At AJ's 4 month well-baby checkup he was:
26 inches long
14 pounds 12 oz
He is growing well & proportioned nicely. :)
We were just at the doctor again (nothing wrong) and he weighed about 15 lbs 10 oz, so he's well on his way to 16 lbs close to 5 months and probably 17 lbs and some by the time he's 6 months old.
At his checkup he could (but wouldn't) roll over from his tummy. He was getting up on his elbows but not all the way to his hands like a push-up. As of writing this, he can roll both directions but often doesn't. One day he rolled about 4 times tummy-back-tummy-back in order to get somewhere but then he'll go days and days of seeming to forget this ability. He'll just lie where he is & yell for someone to turn him over!
He is bonding and forming relationships now. Nina almost always accompanies me to get him up from his naps. He brightens up when he sees us and seems to look forward to her kisses now. Both she & Will are very affectionate. I still have to watch Nina when she's near AJ because she likes to wear "princess shoes" and I'm afraid of her accidentally stepping on him, which would hurt!
We had AJ's 3 month portrait done, even though he was 4 months at the time. They turned out very nicely but I don't have anything digital to post here. AJ is also quite the Seahawks and football fan. He really enjoys watching with Daddy.
AJ & I are headed to San Diego for 6 days later this month to visit Danielle & her family (for AJ that means Baby Katherine!) We will be home for a few days, then go to Spokane with Nina & Will to visit my family.
Aaron is growing and maturing so nicely. He still doesn't sit up on his own but neither did William so I'm not worried. He has a beautiful baby laugh and sweet little light brown hair. He is such a joy to have around. He is still waking up twice a night: midnight and 4 am to be exact. But he moved his bedtime earlier so now he sleeps from about 8 pm to 12, then 12-4 am, 4-7am - roughly! If I forget to change his diaper he will wake up much earlier after his 4 am feeding.
We recently (just AJ & myself) went on a little scrapbook retreat with my friend Amy and her daughter Alanna. Alanna is just 2 weeks older than Aaron. We got a hotel room, played with babies and scrapbooked whenever they were sleeping. They had opposite nap schedules but we still got quite a lot done.
Aaron James was dedicated at our church on October 7th. My parents and my mom's parents came from Spokane, and all of David's siblings and his parents were there. We were glad to be surrounded by family. I have pictures but they will be uploaded to Flickr, I'll put a link in the sidebar. I think we're caught up and just in time for the holidays and Aaron's 6 month checkup coming in December!
November 4, 2007
September 7, 2007
3 months
Wow he's big! I'll guess he's about 13 pounds now and is wearing 3-6 month size clothes, and size 2 diapers. He really is a fastastic little guy. He's so happy & smiley most of the time. He is talking more and laughing at David or me a lot. Nina still kisses him more than he wants to be kissed. He turns his head away when he sees her coming. :) Aaron still doesn't roll either way yet but he likes to swing his legs back and forth when he's on his back. He is enjoying tummy time more all the time, but we don't do it a lot - it's just not safe most of the day. All of a sudden he enjoys a particular toy that Will enjoyed at the same age. He lays under it and bats at toys while it pays music and lights change. It's nice that there's something that can engage him at this level. He also enjoys watching football! We sent out birth announcements to all the family we rarely see (see first post). Now it's time to schedule 3 month photos. I'm hoping to get a group shot of all 3 kids. I've tried & tried at home but someone is always moving or running away. I guess we need 3 sets of hands to do this. Our old neighbors are in town and Aaron got to meet Baby Katherine. Danielle & I were pregnant at the same time, and our due dates were just 3 days apart. The babies were born 2 weeks apart! Danielle was induced in late May and of course I was still pregnant well into June. :) There are family pictures on the xanga blog: http://www.xanga.com/nickieroo. And I'll post more pictures here in a day or two.
2 month stats
Since I forgot & he's nearly 3 months old now...
His 2 month checkup went fine. He got all the shots & did just fine with them. A little sleepy but no tenderness (tetanus) and no fever or other reactions.
24 inches long
12 lbs 3 oz
His head is a little big, but still in proportion to the rest of his body. I don't have his percentiles handy, but I'll edit them in when I find them.
His 2 month checkup went fine. He got all the shots & did just fine with them. A little sleepy but no tenderness (tetanus) and no fever or other reactions.
24 inches long
12 lbs 3 oz
His head is a little big, but still in proportion to the rest of his body. I don't have his percentiles handy, but I'll edit them in when I find them.
July 25, 2007
Welcome and AJ's birth story
Welcome to my new blog - dedicated to all things AJ!
