7.5 months old on the move!

There is no holding you back! All you want to do is get down and crawl.... and then pull yourself up on everything! You have been taking quite a few falls, amazing how tough your noggin is. You now eat rice cereal, apples, bananas, sweet potatoes, chicken... and mom slipped some corn in tonight!

7 months old and counting

you started off army crawling.. and you just popping up on your knees. You want NOTHING to do with a bouncy chair, playpen, or fancy toy with bells and whistles. All you want is to get down and get into the mix. You are still on the gluten/casein free diet. Your staple is rice cereal followed by banannas, apples, and pears. Mom has been baking fresh sweet potatoes lately, and I think they are growing on you. I never made home made baby food, but it's starting to be more and more appealing. You can almost say mom, it's a MMMMMM sound, but we know what is means.

We took you to get professional photos made, however they made us wait too long and well, you fell asleep shortly after your first picture.

You still connected to mommy via my hip and won't leave my side at night... (working on it)

Almost 7 months old

Baby boy, you are so tired of sitting back and not getting in on the action with your brothers that not only did you start crawling last week, you cut your two front bottom teeth and got your first set of double ear infections. You have a lot to say, just like your oldest brother Sean did.

You and mommy recently took a side trip to the University of Washington in St.Louis. You are enrolled in the infant sibling autism study that is being ran by the National Institutes of Health. They took a cool picture of your head. It's not that they think you have autism, it's because your brothers have it, that have them very interested in the development of your brain. Mommy and daddy decided to participate because 1 in 56 boys are being diagnosed with autism, we want to help. You & I had a blast and got to go to the St.Louis Balloon race. I'll post some pictures for you.

Your still sleeping in bed next to mommy. Even though mommy loves her cuddle buy, she's ready for you to have your own bed.

Your oldest brother Sean loves you so much, your eyes light up and your legs start kicking with excitement when you see him. You like Aidan as well, however he's not that in too you right now, so you go after Sean's attention!

Mommy and daddy love you so much!

5 months old

Dearest baby, you are now 5 months old. You have been rolling from back to belly for about a month. We have started you on a little bit of rice cereal with apples. You are now wearing 18 to 24 month clothing and weigh about 19 lbs. Your typical day involves mommy carrying you around the house. You don't like to be put down at all. You wake up around 8:30am and you are up all day with one 30 minute nap until around 11pm at night. You will nap longer, only if mommy sleeps with you. You are very alert and are reaching for toys. Your not quite sure what to think of your older brothers yet. You like to stare at them and I can see it in your eyes that you want in on all the action!

My boy is getting big!

Baby boy, you are getting so big! You eat all of the time.  Mommy & Daddy took you too the pool this weekend and we met a boy that was 2 months older than you and you were TWICE his size.  You can hold your head up. Your smiling.  Every once in a while we will hear a coo.  The best part is your communication skills.  You put your fist up to your mouth when your hungry and you put on a show when your getting ready to go #2.  You love it when your brothers come up to you.  In fact, I've seen you start to fuss and then calm down when they walk up to you.   Your mom & dad love you so! We measured you at 22 inches today, I'm guessing 20 lbs and you are in size 12 months clothing.

just a Sm......

almost smiling my sweet boy!

6 weeks old

My big boy! You are almost in 6-9 month clothing.  In fact, that is the size I am buying for you now.  You eat every two hours like clock work (even at night). You wont take a pacifier, bottle, and you gag when I give you formula.  So, you spend a lot of time with mommy and being held by mommy.  Your mommy's friend Erin came out for a week to give me a hand. Even with her here I ran around in circles and didn't feel like I got a whole lot accomplished. Then, this last week we have had epic Swine Flu in the region.  In our county there is 18 suspected cases and 6 confirmed cases.  Schools are closed and mommy cancelled Sean's football.  I can't even risk you getting sick with any form of flu.  Here are a couple recent pictures.

Proud Big Brothers

You oldest brother Sean came in the door from school today. He saw you and said "Mom, can I please hold Aaron?". He loves you so much and it's the cutest thing ever. It warms and fills my heart. Sean is setting such a good example for Aidan, I hope he takes notes. Aidan is still not so sure of his strength. Tonight I was cuddling with you on the couch and he came up and decided to sit on you. Thankfully, mommy has quick reflexes.

