Now what?

Okay...I think Aaron has tried all of the "1st Foods."  Short of mixing them now...where do I go next?  I can't believe we've made it through the 1st foods already!  I just noticed that next week, Aaron will be 7 month old.  I feel like I just posted about him turning 6 months old.  I don't realize how fast time is going until I realize, usually at work, that it's the end of the month, again!
One thing that is "up and coming," a TOOTH!  Maybe two!  Definitely could tell it was bothering him tonight as he kept rubbing and tugging at his ears and jaw.  Poor kiddo.  Last night he was in bed by 7:30 and slept almost 11 hours without a peep.  Tonight he was in bed by 7:45.  I feel like just the other day, he started rolling over!  Now he's sitting almost independently with a few crashes, chewing his food/puree, cutting a tooth, playing peek-a-boo, hide and seek with daddy, and babbling da-ba-ga-la.  Whew, and all that is within the last month, maybe even two weeks.  Friends say it goes fast...  I had no idea it would go this fast and I would already be forgetting when Aaron first slept through the night.  After thinking, I did remember (thanks Laura).  All we seem to think and talk about is Aaron...when he poo'd, when he ate, when he spit up, when he slept, the time he giggled and giggled and giggled, baths, story time, snuggling.  While it is different from our "old life" we've settled into a groove and I am enjoying every minute.  We will be getting some one on one time for ourselves in July for Ben's birthday.  I'm excited for that but nervous all at once.  New daycare has really helped me relax about who takes care of Aaron, but we are having grandma come up and stay with him for the night.  The following week, aunt Jess and my parents are coming up to watch him while we go to a wedding of a college friend.
Wow...this blog is pretty lame.  Sorry.  I'm too lazy to delete it.  I apologize for the time you may have wasted reading it.

Aaron Loooong Legs

We had our 4 month check up this week.  Despite getting a little cold, again, everything is going well!  Aaron is growing evenly and rapidly.  He is 14 pounds, 11oz (50th %), 26 1/2 inches long (95th %), and his head is just shy of 17 inches(64%).  If you'll remember, Aaron was at the 65th percentile for height last time.  After measuring him THREE times and checking records from the multiple doctor's visits in March, it was finally accepted as accurate.  He grew 2 inches in 1 month!!!!  I told them I was not surprised but they just kept rechecking and double checking measurements.  So now, he needs to wear 6/9 month clothes for length, but they fall off of his skinny little waist.  He is definitely just like his dad!  The little peanut took shots like a champ this time around too!  We did DTaP and polio, plus rotavirus this time around.  Two sticks and some oral gunk.  We thought ahead this time and fed him just before and after he had the shots which worked amazingly to calm him down!  No tears after!  Made me feel better about it, though it is still hard to watch.  So far, our only reaction to shots has been extra sleepiness and gassy belly.  Whew!  Thank goodness.  He is not currently taking juice on a regular basis and has been able to have a bowel movement all by himself!  We are slowly getting out of the challenging stage.  Though naps are sometimes still a thing he wants to negotiate.  We are working on that one.  He is giggling and smiling all the time and really figuring out how to use his hands.  It's so fun to watch him and see the wheels turning behind his eyes to figure out how something is working or which finger is moving.  I can't wait to see what happens in another month!  Contemplating starting cereal, but concerned about possible constipation that may accompany it.  Guess we may just have to try it and see.

Happy Birthday, Aaron!

He is 3 months old today!  How time flies!  We had a visit with our new pediatrician in Ankeny, Dr. C.  She is AWESOME!  Gives tons of information, guidance on vaccinations, support...I just love her.  Aaron did a great job too, considering he hadn't had a real nap all day.  Yah, buddy!  Here's the stats:

24 1/4 inches long (60%), 13lbs 5oz (50%), and 16 3/4 inch head circumference (65%).  So...pretty average.  We talked about trying some pear juice to help with bowel movements.  Going to try 2 - 1oz bottles throughout the day of straight juice to see if that helps.  We have to try to incorporate this on top of his feedings, as we don't want to just give him empty calories.  Could prove challenging with the timing we deal with for medicine and the fact that he is pretty full after a bottle of formula.  The doc said he is growing well, everything is looking good and he was quite bright eyed for her.  Even gave a little smile.  She was glad that we are scheduled to see the Pediatric Gastroenterologist, which is next week.  She agreed that the bowel problems are of concern, especially now that he's 3 months old.  Hopefully they will be able to tell us some good news.  There are many possibilities, some of which are scary.  But I will not dwell on them now, as we don't know anything yet!  :)  Aaron also had some shots today.  I felt bad because I am altering his vaccine schedule which means more sticks.  But, I also have to tell myself I'm doing what I think is in the best interest of my child.  So every month until he's 7 months old...2 sticks at the doctor's office.  Hopefully he doesn't figure out the correlation by then or he is going to hate me.  I wish I could say he did great with shots but this time...not so much.  He SCREAMED!  I used to think he screamed before.  I was wrong.  Poor kiddo took 20 minutes to calm down enough just to eat a bottle, which significantly helped him relax.  Then the car ride home put him to sleep, which is what he is still doing almost 2 hours later.  Hope we don't have much/any reaction.  Last shots we were just a bit more sleepy and a little fussy but not too bad.  Crossing our fingers.
Aaron also had his 3 month pictures taken on Saturday.  He did a great job, despite still feeling a little crummy after having a little bug on Thursday/Friday!  Pictures will be available soon!  Here's a peak to tide you over.

Growing Boy

Aaron has his two week well-baby check today!  Boy is he growing already!  He now weighs 9 pounds, 1 ounce, 21 1/2 inches long and his head circumference is 14 1/2.  That means he's grown 1/2 an inch, his head has gotten 1/2 an inch bigger and he's gained almost a full pound from his birth weight.  He's gained a pound and 3 ounces if you look at his weight when he left the hospital!  I'm just shocked at how fast he has grown...and can't believe how fast time passes!  We haven't taken very many pictures this past week.  We've been attempting to keep caught up on bottles and laundry and feeding and napping ourselves.  We've been going to be around 7:30 or 8:30 every night...whenever Aaron goes down to get a few more hours before the next feeding.  He's been doing a great job and sleeping up to 3 hours or so after a feeding. We are getting into more of a routine and mommy is feeling more confident and capable.  Very important now that daddy has gone back to work.  We liked having him around for a week and half and miss him lots during the day.  Mommy gave Aaron his bath today all by herself.  Which was not easy, but we got it done.  We are planning on traveling up to LeMars over the Christmas weekend, Thursday through Sunday, but are keeping an eye on the weather.  Don't want to take any unnecessary risks and our first big travel trip will likely be stressful enough without weather to deal with also.  More updates to come as our family continues to adjust to the new life within it.