Aidan in his new Joovy

Dear Aidan,

You seem to like your new playard very much. I know it doesn't seem like it in the video- you are a bit whiny...
You were in it all afternoon just playing with your toys. You don't know how happy that makes mommy. She was able to make lunch for herself and also prep daddy's dinner with no problems.

Christmas memories

Dear Aidan,

Today was a long day. Mommy and daddy ran around the city to do some errands. We got you a cream for your face that is meant for baby eczema as well as cotton scratch mittens so that you can't scratch your face. It will also keep you from putting your fingers in your mouth. I also picked up stockings for you and Rosco while we were shopping at Real Canadian Superstore. I've been searching high and low for nice stockings and they had such cute ones there. Daddy didn't think I should get it, but I really want your first Christmas to be special. I know you probably won't remember it when you grow up, but that's what this blog is for, right? It's funny because I remember a lot of my childhood growing up, but daddy doesn't remember anything. I think the furthest he can go back is when he was in high school. I think I even have memories of when I was a baby...
My first memory of Christmas stockings were when I celebrated my first Christmas in Canada. We never had Christmas stockings in Korea. I remember my mom and dad stuck the stockings on the wall because we didn't have a fireplace where we were living at the time. I don't remember all of the contents of my Christmas stocking, but I remember 1 thing in particular. It was a box of After Eight Mints. I love those mints...

You ain't no chump change

Dear Aidan,

Oh boy. You have seriously emptied out mommy and daddy's pockets this time. Since you are growing way too fast we had to get you a child car seat today. Your feet are beginning to stick out of the infant car seat. We also had to pick out a playpen for you as well as a high chair. Being a parent is no joke. It costs a pretty penny to raise kids. I guess no Christmas presents for mommy this year...

However, I'm loving the high chair that we got for you today. It's the Age Design HiLo chair in Raspberry. You know how mommy loves modern stuff...

Yikes!

Dear Aidan,

Upon first glance the photo above doesn't show how bad your skin is right now. Now see the photo below and you will see what a mess your skin is in. It's really blotchy and you have scratch marks all over your face. I think it has to do with the fact that you are sucking on your fist and fingers A LOT and all your spit is going all over the area surrounding your mouth. Also you have a tendency to sleep on your stomach now and the part of your face that touches the crib mattress breaks out. Then to make it worse you scratch yourself while sleeping. I've been trimming your nails almost daily and have even tried putting gloves on you at night, but to no avail. You somehow take out the gloves in your crib in the middle of the night. I don't know what to do with you! Daddy is worried sick. So long for the modelling career I had planned out for you...

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree...

Dear Aidan,

In a month we will be celebrating your first Christmas. I am so excited to put your first Christmas presents under the Christmas tree this year. Although Christmas is not about receiving gifts, but rather the birth of Jesus Christ, I love the whole Christmas tradition of waking up on Christmas morning and opening presents. Mommy had such a fun time growing up experiencing Christmas with her family. I revelled, not in receiving gifts, but seeing the expressions on my mom, dad, and sisters faces when they opened their presents from me. I hope that we can continue on that tradition.

Mommy is balding too

Dear Aidan,

I shouldn't have made fun of your bald spot when I seem to be balding too. Ever since you hit 3 months both you and mommy's hair have been falling out like crazy. Sorry about the graphic picture above... But no need to worry. I heard this is normal for new mothers and it will eventually stop. Daddy would like it to stop right now as he is going mental trying to pick up all the hair off the ground. He's the one that made me post this post up because he wanted you to see mommy's 'gross' side. Sheesh.

Practice makes perfect

Dear Aidan,

Lately you've been trying to practice crawling while on your stomach. It seems to frustrate you that it's not coming to you as easily as it should. You always start by trying to grab onto the blanket. Then you lift your bum a little and try to tuck your knees in to try to move up a little. It takes up a lot of your energy because, as you can see in the pictures above, you rub your face on the blanket in frustration. But don't give up! It will come to you very soon.