You had your two week doctors appointment today. Your back to your original birth weight! You also have reflux just like your older two brothers did. You also have a bad case of the day/night mix ups. Your daddy has been napping during the day and staying up with you from midnight until 3 sometimes 4 in the morning. The doctor told mommy to start thinking about putting you in your own bedroom now. Hmm, I have a secret to tell. I still wake up at night to check on you to make sure your still breathing! I love you so much!

Love, Mom

Sick Mommy ....

The day after I had you in the hospital, mommy came down with a bad cough. I've had bad coughs before, a couple times a year... usually around a vacation I catch bronchitis. Mommy's doctor put her on antibiotics and sent me on my way home. That first night home was the first time mommy tried to lay flat in bed. I woke up very scared because I had all of this chest pressure. It felt like someone was sitting on my chest. I woke your daddy up twice. I told him I was scared and wasn't sure what was going on. You daddy took me downstairs to the recliner and told me he would hold my hand until I fell asleep. That next day, I went to urgent care and they took a chest xray and mommy had severe double lung Pneumonia. I cried at the urgent care. I was worried about you not getting breast milk, because that is your major defense in staying healthy while mommy was so sick. That next night was another difficult night. I only slept 1 hour. My chest pressure got worse and mommy went back to the urgent care the next day for a follow up chest x ray. The doctor told me she wanted to call an ambulance to take me to the hospital. She told me she was concerned I was having congestive heart failure or a pulmonary embolism. I told her I could make it the the ER. I was very worried. When I got to the ER, the doctors took me straight from the lobby back to my own room. They ER doctors told me the same the urgent care did. They were very concerned mommy was having a pulmonary embolism or congested heart failure. I just couldn't imagine what was happening. Daddy was stuck at home with you, Sean & Aidan. We didn't have any options to get daddy to the hospital. He called your nanny and made plans to fly her out the next day to help. Our good friends Jim & Shelley heard and they drove over an hour to Grapevine to watch you and your brothers while daddy finally made it to the ER. Just before that, mommy's good friend Lisa came to give me moral support while I was waiting on test results. At the end of the day, I was being readmitted to the hospital for two days. The CT Scan from my throat to my knees did not show a pulmonary embolism. My EKG was ok. My pneumonia wasn't looking so good. The doctors put me on a medical surgical unit. Mommy was worried about having you there by herself, so you stayed at home with Daddy and Nanny. It was a long two and a half days, I also had an allergic reaction to a blood thinner, but mommy got released and is feeling much better. I still have some outpatient tests that have to be done, but I am a little less nervous about my health. I can't even express to you that afternoon in the afternoon, my whole life seemed to flash in front of my eyes.

I am incredibly impressed with your daddy. Not only did he handle all three of you on his own, he did it on little or no sleep. He was also under a lot of stress because he was worried about your mommy. I am gratetful your nanny made it to Texas. We could not have done it without her and she got great cuddle time with you!

Love, Mom

Welcome Aaron!

Aaron, you were born on St. Patrick's Day. Tuesday March 17, 2009 at 2:09 PM. You weighed 10lbs 2 ounces, 22 inches long, and came out kicking and screaming! We we all surprised at your size! When they pulled you out everyone said you had curly hair. It appears that it has straightened out. You are beautiful and we cannot have asked for a better blessing from above!

Labor Time

Well, I decided to create a separate post about having you.. so hear goes...

Mommy decided a week ago that she wanted to have you on St.Patricks Day. You have Irish in your blood and I thought that would simply be a cool birthday. I reached out to my group of mommy friends for some bringing in baby tips early. Honestly Aaron, they are a bunch of wives tales, but they work for some. Silly things like Castol Oil, Walking for long periods of time, eating pineapple, eating eggplant... the list goes on and on.... at the end of the day, I chickened out and decided against trying to do anything to bring you in early, but to let mother nature take it's course.

