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.

Half Birthday!?

Yes...Aaron celebrated his half birthday last week.  I have managed to keep a child alive and healthy, who knew, for six entire months.  I'm starting to feel like Aaron has been a part of our life for years, though I still remember what it was like to go out to dinner, visit friends, and family without packing an entire extra wardrobe; toys, bibs, burp cloths, clothes, and all.  Speaking of toys, I just HAD to go out and get Aaron a couple of 1/2 birthday presents...of course!  He got a little snail that rolls when he pushes it, plays a couple of songs and has a mirror to look into.  He digs it, but I think he'll like it more in a few weeks when he can push it while sitting.  I also got him a vtech book that has nursery rhymes and three pages.  Grandma and Grandpa "Flash" have one and he loved it when we visited in Nashville.  This thing is a life saver.  I actually only get it out when NOTHING else helps...especially long car trips.  Over the past weekend, we travelled back to NW Iowa to visit family, the long way to avoid the flooded stretch of I-29, unfortunately. The "long way" is only 20 minutes longer than the "short way" but Aaron has decided to sleep less and less on car rides and fuss more and more.  Can't blame the kid...I don't like being cooped up in the car either, not being able to roll around and stretch out and stuff.  I think our plan will be to keep traveling as often as we can afford and desire to keep him used to car trips.  With family more than 2 hours away in either direction, we are going to have to travel if we want to see them.  He just better get used to it...and I guess we might have to get used to fussy car trips.  Here's Aaron getting ready to drive.  Not sure how he'll reach the pedals but he was pretty excited about it.  I went into the convenience store and came back out to him in my seat.  He was smiling and laughing, thought it was a pretty funny joke.  Definitely not expected, and so totally cute!

We had a great trip visiting Papa and Nana in LeMars.  All of Nana's siblings were in town and Aaron got to meet LOTS of new people.  He did pretty well and even gave smiles to new strangers.  It was great seeing everyone and spending some time with family.  While there, Aaron started sitting up on his own.  He is now sitting for nearly a minute by himself consistently!!  He even fusses when he's laying and rolling on the floor because he can't figure out how to sit up on his own.  Grrrrumpy!  Here's a photo of some of our first sitting!  The new toy great aunt Deb bought Aaron was very motivating for him.  Thanks Deb!!

Today was Aaron's 6 month well baby check.  Despite some gas and achy belly, Aaron took the shots like a champ again!  He cried for less than 30 seconds, sucked his pacifier for 2 minutes and was ready to go, smiling at the nurses checking us out.  Such a ladies man!  So here are the stats on our guy!
Height: 28 inches (95%)
Weight: 16lbs 12oz (40%)
Head size: 45cm (75%)
Long and lean.  I don't think I could possibly feed this kiddo more!  He eats constantly, formula and now veggies too!  We have tried peas, green beans, and now squash.  Aaron sucks them down and likes sitting up at the table and eating with us.  He opens his mouth like a baby bird, makes little groaning noises if I'm not moving fast enough and  swallows it all down.  So far, I've made a pea puree and a green bean puree.  A little thicker than the Stage 1 foods you'd buy at the store but it was my first attempt.  Aaron still seemed to handle it okay.  Squash was definitely his favorite.  Peas are probably a close second.  Very fun to see him getting excited and so interested in eating foods with us.
With all the activity and rolling, we've definitely had more spit up.  So ANNOYING...but I guess expected for a spitty baby.  We are looking at stopping Aaron's prilosec.  Not really seeming to make much of a difference at this point and with the addition of more solid foods, we are hoping to keep more food in the belly.  Scary...all of the milestones already achieved and shortly down the road.  More to come!

Trip to Nashville

We travelled to Nashville over the Memorial Day weekend again this year to visit Ben's dad and step mom.  I was nervous to fly with Aaron but he was a champ and even fell asleep in the middle of our second take off.  We had a lot of firsts throughout our trip.  Aaron's first plane ride, then his first "train" ride, automobiles, and a boat ride!  Aaron wasn't sure what to think of the boat and just closed his eyes for much of it as it was sunny and windy but all in all a great trip.  He also went to the Nashville Zoo.  Amazing zoo for photos if you've never been as most of the animals have natural enclosures.  A good telephoto lens will get some great pics!  Lastly, Aaron went swimming for the first time!!!  A photo link will be available shortly for all of our pics from the trip.  He loved the water and didn't even flinch when we got in!  He never stops surprising me.  Case in point, the trip home.  He did so well on the way to Nashville, I was not even concerned on the way home.  Aaron had other plans and fussed for most of the flight from Nashville to Minneapolis.  He was beyond hungry when we landed, then had an "open-air accident" while trying to change him, soaking his clothes.  We noticed we had an hour delay so we thought we'd have just enough time to grab dinner ourselves then board.  Upon walking by the departures board, Ben noticed our flight was cancelled...the only flight that was cancelled.  WTH?  Upon speaking with a very lazy Delta agent, he advised that we were on standby for the 9:50PM flight.  I don't think so, I'm NOT sitting in the airport with a fussy baby and limited formula/diapers/entertainment until then to MAYBE get on a flight.  Our next option was staying at the Ramada at MOA(Mall of America).  Flight guaranteed the next morning at 9-something in the morning.  Okay...I was coming to terms with us not going home tonight when I realized...I don't think we have enough formula or diapers to get us through the night.  We said screw it and rented a car...which by the way was RIDICULOUSLY expensive (starts with A, ends with lamo) and drove down to the city from the cities.  Arriving home at 11pm, we change Aaron into pajamas, which he slept through while smiling and giggling.  Finally unpacked and in bed near midnight to be up by 5:30am and to work by 7am.  I need a vacation from my vacation, or at least the last 24 hours of it!  Here are a few photos from our trip. Generally a great trip with the hiccups at the end.  There's some law about that isn't there?

