Friday, June 3, 2011

17 months ...

Okay, so it's been a while since I've blogged.  Well, okay  it's been a looonnnggggg time since I've blogged, been busy ya know?  Keeping up with a now 17 month old is seriously business, and wearing me out!  That's right,  my little Aiden turned 17 months old today! Three months ago today we met him for the first time in Seoul, Korea!  Feels like we've known him for a lot longer than that!

Aiden is doing really really well.  What I thought was a step backward a couple of weeks ago was actually a step forward.  Funny how things look when you're in the thick of it! After weeks of being silent at night,  Aiden started waking up in the middle of the night again, some nights 3-5 times crying.  He also was crying when I'd lay him down in bed at bed time. He hadn't done that in over a month.  I couldn't figure out what was going on.  Some friends mentioned maybe teething, but he didn't show the signs, then maybe I thought it was too much going on in the day time.  I was looking at all possibilities!  Then it dawned on me, he was waking and crying at bedtime because he literally wanted me.  I know that may sound weird to some, but this was a small milestone! He had bonded with me, become attached, however you say it.  That was an awesome revelation.  But wow was it hard!  After realizing this, I changed my routine at night when he cried.  Before hand, I would never go in when Aiden cried.   I could tell the difference in his cries and his cries at night before hand weren't hysterical, oh-my-gosh-come-get-me-now cries.  These new cries were different, maybe a bad dream every now and then, but serious! So I felt the need to change my night time routine a bit. I know they all say routine, routine, routine.  Since I could tell Aiden had changed a bit, I changed too.  When I layed him down at night, he would stand up and cry.  So I'd wait a few minutes, go in his room, lay him down gently, and say nighty-night, pat him on his bottom, rub his back,  and leave.  Each time I did this I'd add a minute, 3 minutes, 4 minutes, 5 minutes! Yeah it was tough, but by the 3rd night, when I'd have to go back in his room, he'd lay down on his own and stop crying.  He really needed that reassurance.  That routine only lasted 4 days, then he was silent at bedtime again.  And he's been silent all night for a long time now.

So after we've been home for almost 3 months now, thought it was about time Aiden had a haircut!  Aiden is really shy around just about everyone, so I had no idea how this would fly!  Long story short he did fine! Had a friend warn about the cape, thanks Brittany! ;) Well,  he sat in my lap, but Malisa ;) was quick and awesome! (and that dum-dum sucker was a big hit!)  I'm not a fan of giving small children candy, especially mine, but this situation called for it! Taylor never had chocolate till she was over 2! Yeah I'm that kind of spastic nut-case mom that doesn't allow her babies candy! I mean what's the point?!

So, here's the new due:





My little Aiden looks like a big boy now with his hair cut. He's such a precious little boy.  I love him more and more everyday.  Here's 17 things I've learned about Aiden in the last 3 months:

1)  we watched him learn to walk

2)  loves to play in water

3)  can say "ta-da" and raise his arms when he does something awesome ;)

4)  loves to be outside

5)  sleeps in his crib in his room at night, for 2 months now

6)  loves to try new foods, and always wants some of what I'm eating

7)  loves to feed himself, of course

8)  hates when his face is covered or has to be wiped off

9)  has the funniest belly laugh

10)  loves his sippy cups

11) loves to drink milk and ice water, likes them both cold

12) loves to throw everything!

13) prefers mama -- of course! ;)

14) loves his sister

15) wants to still be held most of the time, whew!

16) loves to play ball!

17) has developed breathing problems associated to allergies, we are the not so proud owners of a breathing machine :(