Sick day

Dear Aidan,

Mommy was very sick today. I wasn't feeling well after I took the H1N1 flu shot yesterday. I had a huge headache and my arms felt very sore. You were in bed with me all day today. Luckily you were pretty good and slept beside me the whole time.
Hopefully I can feel better tomorrow...

My what a big boy you are

Dear Aidan,

I took you to the doctor this morning to get your 2nd vaccination shots. It was the first time I took you without daddy to the doctor's office so I was a bit worried. Plus, I knew you were going to cry when you got your shots. However, I really had nothing to worry about. You were so good.
So the doctor weighed you and you are currently sitting at 6.76kg or 14lb and 15oz. That's at the 50th percentile. Your head circumference is at 42cm (again at the 50th percentile) and your length is at 67cm (at the 90th percentile). She did comment how big you got. She said you looked like a big baby now.

Here's a photo & video of you after you got your 2nd vaccination shots:





BTW, after I came back from the doctor's office you pooed! I was starting to get a bit worried because you were going a few days without a bowel movement...

Stomach ache

Dear Aidan,

It's been a bit difficult trying to put you to sleep these couple of days. I think it's because your stomach is hurting. You've gone 4 days without going poo poo now. You woke up 3 times screaming and crying when I tried putting you to bed around 9:45pm. I think you finally dozed off... (fingers crossed!). I'm hoping tomorrow you will go poo poo. I'm also a bit nervous that you are getting your 2nd vaccination shots tomorrow. I know it's the one that hurts. Well, that's what other moms have told me. You cried a lot when you got your first vaccination shots and that wasn't the one that was supposed to hurt...

You've also been quite the screamer these days. I think you like the sound of your voice or something. Today mommy and daddy were trying to watch Amazing Race (that's one of our favourite shows, btw) and you were screaming the whole time we were watching it. I'm going to try to video record you when you do that next time, but it drives mommy bananas! I almost went bonkers trying to drone out your screaming.

The three stooges

Dear Aidan,

Here's a photo of Noah, Asher and you at church today. I think Noah is 8 months, Asher is 6 months and you are 4 months. I wonder if you guys will be friends when you grow up? I hope so!

I leave you with a video of you laughing a lot right before your bath time. You have this laugh that you do (about 19 seconds and 25 seconds into the clip). You were doing that laugh more than a month ago, but I never had a chance to record you because it was so brief.

Dear Aidan,

It amazes me how quickly you change every day. Today you were trying so hard to learn how to crawl. It was funny how frustrated you became because I could tell you wanted to do it so badly, but your body wasn't letting you. Seeing you do that made me wonder how your personality will develop. I know it's too early to see who you will be like- mommy or daddy, but I want you to know that I pray for you. I don't do it daily, but I try to do it as often as I can when I remember to do so. I want you to take the best from mommy and daddy and be the best that you can be. It worries me sometimes because both mommy and daddy are so flawed. I'm going to pray to God really hard so that you will develop Christ-like traits.

The infamous bald spot

Dear Aidan,

So here's the bald spot you have been sporting for a while now. I think you got it from rubbing your head from side-to-side while on your back. You seem to do that a lot. I hope it grows back...

Let's be honest here

Dear Aidan,

I want to make sure you and whoever reads this blog understands that this blog is about you and it was written for you- to document my every day life with you. I don't want to have to sensor anything to make raising you seem all fine and dandy. There's going to be good times and there's going to be bad times. Today was just an ok time. You were mostly good during the day, but it wasn't as easy putting you to bed as some other days. I guess mommy was a bit frustrated because you were being more squirmier than usual and you kept getting distracted when mommy was trying to feed you. Then things just escalated worse when mommy and daddy had an argument. I was angry because I was frustrated that I was the only one who could put you to bed, while daddy was frustrated that I was taking it out on him when I am the only one that could feed you before I put you to bed. Anyways I'm sorry mommy was frustrated at you.

