Road Trip!!

Haven't been on to blog in a while... We've been pretty busy! This past weekend, we took a short road trip - Aiden's first!!

We drove up to KY for the Berea College Homecoming and to visit with some of my girlfriends. It was a jam-packed, hectic weekend, but it was also a lot of fun! Aiden did really well on the car ride. We stopped on the way to spend the night at MaMaw Sharon's (it was already after 11pm when we got there since we left after Camden got out of school), then onto KY the next day to visit with some friends at Mammaw Melly & Pappaw Gene's house. My closest girlfriends were all there with their little baby boys. We all have boys born within 11 months of each other! And Sonia's older son, Justin, is the same age as Camden. Talk about good timing, huh? It really made me miss being in KY b/c it was not only great being around them - but it was so wonderful to have all the boys together!! While there, my brother, his wife, and their kids stopped by to meet Aiden, as well.

Joaquin and Aiden meet - I love how Aiden is just grinning! They'll be best friends just like their mommies are!!

Patsy w/ Joaquin (6 mos), Kathy w/ Johnathan (14 mos), Me w/ Aiden (3 mos), and Sonia w/ Christian (13 mos)

Baby group pic! :)

Saturday we spent the ENTIRE day in Berea. It was soooo nice being back there. Man, I miss that place! We walked around campus, saw some of my favorite professors (and didn't get to see a few others), saw a few friends (but didn't see nearly as many as I had expected), had lunch at Boone Tavern, dinner at Papa Leno's (take out, though), and visited the Ecovillage, where Sonia and I both lived for a couple years while at Berea. It reminded me how much I love Berea and how fortunate I was to go to school there.

A few of us at the Psych Alumni Reception

Kris - one of the best. professors. EVER.

Draper

A quick walk down to the Ecovillage to visit where Mommy & Camden used to live

On the way home Sunday, we stopped just to have breakfast with PawPaw Gary and MiMaw Susan. It was a quick visit and Aiden was pretty tired, but it was good to see them and break up the trip a little bit, too. Aiden wanted to stop and eat a little more often on the way home, but he still was quite the trooper! By the time we arrived back home, he and Camden were OUT!

Aiden never stays asleep while being taken out of the car seat or when being laid on the changing table... This shows how tired he must have been!!

Click on the album to see the rest of our pictures! We got a bunch of really good ones!

Nov '08 - Visit w/ Best Friends & Berea College Homecoming

Aiden's Medical Issues

I will start by saying that this is a long post (long even for me). There is not a simple way to write this out without sharing what we feel are the important details. We have been through a lot during Aiden's first 10 and a half weeks of life, and we want to share it with you now that we have some solid answers. We have included as much information as we can so that you can understand what has been going on. We've tried to shorten it and make it simple and not too drawn out, but it is still a lot of information.

When Aiden was just 1 day old, we discovered some marks on his bottom near the base of his spine. (You may have seen some pictures on our online albums from when he was first born and still in the hospital.) The doctors there did not know what it was, so the dermatologists stopped by when they were doing rounds. They weren't sure - thought maybe a birthmark but wanted to do a biopsy, which we OK'd. We went back to Duke to see the dermatologist that next week (the spot was almost gone at this point) and received a diagnosis: incontinentia pigmenti (from here on out referred to as IP). This is a (typically) genetic condition and has many components to it - but mostly affects girls (and more harshly affects girls). It is a very rare condition - and even much more rare in boys. There can be a number of skin abnormalities, there can be severe eye problems, teeth problems, developmental and neurological problems... We were told that the good news is that most boys are limited to having the marks on their skin and that is typically it - this is what the dermatologist said he believed, at least. BUT we were referred to a geneticist to receive testing and confirm the diagnosis.

We got more information, though, from some family members. I have an aunt that is an OB nurse and one that is a family doctor. Through them, we learned more and were more prepared for what could be our reality with this diagnosis. From them and our own research we found out that there is a reason so few boys have this diagnosis - most do not make it through the pregnancy. For those that do, many times the reason they survive is b/c they have an extra X-chromosome (which would also mean they would have Klinefelters - causing them to be infertile). (Klinefelter's is NOT genetic and is completely random.) This was scary news for us, that our child might be infertile. It was hard to digest that something that could have possibly saved him and allowed him to be born could have this other result, too. We were warned that b/c so few boys are born with this condition (IP), there is little known about it with this gender. So we were told to limit his exposure to other people and wait until we met with the geneticist to proceed with any vaccinations - all b/c it is unsure how strong his immune system was until we found out more. (So...if you were one of those people that visited or saw us during Aiden's first few weeks, and you wondered why we held him so close and did not share, please understand this is why.)

We called the dermatologists again and asked more questions - especially asking how certain are they of this diagnosis (fairly certain due to consistencies with IP and the biopsy and the marks that were on his skin - only one other diagnosis was considered and the marks would have gone away sooner with that diagnosis). I had tons of questions, and the resident on the case was very patient and answered everything. It was reassuring that they were giving us the time - and that we had a dermatologist on the case that deals with uncommon conditions (esp in children). We also asked for (and recieved) a referral for an eye exam at Duke to check for any eye abnormalities (which can be a more serious problem with this condition and people are urged to be checked sooner rather than later - the eye problems can result in vision loss, so we didn't want to put the exam off!). That eye exam (at 3 weeks old) showed that his eyes were perfectly normal - good news for us.

This appt with the geneticist was first scheduled for November b/c she is so busy, but after repeatedly calling and asking (very relevant and important) questions, they were able to bump us up and overbook her - so we got in when Aiden was just 3 weeks! Thank God!!