Flu bugs

A big YUCK!  Aaron spent three days experiencing vomiting and diarrhea.  We spent three days dealing with the aftermath of laundry and an uncomfortable babe.  Mostly, he was in pretty good spirits, just a little less energy and motivation to do anything.  So we spent a lot of time cuddling, which was fine by me.  He is starting to get his appetite back this morning and is currently taking his morning cat nap.  Last night, however, was pretty rough, but for Ben, not Aaron.  He's been hit with the bug and was sick three times in two hours.  If any of you know Ben, he's NEVER sick, so he's pretty miserable.  We were both up from 2:30-4:30am, him in the bathroom and me putting A back to bed.  So this post is nothing but me rambling about the illness and lack of sleep we are currently experiencing.
On another note, I'm going to paint our guest bathroom sometime...hopefully in the near future.  Additionally plan to repaint our bathroom upstairs as well, but I have already painted it twice since we moved in.
Another note, we fly to Nashville next week and my task this weekend is to make a packing list, purchase some luggage and do LOTS of laundry to prepare us for the trip.  Wish us luck!  It'll be Aaron's first flight and I'm crossing my fingers that it will go well!

One in the bed and the little one said...

Roll OVER!  Aaron rolled over almost two weeks ago now, but I haven't gotten around to blogging about it.  Click on the link and watch the video!  Yup, that's right, we actually caught the first one on video!  It was awesome and he acted like he does it all the time and couldn't figure out what we were fussing about.  Silly baby boy!  Since then, lots has happened around the house.  Or at least I feel that way.  Aaron is putting everything straight into his mouth and drooling like a fool.  I bet we go through bibs every couple hours due to drooling and spit up.  He has also started "talking" all the time.  He makes a noise that starts like a really sick car trying to start and if only I had it on video.  I can't even describe the sounds that come out of this kid!  We are also getting close to rolling over back to front but he doesn't really prefer the front so I can't see this being something he does often.  And actually, he has not rolled over again from tummy to back.  He's just happy where he's at and when he's not, he start whining.  Oh well.  It's been fun and exciting to see how he's developing!  I feel like that last month has been a lot of firsts.  Aaron also tried cereal for the first time.  He continues to eat some, less than 1/2 an ounce every other night or so, but I think he'd rather not.  We do have a few photos of that one.  I can't wait to see even more milestones.  Life is crazy, but it's a good crazy.

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.

Nap Battle Royale

So....Aaron continues to battle nap time and bed time.  He wants to interact with us...and vice versa.  However, if we put him down too early, he takes an hour to fall asleep or more.  What's more is that we have to sit with him until he falls asleep to keep popping the damn pacifier back in his mouth because when it falls out, he wakes up.  Grrrr!!!  If we wait until we know he is exhausted or even just tired, it's usually tooooooo late and he's over tired and over stimulated.  THEN, he screams...for 30-60 minutes and NOTHING works to calm him down.  We've put him in the crib and let him cry, for an hour.  Only made him more worked up and screamed louder.  We've rocked him until he falls asleep, only to have him wake up crying as soon as we put him down.  We've put him in his swing, which works on an inconsistent basis or until it stops swinging.  I'm so frustrated, feeling like I crappy mom who can't console her child or even get him to relax enough to fall asleep.  I know that's not true but more days are feeling like that than not.  I look forward to Mondays...regretfully...because Aaron goes to daycare and I don't have to worry about getting him to fall asleep for a nap.  THAT makes me feel awful as well.  I should want to spend time with my child, want to rock him to sleep and snuggle.  I'm starting to dread weekends and evenings because I know he's just going to scream and there is nothing that I can do about it.  I'm just feeling inadequate, depressed, and guilty.  Never thought that this would be part of motherhood.