Set routine

Dear Aidan,

I just put you down to sleep. I've got you on a set routine every night now and it seems to be working.
Mommy and daddy start by giving you a bath. Then we lay you down on your favourite blankie and read you some books. We sing songs and also do some tummy time. That tires you out pretty well. Then mommy changes your diaper, puts you in you sleepsack, turns the nightlight on, and feeds you. You usually fall asleep while feeding and then I put you in your crib for bedtime.

Here's some shots with you and Rosco. You will probably be too young to remember Rosco, but he is a very good dog. He is very careful not to touch you. He was mommy's baby before she had you...


Best of friends or mortal enemies?


Rosco: I'm outta here!


Aidan: Don't go!


Aidan: I'm gonna get you!

My little Roly-Poly

Dear Aidan,

You achieved another milestone yesterday! You did a complete 180 roll. You rolled from your back to your stomach and then back to your back. It only took you 1 day to master that! Pretty soon you will be crawling.
The only downside of this milestone was that you kept rolling over to your stomach in your crib last night. You woke up crying several times in the middle of the night because you didn't have much space to roll back to your back. Let's just say mommy is very tired.

What I know about you so far...

Dear Aidan,

So I know you're only a little over 4 months now, but I just wanted to document what I already know about you. So here are 101 facts about you:

1. Your hands and feet get ice cold when you are hungry. Then they return back to body temperature when you're fed. Weird...
2. You tend to sleep on your back with your head to the side.
3. You currently have a long stretch of a bald spot (I will take a photo of this later on and post it on the blog to show you) on the back of your head. I think this is caused by you moving your head side-to-side when you are lying down.
4. You move your head side-to-side when lying on your back when you are tired.
5. You massage your head with your fingers when you are tired.
6. You also rub your eyes when you are tired.
7. You like looking at your reflection in the mirror.
8. Mommy likes giving you the morning stretch in the morning. You seem to enjoy it very much.
9. Daddy likes doing the 'superman' with you. This involves him holding you upright while looking at the mirror and propelling you up.
10. You sometimes laugh when you see Rosco doing silly things like rolling on the carpet.
11. You like putting Sophie the Giraffe in your mouth.
12. You don't really know how to suck on a pacifier. I occasionally try to train you because I don't like you sucking on your fist and fingers.
13. You are, up to this time, still solely breastfed.
14. You don't know how to suck on a bottle very well.
15. You curl your toes like mommy.
16. You have a Mongolian Spot on your bum where the crack begins and your left ankle. It will eventually go away.
17. You are ticklish on the neck (just like mommy) and your underarms (like daddy).
18. You have a very strong kick. I noticed that when you were in mommy's stomach. Even to this day your kicks are VERY strong. Maybe I should put you in soccer...
19. You are the only one in our family (except Rosco) that was born in Toronto.
20. You like sucking on your left index finger.
21. You had a blocked tear duct on your left eye up until you were 3 months old. It cleared on its own.
22. When you were born you had a tiny bit of jaundice.
23. You fall asleep everytime you are in the car seat. The bumpier the ride the better you sleep.
24. You learned to grab onto Sophie on November 1, 2009.
25. You slept in your crib on November 11, 2009.
26. You learned to roll over to your stomach on your own on November 17, 2009.
27. You learned to roll back to your back from your stomach today (November 18, 2009). Yay!
28. You like to hold my hand while I'm breastfeeding you.
29. Mommy and daddy moved to a house from a condo just for you.
30. Mommy sang You Are My Sunshine and Hush Little Baby to you while you were in mommy's stomach. I think that's why you found these songs soothing. You seemed to fall asleep after I sang you these songs when you were crying.
31. You have 2 different ears. Your right ears are my ears and your left ears are daddy's ears.
32. You have daddy's big toe, but the rest of your toes are mommy's toes.
33. You have mommy's finger nails.
34. People say you look just like your daddy.
35. You have mommy's face shape.
36. You hate wet diapers. You always seem to want mommy or daddy to change your diapers every time you pee. Our diaper bills are going through the roof!
37. You like watching TV. I think the bright colours fascinate you.
38. You love bath time.
39. You get a bath every day from mommy and daddy.
40. You are happiest in the morning.
41. You weighed 7lbs and 3oz when you were born.
42. You have very light hair.
43. You have very long eyelashes that curl up. I think that's from mommy.
44. Your hair is very short. I think it's starting to fall out a lot now. Just like mommy. She's becoming bald!
45. People have commented that you are a very good baby.
46. You don't cry a lot.
47. The first time mommy and daddy took you on your first airplane ride you were the BEST baby! You didn't cry at all. People sitting beside mommy and daddy in the plane were commenting how good you were.
48. Your farts really stink.
49. Your skin is currently very blotchy right now.
50. Your bedtime is around 10:30pm.
51. You sleep through the night.
52. You always smile at mommy or daddy when we make eye contact with you.
53. Mommy can soothe you when you wake up from crying by patting your stomach.
54. Mommy can usually put you back to sleep by patting your stomach and saying 'Shhhhhh'.
55. You like to hold onto the book that mommy reads to you right before bedtime.
56. You go through phases where you throw up milk after breastfeeding.
57. You like it when mommy or daddy holds you upright and put your feet on the ground/countertop. You like pretending to walk.
58. Sometimes you wake up crying like you had a nightmare or something.
59. You don't like it when people say bad things about daddy. You started crying when a woman in Vancouver commented that you shouldn't be short like your daddy.
60. You can stretch out your pinkie toe like mommy can. Daddy thinks it's gross.
61. You get scared easily when things jump at you.
62. You like to stare at Rosco when he walks past you.
63. Your finger nails are cut every 3 days. They grow really fast.
64. You like scratching your face. Right now you have a big scratch on your forehead. Oh bother...
65. You get amused when mommy or daddy nod our head up and down when we look at you.
66. You can sleep in loud environments.
67. When you used to sleep between mommy and daddy you would always roll over to mommy's side. Daddy used to get so jealous.
68. Your lips used to blister when I breastfed you. I think it was because you were sucking so hard. Guys will never understand how much it hurts. Although I never found it very painful...
69. You are a very tall baby. Right now you are wearing 6-9 month clothes when you are 4 months.
70. You are not a sweaty baby.
71. Your name means fire. I hope you don't have a fiery temper like mommy and daddy...
72. You don't have a middle name. We couldn't think of anything.
73. Your name is of Irish origin. For some reason, all the names that daddy and mommy were thinking of were of Irish origin...
74. Mommy craved only healthy foods while she was pregnant with you. She ate lots of fruits and vegetables.
75. You like to coo when mommy talks to you.
76. Your tongue tip is a bit weirdly shaped. The tip is not one rounded shape, but rather it has a 'w' shape where the centre of the tip is indented.
77. You were born with no eyebrows. Now you have eyebrows.
78. You hiccup a lot. Mommy hiccups a lot.
79. You sneeze a lot. Mommy sneezes a lot.
80. You always laugh when you pee on mommy or daddy when we are changing you. I think it amuses you.
81. You always smile when mommy and daddy are scolding you. How can we not love you???
82. You sleep with your fingers spread wide open when people are holding you.
83. You sometimes sleep with your mouth wide open.
84. You also sometimes sleep with your eyes a bit open.
85. Sometimes you smile when you are sleeping. Maybe you had a good dream?
86. You make sucky faces when you are sleeping like you are sucking on breasts. It makes me cringe.
87. You love to stretch out your legs.
88. You love getting swayed.
89. You like sleeping with your arms up beside your head.
90. Sometimes you sleep with your eyes rolled back. It scares the crap out of me.
91. You always stick out your tongue and look stunned when mommy blows on your face.
92. You love it when mommy blows softly on your head. You inhale and smile.
93. You wake up with a lot of snot in your nose every morning.
94. You get all blotchy after mommy breastfeeds you. Your skin, I think, is really sensitive.
95. You like feeling mommy up when she breastfeeds you. I know you will think it's gross in the future, but that's how it is.
96. You love getting changed. I remember daddy used your pretend to change you when you were crying. It made you feel better.
97. You like knowing that there are people in the same room with you. When you can't see mommy and daddy you get a bit antsy.
98. You like it when mommy puts cream on your face after a bath because you get really still.
99. Your eyes look very glassy right now.
100. You sleep well when people hold you. I know some babies won't sleep with people other than their parents.
101. Overall, you are a dream baby. I can't complain.