At this appt, we went through a very intense family history creating a very detailed genogram of our family - including any known issues with developmental problems, miscarriages, births of boys (b/c remember that most boys w/ IP are miscarried and do not make it to birth), skin conditions, and a multitude of other possible indications of a family history with IP. (I mean, this took a LONG time!) Aiden had to have blood drawn - and a LOT of blood, the poor thing (a few regular-sized vials!)! That was hard on all of us... They did one test to look at the NEMO gene (yes, it's really called that - just like Finding Nemo...) to see if there were any abnormalities - that would indicate IP. They also did a chromosomal test that would show if there was an extra X chromosome. The results... due back in ONE MONTH. Thus began one of the hardest waits we have endured....

Aiden after getting his blood drawn. They drew soooo much - he had to be exhausted from losing so much. He looked so pitiful! :( It was a rough day!!

As you can now guess, this has been a very, very emotional and difficult time for us. We were worried about our son's present and future all at once. We did not know if he had this condition, how he got it, and what exactly it meant for him (b/c so little is known about boys with it). We have spoken with very few people about what we have been going through. Why? Because this is so sensitive and difficult for us, we did not want to be faced with a lot of questions (that we really had no answers for) or reminders. We talked with parents and a few close friends that would pray for us (and most did not know the details but just knew we needed prayer). We hope nobody is offended that we did not tell you about this. It is what we felt was right for our family while we waited for more answers.

Onto the answers - the ones we do have.

After a month, we approached the night before our appt with the geneticist. That was a hard night (and then a hard morning) to get through. LOTS of praying - that our baby was ok, that we could accept what lay ahead if he wasn't, etc, etc. LOTS. And lots of worrying and crying. I know that God has a plan for Aiden. He has it all mapped out and knows everything about his life. We don't know what that plan is, whether or not it includes this condition and the effects from it, but we prayed that we can accept what we do find out and follow in the path that God has set in front of us.

At the appt, we had to wait a couple hours before getting to see anyone, which made things even harder, caused the anxiety to build even more. When she came in, there was a man with her, which worried us a bit. He turned out to be the cyrogeneticist (he works with the labs and is there every so often to help explain lab meanings/proceedures/results, etc.). It was very helpful to have him there. They had lots to say, we had lots to ask. So - results... As soon as she said the word "normal" I started to cry. What a release! (Not necessarily relief - but just the release of all that anxiety built up!!)

One test was for IP - came back "normal," no mistake in the NEMO gene. This means (reality check here) that there is still a 20% chance he has the condition, BUT the 20% that doesn't show up on the test are usually very mild cases. He could also have a mosaic form of IP, which would mean that it would be localized (only occuring in the same spot he had the marks before) and it would also mean that it is NOT genetic! (That means it would have happened RANDOMLY, as it could have with any other person, at some point during the division of the cells during fetal development. It also means that we have no reason to worry about having other children with this - which was a valid concern, especially if we were to have a girl in the future.) So what now? Can we test for THAT type of IP? Well, if the spot were to return, we will contact the geneticist to come in while the spot is still there and do another biopsy to check for the mosaic form of IP. But there is the possibility that it will not return. And there is the possibility that he does not have IP. We also go back in a year for a follow-up to see where he is then.

Next test - chromosomal.... This also came back normal. Another reality check here - this was only one form of testing for an extra chromosome (blood test). There is another way to test - skin test. (Most other places do not go to this next step - they stop at the blood test, so we are very thankful that we are at Duke and that we got this other test performed b/c it will take us one step closer to an answer.) They did a buccal swab - they took a little toothbrush type thing and swabbed inside Aiden's cheek (no blood to be drawn this time!!!). This test was only to take a couple weeks and we would not have to return to the office for the results (which is nice partly b/c specialists visits are not cheap, and we're accruing quite a few here). Now, these are the two most common ways to test for the chromosomal abnormality. After that, there is an indefinite number of cell types to test!!! But first, this skin test. Even if it were to come back as positive for the extra chromosome - it would mean something different. It would mean that he would have a skin mosaicism form which means he could be infertile or could NOT be (basically, time would be the answer to that). Why? Because a mosaic form could occur at any point in the cell division of fetal development. For example, if it occurred at the 16th division, only the descendants of that cell (any other divisions on that string) would have this mosaicism. If one of those descendants had something to do with his sperm - then he could be infertile. But there would be the chance that it did not, leaving him able to have children. If the test were to come back negative - finding no extra X-chromosome.... Remember that I just said there is an indefinite number of cell types to test for this. You could test forever and not get a definite answer. BUT if it came back normal, we would be able to assume that Aiden has just as much of a chance as ANYONE else of being infertile.

We did not get the test results in the mail at 2 weeks later, as expected. (Though we did get a write-up of our first visit and read through the entire thing, anxious as can be, wondering where are the answers we are looking for! That was not a lot of fun...) After the third week was complete, we contacted the doctor to find out what was going on. She emailed us and stated that this test came back as normal and we could rule out Klinefelter's Syndrome. (We just got the paperwork with the write-up this week, so now it's in writing!)

So, we have some very good answers - no Klinefelter's, only a small chance of Aiden having a mosaic form of IP (which we all could live with b/c it would mean only some marks showing up on a covered area maybe another couple times in his life if at all). But we still don't know if this is what he has or if it is something else. And how would we find out, seeing as the spot has been gone since a little over a week of age? We do have a follow-up visit with the dermatologists in November - and we will see where they want to go next. We would love to have an answer, but only time will tell. (Continued prayer for Aiden in this regard would be appreciated!) Right now, we are happy with what we do know.

We are very thankful right now for so many things. We are very thankful that we live here, that we delivered at Duke, and that we are going to Duke for all of this medical stuff. We both agree - THIS is why God brought us to this area. We would not be getting this treatment from such knowledgeable medical staff anywhere else! This condition he could possibly have is very rare, and there is no better place for us to be. Even the geneticist has treated a child and written a report on a case of IP with the Klinefelter's syndrome - it is so rare that it was a huge deal to treat someone with that, and our doctor has done so. That is very reassuring and causes us to be so thankful.

