Look how far you have come and so fast. A blink of an eye and a year has gone by. From Newborn, to infant, to toddler-- here is a month by month view of YOU! (all of your birthdays!)
The 16th of each month starting February 16, 2011- February 16, 2012!
September 17-30th: Progress! Aiden learns something new practically every 5 minutes. He has mastered his basketball hoop and can now slam dunk without assistance. The first time he did it on his own was on the 23rd (video below) He even pulls himself up to the standing position! Crawling is still a challenge but he gets in position and rocks on his hands and knees before face planting and screaming out in frustration. Our living room has transformed into a play room....toys are everywhere! He learns so fast, and has started to copy what we do. Uncle Mike taught him how to "Pet the doggie", (there is a page in his touch and feel book with a sheep dog that has fluffy fur), and now whenever he grabs that book, he goes to that page and pets the doggie. It is the only page in the book that looks tattered and used! When I type, he wants to type. When I am on the phone, he wants the phone. You get the point, he wants whatever I have. September is the sunniest month in Pacifica so we have been walking to the beach almost everyday. Aiden loves listening to the ocean and watching the waves. We even saw two dolphins! We also took him to Gymboree one Saturday, he was the biggest but least mobile baby in the group. He seemed to have fun though, and he loved the bubbles. He is probably 30 pounds now and he has definitely gotten longer, but I don't know the exact measurements--he's a beast! He loves looking out the window at the dogs and he says, "Dghthh" (his version of "dog") every time he sees them. Some things I love about this age: his laugh (things are actually funny to him now), his hugs (he wraps his arms tight around my neck), the squeals he makes when me or his dad comes home, clapping when he is excited, his big smile when he wakes me up in the morning, his eagerness to be mobile and his ability to play with his toys (I am so proud when he figures out how things work), how he shares his toys and food with me (he holds them up to my mouth and laughs as I pretend to eat it) and how he reaches out to me with his arms when he wants me to hold him. He cries out "nehnahh" when he wants his mama and he says "da da" when his dad comes into the room...coincidence, I think not...but who knows! I love that he can stand now, that he is trying to walk and crawl and that he can entertain himself for longer periods of time but he still doesn't want to be alone. Yes, he still sleeps with and on me, and no, I don't mind one bit! Now, on to the pics and videos...
To see all of Aiden's videos, click here.
Sept 1-16th: My parents came and visited us on Friday and we went to lunch at Nick's. It has a beautiful view of Rockaway beach. As you can see, my dad was checking out the waves and Aiden had his lunch before we left.
The mini-vacay: We started off the month with our first mini vacation. A trip to Santa Cruz over the Labor Day weekend. We packed everything but the kitchen sink as you can see in the picture below. We decided we would see where the trip took us, we had zero plans. We cruised downtown Santa Cruz and stopped in a "learning" toy store where Aiden got to play and pick out a new puppet and recycling truck to take home. Aiden ate a lot of solids, he had avocado and oatmeal at brunch, mangos and peaches for a snack and then some rice cereal with dinner. We were impressed at how much he ate, but then he started vomiting and wouldn't stop from 9pm-midnight. We were freaking out and had Kaiser on the phone until they convinced us it would be better to stay where we were since it was likely a stomach virus. They had a Dr. call us on Sunday to check in, but since he had no fever, and hadn't vomited again, she said that he probably just ate too much food and it overwhelmed his system. He seemed to be doing ok, so we visited the Wharf and Boardwalk before heading to San Jose for Uncle Rod's birthday bbq even though Aiden was sort of fussy and not acting like himself.