Last week was spring break and mommy was going to have your 2.5 year old brother Aidan and 5 year old brother Sean home all week by herself (daddy would be home, but he would be "working from home" , so really not an extra set of hands. On Monday morning mom had the brilliant idea to give Sean a medication that would help "mellow him out" so that I would not have to worry about separating him and Aidan all day. His doctor prescribe it for him. Long story short, Sean didn't like his medication. Mommy was only getting about 2 hours a sleep a night and was tired and cranky. Daddy decided he needed to take Sean to the hospital after he complained of his chest hurting. I stayed at home struggling with your brother Aidan when my contractions started to kick in. I decided not to time them as they had been coming for no weeks with no progress. Well, they kept coming. Around 7:30pm, I timed them to 10 minutes apart. I called the on call OBGYN and he told mommy when to head for the hospital. Your brother Sean made it home from the hospital with an "all clear" from his doctor. That night I got about 2 hours of sleep, woke up and called her doctor and he said to come in.

In a nutshell, your mommy was indeed in Labor! Enough to where you were born 3 hours via Cesarian Section after that doctor's appointment. Even more to mommy's amazement was your size... 10lbs 2 oz and 22 inches long. I would have never guessed you were that big! I didn't gain much weight at all with you, in fact, I gained the least weight compared to your brothers.

Stem Cells

Your daddy & I decided it would be a good investment for our immediate family and our extended family to bank your stem cells. Our new president elect just opened the flood gates for federal funding for research and we are hoping some day to use your stem cells to help one of our immediate family members. We would love to use these on your older brother Sean, if the research is perfected enough to show they can reverse some of his more obvious signs of autism, such as his motor tics. Another excellent candidate is your Aunt Jennifer. Although never officially diagnosed, it appears to most of her medical professionals that she has Parkinson's Disease, we hear that the next two major stem cells studies are hoping to help individuals with Type 1 Diabetes and Parkinson's. We got our kit for the C Section delivered to us today via Fedex. I have heard some great stories in the research industry on what they have done with stem cell therapy.

Love, Mom

5 Words....

Can You Come Out Already?

Mommy knows that your ready to come out. People are stopping me at stores and asking me if they can help me load the car. I'm getting comments left and right since last week, so I must look like I am going to bust!

I'm not sleeping at all either. Most of it is excitement and anticipation... the other part is your head is on my bladder.

Our Pisces Baby

well, if you are born prior to the 23rd of March, here is your forcast... your mommy is a Pisces as well!

Seeming like a bit of a lost soul, the Pisces baby will get emotional and start crying for no apparent reason. It's part of this timid baby's personality, along with a tendency to carry things inward and not push them out. Expect a whimper rather than a shriek. Along these lines, the Pisces baby will pick up on the family's vibe, sensing arguments and other familial disruptions, and being profoundly affected by them. This fits in with this child's very caring, almost selfless persona, a quality which manifests itself in things like giving away toys. For this reason, Mom and Dad need to see to it that their Pisces tot doesn't get pushed around in the play group. Extra-sensitive by nature, this child also benefits from an added dose of attention, whether it comes from parents or sibs. With a wandering mind (this is the sign of the dreamer, after all!), the Pisces baby will find it easy to get lost in thoughts, almost blocking out the real world. Safe to say that this kid shouldn't be entrusted with many details -- they will simply forget them! That dream state is one which should be monitored at night, as the Pisces baby will be greatly distressed by bad dreams. To sum up, the Pisces baby would rather give than receive, is dreamy by nature, and possesses the fluidity attached to a Water sign. Let this sweet river flow!

Full Term!

Today, we hit full term! Yeah! Mommy is so excited! My feet are swollen and it's hard to get any more than 2 hours of consecutive sleep... please please come out a good sleeper! Mommy was told by her doctor last week to get off her feet. Daddy has been helping out the best he can. Your mommy's blood pressure has been creeping high... just like it did with your older brother Sean. Mommy came down with a condition known as pre eclampsia. I am borderline there with you. I want you to stay in as long as possible to cook, but I have a feeling you will be making your grand entrance soon! Your new cousin Bethany is due to be born tomorrow morning. How crazy is it that your birth dates will be so close! I enjoyed picking out your outfits today for the hospital bag. I picked two sizes, just in the event you came out bigger. Only time will tell.