And most of all, we feel so blessed to have Aiden with us. For a long while (what felt like a long while to us!!), we were faced with thinking that Aiden could have easily not made it through the pregnancy. We have not taken one day with him for granted and are so thankful he is just ALIVE and with us.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Edited for Update: Please visit here for the most recent blog update on Aiden's medical issues (as of mid-November 2008)

Breastmilk - More than just lunch...

Earlier yesterday, I had to take Aiden to the dr. Took a while to get him in, but they wanted him to be seen. He had some yucky stuff coming out of one eye and it was swollen. :( He wasn't bothered by it, but it was a Friday, we have pictures coming up on Sunday, and it's never a good sign to have yellow gunk coming out of anything really... So, in we went. The dr said they can't actually test to see if it is viral or bacterial. And it's most likely just something he got from someone in the house, and we're not showing signs b/c our immune systems are stronger. (I tell Camden this ALL the time, reminding him to wash his hands - esp after school! and not get right up in Aiden's face, which he loves to do b/c he loves Aiden like crazy!) And both Ryan and Camden have colds, so.... Anyway, she's about to write up a prescription for eye drops when she turns to me How old is he again? Um, 12 weeks. Yeah, he's too young for drops.

She wheels closer. Props her elbows on her knees, leans towards me, and says Now, you're going to think I'm crazy, but just listen... I already knew what she was going to say. I've heard you can do this for ear infections... So I didn't think she was crazy. She said many people do when they first hear it. Put a few drops of breastmilk into his eye a couple times a day. Yep, folks - it's more than just yummy food for the babies. And guess what - it's almost back to normal. In fact, anyone else wouldn't even notice there was anything wrong. I just do b/c I'm mom.

Just thought I would share.

Happy Halloween!!

Last night Camden spent most of the night at a friend's party - where he was the only boy there! (Well, one other boy was invited but didn't make it, and the girl's brother was there - so we heard he and Camden spent most of their time together.) He did want to trick-or-treat some, so we went out for about an hour. Towards the end, we heard this girl that looked to be only a year or two older than him yelling from her porch Come on trick-or-treaters! We haven't got all night! It was pretty entertaining. When we got there, she started talking to us about how lovely the weather had been. Haha! (It was actually quite cold by this point, though...)

The next house, while Camden was leaving, he took off his mask - which then left him wearing his UK toboggan. The lady at the door saw it and said they were from Lexington. :) Small world.

Camden discovered that only an hour of trick-or-treating does not get you a whole lot of candy. But he also realized he didn't care. (He hardly ever eats it anyway! He ends up forgetting about it...) He had more fun at the party. (Maybe b/c he was surrounded by girls... What do you think?) ;)

Here are pics from the night - there are just a few (really - I know that may seem impossible with me, but it's the truth this time). We did put Aiden in his little costume for a few minutes. Long enough to get the pictures, at least. He was really cute. Camden loved it and kept saying He's so cute! He's so cute! (He really IS crazy about his brother!) There are also pics of pumpkin-carving. Camden drew a face on one and we did an "A" for Aiden on another.

Halloween 2008

And here are our "Pumpkin Pictures" - pictures of Aiden and Camden with pre-carved pumpkins. They turned out really cute! And they were a lot of fun to do. :) Aiden even made friends with one of the pumpkins and had a whole conversation with it. Haha!

2008 Aiden & Camden Pumpkin Pics

TAG - I'm it...

Someone recently tagged me, and it has to do with pictures, so I can't help but join in. :) (Anything to do with pictures pretty much reels me in...)

I have to post the Sixth Picture from my Sixth Folder.

This is a picture from when we lived in the Ecovillage at Berea College - probably senior year (2006). (If you click on the link, my apt is the one that you see the most of - I loved that place!!)

Camden was helping me fix dinner - spaghetti. He's got his little apron on with his name (he loves this thing and it is TOO cute!). And then when I turned my back to rinse something off, he caught a tea towel on fire.... There was a brief moment of chaos, but we quickly got it under control. Aaahhhhh, gas stoves! ;) Actually, I would love to have my gas stove back again.............. And yes, Camden still helps to cook. He actually really enjoys it and wants to try everything out. He can chop an onion, crack eggs into batter, and he likes to try all of the spices and seasonings that go into a recipe. He may not always even want to eat the end result, but he still enjoys the cooking part! :)

Ok - YOUR TURN! Who else is going to join in??

Giving Our Children Presence

October is Attachment Parenting Month! :)

The theme for 2008 is "Giving Our Children Presence," which is quite appropriate with the holidays coming up!!

We are using this approach to parenting in our home and encourage everyone else to do so, too. A secure attachment between children and parents is SO very important!

Find out more about AP Month here!

What is Attachment Parenting? Find out more about that here:
AskDrSears.com
Attachment Parenting International

Here are just a few things we do in our home to help Aiden form a secure bond with us...

• Co-sleeping No, not IN our bed. But he sleeps right next to our bed, in the same room. That way, we can respond to him right away when he wakes and is hungry. He is learning that we attend to his needs, and having him close by ensures we can do that quickly.
• Baby-wearing
• Breastfeeding (on demand) exclusively
• Responding immediately to Aiden's cries Infants do not cry for no reason - there is something they need. It is their way to communicate. We are teaching Aiden that we are there for him and he can expect us to help him. We do not let him "cry it out."
• Giving ourselves and our marriage time, too. It's difficult to be an effective parent if you neglect yourself or your relationship with your partner. So we carve out time for that. It's hard, and time to ourselves is hard to come by, but it's important.
• Early bonding Not only immediately after birth (thankfully I was able to hold Aiden minutes after he was born via c-section as opposed to a couple hours with Camden), but also at home. Ryan was able to take 6 weeks leave from work, which was great for him and Aiden to bond!
• And many other things..... This is how we approach parenting our children every day.
  

What about you? What are some things you do with your kids?

