The Adventure Continues

Who needs full nights of sleep? Who needs spit-up-free clothing? Who needs both hands free?
Clearly, not us.


Our newest arrival will be making an appearance late November/early December.

Happy Mother's Day!

Month 17

Heading out to plow the back 40
Originally uploaded by apg

This has been another full and exciting month! As witnessed by the lack of posts. Aidan's still picking up tons of new words and gestures, running all over the place, and generally getting bigger by the second. He's also started showing signs of getting ready for potty training, so that new adventure is ahead of us. We've also been debating about the move to a toddler bed, but until he shows signs of climbing out of the crib, I'm happy to keep the hallways baby-free for a few more months.

Month 16

This month Aidan's language skills have exploded. He's definitely in the mimicking stage. All of a sudden he can both say and sign 'more' as well as banana, apple, please, milk, down, and others that I'm sure I'm forgetting right now. He's started saying mama, dada, hi, car, toast, up, and just about anything else that I spend just a few minutes coaching him on. He'll shake hands with you, blow you a kiss, likes to bounce on the beds, and in general has become a TODDLER. How did this happen?

Everything is suddenly fair game, and a whole new set of limits has to be created. It's not okay for him to play with the door on the vcr anymore, because he knows now that it has an 'in' and things can go in that 'in.' Aidan's discovered under as well, and lots of toys wind up under the coach, or the runner in the hall, or some mysterious hidey-hole he has in the basement which I have yet to be able to find. I looked for a wooden block for three days, he toddled over to a corner somewhere and magically produced it last night, and I was all "KID, where did you get that from??"

This has to have been the most fun month so far, and the most tiring, and challenging. And just when things hit a stride, suddenly he's going to learn that there's an out instead of in and shouldn't we all be out? No, mama not in. OUT. And toys don't go under mama, they go on top.

See you all in another month!

NICU Tour

We've been invited to tour the new NICU at Shady Grove this evening. It's a hard hat tour since construction is still underway. Which is both good and bad. I'd love to see the sparkling new NICU all kitted out, but also don't think I could maintain any sort of composure seeing all the equipment in it's familiar place.

We haven't been back to Shady Grove since dropping off the digital camera kindly donated by the AFT and stopping in to inform the nurses about Stuart's memorial service. I both want to see the nurses and avoid them. A reaction I'm sure they're only too familiar with.

I'm thrilled that the donations made in Stuart's name are working towards a bigger better place for other babies like him; better equipment, more space, more staff...and I truly hope I'll never, ever have to experience it up close and personal again.

In the Midnight Hour, She Cried More, More, More

HURRAY!!! Aidan said "more" today along with signing it. He also started saying "no" and shaking his head a few days ago. I think we are on the road to full on speech very shortly.

Heaven help me.

Month 15

This month was the month of the teeth. Aidan's cut almost all four of his first molars. Just one left on the top that hasn't quite finished poking through. He's also learned how to go down the stairs backwards, and most importantly if we ask him a question he thinks about it, and answers. With a sign and possibly part of a word.

The other day while Andy's mom was watching him, she asked Aidan if he needed a diaper change. He raced over to the stairs, signing change and saying "Di! Di!" He's repeated this at home and if he's already upstairs, races towards his room.

Aidan also started saying "Arrow" to the dog again. He had stopped for a few weeks, we weren't sure why. But yesterday he started right back up again. Maybe it was because of the new teeth, talking just wasn't as much fun for a little while.

That's about all on the progress for now. Hopefully things will warm up around here soon and there'll be trips to the park, the pool, etc.

Month 14

This has been an unbelievable month for Aidan. He started walking right after New year's and has been on the go ever since. Just this past week he's managed to stand up on his own without pulling up on anything. Considering a month ago he couldn't walk at all with out help this is a huge achievement!

This past month we also made our very first family trip. Aidan's very first flight, and his very first passport stamps. Oh yes, my one year old has already been to Scotland, and Ireland. I'd say Amsterdam too, but you can't count the airport as actually having been in a country. Otherwise I'd have about 8 more in my own list.

Aidan handled the trip incredibly well, except for the last two days when he got sick for the very first time. With a fever of 102. And we were in Falcarragh, Ireland. I didn't handle it with quite so much calm. But, we got him to a doctor, turns out it was an ear infection, got some antibiotics and some Motrin and by the time we were on the flight home from Amsterdam a day and a half later, the fever broke and he was starting to feel much better.

By the way, antibiotics tend upset babies stomachs. And changing tables in airplane bathrooms are not particularly easy to maneuver with. I think I can truly handle anything at this point.

The latest in Aidan news is his shift in nap schedules. He seems to have overnight switched to a one-nap-a-day kind of guy. This nap has been 3 to 3.5 hours long so I'm not complaining! Just need to readjust my own schedule to accomodate. I used to shower once I got him down for his morning nap around 9. I simply cannot wait until 12 to shower. So once we all figure out the new patterns it'll be a lot easier.

And the very last bit of news for this month (I told you it was a big month) is that Aidan now has two molars. This is great, but a little weird, since he hasn't cut his canines yet. But now he can chew food a little easier, and once the other two come in he'll sleep a little easier at night too I think.

My little man is quickly becoming a big one, I can't get over the fact that this time last year we were happy if he held his head up for a while and didn't cry to much when we put him on his belly.

Month 13 - No I didn't forget

With all the Christmas-ing and the New Year-ing, and the packing for the trip I did let the update slide. And what an update! Aidan is officially walking. On his own, without holding on to anything.

This is as thrilling as it is terrifying.

He's also been babbling up a storm, but unfortunately no words yet. He's been able to say "Arrow" and "Uh Oh" for months, but beyond that nothing. I'm sure he'll manage it like he's done everything else and will spout out about 5 new words in one day.

Aidan also had his first haircut, shortly after his birthday. He looked so much better without that extra shag it really made me wish I'd let Andy cut it before. Ah well.

Otherwise, not much has been happening. We'll be making our first major trip as a family at the end of this week, I'll be sure to let you all know how that went once we're back. Fingers crossed!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas
Originally uploaded by apg

My apologies to those of you who didn't receive cards, that would be everyone. We weren't with it this year. Instead, please to enjoy this online greeting card from me and my family. Love to all and I hope you have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and Wonderful New Year!

Trying to get out the door...

Aidan and I went to visit one of Andy's cousins with a new baby on Tuesday. Here's how getting out the door on time to make an 11 AM visit in Annapolis went.

9:40 - Woke Aidan up early from his nap, picked him up. Hurray! Happy baby! Oh no...he spewed. Hurray only onto his crib sheets, I'll change those later.

9:45 - Time to change the diaper. Oh no...super poop machine. Hurray! He didn't try to roll around and smear it on everything. Clean diaper ready, oh no...he's peeing everywhere. Hurray! It didn't get on his clothes or mine, I'll change the cover on the changing table later.

10:00 - I'm supposed to be at Mom's house picking her up right now...Hurray put on Aidan's coat! Now into the pack and play while I put on my coat. Oh no...he's pulled his hat and shoes off. Hurray! They're back on. Oh no...they're off again.

10:15 - At Mom's, everyone loading in the car...oh no...we have to stop and pick up bagels.

We actually made it to Annapolis about 11:15 so not late, just sort of fashionable. We all had a lovely time too. Aidan played really well with some of the older boys, and was only a little jealous while I held the new baby. Hurray!