Love, Mom

New Crib Set

I'll post a picture of your nursery, when we finish it... but for your scrapbook, here is a picture of your new crib set. One of the pictures has your older brother Aidan in it. He is wearing mommy's house slippers... too silly!

Love, Mom

Hair + Surprise Shower!

I forgot to mention, yesterday in the ultrasound the technician said your hair was about 9 millimeters long... which means, we are pretty sure you are going to have curly hair!!!! Sean came out with a full head and Aidan has peach fuzz... we shall see!

Mommy's good friend Lisa threw here a super secret surprise baby shower. You can't imagine how pampered your mommy was!! Lisa's husband, Paul, is a professional chef and served us quite the gourmet lunch of Chicken Cordon Bleu, fresh veggies, rosemary potatoes, fresh salad greens, and hummus.. yummm!!! And a the grand finale!...a chocolate cream cheese cake! Daddy and Mrs Lisa pulled a good one because Daddy said he was going to be busy all day today getting your nursery ready . Mrs Lisa said she was going to be busy all weekend, so mommy was really sad. Lisa called in to say she could squeeze in an hour at Starbucks and she would pick mommy up. On the way to Starbucks, Lisa said she forgot her cell and we swung by her house... to my great surprise, a house full of good friends from the area. We had your Aunt Shirley. Cousins Brooke & Morgan. Brooke's boy, Darren the exceptional server du jour... Mommy's good friends Debbie G and Beth! Mommy's friend Lori sent the cutest pair of pajamas to mommy via Pajamagram.com this morning! Your cousin Brooke has laid claim to your crib set (mommy to post pictures, it's beautiful... not that she needs it now, but years down the road when you have outgrown it... if it's in good shape still). Your cousin Morgan & I are scheming to see if we can paint an elephant on the wall by your crib! Daddy and Darren actually managed to lift it up the stairs today. On top of all of this, your coming home outfit arrived this afternoon via fedex. It only took them three weeks.

Ultrasound Yesterday

Yesterday, daddy and I got to see you on an ultrasound. You were measuring 6.5lbs, and 36 weeks along. We've had about 6 ultrasounds and you always measure a week ahead. We think that you were conceived the same week that your grandfather Torrey passed away. It was mommy & daddy's anniversary. What a blessing from above. Only our heavenly father could have made that timing possible. And I couldn't think of a better present. I think your grandpa Torrey is smiling down from heaven as well!

This morning is my birthday and I woke up with a present from you, contractions and you kicking my bladder! It's good to know I'm loved.

In yesterday's ultrasound we could see you licking your lips and sucking on your arm. I think your ready to get out and get some real food! No worries, there will be plenty of that coming from your mommy!

Today, I'm going to hopefully be picking up a crib set for you. We are about 2-3 weeks away from your big arrival!

Love,

Mom

"Family Portrait"

 

Sean was taking pictures tonight on the camera and he told daddy he wanted a family portrait, so here is what we got! You are in the picture, obviously inside mommy's tummy!

Love, Mom

Pictures with Mom

 

 

 

Mom's hasn't been feeling so "thin" lately, however I know down the road, I will regret not taking pictures if I don't do it now. Here is your brothers and I this morning. I am 34 weeks pregnant and we couldn't be more than happy that you are coming. Your big brother Sean is going to help us paint the trim in your nursery today!

Love, Mom

Crunch Time

Wow, where has the time gone? I'm not so sure that I'm ready for you to come out in the next 4to 6 weeks. Your daddy & I still have a list of "to do" items. We've outsourced some of the tedious tasks that come with home ownership... I've got a bunch of high school boys coming over tomorrow morning to rake all of the leaves in the front and back yard. We have about 8 oak trees in our yard and the two houses neighboring us have many as well, and we have leaf fest going on. I actually managed to bag 1 bag of leaves last week before calling in the "troups". Outside of the general house maintenance, there are a few items I have to get done for you!

1)find & clean Sean & Aidan's old car seat (thanks to your Aunt Tammy & Uncle Jimmy who gifted this to us 6 years ago).

2) Hopefully buy this cool crib from our neighbors. (We were not ready to throw Aidan out of the existing crib).