Pumpkin Picking

This past weekend, we finally made it to a pumpkin patch. We went to Ganyard Hill Farm, which was recommended to us. There was a lot to do there - hayride, corn maze, petting zoo (and you could feed the animals corn kernels), pumpkin picking, a "hay mountain" with slides, etc., and even cotton picking. Camden had a great time and is already asking to go back next year. (We told him we might check out someplace else b/c, while it was really nice, it didn't seem really worth the admission price...). Anyway, a fun time was had by all. Aiden slept the entire time, except to stop and eat sometime in the middle of the visit (then back to sleep). It was cool weather, but we waited until it got cool b/c it didn't seem right to do fall activities with t-shirts on. :)

Here are pics from the day!

Ganyard Farm - Pumpkin Patch, 2008 October

Breastfeeding IS Beautiful - Update...

Someone recently made a nasty comment after reading my blog post about breastfeeding. Here is a note that I put onto the bottom of that blog (after deleting the comment). And please, if you're going to post a nasty comment on someone's blog, have the decency to show your name and not post it as "anonymous." This blog isn't public, so only people that I know and have given out the link to are reading it. I don't appreciate that. If it was you, feel free to speak up and let it be known.

Here is what I added to the blog. I'm posting it here for those that have already read that blog and won't happen to see the update...

Side note - I do use a nursing cover when I feed Aiden out in public - so my goods are NOT just out there for the world to see. Someone recently made a nasty comment about people nursing in public - I doubt they have children (or if they do - that they have breastfed). You would be surprised to know how discreet someone can be when nursing, and nobody has ever even looked at me in any negative way for feeding my child. Everyone that has known what I was doing was very accommodating and respectful. And yes, in the photo of Angelina breastfeeding, she is in her own home and not in public - but she is allowing the public to see the picture, which is beautiful - and hopefully this will help others think differently about nursing in public (with their own child or when seeing others doing so).

Overheard

Camden has a friend over this afternoon - school let out early today. While I was in Aiden's room feeding him, Camden and the friend were playing the Wii. Here is a snippit of the conversation I heard:

Camden: What's that guy's name?
Friend: What - Who?
Camden: The artist. He does blobs.
Friend: Monet?
Camden: Yeah - Monet. It looks like a Monet painting.

I have no idea what on the Wii looks like a Monet painting... They're playing Wii Sports (golf, I think). But I thought hearing this was entertaining.

Through the Night??

Apparently "experts" consider a baby sleeping for a 5-hour stretch at night "sleeping through the night." Well, Aiden has been doing this since he was between 5 and 6 weeks old. But I disagree with calling it "through the night." I mean, if he goes down at 9:00pm, 5 hours later is 2:00am! That is not "through the night." That's IN the night - the middle of it. Even now, he'll go down around 9 (sometimes a little earlier or later - it's not too consistent just yet) and typically wake up between 4 and 5, which means he sleeps about 7 hours in a row. I still hesitate to call this "sleeping through the night," especially when I am not waking up for good at 4am. And especially when he goes right back to sleep, waking again 1-2 hours later, then sleeping again before finally getting up for the day.

So I'm still trying to figure out when to put that "Sleeps through the night!" sticker up on Aiden's calendar... I disagree with the "experts" out there on this one.

Smart Guy

This morning, I was getting ready to nurse Aiden.... I had him lying on the couch next to me as I sat down. I usually have a cloth between us when he nurses - for any possible spills (anyone who has nursed or even bottle-fed a baby knows what I mean!) or spit-up even. This morning, before I picked him up, I just went on and laid the cloth across his shoulder on his chest. This was a brand new cloth, clean as can be. Immediately, his eyes lit up, he started getting all excited, bouncing around. He turned his head to the cloth and kept opening his mouth - ready to eat!

Sometimes I use a cloth that has my scent on it and lay it near him when he's trying to sleep (and having difficulty) - the smell helps him calm down. It's really fun to see. But this morning, this showed that the smart little guy has figured out that a clean cloth on him like that means TIME TO EAT! :) It made my morning. I love watching him learn and make those connections!!

Passing It On

Family traditions are important to me. Different types - not just family gatherings. It's those little things that family members give/lend you or the habits you learn from them, you know. Those things are big.

My mom passed on to me the bassinette that I slept in when I was a baby. I used it with Camden when he was born, though he barely got to use it because he was just so big! But he napped in it some. Aiden has been using it at night since he came home. Sadly, he is getting too long and spent his last night in it recently. Last night was his first night sleeping in another bed. He's not in his crib at night yet. He's in the playard bassinette so that he can stay in our room at night.

Notice the pink sheet and yellow bumper - those are originals from when I slept in this bassinette! :) My mom did make a firmer mattress with a waterproof cover to fit in the bassinette when Camden was born, since she used a pillow with me (and we don't do that these days!), and she also made some handle covers to match the yellow bumper. She said she had more sheets, including some non-pink ones, but we never found them. So both my boys have slept with the pink one. :) It has meant so much to me to be able to use this!!

Here is a picture of Camden in the bassinette, too.

Another thing that has been passed on is a song. My mom says that she learned it from her grandmother, and it's one that I sang with Camden and now sing with Aiden. When he was born, you could hear any of us singing it or humming it whenever we held him - me, my mom, or even Ryan. The song is simple - you sing "Bye-O-Baby, Baby, Baby" to the tune of the "Rock of Ages" hymn. Camden even sings it now when Aiden is fussy, but he made his own version, simply singing Aiden's name over and over. It's very cute. One day we were talking with my mom on the webcam. Aiden got a little fussy, and she started singing this song, and he immediately quieted. He probably recognized both her voice and the song.

Maybe one day these boys will be singing this song to calm their own children...

Breastfeeding IS Beautiful

I've never been a fan of Angelina Jolie. Really. I know many men (and lots of women) think she is just beautiful. But for various reasons, I haven't cared much for her, to be honest. But...I will praise her for what she is recently being noted for - her photo for the cover a magazine, where she is breastfeeding one of her new babies.