Emergency: On Monday, he vomited one time and then on Tuesday he got sick 5 times in a row. I checked his inguinal hernia and it was purple, enormous and it looked incarcerated. We rushed him to the ER in SSF and thus began the worst week of our lives to date. They had us hold him down while the Dr. tried to reduce the hernia. She was unsuccessful and wanted to run labs and get xrays before ordering us an ambulance to take us to SF Kaiser where they have Pediatrics and Surgeons on call. They had us hold him down while they secured an IV (it was horrible watching him be in so much pain, it made me hurt all over). But despite the paid, Aiden managed to flirt with all of the nurses, flashing them his big smile and "talking" to them. Nobody could believe that he was 6 months old. Everyone would gather
around him to pinch his cheeks and smile at him. As usual, he drew a
crowd of admirers :) When the ambulance arrived, Aiden was asleep. We thought he would stay asleep, but he woke up when we put him on the stretcher and then he stayed awake the entire ride to SF. He was so calm and he just started at this one EMT the entire time. The EMT was laughing and told Aiden that he had never had anyone stare at him for so long and that it was starting to creep him out! They also told him that he was their best and most handsome passenger that they have ever had. At SF, we had 2 doctors try to reduce the hernia again before they called Dr. Lee the Pediatric Surgeon in. It was horrible. I cried so hard as he pushed and pushed. I had never heard Aiden scream like that in my life. It killed me. But once he got it back through, Aiden passed out. Just fell asleep instantly. In total peace, like an Angel. It was freaky, but a huge relief. I was still trying to catch my breath and was wiping tears as Dr. Lee told us he wanted to move his Surgery from the 16th (today) to Friday. He told us that it was unlikely to get incarcerated again before then. After Aiden ate and held it down we went home. He started antibiotics because they found a UTI and then Aiden and I both caught a cold and were sick on Wednesday. I called to ask if surgery was safe and they scheduled a physical for Thursday. Everything was going great until Thursday evening. They cancelled surgery due to the UTI and risk of further infection. Then, Aiden started vomiting again. Martin and I panicked...NO! not again! I looked in his diaper, and yes, it was incarcerated, again. We jumped in the car and headed to SF emergency. Poor Aiden had to endure the same trauma he did on Tuesday. 2 attempts before they had to call Dr. Lee. We got admitted and put on the books for the next day to have his hernia repaired. He finally had surgery at 2pm on Friday by a wonderful and very prestigious, Dr. Farmer. She did a wonderful job and they even hand drew baseballs on his bandages since he was wearing a Giants shirt that day. We got to go home that night after he held down his food. Now, he is doing wonderful, you can barely see any scars or bruising. He is healing great as you can see below. Martin took the week off work to spend time with Aiden after the surgery :)
Dear Aiden,
Happy Birthday to you, wow, 7 months today! How fast time is flying by. It seems even faster because you are growing so fast and so big! You are wearing 18-24 month old clothing and you are 26 lbs. When I hold you now, you rest your head on my shoulder and you play with my hair. Your feet dangle down to my thighs and I am bear hugging you because you are as long and as wide as my torso. It is insane to me that just 7 months ago you were only 8lbs and 20in.
I am so glad you are doing better. It was so rough at the hospital last week mostly because I love you so much that it physically hurts me to see you in pain and it emotionally destroys me when I can't make you feel better. Just 7 months ago, I was bringing you into this world and I felt so excited and so happy to have you in my arms and I thought I could always keep you safe. But, last week in the hospital, the same one you were born in, I held you and felt helpless. Tears ran down my face uncontrollably as I tried to comfort you. I was scared, worried, and sad. All I could do was hold you and sing to you and pray. I prayed that God would give me strength and that He would take away my worry and keep you safe and take away your pain. And He did. I want you to know that when you hurt, I hurt, but I will always be strong for you and together we can ask God to make things better and He will.
Love,
Momma
Photos from the 12th-16th:
Milestones: Clapping: Aiden can clap on demand! (Sunday 11th) He perfected this in the hospital. We kept saying, "Bravo!" and he would smile real big and clap.
Balance: He is getting so frustrated that he isn't moving yet, but he sure is trying! He can pull himself into the crawling position and will just stare at his hands like...move, dangit! He will now steady himself and will balance his weight with his hands when he is sitting.
Object Permanence: Peek-a-boo! Aiden can participate now. This was his favorite game to play with the nurses. He anticipates when he will see something now. I will stand in front of the hall mirror and before he can see himself, he will start kicking and clapping as he smiles. Then I raise him up so he can see his face in the mirror and he cracks up. So...adorable. It's one of his favorite games. He has also learned how to lean and stick his neck out when something is moving out of his view.
2 sharp bottom teeth help him tear into this broccoli!
This Friday, I will be 7 months pregnant! It is exciting but scary at the same time to know you will be in here in just two months. We're scrambling to get as much done as possible before you get here. Your Grandpa has been working so hard on our house in preparation for you. He has transformed our house into a home. Great Grandpa textured all the walls for us and Grandma has been helping too; she painted every room. Great Grandma Toddy, Auntie Bri, and Uncle Chris have been helping too and they are already spoiling you rotten! Right now, the floors are getting done so that we can finally buy furniture and put your room together.
