The weekend of firsts...

Aiden and I "tagged along" on Ryan's recent business trip to Coeur d'Alene. I was really antsy to get out of town. We talked my parents into coming too so they could visit with my dad's brother and his family (Uncle Jeff and crew). Aiden did amazing in the car thanks to his 4 month shots the previous day. He slept from the moment we got in the car until Drummond and then from Drummond all the way to Coeur d'Alene! I was on edge the last hour and a half because I kept thinking "he is going to wake up any minute... " After a quick dinner with the family dad took Aiden and I to the hotel, it was late, Aiden was really tired and were hauling all of our stuff (babies don't travel light) up to the room when we stepped into the elevator I proclaimed... "ah this is Aiden's first elevator ride!" Ryan loooked at me with that famous "are you serious?" look. He'll get into Aiden's firsts once Aiden also gets into them :-) That elevator ride prompted me to do this post though...I don't recommend staying in a hotel with a baby that you're trying to get onto a new sleep schedule (that's another post all together). Aiden woke up screaming three + times a night (yeah vacation) and after 10 minutes I had to feed him. However, feeding him every time he cries means that he fills his diaper causing a diaper and pajama change at 5 am with a crying baby, and two parents singing ba ba black sheep (LOL do you want to stay with us?). Ryan said there would be a cheering squad when we checked out... it was faint but we could hear them cheering.

Hotel photo shoot while daddy was at meetings.

on our way out for a walk;

Wow this post is getting long... are you still reading?

My parents brought their boat up and I talked Ryan into letting us all take a ride. Ryan's had a firm rule that Aiden can't go on the boat until next summer, but it was just a little ride and we had a life jacket (circa 1980s!)



The next morning I wanted to take advantage of the hotel pool and take Aiden swimming. So when Aiden woke up we headed down to the pool at 7 am. The pool was chilly, but luckily the hot tub was not hot so it was perfect. Aiden splashed like crazy, and swam around for 20 minutes, a boy after his mama's heart!


So in one weekend here is a list of Aiden's firsts;

- first trip in Grandpa's truck (lame but a first none the less)
- first time out of the state
- first time to Idaho
- first time to Washington
- first elevator ride
- first hotel stay
- first time swimming!!
- first shower (no tub at the hotel post swimming)
- first boat ride
... I know I'm missing a few so I'll have to come back and update this list.

Flathead Vacation Day four

This is the longest vacation wrap-up ever! I'm so behind at work that it is hard to find time to process personal pictures. On day four we visited the Martin family. We use to live next to them in the barn and we always have a good, relaxing time together. It was really chilly but we headed out to the park. Que the picture dump :-)

Flathead Vacation Day three

We tried to take it easy on day three after all of the adventure and car time the day before. We drove up to Whitefish to visit Ryan's Grandma June. We had lunch on the front porch overlooking Whitefish lake. Ryan fixed grandma's car, Aiden napped and I looked at magazines... it was very relaxing.

Flathead Vacation Day two

To Glacier Park we go! When planning our trip to the Flathead this year I was insistent that we do something different, and Glacier was on my list of things to do. I've been as a kid, but it has been years and I really wanted to see it again. We left Mark and Joslyn's house just in time to hit Aiden's morning nap and he snoozed all the way to Glacier park. He was over it by the time we were on the Going to the Sun Road where there isn't anywhere to pull off, and I was over it after the 10th time around the Logan Pass Parking Lot. 20+ minutes looking for a parking spot! I ended up getting out with Aiden, finding people leaving and standing in the parking spot so Ryan could come and park. No one would harass a lady with a little baby right... WRONG... they just kept driving at us until I moved... jerks. They got to see nature 3 minutes before us...hopefully karma paid them back. Luckily Ryan found a spot and we were able to have our tailgate lunch and get ready for a hike.

Aiden and Ryan ready to go. Mark said he's never seen a guy where the baby bjorn, but Ryan wears it like a true Daddy.


Mark and Jos looked for wildlife... They didn't need binoculars for that! I kills me that people treat National Parks like Zoos. This is a wild animal that could charge you at any moment. We jetted passed the big horn sheep quickly and continued on the hike.The views were spectacular!

Little did we know what was walking towards us on the trail. Jos walked right around the tree almost into three mountain goats. We just stook to the side of the trail and let them do their thing.We reached the overlook for Hidden Lake and had to take a picture. There were too many crazy people up there but I wish we would have asked someone to take a photo of all of us... oh well, next time.
Then it was back down the Going to the Sun road. Aiden fell asleep so Joslyn offered to stay in the car while we pulled off the side of the road to check out a small waterfall. The water was crystal clear and freezing cold, but that didn't stop a bunch of people from jumping in!
Aiden was awake and not a happy camper when we got back to the car (we were only gone for 5 minutes). He cried off and on the 2 hours it took to get home, we were all exhaused and sick of being in the car with a crying baby. Aiden crashed once we got home even though it was two hours before bed time.

The Flathead Vacation - Day One

On the first day of our trip we were visiting Mark and Joslyn. Unfortunately we didn't plan it very well and Mark had to work and Joslyn was coming back from

Aiden was napping, and Ryan was out getting coffee so I had to occupy myself... with xbox :-). I was playing Hexic a great simple game. Ryan returned with coffee... and had a little slip on the way in... oops :-) I played xbox for an HOUR and got such a high score that the game quit. It is amazing how much time you can waste when you have nothing hanging over your head, like proofing weddings, cleaning house and such. It was such a relaxing day. Mark and Jos felt bad, but it was so nice to sit around and do nothing except enjoy our baby when he wasn't napping.

Aiden is smiling and laughing a ton and it is so much fun.

Hello chubby cheeks!
He drools like crazy now.
Chilling with dad... maybe if I post these pictures enough Ryan will stop making faces when I point the camera at him... wishful thinking I know.

We're home!

I want to give our trip a proper post with lots of pictures, but first I have to have time to go through them all! I played tourist and took a lot of photos. So I'll leave you with this cute photo of Aiden in his car seat... he now hates the car 18+ hours in the car in 5 days will do that to anyone, but especially a boy that like to stretch when he wakes up. I gave him a break yesterday and I didn't take him anywhere. Hopefully a break will make him excited for the ride to Hebgen Lake on Saturday.