Aaron (AJ on this blog) is our third child, little brother to Will & Nina who will often be referred to as Buddy Man and Gracie Girl. Their blogs are linked on the side. Mama does all the writing and Daddy likes to read the stories here. Usually I will post milestone news, growth news and of course doctor's appointment news. And not for the faint of heart (but definitely for natural childbirth aficionados!) I will begin with AJ's birth story...
I have to start with the way I planned it. My second birth was so easy & seemed to be a good and convenient way to go, so I planned and expected something similar to happen the third time. I planned for a middle of the night labor, around 5 hours or less and having the baby before breakfast. The kids would sleep right through it; Grandpa would come over to make them breakfast; all phone calls would be made when people were awake. God definitely had other plans. His plans were much better than mine!
I was 10 days late. June 10th, 2 am I began having good strong contractions that were about 15 minutes apart. Compared to my second labor, I figured I’d have this baby by morning and should get ready. After updating my blogs, getting out my ball, the music and setting up to time, all contractions stopped. I went back to bed and the contractions resumed. I waited and tried to sleep in between. They were definitely good labor contractions but not getting any closer. They even got further apart and I got nearly an hour of sleep at one point.
In the morning David took the kids to church and my mom and I tried walking. We walked all the way around the neighborhood without one contraction. We were slightly worried that this non-pattern was due to Aaron’s position, so I spent some time on hands and knees in the shower and later lounging across the birth ball. Pretty soon he was definitely in his usual position (back to my right, hands and feet on my left). Anytime I lay down, the contractions came back. But still, never more than 15 minutes apart. The kids came home from church and I called my midwife. She said I had a few options. 1) Come in to her office, get an exam and see if we can stir something up; 2) wait until tomorrow’s appointment, then the same thing; 3) or try castor oil. After David & I talked, we made arrangements to go see Nancy (the midwife) that afternoon. None of this was the way I planned it. It all seemed so inconvenient. It bothered me more than this was not “ideal” or “my plan” than what was going on with my body!
We got to her office at 4 pm. I had only one or two contractions on the drive out there. A very thorough exam showed I was dilated to 4, which was a surprise. I really expected to hear 2 or worse! Since I am GBS+, Nancy started an antibiotic drip and hooked me up to the monitor to see what kind of pattern (if any) my contractions were in. David and I chatted and the contractions began. 10 minutes, 9 minutes, 8 minutes…. Nancy assured David we would have this baby today, definitely before midnight. He began making the phone calls to all the family, making sure the kids were going to his parents; his sister was coming to help coach, etc. I really didn’t believe either of them. Nancy even mentioned that we could have this baby around 8 but I didn’t believe that either.
It is a 45 minute drive from my midwife’s office back to our house. I drove with her and David drove our car. I had 3 or 4 contractions while in transit, a very hard one happening right at the last two turns. I had to whisper the last directions – “second right…. Yellow house.” David had made it home before us and already had everything going. Everyone was there, another thing I did not plan on. But our bed was prepped and ready, the kids were well distracted and I needed a LOT of help to get in the house.
We arrived at our house at 6 pm. After taking quite a long time (to me) to get upstairs, use the toilet, get undressed & onto the bed, another exam showed I was dilated to 6. Six did not seem to be a lot to me, although last time I was that far we broke my water & I got to push within a few minutes. I lay on my side with David holding my hand and speaking encouragement. Soon I needed my mom to hold up my leg and help me make more room. The contractions were very close together, now maybe 2-3 minutes apart. I could breathe through them, although focusing was difficult. At one point my sister-in-law was getting my music set up and all I could think of was – we don’t have time, it doesn’t matter! I could feel something leaking, and thinking it was urine I didn’t say anything. But it happened with every contraction so after a few times I managed to gasp out “I’m…. leaking….” Ahhh, yes, it wasn’t much but just one more contraction after that and it gave a little gush. Fluid, not urine! Yay! My water has never broken on its own so that was nice to hear. Now the contractions were very intense and I felt better if I pushed a little each time. It was a very strange sensation to push on my side- I’ve always been semi-sitting or lying down at that point. I couldn’t breathe through these, I had to moan and think “down down down, out out out, open open open….” I was very hot, even with the air conditioner going and a fan on my face. David had been feeding me ice chips until this point where I was just spitting them back out again.
