Have yourself a Merry little Christmas...

Hi blog.  I’ve missed you.  Mr. Aiden doesn’t want to share me too much, so I have had to take “time off” from writing.  What’s funny is that I think about blogging so much and I feel almost guilty that I am SO behind.  Haha, not that everyone sits on the edge of their seat to wait for another post.  But I like it… it’s a place for me to get it out, put it in writing, to re-live certain moments, to actually put thought into the every day stuff.  

 

So here we are, another Christmas, I can’t believe how fast a year went by.  This time last year I was almost 3 months pregnant with Aiden…We didn’t yet know if it was going to be a boy or a girl, I was finally starting to come out of the yucky feeling stage and we were moving into the new year where we would find out what we were having, have baby showers, plan the nursery and ultimately waiting for the arrival of our precious baby.  

AND NOW it’s his very FIRST Christmas!  

I’m so excited to see his face when he opens presents and when he opens his mouth to insert EVERYTHING…toys, boxes, paper, you name it, it’s going in there!  He loves to look at the lights on the tree and to touch the branches.  

I know he won’t remember this Christmas, but we will and I want it to be special.  I’m trying to gather ideas, traditions, special things I will do next year with Aiden when he will have a better sense of what is going on.  I want to tell him that when we receive gifts its symbolic of the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ.  That when we put up the Christmas tree its symbolic of the tree that Christ died on for our sins and that the Christmas lights represent Jesus being the Light of the World!  Mix in some cookie making, present wrapping, Christmas music singing, movie watching, etc… and it’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

 

We’ll be spending Christmas together with our family… Christmas Eve at my Mom’s with my sister and her little family, aunts, uncles, cousins and my grandmother.  Christmas morning will be special cause it will be me, Jason and Aiden :) We’ll then head over in our pj’s to do Christmas morning gifts and breakfast with my family and then spend the afternoon with Jason’s family having a wonderful afternoon and dinner with good food, good drinks and good dessert! :)

 

So, Merry Christmas from our little family to yours.  We hope you get to soak in the special moments that make this time special for you and that you remember the reason for the season.  Thank you Jesus for coming near!

 

My favorite song this Christmas:

 

You’re Near

By Francesca Battistelli

 

Hold on now, i gotta take a deep breath
I don`t know what to say when i look in your eyes
You made the world before i was born
Here i am holding you in my arms tonight
Noel, noel, Jesus our Emmanuel

You`re here, i`m holding you so near
I`m starring into the face of my savior, king and creator
you could`ve left us on our own, but you`re here
don`t know how long i`m gonna have you for
But i`ll be watching when you change the world
I Look at your hand, they`re still so small
Someday you`re going to stretch them out and save us all
Noel, noel, God with us Emmanuel

You`re here, i`m holding you so near
I`m staring into the face of my savior, king and creator
They could`ve left us on our own, but you`re here you`re here
someday i`m gonna look back on this
The night that god became a baby boy
Someday you're gonna go home again,
But you leave your spirit and flood the world with joy

You`d be here, i`m holding you so near
I`m staring into the face of my savior, king and creator
They could`ve left me on my own, but you`re here you`re here
Hallelujah you`re here hallelujah
You`re here

3 Little Pumpkins!

It was me and my sisters plan to take the boys to their first pumpkin patch!  Our first time attempting to go out with the three boys on what is the first of many adventures with our little men!  The texts started at 7:15am that morning… We were informing each other on how things were going, what we were doing next, what our plan was, where we were going to go, etc… I think it was 11:30am or later before we actually got the car packed and on our way! :) 

 

Mom had to run some errands before hand but was going to meet us there to help take pictures.  So we had all three car seats packed in the back of the Edge.  Not sure if that was “legal” or “safe” but it was only until we got there and then we were going to put the twins in my Mom’s car when she arrived.  So, three car seats, a single stroller, a double stroller, two diaper bags, camera bag, purses, blankets, bottles, etc… We were packed in there good!  

