Did I ruin my Brew?

Filled my fermenting bucket with 3 gal cold water, added the just boiled (and still hot) wort, then topped off to make 5 gallons, just like the instructions said. It required about one gallon(60 min boil), and I topped off by running cold water down the inside wall of the bucket. Did I improperly and accidentally aerate by doing this?

Since I didn't consider that the actual "aeration", I cooled the 5 gal brew down to about 72, then pitched the yeast while stirring. Couldn't seem to find a definitive answer as to whether to pitch before or after aerating, so I decided to pitch while aerating. Any downside to doing this?

Thanks.

Filled my fermenting bucket with 3 gal cold water, added the just boiled (and still hot) wort, then topped off to make 5 gallons, just like the instructions said. It required about one gallon(60 min boil), and I topped off by running cold water down the inside wall of the bucket. Did I improperly and accidentally aerate by doing this?

Since I didn't consider that the actual "aeration", I cooled the 5 gal brew down to about 72, then pitched the yeast while stirring. Couldn't seem to find a definitive answer as to whether to pitch before or after aerating, so I decided to pitch while aerating. Any downside to doing this?

Thanks.

And Merry Christmas!

Aerating can be done before, during, or after pitching. Just don't aerate after fermentation.

Oh, and welcome to the obsession...

And also make sure to cool the wort BEFORE aerating. I aerate once before pitching for a couple minutes and once after.

Nah you're fine. Basically you dont want any aeration once fermentation starts.

Before that, once the wort is cooled, you can aerate whenever.

kit in a can? No worries, didn't even have to boil it, actually shouldn't boil extract in a can, just mix with boiled water.

Some people pitch before, some pitch after aerating. When you added regular, non boiled water, you were aerating. When it made contact with the wort it already had plenty of oxygen in it.

Also, dont post the same question in multiple places.

I just had bad deja vu LOL or so I thought

To answer your main question though, I highly doubt you ruined your beer! Aerating before you pitch yeast is important, but just some of the splashing while pouring into the bucket even if you were careful plus the stirring will be enough I bet.

Good luck!