Now I began saying things that one usually says in transition! “Why won’t he come out? Where is he? I’m pushing! Stop! Up! No!” Everything was short but very forceful. My mom was exhausted from holding up one leg but I couldn’t have her move it much, my hip was on the verge of cramping. My sister-in-law joked that she offered to help but was afraid if I opened my eyes to see both of them doing it wrong they were in big trouble. I felt the ring of fire and knew the end was near, but it seemed he was going back up and I was closing in between contractions. That was so frustrating! Soon (time is very relative here) my midwife encouraged me to roll over just a little and all of a sudden we were in birthing mode. She offered to let David catch but I was way too focused on him and his presence near my head so I told him no. My mom had one leg, my sister-in-law had the other and my midwife told me to hold my breath and push. Of course (like previous times) I had trouble controlling my legs and making them become wide enough to be productive. I need all the help I can get with those things! At the next contraction I do as I’m told – hold my breath, no screaming, no moaning, just push hard. Pushing hard made the ring of fire even more so, but then someone says “he’s there!” Oh man, I needed to hear that! I continue the push (same one) and his head is out. One more push and here’s his body. I was in shock and began crying uncontrollably.
It was now 7:05 pm. I had been home for one hour. Aaron James was born with two pushes. He weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. He was my shortest labor, my shortest pushing and my smallest baby. David didn’t get to catch, but he still cut the umbilical cord. The placenta was delivered maybe 5 minutes later; it was very swollen and felt as big as Aaron’s head! But everything was perfect. Aaron was pink right from the beginning, a beautiful cry, there was meconium staining but he had no issues with that at all. He has light brown hair, which may turn blonde, but it may get darker, we’ll have to see.
Everything went better than I planned. Yes it was hard to have such a short active labor and I was in transition after just 15-20 minutes of getting home. But having so much family around wasn’t chaotic or loud as I had imagined. My kids got to come in and meet the baby as soon as I was cleaned up. Having a baby in the evening meant he was still sleepy at our bedtime and slept off and on pretty much the whole night. The kids ended up going to my in-laws to spend the night. Since my water broke on it’s own I feel like my labor was more productive and even when the contractions were on top of each other, I knew they were doing something. And how can I argue with only two pushes and no tearing?
That’s Aaron’s birth story. Now he is 6 weeks old and is doing great. He got his days and nights worked out within the first few days. He has a great sucking reflex and brought my milk in at the end of the second day. He regained his birthweight by the 4th day and gained a pound week for a while. AJ even weighed 11 lbs 6 oz at his six week checkup! He has a sweet nature and is much more mellow than the other kids. We have had no colic issues (although I avoid dairy and chocolate) and he doesn't even fight burps or hiccups. We are so wonderfully blessed by God with this little boy!
Aaron (AJ on this blog) is our third child, little brother to Will & Nina who will often be referred to as Buddy Man and Gracie Girl. Their blogs are linked on the side. Mama does all the writing and Daddy likes to read the stories here. Usually I will post milestone news, growth news and of course doctor's appointment news. And not for the faint of heart (but definitely for natural childbirth aficionados!) I will begin with AJ's birth story...
I have to start with the way I planned it. My second birth was so easy & seemed to be a good and convenient way to go, so I planned and expected something similar to happen the third time. I planned for a middle of the night labor, around 5 hours or less and having the baby before breakfast. The kids would sleep right through it; Grandpa would come over to make them breakfast; all phone calls would be made when people were awake. God definitely had other plans. His plans were much better than mine!
I was 10 days late. June 10th, 2 am I began having good strong contractions that were about 15 minutes apart. Compared to my second labor, I figured I’d have this baby by morning and should get ready. After updating my blogs, getting out my ball, the music and setting up to time, all contractions stopped. I went back to bed and the contractions resumed. I waited and tried to sleep in between. They were definitely good labor contractions but not getting any closer. They even got further apart and I got nearly an hour of sleep at one point.
In the morning David took the kids to church and my mom and I tried walking. We walked all the way around the neighborhood without one contraction. We were slightly worried that this non-pattern was due to Aaron’s position, so I spent some time on hands and knees in the shower and later lounging across the birth ball. Pretty soon he was definitely in his usual position (back to my right, hands and feet on my left). Anytime I lay down, the contractions came back. But still, never more than 15 minutes apart. The kids came home from church and I called my midwife. She said I had a few options. 1) Come in to her office, get an exam and see if we can stir something up; 2) wait until tomorrow’s appointment, then the same thing; 3) or try castor oil. After David & I talked, we made arrangements to go see Nancy (the midwife) that afternoon. None of this was the way I planned it. It all seemed so inconvenient. It bothered me more than this was not “ideal” or “my plan” than what was going on with my body!
We got to her office at 4 pm. I had only one or two contractions on the drive out there. A very thorough exam showed I was dilated to 4, which was a surprise. I really expected to hear 2 or worse! Since I am GBS+, Nancy started an antibiotic drip and hooked me up to the monitor to see what kind of pattern (if any) my contractions were in. David and I chatted and the contractions began. 10 minutes, 9 minutes, 8 minutes…. Nancy assured David we would have this baby today, definitely before midnight. He began making the phone calls to all the family, making sure the kids were going to his parents; his sister was coming to help coach, etc. I really didn’t believe either of them. Nancy even mentioned that we could have this baby around 8 but I didn’t believe that either.