I nurse in public (NIP - or some call it BIP, breastfeeding in public). It's not always my first choice, but it's how I feed my baby, and if he needs to eat, that is my top priority. Not my comfort, nor anyone else's, for that matter. Many women are hesitant to do this, and one reason is that others seem to frown on it. Breastfeeding a child is a beautiful thing and should never be looked at in any other way. And I will do so wherever and whenever my child needs to nurse. I refuse to nurse my child in a restroom because I might cause someone else discomfort (seriously - would YOU want to eat in a bathroom?!). I refuse to let my child cry because he is hungry and I don't want to offend someone I don't even know.

I think it's great that organizations such as La Leche League and people like your doctor encourage women to breastfeed as long as possible (they're now saying to try for 2 years if you can for the best health benefits). I think it is great that ordinary people talk about it being ok and that women do nurse in public (though I rarely see it - but maybe that's because they're so inconspicuous or because I'm not looking for it). BUT I think it's even better that someone of such high status is allowing herself to be seen by everyone nursing her baby. Kudos to you, Angelina.

Side note - I do use a nursing cover when I feed Aiden out in public - so my goods aren't just out there for the world to see. Someone recently made a nasty comment about people nursing in public - I doubt they have children (or if they do - that they have breastfed). You would be surprised to know how discreet someone can be when nursing, and nobody has ever looked at me in any negative way for feeding my child. And yes, in the photo of Angelina breastfeeding, she is in her own home and not in public - but she is allowing the public to see the picture, which is beautiful - and hopefully this will help others think differently about nursing in public (with their own child or when seeing others doing so).

Have you given him a bottle yet???

Ummm - NO.

We haven't.

Are you going to try one soon???

Ummm - Not sure. We're in no rush.

Now, if you want more of an explanation - here it is, briefly. When Camden was a baby, I went back to work part-time (just a few hours a day, a few days a week) when he was three months old. It wasn't long enough to pump, so he just got a bottle during those times, which wasn't much at all. But then at six months old, my milk went away. Was it because of the missed feedings and getting a bottle every now and then? I don't know. But I know I tried everything I could (and everything that was suggested by "professionals") to keep my supply going. Tried pumping - and nothing would be accomplished after way too much time with a pump. Tried feeding more often. Tried it all! It was a difficult time, and in the end, my milk was just gone. I was devasted - totally not ready to give up nursing. Thankfully Camden had no difficulty - it was just Mommy. That's not something one enjoys being forced to give up.

This time around, I'm doing everything in my power to NOT have that happen again. If that means I exclusively breastfeed, so be it. I don't mind. (Yes, it can make other things in life a little more difficult at times, but it's worth it.) We may offer him pumped milk in a bottle eventually, but we don't know when that will be. And we're ok with that. Ryan is on board with this and very supportive. In fact, we don't even HAVE a bottle in the house for him! (Ok, I picked out the kind I want, but the store didn't have the size we needed. It was just in case, anyway, so we're in no hurry to get it.)

Nursing is such an amazing experience - many of you know that and understand the bond that develops and how special that time is. Being able to nurse is something I certainly don't take for granted. Plus, it's so beneficial to the baby, and I intend to nurse Aiden as long as possible.

Just thought I would bring this up b/c some inquiring minds have wanted to know. And I'm sure more will ask. Many understand and even agree, and I'm sure some do not. That's ok (just keep it to yourselves, please). :) But if you want to encourage, comment away!

Day Off

Camden had a teacher workday this past Friday, so Ryan took the day off, and we planned on doing something fun with Camden. The plan was to go to Ganyard Hill Farm for some pumpkin picking, hayriding, corn-mazing, and lots of other things... But then the night before, the weather forcast was for Friday to be pretty hot in the 80's. So, we changed our plans to going to the Durham Museum of Life and Science - so we could be inside, esp since we would have Aiden. He has been wanting to go back there for a while, and we'll do the farm on a weekend soon when it's a little cooler. We had a lot of fun and got to do almost everything.

We ran out of time to do all of the things in the Catch the Wind exhibit (which is where I suggested we START, but no.....nobody listened to that until it was too late). Therefore, we didn't get to go up in the Ornithopter or do most of the other activities, other than guide the small sailboats. Camden really wanted to explore more of this area after he saw what it was (me telling him earlier didn't convince him...). We know where to start next time!!

Here are the pictures from our day:

Durham Museum of Life and Science (Oct 10, 2008)

TWO months old - and SHOTS!!!

Aiden turned two months old yesterday (wow!). Here are his two-month pics.

We had his check-up today where he got his first shot! We are using an alternative schedule of immunizations, so he hasn't had any shots yet and got less than most would at this visit. He'll still get all of the shots - just on a different schedule. During this visit, he got one shot and one oral vaccination. The oral - he hated (even though the nurse said it's very sweet and babies love it). After a couple drops, he started coughing, and I warned her that if he was coughing, he was likely to spit it up - after which he proceeded to do so. The rest stayed down, though. The shot was horrible for all involved, of course. He cried and cried. I got tears in my eyes. Ryan didn't - and I told him I would write that in the baby book so Aiden knew he was mean (just kidding!). I got to be the savior and nursed him right after the shots - he fell right to sleep and did really well the rest of the day.

Aiden is now 13lbs, 7oz and is 22.5 inches long. He's GROWING!!!

