5 Months

Aiden will be 6 months in 11 days...about time I posted a 5 month update. December has been kind of a crazy month, so we just got around to taking photos. It may also have had something to do with Mommy's delay in knitting a hat she wanted to use in December photos. I didn't finish it until after Christmas, but it was definitely worth waiting for in my opinion. Super cute, right?


At five months Aiden:

-is wearing mostly 6 months clothes, though he still fits in a few 3-6 month things
-not sure exactly what he weighs, but he is getting bigger by the minute
-is eating about 10 oz and a little cereal while Mommy is at work and every 3-4 hours when she is home
-is quite interested in any food or drink you might have near him
-is still sleeping only 4 hours or so at a time (he likes to eat) and often ends up in bed with Mommy


-is sucking his thumb
-is chomping on everything and drooling like a mad man
-I'm pretty sure we are working on a tooth


-is rolling and scooting all over the floor
-is wanting to stand up often
-is sitting up by himself, sort of. He can do it on the couch or in your lap pretty well, but only for a few seconds on the floor
-loves being upside down


-likes rough and active play
-is very ticklish, especially under his chin
-thinks peek a boo and silly noises are the best thing ever
-shakes his head side to side like he's saying "no" and thinks its pretty funny


-still loves Sophie the giraffe and his assorted blanket animals
-thinks spinning toys and music toys are pretty great
-often freezes and listens intently when he hears music (that's my boy)
-enjoys being outside
-loves his bath and being naked
-still has his tongue out all the time
-is about the cutest thing you ever did see

Christmas

Aiden's first Christmas seems to have come and gone with a blur. We had a good holiday, enjoying plenty of time with family. Christmas eve was spent at my parents having our traditional Christmas gumbo (thanks to my time in New Orleans) and Christmas crackers (thanks to a holiday spent in England). Sadly, I have no pictures of everyone in their Christmas crowns. I do however, have a picture of Mr. Aiden in his cute Christmas sweater vest.


Look at those rosy little cheeks. Love! Aiden also enjoyed hanging out with his great grandparents. I am so thankful for this great picture I happened to catch in the midst of several less than stellar shots.


Christmas morning Aiden and I headed back to my parents for Christmas breakfast and gift opening. Here's a view of my parents tree full of presents.


Before opening presents, my sister tied Aiden with a bow. He was certainly my favorite Christmas present this year!


I think Aiden most enjoyed the wrapping paper and ribbons, especially the sparkly ones.


We were all quite spoiled this Christmas, with lots of fabulous gifts all around. Aiden had the largest box amidst the bunch, getting a fun play center to use when he visits his grandparents.


Here's a peek at one of my gifts, a Lisa Leonard necklace with Aiden's name, a jar of hearts and a pearl.


The festivities continued and later Christmas day, we all headed to my aunt and uncle's house for a large gathering with family. It was a lovely evening of family and food. It was fun to show Aiden off, especially since many of my family members had not met him yet. He was particularly interested in my cousin's little boy, who is only 3 days younger than Aiden. The two of them make quite the Christmas pair.





We had a nice holiday, though I can't believe it is already over. All the anticipation up to Christmas and the actual event seems to fly by so quickly.

Hoping your holidays were as merry as ours!

Weekending

This weekend was a true December weekend, full of holiday parties, decorating and holiday shopping.

Aiden and I went to work parties both Friday and Saturday nights. He's such a good baby, it's so easy to take him with me every where I go.

I spent the rest of the weekend decorating, cleaning and doing laundry. I did manage to squeeze in a little baking too.

This weekend I finally ordered my Christmas cards from Shutterfly and used a 5 free card code to order a few customized thank you cards. I think this is a pretty fun way to send thank you's, don't you?

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Four Months

Aiden turns five months later this week, so I figured it was about time I posted his four month update. Time is definitely moving fast. I can't believe he will be five months in just a few days.


At four months, Aiden:

-weighed 15.1 pounds and was 25 inches long at his 4 month visit.
-eats every three to four hours, including 2 five ounce bottles (sometimes a third) while mom is at work.

-started being supplemented with rice cereal and a couple ounces of formula, because mommy can't pump enough for this hungry boy.
-sleeps about 4-5 hours at a time at night.
-takes 2-3 short naps (or sometimes a long one) most days.

-loves to play.

-enjoys peek a boo, tickles, being upside down and any other rough or silly play activities.

-loves Sophie the giraffe and his keys.

-is working hard during tummy time trying to army crawl and sometimes rolling over.

-grabs everything in sight, especially food and drinks.

-loves to be outside.

