Remember when...

From 4 days to 4 months. Erica and Rob saw Aiden for the first time when he was just 4 days old and for the second time last weekend when he was 4 months. Joe had taken pictures of Aiden the first day they met him and he just gave me copies. He was so little, what a surprise it must have been to see him after 4 months!

4 days old- 2/20/11

photos by Joe Blea

2nd meeting- 4 months old 7/3/11

And...time travel back to the delivery room. I just got these photos from Tio Emmanuel.

Letter to Aiden: Bye Bye Newborn

A-Ball,

I just disassembled your bassinet. The one we used to lay you in when we first brought you home. It has been sitting in the corner of our room now for four months, even though you haven’t fit in it in over two months. I got a little choked up as I pulled the pieces apart. First, I unscrewed the mobile that you used to stare at with your blurry, newborn, grey eyes and it made me remember how your dad and I would desperately try to keep the mobile running for you. You loved the vibrations, music, and lights. So we had to make sure we had all three running to keep you calm. You only “rested” in the bassinet. We couldn’t keep you in there for long because you wanted to be close to us. I think you only slept in there two nights on your own for maybe three or four hours! I always let you sleep next to me, or on me, but when we first brought you home you were so small that I was afraid that I would somehow hurt you so we would lay you in there and would rock the cradle until you fell asleep. Sometimes, I would wake up in a panic, looking for you, only to find that you were in fact safe and sound asleep next to me. Relief would overcome me and I would rub your sweet little head, which at that time was as big as my hand and I would go back to sleep. But other times, my panic attack would last a bit longer because you weren’t next to me and I would have to peek inside the bassinet to find you swaddled and cozy because your Daddy had put you in there after he spent over an hour in the living room playing Cold Play on the iHome until you fell asleep.

Then, I removed the base. We would push the bassinet right up against the bed so that we could peek in every two seconds--not just because we were paranoid or because you were waking up crying to either eat or to be sung to, but because we literally couldn’t  (and still can’t) take our eyes off of you. You are so perfect, so handsome, so adorable, and so amazing. I remember rocking and shushing you. I remember Daddy swaddling and singing to you. And I remember both of us stubbing our toes on the base of that cradle!

I feel like I have been packing up things you have outgrown as quickly as I have been bringing home new things for you to play with. I have packed up loads of clothes and your infant bathtub too. You are no longer my fragile, little newborn. You are my body building infant! As much as I like to reminisce about you being so small and even though it makes me a little sad that it went by so fast—I have to admit I love and am so excited about you growing up. So big, so strong, so happy. You are so playful and curious and you always have the biggest smile. Every stage of your life so far has been more exciting and rewarding than the last.

As I packed up your bassinet, I said goodbye to you being a newborn. I never imagined a baby was such hard work, everyone said it was, but I didn't fully comprehend until you were in my arms. You slept so much, but you ate so much too--every hour! I had never been so challenged physically, mentally, and emotionally (but I would do it over a million times). Well, my sweet angel, it wasn’t easy but it wasn’t unbearable either. There were so many changes that came along with you—things I couldn’t have possibly prepared for, but we did it, we made it to infancy! 

Love, 

Mama

Weeks 5 and 6

March 17-23 Week 5: Aiden weighed in at 12.4lbs this week and he is wearing 3mo clothing! He also had his first outing (other than his trips to Kaiser). We took him to church and he received his first blessing during communion. From there, we headed down to Campbell to visit my family. 

click image to enlarge

March 24-30 Week 6: Aiden smiles on-demand now. All we have to say is, "Where's your smile?" or "Who's handsome?" and he coos and smiles. He is outgrowing 3mo clothes already! He had a growth spurt and was nursing non-stop for a few days and was a little fussy. I go back to work next Monday (but only one day a week while I am on my Paid Family Leave). Aiden had lots of visitors this week. Uncle Emmanuel took prom pictures at our house so he got to meet some new faces. Julie came with my parents and Bri brought Britt over. He even shared some smiles with Ricky. My mom and Toddy took him to Costco to get more diapers since he went through 50 in less than a week! He had an upset stomach so now I am on a non-dairy diet. He also tested out his baby bjorn and he LOVES it! We went on a few walks since the weather has been so nice.

click image to enlarge

3 weeks and 1 month pics

March 3-9: Pictures from week 3 with Aiden

click image to enlarge

March 10-16 Week 4: Aiden is 11.1 pounds and extremely alert and constantly smiling. 

click image to enlarge

1 month birthday he was all smiles!

click image to enlarge