And in many ways... These days he talks to us quite a bit. He's a morning person for sure (morning for him being anywhere between 8 and 11am), talking to me lots while we change his diaper and clothes. Sometimes he tries to talk to me while he's nursing... He'll look up at me, smile, and start to coo. I try to tell him it's time to eat, not play, but then I can't help but return the smile (and then we just decide we'll play and eat later!). He smiles a lot, especially at his star next to his changing station. He has learned how to make the toys on his bouncy seat move by kicking his legs. He's able to go to sleep for some of his naps (and go back to sleep if he wakes) on his own - no fussing. :) (Sometimes - not always - but it's still wonderful that he's learning to do so!) He still sleeps a lot - about the same # of hours as when he first came home. But more of it is at night. He goes to bed anywhere between 8 and 10-something (depending on naptime - and the later time is usually after he's been asleep and we wake him to change into bed clothes). He'll then typically only get up around 2-3, again at 5, and then sometime between 6-7 (then he's back to sleep until later in the morning). So, some would say he's really only waking up twice in the middle of the night (depending on how you look at it!).

There's so much more, and it's just amazing watching him grow and learn so much everyday!!

Visitors!!!

Saturday was a big day for us!! After the soccer game, we went to Chapel Hill to visit some friends and their new baby boy, born exactly six weeks after Aiden. What a cutie he was!!

A (very blurry) picture of Kate with Baby Brent and me with Aiden (and Camden in the background there!)

After that, OUR visitors arrived - my mom and grandmother. We have two Mammaws in our home this week. :) It's been great having them here and spending the time together. We've done some shopping, cooking, and lots of other things.

I'm also learning how to cook (and eat! Haha!) some veggies that I haven't had in a long time or just never liked but have determined to like now. So both Mammaws are teaching me how to pickle beets (because I haven't had them in years like I like them - and now I know how to make them!), different ways to cook zucchini (because I always hated the stuff but I know it's good for you) and sweet potatoes (because Ryan and I decided recently we have got to learn to like them) and winter squashes, among other things... I joked to my mom - Why didn't you teach me this stuff when I lived at home??? Ha. She always had this kind of food - I just didn't like any of it or didn't pay attention! I guess I've grown up, huh?

Here are some pics from the visit so far...

Mammaw Gerry, Mammaw Melly w/ Aiden, and Mommy




Walking home after getting Camden from school


Aiden with his cool shades on the walk home (had to wait until he was asleep to get them on, and he still moved his head around to shake them off!!)

Saturday Pictures

Saturday Camden had a soccer game - their first of the season that they actually didn't win. (It was a tie.) We got a couple good shots of Camden playing and shots of Aiden in Daddy's arms during the game.

Side note... Aiden is definitely a momma's boy - mostly because I have the one thing he wants the most and that comforts him the most (momma's milk). He hardly lets Ryan hold him when he is tired, cranky, or upset for whatever reason. But today, he actually let him hold him and fell asleep in his arms. First, he spit up all over me under the nursing cover.......on the bra, the inside of my shirt, on my pants, everywhere. Only a tiny bit got on him, of course. This boy doesn't spit up much, but when he does - it's BIG. It's usually from eating for comfort (when his belly is already full) or because he coughed and got choked up. This time he was nursing for comfort, I suppose. Anyway, here are some great shots we got that afternoon... Hope you enjoy!

Before the (apparently comfort) nursing

In Daddy's arms

Brotherly Love

Camden is crazy about his baby brother!!! How do I know? For one, he asks to hold him ALL the time! He wants to do so much to help out and play with him. In the car, when Aiden fusses, Camden will stroke his head and try to calm him by shushing or even singing. The singing thing is big b/c he doesn't like to let people hear him sing. We had told him that Aiden loves to be sung to and doesn't care what anyone's voice really sounds like - he still likes it. Yet, Camden still wouldn't do it b/c he didn't want US hearing him, I guess. But now he will. He does it softly, but he does it. :)

Another big way to know how much he loves him? When we take pictures of Camden, we're usually saying "No, that's a fake smile. Can you give us a real smile? Please! Camden - come on..." But check out this picture...taken with no requests for any kind of smile..........

See what I mean? He's crazy about him!

My Little Cuddler

Lately Aiden's been doing this new thing when he wants to go to sleep. If I'm holding him up with his head on my shoulder or chest (usually after he's eaten, has fallen asleep, and is being burped - b/c he doesn't normally fall asleep in this position) he nuzzles around until his face is up against my throat under my chin, so it's kind of hidden. It takes him a while to get it exactly where he wants it, so he's just wiggling his head all around for a while, rubbing his face against me. Kind of funny, and sometimes I can't help but thinking kid, what are you doing?

When he's nursing and falling asleep, he'll try to turn his head so that his face is in the crook of my arm, against my elbow - in that little space so that his face is pretty much hidden. Sometimes he tries to take a part of me along with him since he's still eating, and I explain to him that it doesn't go with him.... But he doesn't always get the message. When he's done, he'll just bend back, nuzzle around until he's just right and fall asleep.

It's really quite cute, especially to have him nuzzling up against me so much, finding a place on my body that suits him just right and makes him so comfortable.

Umbrella (Christ Remix)

Gotta see this. It's pretty awesome.

(If you're reading this with Google Reader - you'll have to go to the blog to see the video. It's not showing up on reader for some reason...)

Product Reviews

So, I'm huge on product reviews. I read a bunch before buying things b/c I like to know what I'm getting (and I can be known for returning things after I buy them, too....). Like to do my research, even on the little things. In the baby world, there are a million "must have" products, and here is my take on a few of them...

Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe Wrap - This thing is definitely worth it. I wasn't sure at first, and we had gotten swaddling with regular blankets down to a science. But I tried it out one night and haven't gone back. Much quicker and you can change a diaper without unwrapping. Aiden's hands can get out in the morning with some good wiggling, but that doesn't happen often. And with a swaddled blanket, if we didn't get to him quick enough when he was fussing and waking up, he could loosen up the blankets some anyway. So this IS a must-have.

My Brest Friend nursing pillow - Sounds good in theory and maybe it works for some, but I didn't need it. After reading so many wonderful reviews, I got it. I only used it a couple times. To me, I didn't like that Aiden had to lie flat on it. I hold him with his head higher than his feet most times. And my torso isn't that long, so I didn't really need that much height. I have to hold him up sometimes, but I didn't need the pillow. After it sat around for a couple weeks, I returned it. You could tell it had not been used. Definitely NOT a must-have.