 

So we headed to one pumpkin patch… fail, they didn’t open until later that night for the festival… On to the second pumpkin patch… fail, again, it was a HUGE festival and we didn’t know exactly where it was and we weren’t about to unload 3 babies to walk around aimlessly not knowing exactly where it was, plus couldn’t find parking.  Now what?!  I remembered a place off Apopka Vineland that a friend suggested, so made a quick right turn and off we were to the 3^rd pumpkin patch… SUCCESS!  Time to unload… Got everything situated and we strolled the boys over to the patch.  And let me tell you, it was SO worth it!  We apparently were quite the entertainment for everyone else there… Not used to be watched and stared at so much, but I guess we do make a scene with 3 babies, two of them being twins and us laughing up a storm as Aiden grabs poor Gabriel’s face and makes him cry and then tries to suck on Isaiah’s head… oh the fun we had and will continue to have with our “3 Little Pumpkins!”

 

Our New "Normal"... For now.

My “alarm clock” is now the sound of my crying son wanting breakfast, stat! I get up to feed him and when he goes back down to sleep, I have to quickly get myself ready and his stuff together before he wakes up again for feeding #2 :) Tricky part… I have NO idea when he will wake up again… 30min? 1 hour? 2 hours? He always surprises me! Most of the time I am able to get ready before he does wake up again… So we have another feeding and when he is full he leans his head back so he can see me and I say “Good morning Aiden!” and I get the BIGGEST grin ever! Gosh, that boy melts my heart every time he does that. So even though I am tired, not wanting to get ready for work and not wanting to leave him… I get his smile every morning reminding me that he just thinks I’m great! We talk for a min and then we talk some more while I am getting him ready and then we are out the door! We arrive to Mimmy’s house and I pull him out of his seat all cuddly in his blankie, I snuggle him and typically get more smiles and then we unload the car and get everything situated… I hug my boy, give him kisses, get some more smiles, kiss my nephews on their sweet little faces and off to work I go.

I watch the clock until it hits 5 and I am OUT THE DOOR! Off to see my boy, I miss him so much. Run inside my Mom’s to grab my boy and give him hugs and kisses. Load the car back up, put Aiden in his seat (praying for no tears on the way home). Get home, unload the car, play with Aiden, Jason gets home, start dinner, feed Aiden, bath time with Aiden and then put him down. Go downstairs; clean up, get bottles ready for the next day, finally my turn to shower, get ready for bed… off to sleep and then we do this ALL OVER again the next day. Phew! I’m tired just typing that!

I get discouraged at times, thinking how routine my life is and how I wish it was a little more “free” and that I had more time to just hang with my boy… But like I said, this is my “normal”…for now.


And to add to it all, I now have TWIN NEPHEWS that I just want to play with too… Its like a daycare at my parents house now, with all these little ones around :) haha, it’s a crazy but FUN time we are in. I LOVE that Aiden has cousins and that they will all be able to grow up together and have loads of fun. Can’t wait until they start interacting with each other more. 

Aiden: "Isaiah your head tastes so good!"  Isaiah: "Ewwww! Stop sucking on my
head Aiden! Gabe: "Aren't I adorable?!" :)

Aiden: "Don't worry Isaiah, I got you!"  Gabe: "Seriously?! another picture? :)

Aiden thinks this is super fun!!! :)

My sweet Aiden is 16 weeks old if you can believe it!  The other day it was SO nice outside and Aiden just LOVES being outdoors... So when we finally got home from work and my Mom's I put all the stuff inside, grabbed a blanket and my camera and laid it outside in the shade to take some pictures.  Aiden just talked and talked, smiled and kicked, moved his arms like crazy and couldn't get enough of being outside.  It was such a sweet moment! 

Me? A Working Mom?

Since the day Aiden was born… I knew in the back of my mind that in 12 weeks I would have to return to work.  I did the best I could not think about it and to enjoy and soak in every moment with my precious baby!  Still, the thought kept creeping back up whether it was my own thought or some one always asking “When do you go back to work?” to which I responded, “I don’t like to talk about it!” :)

 

My 12 weeks with Aiden have been amazing, hard, joyful, tiring, exciting, frustrating and mostly…. The BEST thing EVER! No matter the day or what was going on, I was beyond in love with Aiden Christopher!  Along with my husband, he is the JOY of my life!  I am so incredibly blessed with the family God has given to me.  