Your daddy is already day dreaming of you. I saw him in your room last night just looking around with a big grin on his face. When he caught my eye he said, “I’m just picturing his room and imagining it all done with little Aiden in it.” A couple of nights ago, he told me that he can already see you crawling around the living room floor while he watches football with Ricky. He dreams about you too. Sometimes he will wake up, kiss me on the cheek and will say, “I had dreams of Aiden last night, he looked so cute.” You are so real to him now, especially now that he can feel you moving. I grabbed his hand on Saturday morning. You were kicking me really hard, non-stop from 7-8am! We were half awake anyway, excited for your baby shower that was happening that afternoon. I pulled your dad’s hand over to my belly. You usually stop kicking the second I get his hand there, but this time you didn’t. You gave him a swift kick and I felt him jolt with surprise, “Whoa! He wants out!” I rolled over and saw his expression of sheer joy and utter surprise and couldn’t help but laugh.
Its incredible feeling you move. When I first felt you, you were about 16 weeks. Then, it was only a slight flutter. Almost like feeling a muted heartbeat in my belly. But now, I can feel you turning and hiccuping and even kicking. You are so active and I love feeling you move. I rub my belly and talk to you until you settle back down. Your development has been right on time. Every week we read about how our baby should be developing, and you are always on schedule. It’s comforting. Comforting, because I already feel so connected to you and protective of you and it feels good to know that you are healthy and developing properly. I have had a few times when I panicked. When I was only 6 weeks, I noticed some slight bleeding. I burst into tears as I dialed the hospital. I was scared to death. I called your dad, my mom and the nurses. Finally, the Dr. called me and told me it was completely normal and not to worry—relief overcame me in waves and tears ran down my face as a smile quickly appeared “Thank you God,” I whispered as I hung up the phone. Or when I felt a sharp pain, like I did when you were 18 weeks. I rushed to the hospital, only to find out that you were perfectly fine, you were just positioned in a place that caused ME pain. I was so relieved, I told the Dr. “He can cause me whatever pain he wants, as long as he is ok.” It was then that I realized how much you have already changed me and how much I already love you.
Just like your daddy, I find myself daydreaming of you all the time. I think about what kind of parents we will be and how things are going to be so different from now on. Different in a way that I am so excited for! Last night, I realized this will be the last Christmas your daddy and I will spend alone. It wasn’t a sad thought; it was a happy one, to be reminded that our lives will be forever changed in just two months. You will soon be with us making our lives even more meaningful and blessed. I also realized that other feelings like boredom is something I will not be feeling for a long time—at least until you hit your teens and start spending more time away from home. Having you growing up in front of us is going to make even a Tuesday night at home an adventure.
Almost every other second I picture what you will look like (usually, you look like a mini-daddy when I think of you--cute dark haired, dark eyed, tall and all smiles). I picture you saying your first words, taking your first steps, riding your bike, constructing forts throughout the house, throwing the ball for Tigre and Ruthie, running on the beach. I can hear you saying your prayers before you go to sleep. I picture you holding your grandpa and grandma’s hands as you go hiking with them. I imagine you coming home and telling me what you learned in school, and staying up all night with you while you cram for a test or try to finish a report. I picture you and your dad getting decked out in Giants gear to head to the game with your Auntie Bri and uncles. I imagine you running up to me with critters in your hands that your Uncle Chris gave you, “Can we keep them?!” I can see you backing your dad’s Corvette out of the driveway to pick up your prom date. I imagine you applying to colleges and coming home to tell me that you are in love and getting married. Thinking about it makes me start to cry (mostly, because I'm hormonal!). You are still developing into a baby but my mind has already begun thinking about you growing up into a man. And as quickly as the thoughts rush through my head before you are even here, I know that I am not too far off, that pretty soon you will grow right before my eyes turning from a beautiful baby boy to a handsome man and I will be wondering where my baby Aiden went. I told your dad that I had literally imagined your entire life and thought of you getting married, and before I could tell him that I got ahead of myself and that we haven’t even “met” you yet, he smiled at me and said, “It's true, it will all happen before you know it.” And it will. Life moves so fast and I can’t wait to enjoy every bit of yours with you.
