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.

Two Months

Mr. Aiden is changing so much from week to week. It's so amazing to me how much he's grown from the little six pound peanut I brought home about 10 weeks ago. He's getting so big and so strong. I love seeing what each day brings, but am a little bit sad about how quickly time passes.



At two months Aiden is:

• 10 pounds 11 ounces
• 22.75 inches long
• eating every 3-4 hours (except last night when he unfortunately reverted back to every 2)
• sleeping 3.5-4 hours at a time (except last night) and has had a couple 5 hour stretches (which Mommy loved)

• holding his head up pretty well
• locking his legs and "standing"
• smiling like crazy
  

• laughing occasionally
• cooing and "talking" to us
• playing with his tongue
  
• loves when we imitate his sounds and tries to imitate us
  

• wearing 0-3 and 3 month clothes
• cloth diapered all the time now
• has discovered his feet
• sucks his fingers, fist and thumb when he can find it (this seems to be replacing the pacifier)
• has tons of hair on the bottom of his head, but little on the top and back
  

• is so stinking cute I can't stand it!
  

Better Late Than Never

So I've been meaning to do baby posts, but blogging seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle of new mommyhood. Right now I'm sitting on the couch holding a sleeping baby and figure now is as good a time as any to get in some one handed blogging. I know I could put him down and be more productive, but since I'll be heading back to work eventually, I'm taking advantage of all the snuggle time I can.

My plan for Aiden's first year is to do a monthly blog post with photos to document his growth. Since we'll be doing two month photos this week, I'm a bit late with his one month post. Better late than never right...



At one month Aiden:

-was 8 pounds 1 ounce and 21.5 inches long at his one month check up
-was eating every two hours
-would much prefer to sleep in someone's arms than by himself
-needed to be swaddled with arms out
-held my fingers while nursing
-grew crazy long blonde eye lashes
-liked to be sung too
-was quite a snuggler
-was wearing newborn sized clothes
-made the funniest faces, especially with his eyebrows:

(taken at 6 weeks)

He already looks so different than these pictures. He's filling out and getting longer. It's so crazy how much he changes from week to week. Hopefully I can post his two month photos and update soon, before he changes too much.

And Now We Are Three

It's been a little over two weeks since Mr. Aiden made his debut. The past two weeks have been a bit of a blur, an amazing, tiring, wonderful, stressful blur. I am slowly getting used to life as a new Mommy. Getting used to not getting a whole lot done other than baby cuddles, constant feeding and diaper changes and grabbing a few minutes of sleep here and there. It's getting easier. I am slowly learning his cues and signals, learning not to jump up at every sound he makes, learning to do things one handed and learning how to function on a lot less sleep. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Around Here

Have you missed me?
Here's what's been going on around here the past couple of weeks.
Shawn and I celebrated our 5th anniversary with a couple of days in Sedona:


While we were away, our niece made her arrival a little bit early. Welcome to the world Miss Camryn!


Dog sitting this cute girl:


Making some progress on the baby's room:


Doing lots of baby laundry and putting things away:


Doing a little scrapping:


Getting a new computer (after mine was out for repairs for weeks) and finally being able to upload and edit photos from the past few months. Here's a little glimpse at the baby shower photos I finally got edited today:


And last but not least, waiting patiently (or not so patiently) for Baby Benaim to arrive.

The First 10 of the Summer

Martha Stewart

1. The crib is finally up. Though the casters don't fit, so I need to call the manufacturer and hopefully get new ones. Without them, the crib is a little bit short.

2. Got my new teaching certificate yesterday...I'm official and no longer an "intern" teacher.

3. Had an OB appointment today. All is good with baby Benaim. Just a few more weeks to go.

4. Feeling huge, even though everyone says I'm small for almost 37 weeks.

5. Enjoyed some lemon pancakes for breakfast today with Michelle. Yum!

6. Looking forward to our 5th anniversary on Thursday.

7. Got new pj's, new curtains (to replace the ones the dry cleaner ruined) and a polka dot nursing bra at Target today.

8. Purchased this print from John Golden's etsy store for the baby's room today. Hooray for coupon codes!


9. Spending a lot of time pinning recipes on my pinterest food board, yet we ordered pizza tonight because I didn't feel like cooking. Well, really because I didn't feel like grocery shopping and pickings are slim around here unless you want cereal, popsicles or cheese.

10. Not thrilled about the heat wave around here. Supposed to be 111 or something ridiculous tomorrow. While I'm loving many things about summer, the heat is definitely not one of them. Late pregnancy and heat are not a good pair, unless my giant belly is floating in a pool.

Happy first day of summer!