 

The last 12 weeks I have been with Aiden 24/7!  And to think that I would only see him in the mornings and at night brought me STRAIGHT to tears… like its doing now.  I never thought I would be a “working Mom” but its something that I have to do right now for this family God has blessed me with.  It’s not going to be an easy journey or very fun at times…but I will do it and I’m trying to fill my mind with the positives to it all.  Even though, it still plain SUCKS!  It’s this feeling of “I have to give him back”… I was only able to be with him for a little bit and now I have to “hand him over.” UGH!  Am I less of a Mom because I’m working and entrust him to someone else’s care? Will he remember me when I'm at work? Will he think I have abandoned him?  These questions taunt me!

 

BUT I had a friend tell me to think of going back to work as a “Provision from God”…It’s a way of God providing for us, I never want to be ungrateful for what God blesses us with.  And for those parents that have lost their little ones to horrible diseases and cancer… I think about them and that they would JUMP to the opportunity to go back to work and drop their child off to their parents or daycare just so they could have them back!  And then I feel HORRIBLE for taking for granted that at least my little Aiden is here with me.  

 

So I’m not there yet… I’m not comfortable yet with all this… but God has a plan and if it’s His plan for me to work right now, then so be it… but if it’s His plan in the future to be able to stay home or at least go part-time one day, then bring it on!  My dream (and its good to dream, right? :)) is to one day be home with my kids and love on them the way my Mom was with me, my sister and brother.  We are all on our journeys and there are probably things that we don’t like about them… I was talking with my friend Lis the other day and I told her I just have to take it one day at a time.  Get through today, this week, this month and then get to Christmas.  While I’m struggling with "this" (working), she is getting to stay home with her sweet little girl, but she is struggling being miles and miles away from her friends and family… We both have something the other one wants, but I guess we can’t have it all right now?!  So Lis is getting through today, this week, this month and looks forward to the days she gets to come home.  Oh my friend, how I love being on this journey with you…we have always gone through the same types of things at the same moment in time and we know how each other feels.  I MISS YOU!  What I would give for an afternoon with you and Gracie to just hang out and talk.  

 

So for now… this is my journey.  I am SO grateful for my Mom who is willing to make a huge sacrifice to watch Aiden so that I have the comfort of knowing that when I go to work…he is with some one that loves him just as much!  Thank you Mom, you will never know how much this means to me!

 

Quick Update: AIDEN IS 3 months old!!  Oh my word… It goes by WAY to fast.  He is talking more, smiling more… LOVES to be outside, loves to stand up and use those strong legs, loves to be in his exersaucer & the bouncy seat (even though NOTHING keeps him busy for long), loves to eat, loves to be held and wants to continue looking around at this big big world…So much to see! :)  And I swear he is gonna laugh at any moment!  I can't wait to hear his first little giggle!  My favorite moments with him are in the mornings because he is so smilely and talkative and then at night during bath time when he is the same way.  Jason was standing him up on the counter in the bathroom the other night and he was standing proud, looking in the mirror and just look like a little man…Jason said “You think you are a grown man, don’t you?!” and the look on Aiden’s face was like “Yes I am!!!” haha.  

I will be posting some updated pictures of him soon... plus I will have lots more to write about because on Monday I become an Aunt for the FIRST time!  Little Gabriel & Isaiah will be welcomed to our family!  So excited to meet them and for Aiden to have cousins!!!  Oh how they will be the best of friends!

2 Months Old!

Yesterday Aiden had his 2 month Birthday!  How does 2 months go by so fast!?!  Reminds me of that country song by Kenny Chesney, "Don't Blink"... It's so true! Aiden had his 2 month check up with Dr. Lagod this week.  He had to have his first round of shots :( It was SO horrible to watch my baby cry and to know I was choosing to have this done to him... Broke my heart!  I was so relieved to get out of there and to just get home and cuddle with my boy.  He ended up hurting pretty bad and my Mom had to run out and get some Tylenol for me and bring it over.  As soon as he had that in him, he felt SO much better!  Aiden weighs 12lbs and 13.5oz now!  Big Boy!  He is really smiling a lot more these days and starting to "talk" to us.  My Mom had him going yesterday, it was SO precious, I seriously got emotional... lol, oh Mom's! 