3) Pack the hospital bag

4) Finish the nursery. Daddy needs to paint the trim and get the rest of the "office" items out. We also need to get the carpets cleaned in there.

5) Pick up a few essentials we don't have that's still my "working list" at Target.

6) Mommy needs to get her annual eye exam done!

As far as extra help, well... we've got yard people coming out. I'm hoping to hire a house keeper to help me one day every other week. Daddy will be home with mommy the first few weeks after you are born, however I will be recovering from a cesarian section, which trust me... is no piece of cake. As long as your brother Aidan behaves, I shouldn't have any issues with the recovery. That is wishful thinking : ). I cannot drive a car for 4 weeks after surgery and expect to be fully recovered by 8 weeks post surgery.

You've slowed down quite a bit with movement. I suspect you are running out of room to grow in. Mommy's maternity shirts are having a hard time covering her lower belly. Daddy says just to wear his t shirts, which I may do, however he forgets I am a woman, and I will likely buy 2 shirts in a bigger size to make it up to your birthday!

Well, you older brother Aidan woke up at 6am this morning, so he's a bit fussy right now. Your oldest brother Sean woke up and I made him a sausage breakfast and he is watching the weather channel already. Rest assure, if you ever need to know what the weather forecast will be, your brother Sean will know!

Love, Mom

Coming home outfit

ok, so I've been spending the last few weeks to find that perfect coming home outfit for you. For Sean, he had a turquoise blue footed carter outfit, Aidan had an all white Petit Bateu footed outfit, and well... I decided since you are coming in March, that you needed to have something with green on it, because there is Irish in your blood! Tis the season. If you come out early on the 17th, you will be a St.Patty's baby, how fun would that be? We shall see! Anyways, I've posted a small picture of the outfit. I think it's simple and cute.



I guess the outfit protects us from an ultrasound oops... however we confirmed your sex like three times... so we are pretty sure you are a boy!

Love, Mom

got to see your heartbeat this week

Mommy was trying to get your big brother Aidan in from the front porch this week. He doesn't like it when Sean leaves him for school and usually throws a bit of a fit. Anyways, when I stepped on to the front porch with my bare feet, they got a tish wet. I turned around to walk into the house with a 40lb Aidan throwing a fit and as soon as I hit the hardwood floor, I went down hard! I managed not to fall on you or Aidan, crazy how that happens. I did fall hard on my right arm, leg, & foot. I called the doctor and they said they wanted me to go to the hospital right away. Your daddy came home from work and I went up to the hospital and they hooked me up to the heart rate monitor. After about 4 hours of observation, you looked good, and mommy felt ok (outside of the obvious pain in her leg & foot)... so I got to go home. Boy was I happy, all I had to eat was 1 bagel and they wouldn't let me touch food at the hospital, because if you were hurt... they were going to take you C Section right then and there. Thankfully, they didn't have to do that.



Love, Mom

the pregnancy adventure continues

I suppose there is a reason many women have children younger. However, considering your father and I didn't marry to our 30's, we started our family at a bit later than some.

This last week has been one of my tougher weeks being pregnant. You see, your older brother Aidan is almost 30 months old and he is a true delight but in and on top of EVERYTHING. He also weighs close to 40lbs, he's a big stocky boy... which makes it difficult for your mommy to carry him while I am pregnant with you. Your daddy had an outpatient surgical procedure done on Friday. It was his first ever surgical procedure. I picked up taking care of the bath time routine four nights the previous week and found myself Saturday morning exhausted and starting to have what I thought as contractions. I put Aidan into play care Saturday morning so your father could rest up and went to Sean's last indoor flag football game and proceeded to his celebration party. I felt myself starting to have contractions. Nothing timed, but they hurt. Later that evening, my good friend here in Texas, Lisa, came to the rescue and drove mommy to the hospital as I will still having what felt like contractions. The doctor told me that the contractions they were picking up on the monitor were "irregular" (not in any pattern), gave me a pre term labor test (which I passed), and sent me on my way home with the instructions to "rest". I laughed. It's really hard to "rest", when it's just you. Luckily, mommy's friend Lisa, took Sean over to her house again this afternoon, Aidan went to sleep, and so did mommy. You have been waking me up often as your "kicking" is the strongest I've ever felt and you are quite active in my belly. My OBGYN said he would see me Wednesday. Your Uncle Tyler is coming into town also this week on business, I hope to put him to work and have him help me with some of my "nesting". Can't wait to meet you, but you need to cook longer!