Good morning

Dear Aidan,

So the tightening of the diaper worked! You didn't leak this morning when I checked. Another thing, you pooed. Yay! I know I shouldn't be cheering whenever you poo, but you've been going several days without a bowel movement.

Yawn

Dear Aidan,

As you can see from the post time it is EARLY. You woke mommy up crying in your crib. I found you rolled to your left side sucking on your fist. I figured you wanted a little late-night snack. While I was feeding you I noticed that your left side of your onesie and your sleepslack was wet. You apparently leaked because you had rolled over to your left side. Plus, I think the diapers I had put you in was too big. You see, I had recently put you in size 3 Huggies diapers because Walmart didn't have size 2 diapers. I figured you were big enough to fit size 3 diapers. Maybe I didn't close the diapers tightly enough? Anyways, I made sure to tighten the diapers this time around so we'll see if that worked...

You flipped over!

Dear Aidan,

Today was a milestone for you. You flipped over on your own! You started turning over from your back to your side about 3 weeks ago when we were in Vancouver, but you weren't able to go from your sides to your stomach all on your own. Today while I was tweaking the blog I put you down on your back on top of your favourite blankie. When I turned around I noticed you were on your stomach. I couldn't believe it. I had to make sure you could do it all on your own again so I decided to film you the second time. It was no accident. You gracefully did it on your own again. I'm so proud of you!

The beginning...

Dear Aidan,

You are now 4 months and 1 week old!

While I was breastfeeding you tonight I had a mini epiphany. I decided that I wanted to start a little diary/blog to record my every day experience with raising you. I should have thought of doing this while I was pregnant with you, but I guess it's never too late to start. First things first, I just want to say that you have totally changed my life. Now I cannot imagine my life without you. Before having you I was really comfortable with my life just the way it was. I was establishing my career, I had a lot of disposable income, and I felt freedom in being able to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. I looked at people around me who had kids and they seemed to be living a hectic life. To me they seemed frazzled trying to juggle everything while trying to keep everything in balance. I just thought it was too much work for nothing. Don't get me wrong, I knew I wanted kids one day, but I was in no rush to start... Plus, I wanted to be 100% ready when I started a family because I knew it was going to be a life-changing experience. Your daddy and I decided when I turned 28 (and 2 years into our marriage) that we were going to try for a baby. We were so happy when we found out that we were going to have you.

You were a great baby even when you were inside my stomach. I never experienced bad nausea and I only craved healthy foods (no junk food!). I also got so many comments from people that I looked great pregnant. I didn't gain an obscene amount of weight and my skin was clear. I do remember that you were an active baby because you loved kicking mommy- especially the right side of my belly, just below my rib cage!
Even my labour was good. I went into labour at 9am in the morning, but it was only the early phase of labour so I didn't really feel that much pain. The real pain started around 4:30pm when I was in the active phase of labour. BTW, did I tell you that your daddy wasn't there for most of this time? That's another story!
Anyways, once I got the epidural everything was smooth sailing. You came into this world at 1:14am on Monday July 20, 2009 at a healthy 7lbs 3oz. Even to this day I cannot believe you were inside my stomach. Every day I look at you you are changing. I can't wait to discover what your personality will be like, who you will sound like, what your likes/dislikes will be, etc.

I just want to say that you are my precious boy and I love you so much. I can't wait to get to know you more.