Aedan Fae
Traci's first born is the subject of so many amusing stories. She's been full of personality from the day she was born. So many times we think we'll remember stories that send us into fits of laughter (or tears), but because life is so full of these moments, sometimes the best memories can be lost in the shuffle. Today, I made a vow to myself to try and capture some of Aedan's finest moments here on this page. If you have stories you would like to see remembered (and eventually shared with the little rascal), please send them my way!
The Princess and the Pee
I know, I know. You're thinking I can't spell. While you might be right, the spelling above is no mistake. This is the story of the Princess and the Pee.
A few months ago, my dad picked up some organic beets. Ever one to take advantage of seasonal fruits and vegetables, it was a delightful way to add something new to dinner. Because he didn't get very many, we had to wait for the right day to serve them. Finally, one night, my sister and her husband had a date night planned. With the two gone, my mom happily boiled the beets and served them with a fabulously well-balanced meal. The beets were passed around the dinner table and each of us took a perfect portion. Until they got to Aedan. Aedan loaded her plate up with beets. She put every unclaimed beet on her plate and insisted she could and would eat them all.
Aedan did not lie. Every last beet was devoured and enjoyed.
Now you know the backstory. Fast forward to the following day when Traci arounsed Aedan from her slumbers just in time to get ready for swimming lessons. Traci hurried Aedan to the potty and then something odd happened:
Aedan had pink pee.
We're talking SUPER pink. Alarmingly pink. Traci was worried. "Aedan! Your pee is pink! Are you feeling okay?!"
Aedan was not at all concerned. She looked in the toilet, then up at her mom and declared, "I feel great! I have pink pee because I'm a princess!!"
It's hard to argue with that logic.
A few months ago, my dad picked up some organic beets. Ever one to take advantage of seasonal fruits and vegetables, it was a delightful way to add something new to dinner. Because he didn't get very many, we had to wait for the right day to serve them. Finally, one night, my sister and her husband had a date night planned. With the two gone, my mom happily boiled the beets and served them with a fabulously well-balanced meal. The beets were passed around the dinner table and each of us took a perfect portion. Until they got to Aedan. Aedan loaded her plate up with beets. She put every unclaimed beet on her plate and insisted she could and would eat them all.
Aedan did not lie. Every last beet was devoured and enjoyed.
Now you know the backstory. Fast forward to the following day when Traci arounsed Aedan from her slumbers just in time to get ready for swimming lessons. Traci hurried Aedan to the potty and then something odd happened:
Aedan had pink pee.
We're talking SUPER pink. Alarmingly pink. Traci was worried. "Aedan! Your pee is pink! Are you feeling okay?!"
Aedan was not at all concerned. She looked in the toilet, then up at her mom and declared, "I feel great! I have pink pee because I'm a princess!!"
It's hard to argue with that logic.
Invisible Luffy
Traci and I have been reluctant to talk much about Luffy passing on to doggy heaven, but the oh-so-fitting eulogy Aedan delivered needs to be shared:
Ae: I bet invisible Luffy's running aroud in the a...um...
me: Air?
Ae: No. ATTIC. I bet Luffy's running around in the attic right NOW!
Rest in peace, Luffy. You were a good dog. We'll miss you very much, and every time we hear squirrels in the roof, we'll think of you.
Ae: I bet invisible Luffy's running aroud in the a...um...
me: Air?
Ae: No. ATTIC. I bet Luffy's running around in the attic right NOW!
Rest in peace, Luffy. You were a good dog. We'll miss you very much, and every time we hear squirrels in the roof, we'll think of you.
Strong, Smart, and...Humble?
Last year, Traci walked in on Aedan jumping on her bed wearing a bright yellow "cape" that was secured by a giant rhinestone clasp. (Do you have the mental picture? Good.) As Aedan bounced as high as she could, she sang at the top of her lungs:
Aedan Fae! That's her name!
She's Aedan Fae! That's her name!
She can't be defeated, oh nooooo!
No, she can't be defeated, oh nooooo!
She's our friend! She rescues us!
Whenever we're in trouble!
Cause she's Aedan Fae! Aedan Fae!
Thaaaaaaaat's myyyyyyy naaaaaaaaame!!
As you can tell, we've had to work quite hard at building up her self-esteem.
Aedan Fae! That's her name!
She's Aedan Fae! That's her name!
She can't be defeated, oh nooooo!
No, she can't be defeated, oh nooooo!
She's our friend! She rescues us!
Whenever we're in trouble!
