old

Adam: Aidan, come on Bud let's brush your teeth.

Aidan: Otay

Adam: Aidan, come on.

Aidan: Otay

Adam: Aidan, I'm not going to ask you again.

Aidan: DAD! Calm down. I'm coming.

{Adam and I died laughing}