4 months!

How is he already 4 months? Time is flying by, and getting away from me. Sorry for not being on top of my posts. I'm starting to realize how hard being a full time working mom can be. Between working, taking care of Aaron, and nursing/pumping I have 3 full time jobs. Moms are superheroes. But I still want need to find time to blog. Blogging, much like cooking, is my form of relaxation. So I'm going to try to keep up with it. Lord knows I need some relaxation.

On to my boy. Can you believe this 4 month old is 15 pounds! Well, that was at his 4 month appointment last week. I'm sure he's more now. I don't know how much longer I can lug him around in his car seat. If my arms don't look like I've been doing Pilates for 10 years after the car seat stage is over, I will be shocked! And if they don't look super buff & toned, please just lie to me and ask me if I work out. The doctor was very pleased with how Aaron is growing. We can even start giving him rice cereal now. I haven't given him any yet, but plan to soon. Ok, ok, maybe I'm just not ready for my baby who was just born yesterday to be eating cereal. I eat cereal. Is it already time for him to eat it, too?

We can already tell he's going to be a baby on the move. He hardly sits still. When he's leaning back on you, he's practically doing a crunch to try to sit up. And he's always rolling over now. You saw the video of him rolling from his tummy to back. A couple of weeks ago he started rolling from his back to his tummy! We missed it the first couple of times he did. He'd be on his back looking at his toys, we'd walk to the kitchen and come back to find him on his tummy. Now he does it almost every time. And then he gets so mad when he's on his tummy, which is funny to me because he knows how to roll from tummy to back - that's what he did first. Each week we notice something new about him. I'm so proud.

He's still doing really well at the sitter. He experienced his first toy to the face today. He had a nice red mark by his eye for a bit. Poor baby. Our sitter was just beside herself when I walked in. I told her that it happens, and I'm sure that won't be the last time. I was very proud of myself for not being all crazy mom. I thought about giving the little 1.5 year old a dirty look, but what good would that solve, right?? I grew up with a brother, so I know what happens. My brother has been bitten by a dog, fallen out of a tree, had his front teeth knocked out more than once, broke his leg playing football, been in a car accident, etc. I won't even go into detail on the fights my brother and I got into back in the day. The moral of the story, boys fall out of trees, lose their teeth, break bones, scuff their knees, and just simply play rough. Lord, help me.

Rollin' with the homies!

I can't believe I didn't post about this sooner. Something very exciting happened on Saturday, 12/29.....Aaron rolled over for the first time! He rolled from his tummy to his back 2 times in a row. It was very exciting for this mama. He has been doing it quite often since. He still hasn't managed to get all the way over when he's on his back, but that's coming very soon.

He's also discovered his voice. He loves squealing and screaming now. And he found his toes last week. He likes grabbing on to them when he's on his back, and he even put one foot in his mouth tonight when I was getting him changed for bed. I love how he's figuring different things out.

The Cats

I had a feeling once Aaron was born my other "babies" would be a little bajiggity. When we brought him home, and they really paid no attention to him, I was pretty relieved. Would they really not be bothered by this new addition after all? Hooray! I think I may have been wrong.

Bella is a cuddle bug. She got to cuddle with me 24 hours a day for 8 weeks when I was on bed rest. She was in heaven. Now she has to share. She still tries to creep her way in, though.

Other than her desperate attempts for love and affection, and the fact that she demands to be fed at 4:30am as opposed to 5:30am (if I'm up with Aaron at 4:30 feeding him, then I better be feeding her next) she's doing pretty well.

Lily, on the other hand. She has always been somewhat of a diva, but more so now. She is jumping on the counters right in front of our faces now, and also eating our food when we're not looking. The other day I walked away from my sandwich for a millisecond. When I turned around, half of it was on the floor, and she was going to town on some roast beef. And if you remember, I LOVE sandwiches. And that was the last of the really good roast beef. I also think it's safe to say she licked the chicken breasts on the counter tonight. You know it's not good when you hear a thud, and see your cat walking out of the kitchen licking her jowls. I think she felt bad about it, though. She's been following me around all night, and she even stood watch at Aaron's bedroom door while I fed him and put him to bed.

I can't be too mad at them, though. They were my first babies. Their world and idea of normal is a lot different now. They used to have all of my attention at one time. But pretty soon Aaron will be playing with them and pulling their tails. Then I think they'll miss the peace and somewhat quiet.

4 Christmases

Aaron survived the whirl-wind that was his 1st Christmas. We usually have 4 Christmases to celebrate. Aaron did pretty well overall. There were a few meltdowns, but to be expected for such a small baby & lots of stimulation. I think it's just more stressful for me than anyone else. And boy did this little boy get spoiled. He got some very special gifts, and we are very lucky to have such wonderful family and friends to share Christmas with. 

First we celebrated on Sunday at Bryan's grandma's house. Aaron's GG Nickel gave him a rocking horse that was made by her dad in 1962. It was given to Aaron's Grandpa Jay, then handed down to Bryan, and now handed down to Aaron.  

With his cousin, Taryn, at Nickel family Christmas. 

On Christmas Eve we celebrated at Grandpa & Grandma Nickel's house.

Aaron with his Uncle Reid sporting his elf hat.

Aaron with his rocking chair.

On Christmas morning we celebrated with Grandpa & Grandma Bosch & his GG & Great Grandpa Thomas. 

Me & my baby on Christmas morning.  

With his Grandpa & Grandma Bosch

I love this picture of Aaron & his Uncle Adam. 

Christmas afternoons are always spent with the Bosch family.  This year we went to my Aunt & Uncle's house in Springfield. 

Passed out with his Great Aunt Linda.

 Annual Bosch grandkid/great grandkid photo - minus Lauren. We missed you, Lauren! 

Bosch cousins.

It's crazy to think that last Christmas I was pregnant and didn't even know it. I can't wait to see Aaron experience Christmas next year. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Blessings

I can't wait to celebrate Aaron's first Christmas this year! He has no idea what is going on, but it's still exciting. He is such a blessing to us. 

Growing

My smiley baby is 3 months old!

Here are some new things about Aaron:

- He smiles & laughs a lot.
- He loves when I sing him songs & tell him stories.
- He coo's & babbles.
- He's very drooley & LOVES sucking on his hands.
- He's starting to grab & hold things - like mamma's hair (ouch!).
- He loves watching Mickey Mouse - he's mesmerized by the colors & sounds.
- He's doing great at the sitter. She says he's a very happy baby, and I think it's helping him get in a routine.
- He slept for 6 hours in a row last week!!

The time just keeps flying by! I'm having so much fun with this little boy. He's growing, learning and changing every day.

Sleep....What's That??

Monday, September 10th, 2012 - a day I will always remember. The last night I slept. Nobody should have to see 2am, 3:31am, or 4:42am on the clock, unless it was a really good night of partying. I see these hours most nights.

Lots of people had babies around the time I did. I hear so many of them say, "he/she slept 10 hours last night!!". To that I say, "Say What?!". I mean, how is that even possible? Are you putting Robitussin in that bottle? Just kidding. We have not been that lucky yet. Our little man must really enjoy my company.....all the time. I would be fine with him getting up a couple of times a night. But last night he was punking me real good. I've read the books, and tried new things. We just have to get into our own groove.....we're working on it. Like I said, I'm not expecting my 2 month old to sleep through the night. But sleep a little more than he does, yes, that would be nice. It's a good thing he's so darn cute. It makes it easier to function on fumes.

Now if only I had the touch that a couple of the great grandmas have. They get him to sleep every time!