It is a 45 minute drive from my midwife’s office back to our house. I drove with her and David drove our car. I had 3 or 4 contractions while in transit, a very hard one happening right at the last two turns. I had to whisper the last directions – “second right…. Yellow house.” David had made it home before us and already had everything going. Everyone was there, another thing I did not plan on. But our bed was prepped and ready, the kids were well distracted and I needed a LOT of help to get in the house.
We arrived at our house at 6 pm. After taking quite a long time (to me) to get upstairs, use the toilet, get undressed & onto the bed, another exam showed I was dilated to 6. Six did not seem to be a lot to me, although last time I was that far we broke my water & I got to push within a few minutes. I lay on my side with David holding my hand and speaking encouragement. Soon I needed my mom to hold up my leg and help me make more room. The contractions were very close together, now maybe 2-3 minutes apart. I could breathe through them, although focusing was difficult. At one point my sister-in-law was getting my music set up and all I could think of was – we don’t have time, it doesn’t matter! I could feel something leaking, and thinking it was urine I didn’t say anything. But it happened with every contraction so after a few times I managed to gasp out “I’m…. leaking….” Ahhh, yes, it wasn’t much but just one more contraction after that and it gave a little gush. Fluid, not urine! Yay! My water has never broken on its own so that was nice to hear. Now the contractions were very intense and I felt better if I pushed a little each time. It was a very strange sensation to push on my side- I’ve always been semi-sitting or lying down at that point. I couldn’t breathe through these, I had to moan and think “down down down, out out out, open open open….” I was very hot, even with the air conditioner going and a fan on my face. David had been feeding me ice chips until this point where I was just spitting them back out again.
Now I began saying things that one usually says in transition! “Why won’t he come out? Where is he? I’m pushing! Stop! Up! No!” Everything was short but very forceful. My mom was exhausted from holding up one leg but I couldn’t have her move it much, my hip was on the verge of cramping. My sister-in-law joked that she offered to help but was afraid if I opened my eyes to see both of them doing it wrong they were in big trouble. I felt the ring of fire and knew the end was near, but it seemed he was going back up and I was closing in between contractions. That was so frustrating! Soon (time is very relative here) my midwife encouraged me to roll over just a little and all of a sudden we were in birthing mode. She offered to let David catch but I was way too focused on him and his presence near my head so I told him no. My mom had one leg, my sister-in-law had the other and my midwife told me to hold my breath and push. Of course (like previous times) I had trouble controlling my legs and making them become wide enough to be productive. I need all the help I can get with those things! At the next contraction I do as I’m told – hold my breath, no screaming, no moaning, just push hard. Pushing hard made the ring of fire even more so, but then someone says “he’s there!” Oh man, I needed to hear that! I continue the push (same one) and his head is out. One more push and here’s his body. I was in shock and began crying uncontrollably.
It was now 7:05 pm. I had been home for one hour. Aaron James was born with two pushes. He weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. He was my shortest labor, my shortest pushing and my smallest baby. David didn’t get to catch, but he still cut the umbilical cord. The placenta was delivered maybe 5 minutes later; it was very swollen and felt as big as Aaron’s head! But everything was perfect. Aaron was pink right from the beginning, a beautiful cry, there was meconium staining but he had no issues with that at all. He has light brown hair, which may turn blonde, but it may get darker, we’ll have to see.
Everything went better than I planned. Yes it was hard to have such a short active labor and I was in transition after just 15-20 minutes of getting home. But having so much family around wasn’t chaotic or loud as I had imagined. My kids got to come in and meet the baby as soon as I was cleaned up. Having a baby in the evening meant he was still sleepy at our bedtime and slept off and on pretty much the whole night. The kids ended up going to my in-laws to spend the night. Since my water broke on it’s own I feel like my labor was more productive and even when the contractions were on top of each other, I knew they were doing something. And how can I argue with only two pushes and no tearing?
That’s Aaron’s birth story. Now he is 6 weeks old and is doing great. He got his days and nights worked out within the first few days. He has a great sucking reflex and brought my milk in at the end of the second day. He regained his birthweight by the 4th day and gained a pound week for a while. AJ even weighed 11 lbs 6 oz at his six week checkup! He has a sweet nature and is much more mellow than the other kids. We have had no colic issues (although I avoid dairy and chocolate) and he doesn't even fight burps or hiccups. We are so wonderfully blessed by God with this little boy!
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