-has started fake coughing and fake burping...such a boy already!
-still blows bubbles and raspberries all the time.
-loves to imitate mouth and tongue movements.
-is probably teething, as he's chomping on everything and drooling like crazy.
-gets cuter and cuter by the day!

Our First Halloween

This past weekend we headed to the pumpkin patch with the Benaim family. We were joined by Grandma Ellen, Auntie Thereze, Uncle Thierry and cousin Camryn for an afternoon of pumpkin fun. Unfortunately, it was a bit hot on Saturday, so we spent a lot of time in whatever shade we could find and the pumpkin hat came out only for pictures. It was a good day even though it didn't quite feel like fall.

We actually managed a family picture:

and a few pictures with Aiden and I together (don't have many of these):


This picture of the grandma and her grand babies cracks me up. They all have the same facial expression:


We picked a couple of good pumpkins:



Aiden was so over the pictures:


Halloween was another warm day and Aiden was not too thrilled with his costume. He really only wore it for some picture taking in the morning and to answer the door for a few trick or treaters in the evening. He was a pretty cute cow, even if he was a grumpy one.

My Pumpkin at 3 Months

Because Mommy went back to work 2 weeks ago (boo), we were a little late taking Aiden's 3 month pictures, so he's actually 3 1/2 months in these pictures. You might not think it matters, but my mom and sister see him once or twice a week and every time they see him they think he's grown and changed in just a few days. It really is amazing just how much he's changed in just a few short months.

At 3 months Aiden is:

• Getting bigger every day. I don't know his weight and length because he hasn't been measured since his 2 month check, but I'm guessing he's around 13-14 pounds.
  
• Starting to outgrow his 3 month clothes. He's started wearing 3-6 month sizes and I'm guessing 6 month sizes aren't far off.
• Is getting stronger and stronger.
  
• Holds his head up pretty well and lifts it high when he's on his tummy.

• Is trying really hard to crawl. He was doing this inchworm thing before, but now he's starting to use his hands.
• Rolled over from front to back one time a couple nights ago. He's been rolling to his side since the day he was born and likes to hang out there, but doesn't seem too interested in going all the way over from back to front.
• Scoots himself with his legs while he's on his back.
• Arches his back when he doesn't want to be sit down somewhere.
  
• Mysteriously ends up facing a different direction in the pack and play when he gets up in the middle of the night.
  

• Blows bubbles all the time.
• He also really likes to play with his tongue and hang it out of his mouth. It's pretty funny.
• Has started clasping his hands together in front of him.
• Wants to be held facing forward, so he doesn't miss any action.
• Coos a lot and tries to imitate us.
• Has the cutest little laugh.
• Loves to be played with, the sillier the better.
  
• Looks like a cabbage patch doll with his bald head (he's not really bald, but it's all blond peach fuzz on top and long dark hairs in the back, so he also looks like an old man).
  

• Had been hanging out in the bumbo and vibrating seat.
  
• Is interested in toys and is doing a good job at grabbing and holding them.
• Puts everything in his mouth and chomps.
  
• Is a blanket boy. He loves to hold blankets and towels and burp rags, but really loves his monkey blanket.
• Is being bottle fed while mom is at work and nursed when I'm home and is still eating about every 3 hours.
  
• Has gone from sleeping nice 6 hour stretches back to getting up every 3-4 hours (just as mommy went back to work). Hoping this is temporary and due to a growth spurt or changes in his routine.
• Has had to get used to hanging out with daddy (and Dindy and Auntie Kellie) all day while mom is at work.
• Is always happy to see me when I get home.
• Looks more and more like mommy, but has his daddy's facial expressions.
• Has a little dimple on one cheek.
• Is the cutest little pumpkin you ever did see!
  

Precious Time

Tomorrow begins my last week of maternity leave. I can't believe how quickly time has gone by. I am not ready to go back to work. I have to go back and it will be ok, but I will be sad to leave my short time as a stay at home mom behind. I will miss my little guy so much. So very much.

As I reflect on my short time left at home, I think

My house is a mess.
My to do list is long.
I haven't finished his room.
I made little progress on my recent plan to switch Shawn's work space mess with my craft room.
His blanket is not done.
The two boxes full of projects for my classroom barely got touched.
I haven't scrapped a single baby picture, though I've taken a million of them.

but, none of that matters. I know the time I spent holding and cuddling and playing were well worth it. I'll never get those tiny baby days back and I'm glad I enjoyed them. I'm so thankful I've had 3 months of full time Aiden.

We have 7 more days together before I go back to work and though my week is filling up fast, you can bet I'll be every free minute cuddling and playing and soaking it all up.