Playard with Vibration - We use this a LOT! When we put him down, if he wakes up or isn't quite asleep when we lie him down, we push the vibrate button, and it works wonders! (We don't wait for him to fuss, we can tell when he might need it, and if we wait until he fusses, it's too late for this to help.) It lasts quite a few minutes. The low hum from the vibration and the feeling itself really helps him drift back to sleep. And the remote control to it that I thought was a little much - another big help. I have it next to my pillow in bed, and it comes in really handy some mornings when I can tell he's not really ready to wake up yet. A huge must-have!

Gdiapers - These things are awesome!! They're like a mix between cloth and disposable and are being called the "greenest" diapering option. The outside pant is cloth with a waterproof liner on the inside. In that goes a flushable insert - that you can flush!, compost, or throw away. And it only takes a couple months to be absorbed into the earth (versus the 500 years a disposable is in a landfill!). We haven't had any poopy blowouts like you do with disposables, either. (That's one comment that you constantly hear about gdiapers - no blowouts!) I have often opened up the diaper and been so thankful we had gdiapers once I saw what was being held inside there... Haha! These - a MUST, MUST have. Plus, they're super-cute! And not really more expensive than disposables, just more up-front cost but it evens out. Interested? Intrigued? Learn more at gdiapers.com or ask me! :)

Crib - Well, this is one thing we didn't need right away, though we definitely need. We still have Aiden in the bedroom in a bassinette at night. And during the day, we usually have him nap in the playard bassinette. We are just now starting to do naps in the crib, and he's almost 8 weeks. He'll be in our room at night for a while still.

Pacifier - Another thing that WE apparently didn't really need! This child just does NOT like them! He was taking the soothie for a little bit, but he has downright refused it for the past couple weeks. Once, he almost took it and as soon as it was in his mouth all the way, he gave this look of disgust and pushed it out. He looks like he's actually offended when we try to offer it - like how dare we do such a thing. I guess nothing is as good as mommy (and more importantly momma's milk). That's what he really wants - even if he's just tired and needs to fall asleep. We'll have to watch this eventually, but for now, I'm happy to give in and be a pacifier. It helps him feel secure with me and bond, and that's more important than me refusing b/c he's not actually hungry. Not a must-have for us - not yet anyway.

Koala Baby blankets - These are from Babies R Us only. We have a few different styles of their blankets, a changing pad cover, and a sheet saver pad. They are amazingly soft!!! And great quality. I LOVE them! Highly recommend - a must-have brand to look at when getting these kind of things. You're baby's skin will be up against them - might as well be extra soft! Must-haves for US!

Baby Carrier - We have a Peanut Sling, a Moby Wrap, and an Ergo carrier - yes, I'm into baby-wearing. :) The sling will have to wait until he can sit in it b/c he hates having his legs up against something and therefore does not like to lie in it. The Moby works great! Love it! And the Ergo still has yet to be used out, but I've tried it on with Aiden at home, and it seems to be great, too. These help so much with getting things done around the house and being able to walk around outside. I'm looking forward to using the Ergo and going hiking! :) Plus, the Ergo is something Daddy will use, too! Here are the ones we have.... Definitely MUST HAVES!!!

Nursing covers - MUST have! Blankets just didn't cut it with me. They lie on baby's head, you can't see what you're doing, can't see baby, etc. These just make it easier. They open up on top so you and baby can see each other. They are plenty big enough to cover what you don't want others to see. And they're cute, too. So glad I have this!

And one more...

RayShade UV Protective Stroller Sun Shade (by Kiddopotamus - another great brand!!) - This thing is made to go on the stroller and create a much better shade than most strollers come with. It has velcro strips so you can adjust it to fit just about any stroller however you need it. We still use the carrier in the stroller, and it doesn't have a huge shade either. So I thought - wonder if I can get it to cover the opposite direction when we have the carrier in the stroller - so we can still see him. And it works! You just have to figure out where you need it and velcro the strips so it fits. We can cover him so there is just enough of an opening where we can see each other. I've been out when it was very hot and I was burning up walking for a bit. He can get hot in his carrier, so I worried he would get hot, too - especially since this shade is black. The child was not hot at all! He was cooler than he normally is in it. So - this is an awesome product! Very versatile! Must-have for sure!!

What a Big Boy!

Aiden has been quite the little sleeper lately.

For the past week and a half or so, he's been sleeping SOOOO well at night. He's been waking up sometime between 2 and 3 to nurse, going right back to sleep. Waking again around 5 to nurse, back to sleep. Usually up again around 7 where he might stay up for an hour and then go back to sleep - or he'll just nurse and go back to sleep. So, to me, he's really just waking up twice in the middle of the night. Sometimes he sleeps between 5 and 6 hours at a time!

We usually get Aiden down for good for the night between 9 and 10, depending on his earlier naps, etc. The past few nights, though, he's been making his own bedtime around 7 or 8! We had to wake him to change and nurse him around 11. So we're trying to get him to bed earlier now - and wondering how his midnight feedings will change. We'll see!

Now for naps... When we're out and about (which we've had to do more lately since Daddy's back at work and Mommy has to run errands, get Camden from school, etc.) Aiden doesn't sleep as well. In fact, the car does NOT put him to sleep. He feels every bump and startles with each one. He usually gets really mad and starts screaming a few miles from our destination (or while we're in a long line where I can't get out to help him). He really hates being buckled down where he can't move (along the same lines, he doesn't like his feet to be pushed up against anything either - which is why we can't use the sling we bought to carry him in and when he's upset, I usually have to hold him standing up so his feet aren't pushing into my lap...). Anyway, getting off topic...

Aiden in the car - His little hand jerks up, wide open with every bump!