Cause she's Aedan Fae! Aedan Fae!
Thaaaaaaaat's myyyyyyy naaaaaaaaame!!
As you can tell, we've had to work quite hard at building up her self-esteem.
Goals in Life
We all have goals in life. Just ask Traci as she discussed the future with her kids:
Traci: Aw, you guys. What are you going to be like when you grow up?
Aedan: I'm going to be a knight ballerina!
Willy: I'm going to be a blue balloon!
That's great, kids. Follow those dreams.
Traci: Aw, you guys. What are you going to be like when you grow up?
Aedan: I'm going to be a knight ballerina!
Willy: I'm going to be a blue balloon!
That's great, kids. Follow those dreams.
What All Princesses Need
This story is brought to you by the fabulous Rachel Seabrook:
We were going to Caitlin's boyfriend's graduation party last Saturday, so Aedan decided everyone needed to wear dresses to be princesses. So we all dressed up in some of my and Lydia's old dresses and headed out. Aedan happened to have chosen a dress that had a little bit of padding in the chest area. When Traci and your mom and company met us there, she ran up to your mom and exclaimed, "Look Grandma! I'm a princess! And I have the best thing in the world! I finally have the boobs I've always wanted!"
We were going to Caitlin's boyfriend's graduation party last Saturday, so Aedan decided everyone needed to wear dresses to be princesses. So we all dressed up in some of my and Lydia's old dresses and headed out. Aedan happened to have chosen a dress that had a little bit of padding in the chest area. When Traci and your mom and company met us there, she ran up to your mom and exclaimed, "Look Grandma! I'm a princess! And I have the best thing in the world! I finally have the boobs I've always wanted!"
Always & Never
In life, we are constantly learning and growing. One skill that is developed in childhood and often honed as an adult is negotiation. If you are able to master this skill, the eternal give-and-take of the world will more often pull in your favor. This is a trait that Aedan is working hard to develop at an early age.
For example, recently, Aunt Jeannie was teaching Aedan the "naughty words" of the Seabrook house. The two she had in mind for this particular lesson were "always" and "never." Aedan has the tendency to use both of these words quite often. If she is upset about something, she declares, "Now I'll NEEEEEVER get to do that again!" or "I NEEEEEVER get to do what I want!" Oh, Aedan. You are a drama queen.
As Aunt Jean finished explaining the importance of not using either of these words in her presence, Aedan quickly retorted, "Well, it's okay to use them sometimes. Like if I say, 'Aunt Jean, I'll ALWAYS love you!'"
Oh, Aedan. You will always get the last word in life. You shall excel in the world.
For example, recently, Aunt Jeannie was teaching Aedan the "naughty words" of the Seabrook house. The two she had in mind for this particular lesson were "always" and "never." Aedan has the tendency to use both of these words quite often. If she is upset about something, she declares, "Now I'll NEEEEEVER get to do that again!" or "I NEEEEEVER get to do what I want!" Oh, Aedan. You are a drama queen.
As Aunt Jean finished explaining the importance of not using either of these words in her presence, Aedan quickly retorted, "Well, it's okay to use them sometimes. Like if I say, 'Aunt Jean, I'll ALWAYS love you!'"
Oh, Aedan. You will always get the last word in life. You shall excel in the world.
Hide and Go Eat
This story is thanks to Aunt Jean and Grandma (aka mom):
Jean said that the kids have gotten so good at chores that she has let them collect eggs on their own. Aedan collected a bucket of eggs and being the typical five year old, got distracted and set the bucket on the ground. The dogs took out the eggs one by one and ate them, leaving only one in the bucket that Aedan discovered when she went back to retrieve the eggs. She was very upset that the eggs were gone, but even more upset that the one left was covered in slobber. Oh Aedan, if you only knew how those eggs got out of the chicken!
Jean said that the kids have gotten so good at chores that she has let them collect eggs on their own. Aedan collected a bucket of eggs and being the typical five year old, got distracted and set the bucket on the ground. The dogs took out the eggs one by one and ate them, leaving only one in the bucket that Aedan discovered when she went back to retrieve the eggs. She was very upset that the eggs were gone, but even more upset that the one left was covered in slobber. Oh Aedan, if you only knew how those eggs got out of the chicken!
Way Up in the Sky, The Little Birds Fly...
Aedan doesn't know that chickens don't fly. Nor do they believe the early bird gets the worm. But Aedan is learning...!
