Happy Birthday, Aidan

I went to Emmett for a short little weekend trip. Mom and Dad had just returned from their European Vacation (OK, they went to the Basque Country and to Madrid, but still, that's in Europe!) and Steph, Nate, and Aidan were going to Idaho to visit. I had to see the family.

When I got there late Friday night, we decided to go to The Gem Lounge. Friends of the family bought the place and have remodeled, so it is super beautiful now. We enjoyed ourselves. Maybe a little too much.

Yes, I am two-fisting. I regretted it the next day.

The next day, was Aidan's birthday party. He had cake. Watch the video. It's adorable!





I got to see a lot of familar faces, and some not so familar, like new additions to my bunch of girlfriends' families: And I got to watch Aidan do some of his favorite things:

1) Play with the hose.2) Play with Aitxetxe.

3) Smile.

I seriously had a lot of fun with my little buddy. I hope everyone who was there had as much fun as I did!!

Happy Mardi Gras

If this isn't the happiest baby in New Orleans, I don't know who is.

Just look at that stinkin' happy face.

I wub my little nubbers.

Aidan's First Santa Picture

I know it isn't a very good quality picture, but my baby nephew is seriously one of the cutest, happiest babies alive! Look at that happy smile, tellin' Santa what he wants for Christmas.

I mentioned to Steph that she was a good mom for finding a Santa with a real beard and an awesome background, but she said Santa was grumpy. I said, he doesn't look like it in the picture, but maybe that is because my nephew is the cutest darn thing ever!

Sweet Potatoes ROCK!

Aidan had his first solid food on the 4th: sweet potatoes. Apparently, he is like Matilda with the Yo Baby: Gimmie my sweet potatoes, bitch! This picture was taken after Steph said, "No more." What she is feeding him is his SECOND helping of sweet potatoes. I TOLD her he was part Malaxechebarria. He HAS to be hungry. All the time. Seriously. I am not joking.

Then when he got what he wanted from Mommy, he said, "Oh, thank God. I thought I would never be able to eat whatever that is again!"
Then he said, "I CANNOT get enough of this little slice of heaven!"

"Yeah! Sweet potatoes!"

Wait until he tastes bacon, aka manna from heaven. Or Kalimotxos! Or lamb. Or Tortilla de Patatak. Oh, this kid is in for some good stuff!

My Nubbers

How cute is that smile??

Looks just like Steph.

Looks just like Nate.

Every time I see a picture of my sweet-smelling nubbin', Aidan, I think, "He looks so much like Steph when she was a baby!!" Then sometimes I get a picture and I say to myself, "OK, there he looks like Nate." But most of the time, he looks like my little nephew.

He's so cute, I just want to eat 'im up!!!

I LOVE Being Tia Ky

I finally got to meet my teeny tiny nephew, and boy is he amazingly cute! I think it is because he has Malaxechebarria genes running through him, but I am already attached to the little guy. He spit up on me, pooped on me, and clawed me, but I didn't care.

That must be how moms feel, too.

And no, no I do not want to be a mommy. But I am the coolest Tia ever!!!

Just check out how adorable he is.


I gave him his first lesson in Star Wars and Indiana Jones. And U2. The important things in life.

He Just Keeps Getting Cuter and Cuter!

Here are my two tough guys, wise guys. Aren't they adorable?

Seriously, though, I think I am the proudest Tia in the world. Right now, all I can do is think about how I get to hold him in about 4 weeks. Four very long weeks.

I just hope his mom and I can keep him from growing up into a jerk like the men I have been meeting lately. Bitter? No. Just hopeful I can change the world one step at a time. And if I am not going to have my own children, I'll start with my sister's.

But seriously, he is adorable. And better and better every day.

Introducing Aiden James McLaughlin

Ahhh, my beautiful nephew / godson:

Introducing Baby McLaughlin!

Here is a picture of my cute nephew, as yet un-named, and my even cuter Daddy.












How cute are the Athletic booties; I mean, really?

Is it sad that the only happy thing in my life right now is the fact that I am a Tia AND a Godmother??? No, it isn't sad. It's is the happiest day of my life! (Until the other nieces and nephews are born from my dear sister's womb.)

An Open Letter to Steph and Nate

I would like to comment on why I think I would make a fantastic Godmother. Not only will I be the best auntie EVER, I will be a great Godmother because I will buy him whatever Star Wars things he wants. (Not like our mother who wouldn't buy me the Princess Leia figurine I wanted because I was a girl and girls aren't supposed to like Star Wars. But if your son wants a Barbie, I'll buy him that, too, because I do not discriminate by gender.)

Your son will know all of the cool bands of our era, and he won't think that they are nerdy or lame, because his cool Tia Ky likes them. He will know about U2, The Dave Matthews Band, and Modest Mouse. And Pink Floyd. And Pearl Jam. And of course, Ani. (We won't have to tell him TOO much about the last Ani concert you and Nate went to, OK?) The music list goes on and on, but our love of music will not be lost on him.

I will also share my love of reading to him. He will love to read like you and I, Steph, and because he will read so much, he will be the smartest kid in school, but cool, too. And when he becomes the President of the United States, I will be the proudest Tia and Godmother ever. Or when he becomes Bono's assistant when Bono gets too old to do his humanitarian work. Whichever the little one would rather do is all right with me.

In other words, I will try to be the best role model that he can have, besides his own mother and father. I will always try to help you and Nate out in whatever way you need me to in raising the little guy, and I will always try to be the coolest Tia Ky a kid can have.

Although it is kinda hard to be me and not be cool at the same time.