I can't get enough of my 2 month, 12lb baby boy!  I snapped a few pictures of him in his bouncy seat yesterday... I don't want to forget a moment of this precious time.  I hope everyone takes the time today to soak in the joys of life... Don't Blink because this time is too precious.  We aren't promised tomorrow, so enjoy the now.  

8 Weeks Old...

My boy is 8 weeks old! Wow! He will celebrate his 2 month birthday this Thursday! This weekend we celebrated the upcoming arrival of my nephews, Gabriel & Isaiah, at Steph's baby shower. We had a great time! And then on Sunday we had some cleaning / organizing to do around the house...but it was a GREAT day just getting to hang out and relax. Aiden even allowed Mommy and Daddy to take a nap! :)

Here are some pics I took of him yesterday!


This picture just makes me laugh... lol... My 8 week old cutie!


Hanging out with Poppy...


Aiden is looking at the stripes on the curtains... loves them!


Bath time! We have graduated from his tub being in the sink, to being in his bath tub upstairs.


Just chillin'... "I love bath time Mommy!"


My little chunky monkey!

"Stand up time" with Daddy! He loves standing (his legs are so strong) and looking out the window! I am so in love with my boys!!!


(you may want to scroll down to the end of my blog and pause the playlist so you can hear)

Aiden Growing and lots of "First's"

Since I am getting back into the swing of things, I thought I would just get everyone caught up, through pictures of Aiden the past 7 weeks! (He will be 8 weeks on Saturday, they grow so fast!) I know everyone told me that time flies, but I never imagined how fast it would go by! There has been good days and not so good days, but at the end of the day, I am so in love with my little guy and couldn't be happier to be a Mommy! I cried yesterday going through his dresser drawers when I had to pull out clothes that are TOO SMALL! I'm trying my best to soak up every single second of my time with him, I never want to forget it!

So see below some shots of him as he grows week by week and then just some favs thrown in there!


His first bath! He was so little that it was almost scary to bathe him, lol... He didn't care for it so much!


All Clean! Nothing better than clean smelling babies wrapped up in a towel in your arms. I love putting him in his pj's afterwards and just cuddling and soaking in the smell of my baby!


1 Week Old...


On Aiden's first weekend home, he celebrated his very first 4th of July!

Some pics of me and my boy on our first 4th of July together!





(his onesie said "Mommy's American Hero!"


2 Weeks Old...


3 Weeks Old...
The weekend that Aiden turned 3 weeks old, he had some VERY special visitors! His Great-Grammie, his Great-Great Aunt and cousins and his Great-GREAT Pop! Wow, what a special, special time. 5 Generations... Aiden is Pop's first great-great grandson!


I just LOVED watching my Great-Grandfather with my son... He just soaked him in, told him how beautiful he was and that he would be a lady killer one day, just like his great-great Pop! lol! Oh and he sang to Aiden the entire time... "There is a hole in the bottom of the sea" :)


4 Weeks Old...
Aiden always smiles in his sleep when he is happy and comfy! This is his first smile caught on camera!


5 Weeks Old... (One of my favorite pictures! Look at that perfect face and those LIPS!)


Another favorite taken at 5 weeks... This is Aiden sleeping on Daddy's chest!


6 Weeks Old... And GROWING!

To view some pictures of Aiden at 7 weeks old, click on the link below... Taken by Liz Curtan! Amazing :)
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/album.php?aid=2077100&id=1245265949&ref=mf


Aiden's first pool day! (7 Weeks Old...)

He totally enjoyed just laying outside...He absolutely loves it!

I just can't get enough of those eyes!

Feets!!!

Grama putting Aiden's feet in the pool! :)

And just a couple of pictures I took yesterday of my growing boy! I just LOVE him!

He just LOVES to look out the window at the bright light! My precious, precious boy!

Taking the time today to just soak in every bit of him, every moment, and being so thankful that he is in my life!