Aedan loves her egg collecting job so much that she gets up early in the morning, sometimes before the chickens do. She scoots into the chicken coop through the chicken door, climbs up on the board where they roost and yells GOOD MORNING! EVERYBODY UP!!! until the chickens scatter off their roost. She loves those chickens, but Jean and Rachel have to remind her that "Chickens don't fly, so don't throw them!" She catches them, carries them upside down by the legs. She'll stay out in the chicken yard playing for hours 'til she's called in. Rachel has had to give extra baths on account of Aedan's chicken infatuation.
Aedan loves her egg collecting job so much that she gets up early in the morning, sometimes before the chickens do. She scoots into the chicken coop through the chicken door, climbs up on the board where they roost and yells GOOD MORNING! EVERYBODY UP!!! until the chickens scatter off their roost. She loves those chickens, but Jean and Rachel have to remind her that "Chickens don't fly, so don't throw them!" She catches them, carries them upside down by the legs. She'll stay out in the chicken yard playing for hours 'til she's called in. Rachel has had to give extra baths on account of Aedan's chicken infatuation.
Disclaimer
My mom has been helping me collect stories that involve Traci's kids recently. Sadly, after compiling several delightful tales, the message she put together disappeared instead of being sent to me. As anyone who's had something like that happen to them knows, it's impossible to recreate the same brilliance twice. So, I'm taking some minor auntie-liberties with the stories she shared and trying to give them as much life as I can (without rendering them to be completely false). As Sarah Hohl taught me, there's no need to let the truth stand in the way of a good story! Haha.
Natureful
After spending countless hours outside, Aedan rushed into the house to find Grandma.
Aedan: (in her most dramatic voice) Grandma, I crept up on something NATUREFUL in the backyard, but it ruined away!
Grandma: What natureful thing did you see?
Aedan: It...was....(wait for it)......a natureful bunny rabbit!!!
Thank goodness it wasn't a wascally wabbit. We all know that they only stop by to steal carrots from the garden! Natureful bunnies are much nicer!
Aedan: (in her most dramatic voice) Grandma, I crept up on something NATUREFUL in the backyard, but it ruined away!
Grandma: What natureful thing did you see?
Aedan: It...was....(wait for it)......a natureful bunny rabbit!!!
Thank goodness it wasn't a wascally wabbit. We all know that they only stop by to steal carrots from the garden! Natureful bunnies are much nicer!
Aedan Poppins
Aedan hasn't yet witnessed the glory of Mary Poppins, which is incredible as many of her everyday actions mimic the super-nanny. For example, Aedan Poppins feels that chores go much quicker if you sing while you work. The songs should be creative and fun. As she and Willy worked on making their beds, Aedan gleefully belted out the following (sung to the tune of Row, Row Your Boat):
Make, make, make your bed
Make it so pretty
Make your bed and celebrate
all the hard work you do
Make, make, make your bed
I marie it pretty with you
Your bed is all made and
mine is all made, too.
As a side note, I want to remind anyone that was at Traci and Andy's wedding about the song Mike and I sang as our toast. If you recall, I re-wrote the lyrics to Build Me Up Buttercup to celebrate Traci and Andy's union. I am convinced that Aedan is made up of 98% of my genes and this is just further proof that we are both descendants of the great Mary Poppins. (Maybe that was Grandma in another life?)
Make, make, make your bed
Make it so pretty
Make your bed and celebrate
all the hard work you do
Make, make, make your bed
I marie it pretty with you
Your bed is all made and
mine is all made, too.
As a side note, I want to remind anyone that was at Traci and Andy's wedding about the song Mike and I sang as our toast. If you recall, I re-wrote the lyrics to Build Me Up Buttercup to celebrate Traci and Andy's union. I am convinced that Aedan is made up of 98% of my genes and this is just further proof that we are both descendants of the great Mary Poppins. (Maybe that was Grandma in another life?)
Always is a bad word
As you know (from the story "Always & Never" above) *always* is a naughty word. It used to be one of Aedan's favorite words, especially when it was used to get something she wanted. As William grows up, he's learned a lot from his big sister--but Aedan is always one step ahead of the power curve.
Will: Aedan, you can't always play Cinderella.
Aedan: Yes, I can. Besides, you know always is a bad word!
Sidenote: Aedan does ask to play Cinderella a ridiculous number of times in any given day. But well played, AeFae. Well played.
Will: Aedan, you can't always play Cinderella.
Aedan: Yes, I can. Besides, you know always is a bad word!
Sidenote: Aedan does ask to play Cinderella a ridiculous number of times in any given day. But well played, AeFae. Well played.