Love, Mom

good news

I passed my gestational diabetes test! I was for certain I would fail it because the doctor says your measuring above average for size and I had it before with Aidan. However, I did great! I just have to keep up the good diet until you are born. My maternity clothes are getting a little snug and I'm trying to resist buying any new maternity clothes (since you are our last. You still have room to roll over, last night you took a big turn and I even had your father feeling you move. Our list of things to get before your big arrival is getting shorter and shorter! We are getting there!

Love, Mom

Nesting, Nesting, Nesting

We had a doctors appointment last week and in the ultrasound the measured you at 3lbs 7oz which is above average for weight! I told the ultrasound tech, I have big boys! I had to be tortured by a 3 hour gestational diabetes test last Friday. I have to drink a large sugar drink and then they draw my blood 4 times. You were not so happy about the large sugar drink. You were beating my belly from all directions!

I dropped off the cover to your pack and play and have started to get the guest bedroom ready for your arrival. We decided not to change Aidan's bedroom, because we are already concerned on how is is going to respond to the change of having you around in 8 weeks!

I went to Lowes today and purchased 3 closest rods and installed them into the walk in closest in the office. I now have a place to hang your baby clothes! My good friend Lisa & I went consignment store shopping over the weekend and I picked up a bunch of clothes in size 0 to 3 months. My good friend in Colorado, Kathy, who also has 3 boys, was kind enough to send you the nicest batch of 0-3 months baby clothes from her little man Sam! We are so blessed to have these great friends!

I used my Christmas gift card that your Grandma Thomas gave me to purchase the Valance that will transition the guest bedroom / office to a guest bedroom / nursery.



I still need to buy the rest of your bedding set, however we are waiting to get your brother Aidan out of the crib so we don't have to buy another crib.



I'm starting to get in panic mode as I've got a bunch of things on the list to get done for your arrival.

Finish transitioning the guest bedroom.

Move Ian's desk into the master bedroom.

items to still buy

baby bathtub

nursing cape

some type of infant sling / carrier

nursing pillow

diapers

bottles

burp rags

and other items I stuck on your registry at Target.COM


whew, and I have 8 weeks to get it done... no pressure mom!



love, Mom

only 11 weeks left until your big day

You spent the holidays growing! And boy has mommy's belly gotten big. I may actually snap a picture, but it will be hard for me as I am feeling large. You move around in my belly often. Your quiet while I'm walking and then as soon as I lay day, the firework baby kicks start. I suppose you will be sleeping all day when you are born and up at night. You especially get active when your youngest brother Aidan brings a noisy toy up to my belly and makes it "sound" off. I had a check up last week and the doctors are running a test to see if mommy has gestational diabetes. I had it with your brother Aidan, so I am anticipating having it again! Mommy has major nesting urges and well, your daddy.. not so much... I'll have something set up for you in the next month. We did set your C Section date of March 20th, 2009. I have a feeling you will come the week before that though. That is the earliest the doctor would schedule it. Sean will be off the whole week before on Spring Break!. I'm not so sure on how I am going to handle the two of them that close to term, I may have to ask for your daddy to work from home, or we may need to look at other options for the week! Maybe we will do a local spring break trip! I still have a long list of things to do:

1.Nursery? That depends, can we get Aidan out of your crib
2. Baby Clothes. I have a few nightgowns and onesies, but really need to pick up clothes and diapers
3. Dig out the old infant carrier in the garage and clean it and install the base in the van. (Sean get's bumped to the third row).
4. Pack my hospital bag
5. Nursing supplies. I need just the basics.
6. Get your bassinet / co sleeper cleaned, ready, and put up.
7. Pick up your Safari bed set from Baby Gap Home


Now, there is a slew of other thing's I'm itching to do: Clean the house from top to bottom from corner to corner??? I suppose that is part of my nesting urges.