Laundry Assistant

One of Aidan's favorite things to do is "help" me. Unfortunately (for me), his version of "help," in the case of laundry duty, includes dumping all of the clothes out of the basket and then climbing in the basket and playing. It's actually pretty comical. He also enjoys "helping" me in the laundry room -- in fact, he has been for quite some time. Here are two pictures of Aidan "helping" me with the laundry when he was just three months old!Today, our twelve-month old Aidan helps by opening (and closing and opening and closing...) the door to the dryer. At one point, he tried to climb inside, but he's not quite big enough. (And Mommy wouldn't let him anyway!)

Hurricane Aidan strikes again!

Playtime at the Medley Centre (again!)

New toys are fun!

The next Picasso?

Incredible Aidan

Merry Christmas!

"Ohhh - these cookies are for SANTA?!?!?!"

Happy Holidays from our family to yours...

12-Month Well Baby Visit

Aidan had his twelve month well-baby visit this afternoon.

He now weighs 24lb 2oz (up from 21lb 12oz at his nine month visit) and he is now measuring 30.25 inches long (up from 29.5 inches at his nine month visit). He is in the 70th percentile in weight and in the 60th percentile for height. He had four shots this time, which didn't make him very happy. I think he knew what was coming because as the nurses came at him with the needles (they tag-team him with two shots at a time), he stared at the needles and started to cry even before they poked him. My poor baby - his face got all red and he howled once they poked him with the needles! I couldn't get to him fast enough once they were done! As soon as Mommy picked him up and Daddy gave him a kiss, he calmed right down.

We met with Dr. Preston because Dr. Holmes was out sick today. We talked about switching Aidan to whole milk (which we've already done... for probably about a month now, which was okayed by Dr. Holmes. We also got the okay to switch Aidan's carseat from rear-facing to forward-facing (we did this a couple of weeks ago as Aidan was VERY uncomfortable rear-facing - his little legs were scrunched up against the back of the seat!) The doctor said that Aidan is doing great on his developmental milestones, as well, so we were happy about that.

The doctor picked Aidan up at one point during the exam and he said he was surprised at how SOLID Aidan is! He said, "Wow - he is not fat at all, he's just really SOLID!" And strong, too! The doctor felt Aidan's gums and said he didn't feel anything coming through. He has four teeth now, so we'll see when the next ones start to come through. At this point, it's not really a concern.

He said that we should start phasing out the pacifier and the bottle. Ideally, he'd like to see both the bottle and the pacifier completely phased out by the time Aidan turns eighteen months old. I'm not anticipating a problem with the bottle, but, quite honestly, I'm a little concerned about the pacifier. Aidan is most definitely a pacifier addict! He's constantly feeling his t-shirt to find the pacifier holder and then popping the paci in his mouth. I think tomorrow, we'll try to keep him off of the pacifier when he's awake and we'll let him have it at bedtime.

For the past week or so, Aidan has had a pretty yucky cough and he's been very phlegmy. We've kept his humidifier on at nighttime and he's been getting Robittussin at night before bed. Still, the symptoms weren't disappearing, so we mentioned it to the doctor today. He checked Aidan's ears and lungs and he said both look perfectly clear. Aidan DID cough, though, at the appointment (good thing - or we'd look like hypochondriacs!) and based on the way he was coughing, the doctor said it almost sounded like whooping cough! (Yes, Aidan has been immunized against this...)

The doctor took a swab of the phlegm in Aidan's nose and he's sending it to the lab to be checked for whooping cough. If it is, indeed, whooping cough, then Alex and I will need to be treated for it as well. We also got a prescription for Zithromycin for Aidan - we started that this afternoon. Hopefully Aidan will start feeling better soon! In time for Christmas would be ideal!

All in all, Aidan was pronounced healthy (and solid!). His next well-baby appointment is in March, when he will be fifteen months old.

Not Feeling Well...

Aidan has had a cold for about a week or so. Today, it seems worse. My poor baby can hardly breathe out of his nose, and when he can, he has a constant stream of mucus coming out of it. We called the doctor this afternoon and he said that since Aidan doesn't have a fever and we already have his one year appointment scheduled for tomorrow, he'll just check him tomorrow. The doctor did say we should make sure he is eating and drinking enough... As you can see, this isn't a problem for our little piggy!

Even though he's clearly not feeling well, Aidan has been enjoying all of his birthday presents! He has been giving them pretty much equal playing time, but early this evening, he's shown some prefence for two favorites... a lawn mower (from his little girlfriend, Paige) and the Bounce n Spin Zebra (from his Grandma and Grandpa May).

Aidan is One Year Old!

Happy Birthday, Aidan! Our little man is a year old today.

Alex, Aidan, and I spent the better part of today at the Strong National Museum of Play - one of Aidan's favorite destinations (besides Disney World, of course!). We enjoyed playing in the "sand box," pushing shopping carts at the Wegmans store, and watching the fish in the aquarium.

We hosted a small birthday party tonight, with both sets of grandparents in attendance. We had one of Aidan's favorite meals -- taco squares with Spanish Rice. And, of course, it wouldn't be a birthday without some birthday cake!

I still can't believe Aidan is a year old already. A toddler! At this time a year ago, I was trying to figure out how to breastfeed a newborn and wondering if we would get any sleep that night. (We didn't). Now, I know I can count on a good night's sleep and waking up to a little boy who LOVES to eat, and is adorable, funny, and smart. He's the heart of our lives and the person I love beyond all reason.

Happy Birthday, sweet baby boy. I love you, Aidan.

Almost One...

One year ago tonight, I was nine months pregnant, huge, uncomfortable, and praying for my little man's arrival. I checked into the hospital right around this time, not knowing what to expect. I didn't know yet that Aidan would decide to be stubborn, like his mother, and have to be "rescued" via c-section. I didn't yet know that he would have dark brown hair, sweet little dimples, or a round chubby face that melted my heart every time I looked into it. One year ago tonight, I couldn't have imagined what life would be like a year later.... I didn't know what to expect about life with a newborn, let alone life with a one-year old.

Now I know. And I can tell you -- it's good. Really good. Actually, it's the best thing ever - or at least the best thing so far. I used to be such a planner -- always planning the next thing in my life and often not taking care to enjoy things as they came. Now, I live more fully in the moment, savoring my time with Aidan and feeling bittersweet about his progress into toddlerhood.

I'm proud of his growth and I am excited for him as he discovers what his body and mind can do, but I already miss his babyness -- round cheeks, waving hands, curled up legs. Tonight as I was rocking Aidan in the glider before I put him to bed, his arms gripped tightly around my neck in a giant bear hug, I silently said a prayer of thanks. I am so thankful that I still have moments like that which make me feel so close to him and they help me remember that even though he's becoming a toddler, he is still very much my baby boy.

It's the eve of his birthday so I know you'll understand if I'm a little emotional. I already shed a tear or two as I gave Aidan his kiss goodnight as I laid him in his crib. Now, we'll just have to wait and see if I can keep myself from embarassing Alex tomorrow by being an emotional basket case when we sing Happy Birthday to my precious baby boy.

Christmas Party

Still partying...