5 Weeks and Counting!

Aiden had his one month well-baby visit and clocked in at 8 pounds 2.5 ounces and 22 inches. It's hard to believe that my 5 pounder has grown so much in just a couple of weeks! He is definitely becoming more and more alert every day.... I think I even got a non-gas-related smile the other day! Tummy time is definitely proving to be beneficial, his head control is getting better and better.

On Wednesday of this past week I finally did it... I ventured out alone with baby in tow. I have to admit, I was pretty proud of myself! The plan was to hit Babies R Us to return a couple of items and then come straight home, but it went so well

that we decided to window shop at the mall for an hour or so. Granted I didn't have to change him or feed him while we were out, I made sure those things were dealt with before we left home, so I'll need to start going out more for longer stretches of time... but hey, it's a start!!

I'm absolutely loving Mommy-Duty; it's absolutely amazing to look at Aiden and remember that he was in my belly just over a month ago... crazy! I'm getting better and better with our day time routine and have started integrating daily activities for Aiden and

Mommy. We do tummy time, read short stories, have conversations about colors and count fingers and toes. I've even started multitasking Aiden-time with house chores! Vic and I started a new night time routine, which is so far proving to be much better than what we were doing before. Acclimating Aiden to day and night is a good thing. =)

Fridays have become Uncle Brian's day. It's been nice having my brother come over every week to spend time with me and Aiden. He's definitely getting the hang of caring for a newborn and we've even set up his first babysitting gig... that should be interesting! But I have faith!

So for all you Daddys out there: a question. When your little one was first born, sleeping in your room, were you able to wake up to their cries at night? I find it absolutely hilarious that Vic does not stir AT ALL when Aiden cries in the middle of the night. He could be screaming bloody murder for a few minutes and Vic is sleeping peacefully away. I asked one of his friends about it, since I am so intrigued by the lack of awareness, and he said that men don't wake up to the baby's cry because they know that the mother is there to take care of him/her... but that it will come eventually. Either way, it's fine... I love the night time help when I can get it, but I cherish those quiet little moments with my little Bugaboo. Now don't get me wrong, functioning on 3-4 hours of nonconsecutive sleep per night is rough, so I am still looking forward to the day when Aiden sleeps through the night.. but until then, this isn't so bad. =)

February 24th was my mom's birthday and I spent the day reflecting. Sometimes I look at Aiden and see my mom in him, which makes me happy and sad at the same time. I think about how wonderful it would have been for my mom to have met him. I can almost see the smile on her face. Since everything happened so quickly, I really haven't had a chance to just miss her and really accept what has happened. I almost still expect to be able to pick up the phone and call her, just to hear her voice and tell her about my day. Now that things are starting to settle down, things are starting to also set in. I had a strange dream the other night about her. I was laying in bed and she crawled in next to me, wrapped her arms around me and asked me "Why did I get Cancer?". I'll never understand that one, Mom.