At home, I've been putting him down for naps in his crib the last few days. Before, we were having him sleep in the playard bassinette in the living room (helps him get used to the daylight and the noise so he learns to sleep through it all). At night he sleeps in the bassinette in our bedroom. I figure he needs to get used to the crib for when we do have him sleep in his room at night. So, to the crib we go for naps now. He has been doing great. What is so great, though, is how well he has been soothing himself! Sometimes I lie him down when he's still slightly awake, and many times he can still go to sleep on his own. He sometimes wakes up, and I can tell he's not ready to get up. I can tell when he's just fussy b/c he has gas or some other reason, so I'll back off - and he's been doing so well at just going back to sleep. If he cries, I get him, but he hasn't needed that too much. I've been pleasantly surprised! I'll peek in on him and watch him as his eyes slowly open and close, as he drowsily falls back to sleep. It's adorable, really.

During naptime, we also let Aiden sleep on his side. (We're sure he's going to be a tummy sleeper when he's older, but for now he's on his back at night, and we let him lie on his side during the day.) We'll put a blanket up against his back so he doesn't roll over b/c he sleeps better that way. In his crib, he wiggles around a lot. He'll start out lying straight (parallel with the bumpers in the picture) and then end up like this... (I come in and pull up the covers multiple times during his naps, usually tucking his hands in them - he's still getting used to his hands being free and not waking him!)

Sleeping is his big boy crib!

I hadn't been saying how well he sleeps at night b/c I didn't want to jinx it... Hopefully I didn't just do that about his napping, too. Camden learned to fall asleep well at an early age and has been a wonderful sleeper since. We're hoping Aiden got this trait from him. :)

Aiden's Star

Another thing Aiden dislikes GREATLY is diaper or clothes changing time... Lately he has gotten a bit better during some changes. He'll lie there and not fuss. But other times he will just get plain ol' MAD. Sometimes, as soon as you put a shirt over his head or pull an arm out - he goes from cooing to the loudest, angriest yell ever! Many times - as soon as you lie him on the changing pad, he gets mad. He knows what that thing is!!

We have these stars and circles decals that go with his bedding - to put on the wall (especially since we can't paint because we're in an apartment). We've been waiting until we had all of the nursery furniture before putting anything on the wall, and we finally got our glider in last week. So, up went some decals on the wall next to the changing table. I put the biggest, most contrasting star near where Aiden's head lies so he would see it easily.

Immediate success!!! He LOVES (I mean LOVES!) the stars, especially the big one! When he sees it, he will just stare at it and smile away! I'll point at the star and call it "Aiden's Star." He'll lie there, and I'll sing Twinkle Little Star - he'll look back and forth between me and the star and just smile. It's the cutest thing!

Now, he doesn't always see the star right away, and it doesn't work every single time - but it is a HUGE difference!

(Thanks Tabitha and Zeb for giving us the decals!!!)

Aiden looking up at "Aiden's star" - Look at that smile!!

This has also helped with one other issue... Aiden's song. See, Camden and I have a special song that's just for us - "You are my sunshine." I always sang it to him when he was sad or hurt (and still do!!), and it just became "our song." We even danced to that at my and Ryan's wedding. :) So, when Aiden was born, I felt like I couldn't really sing that to him and take away the special-ness there was with the song and Camden. (Though we do sing it from time to time, and Camden gave his "ok" first.) No other song has jumped out as a song for Aiden - until now. We sing "Twinkle Little Star" (ok - I sing it), and he loves it! Camden saw it one day and said, "That can be Aiden's song!"

And so it shall be.

Finally a GOOD Bath!

So up to this point Aiden has pretty much NOT enjoyed his baths AT ALL. We tried it in his tub - and he HATES that. Then we tried in the big tub with Mommy. That went just fine, really, but takes more time. We tried the shower - which went pretty well, actually. But I would rather take my showers before he's awake so I have time to actually get ready afterwards. Then I thought we needed to try his bathtub again... We put a couple hand towels in it before him - making it a bit softer for him. He gets startled REALLY easily, and when he would move in his tub, it scared him. So - I tried it and crossed my fingers.................

And it worked! We had an enjoyable bath! The only part he didn't like was going from the water to the towel. And who does like that? It's cold! Since he did so well in the bath, we let him stay in while we played with the water some to get him used to it. He even got some water on one of his eyelids - no fussing! And got then got some in his mouth and seemed to really like that actually (but we didn't want to do that intentionally b/c who knows if he peed in there......)

Here are some pictures of the successful bathtime. (We're not showing the x-rated ones...) ;) We'll save those for when he brings home his girlfriend...................

He really liked when we poured water over his head and his belly! We are SO thrilled that we found a way to help him enjoy bathtime!!!

Little Ryan

At the risk of sounding like Chandler Bing...Could Aiden BE any more like his Daddy??

We all know that Aiden looked like a mini-Ryan from the beginning. No kidding. So many people have commented on this - some even suggesting Mom was a mere carrier for 9 months (come on - I did more than just that!) BUT he had a couple things from Mommy - the dark hair and skin. Well, he really could have gotten that from either of us b/c Daddy's mom has the dark hair and skin, too. She even said that Aiden looked like what she expected Ryan to look like when he was born. But Ryan came out with lighter skin and red hair that eventually turned blonde. But I'll take credit for the dark stuff b/c that's really all I have going for me! ;)

B-U-T................

Now Aiden's hair has suddenly taken a turn towards looking a tad reddish! And his skin - well, the jury is still out on that one at this point.

And in case you're wondering, yes, Aiden looks JUST like Daddy's baby pictures and nothing like Mommy's. Here is the proof...

Mommy and Daddy as babies...
and

Aiden
Nothing from Mama!

We joke that maybe he's got my personality.... Hmmmm - that could be trouble!

And for the fun of it, here is the comparison with big brother, Camden...

There is a little resemblance between the two. But Aiden is still definitely a LITTLE RYAN!