11/18/09 - Instead of saying, "my other hand" when asking me to take care of something on the opposite hand I'm dealing with, Aron usually says "my 'nother one hand."

Of course the phrase applies to feet as well. "Mommy, I need shoe on my 'nother one foot."

1/26/10 - This morning when leaving the driveway of a friend, Aron pointed out the trees near the driveway. It is cold and the large trees on the property have roots that are more obviously exposed in the cold and grass free areas. He said, "Oh...the tree has bare feets."

1/29/10 - I can hear the boys playing upstairs and Aron started singing, as he often does. "This wittew wight of mine, I'm gonna bwow it up! No!"

2/6/10 - Yesterday I took the boys with me to the BGM office to see uncle Joel who, along with our cousin Tobey Schwartz and a friend Mat Stutzman, were driving a semi truck and trailer into Nashville to pick up supplies and then deliver them to Florida where they would eventually go to Haiti. Yesterday was Tobey's birthday so I made a little chocolate cake and frosting and stuck a candle in it. Aron didn't know exactly what was going on but he knows uncle Joel and he knows a birthday cake when he sees one. After we had greeted each other and had been standing around for a few minutes Aron wanted to get the ball rolling and got his uncles attention. "Hey, Uncle Joel!" Then, pointing to the cake he said, "Here's your party!"

This morning he came down the stairs first and wanted breakfast. He ran to the box where I keep the cereal and said, "yeah, yeah...I want some Craptain Crunch!"

Typically on Wednesday evenings and on Sunday mornings as we drive to church, Aron will point out a billboard that sits at the corner of Old Hickory Blvd. and Myatt Drive. I think it may be for a cowboy boot store but I can't remember for sure. Regardless, there is a picture of a young lady with a cowboy hat on it and without fail, Aron will point to it and announce, "Hey! I see a cowboy girl!"

We are still constantly the audience to his knock knock jokes and his vocabulary is growing daily. He is very quick to learn and his observations are usually pretty accurate. He says "excuse me mommy" when I am speaking to someone else and he wants my attention. He says "thank you" and "you're welcome" and he's become very desirous of the attention of those around him. He will announce to strangers as we pass in the grocery store, "Hey, I'm Aron!" because surely they wanted to know.

Aron peed in the potty for the first time tonight. I'm pumped.

Aron has curly hair. He had a full head of hair at birth, not super thick, but definitely enough to cover his head. He grew and it stayed for the most part and has become curly as it's thickened. I love curls.

Kris and I both had curls as small children. His were white blond curls that covered his head like a halo. Mine were dark blond and complimented my brown eyes nicely. It seemed strange to me that we should have any children with straight hair, yet our first two refused to grow curls. Yes, they each did have some swooping curls, but nothing that didn't have to be encouraged and manipulated in order to look nice.

Aron grew curls and they stayed and they have been so much fun. However, of late (especially since the humidity of summer has become scarce) his curls have been less attractive, less easy to manage, less fun to clean food from, more apt to make him look straggly and unkempt and most distasteful...possibly making him mistakable as a little girl. We just can't have that.

So yesterday...I took him to the barber. He and Ivan each had their hair cut and they are looking rather dapper. Ivan looks a little more like his cousin Clay when his hair is real short and Aron looks a lot like his cousin Christopher who also has dark eyes. Though Christopher's hair is much thicker, more blond and straight...they're faces are very similar and with Aron's hair short I can see the similarity so much more clearly. They are close in age also, Christopher being just under three months older.

Kristy and I used to be mistaken for each other in our younger years, even though there is six years difference in our ages. I think now we look much different but it would stand to reason, given our previous looks, that we would produce little boys who look alike. It's funny to me that they are both our third boys.

But you probably aren't reading this, thinking...how interesting...tell me more about your sister and how much the two of you look alike. You are probably thinking...why haven't you shown me any pictures yet. So I will:

First a before picture:

And now...the new Aron.

I like the short hair. It always amazes me how much it changes a persons looks to change their hair. I expect it will still grow in curly so we'll let things grow for a while again and enjoy whatever God gives the little guy. I'm enjoying this look though. Hello little man...It's nice to see you were in there.

A conversation I overheard between my boys yesterday:

Ivan: Aron Said "Poop"

Owen: Go tell on him

Ivan: No, you go tell on him

Owen: No

Ivan: Aron, go tell on yourself

Owen: No one tells on their self

Aron: I do! (runs to mommy)

Aron's birthday was a great day. We were able to get all ready for his party and still had time to take him to his favorite place for lunch. I asked him where he wanted to go and he said, "Chicken Nugget" which means Chick-fil-a. We left early and had lunch around 10:45 so that I could get him and Ivan down for a nap in plenty of time. They slept pretty well and soon after was party time.

He enjoyed all the "happy birthday" greetings and soaked up all the hugs and kisses and extra attention. We had a good turn-out for the party, not too many, not too few. He played hard and slept quickly afterward.

Here are the pictures with captions where required.

He didn't want much when I asked him about a party. The only thing he really seemed excited about was balloons. I found balloon plates and napkins, bought a few balloons and then just made everything else coordinate (sort of) in solid primary colors. I decided to make his cake in the shape of two balloons by baking the cakes in an oval casserole. He chose the colors. I held five markers in my hand in the same colors as the possible frosting colors and he picked green and yellow.

One of the other kids blew out the candles before he had a chance the first time around, so Kris lit them again and he worked hard to blow them out one at a time. He sort of blows with an overbite so the air seems to go down instead of out.

Left to right: Dean Fadely, Bradley Thompson, Owen, Lael Fadely, Aron, Carly Thompson and Ivan.

It's not a party until there's ice cream dripping from your chin.

Addison and Ethan Dunn (3 and 4 years respectively)

He was in awe of the gifts. I remember thinking how easily he got through them. He didn't get overly excited about any of them. He definitely liked them though. He seemed to soak in all of it and then easily move on to the next thing. I specifically remember Owen's second birthday and how he had a hard time getting through the gifts because he wanted to play with each toy that he opened. I feel really bad that I don't remember more about Ivan's second birthday. I think it's because I had a two month old Aron to take care of while we were celebrating. That middle kid always gets the shaft.

Ryan and Amber Dunn (Amber is in this picture) asked what Aron would like and after some discussion I suggested a new piglet doll. He has completely defiled the little ratty specimen of what was once an adorable stuffed toy, and multiple washings have failed to bring back his luster. Last night he slept with both of them and hopefully we will be able to wean him of the elder piglet.

It was a good night. I believe Aron enjoyed his party and he has definitely enjoyed the gifts. He and his brothers have been playing with them all day.