Kaylee and Aiden

"Mommy, take my picture with baby Aiden."

"Take another picture Mommy."

"No crying Aiden"
"Kaylee, give him a kiss to make him happy."
"It didn't work Mommy."

1 Month Check Up

Aiden had his 1 month check up today. He now weighs 10 pounds, 12 ounces which means he gained 1 pound in 2 weeks! I was very happy to get that news. He still measures in the 75th percentile for weight and the 90th for height. We saw a new doctor and the first thing he said is that Aiden's Daddy must be really tall. I guess he didn't notice that I am pretty tall too. :-) The doctor gave me some tips on how to handle Aiden's problems with gas which hopefully will help. Otherwise, he got a good report and will go back in 1 month. That is when he will figure out that the doctor's office isn't very fun. As Kaylee and Alyssa can tell him... shots are no fun!

The other big thing going on in the Robles household is that we are trying to get Alyssa to give away the pacifier or "bo-bo" for good this weekend. She only uses it at home but we can see that it is beginning to affect her teeth and she will be 3 years old this summer. We think it is time for her to give it up for good. It probably won't be much fun in our house over the first week or so but we are working on it. She thinks that the "bo-bo fairy" is coming to take the pacifiers to babies who need them and she can pick out a special present. Hopefully that will work!

Hope everyone is doing well.

Riley - 6 Months Old

A little blurry but still adorable!

Big Sisters

2 Week Check Up

Aiden's 2 week check up went well. He weighed 9 pounds, 12 ounces and was 22 inches long, which means he gained back all the weight he had lost in the first few days plus a few ounces. I was glad to hear that since I had been wondering if he was getting enough to eat. He is in the 90th percentile for his height and 75th percentile for his weight. The doc gave him a good report.

The only problems we are experiencing is that he has very fussy periods during the night which the doctor said sounds like colic and he also has a clogged tear duct which means once of his eyes doesn't open as wide and is more swollen than the other. We can hopefully get the eye cleared up but unfortunately colic normally lasts around 3 months so it seems like Mommy may not be getting a very good nights rest for quite some time. :-)

Aiden will go back for another check up at 2 months. That seems so far away but we know it will be here before we know it.

Adjusting

The girls have done great adjusting to a new baby in the house. They pay attention to him when they feel like it and otherwise pretty much ignore that he is in the room. They like to push him in his baby swing, give him kisses on the head, and make sure he is all right when he is sleeping in his bassinet. We do have to give frequent reminders for them to watch out for him when they are running around and we have to teach them that they can't push him high in his infant swing like they do on their swings. Or as Kaylee would say "Baby want to go high to the sky, mommy?" HaHa. Otherwise, they are doing very well.

There were a few funny stories from the first week home. Kaylee didn't really understand that the baby was the same Baby Aiden that was in my belly. With the brutal honesty of a 2 year old she had this to say:

Kaylee: Comes up to kiss my belly
Mommy: "Kaylee, who are you kissing? Baby Aiden is over there... not in mommy's belly anymore."
Kaylee: Looks at my belly and then looks at him and then back and forth a few more times
Mommy: "See, Aiden isn't in my belly anymore."
Kaylee: "Well who is then??"

Thanks sweet girl! She also saw us putting Aiden in his carseat for his 2 week check up and said "Is that baby going home now?" HaHa. Luckily, now she will say she wants to keep her baby brother when asked.

Alyssa has been more into Aiden and likes to watch him. One day he was doing one of his smiles (gas?) but he just happened to do it right when Alyssa came up to talk to him. She loved that and so did Mommy and Grandma. It will be so much fun when they can all 3 play together and when he starts giving us some real smiles to enjoy. Alyssa also likes to share Mommy's business with breastfeeding the baby. She informed the babysitter's husband "my brother drinks milk from mommy's boobies." Nice!

The past weeks have been a bit overwhelming as we struggle to adjust our routine to accommodate a newborn again. It makes me feel guilty that the baby needs so much attention right now. I don't want the girls to feel like I am not giving them the attention they need. I suppose it will get easier as the weeks go on and I learn to balance my time and energy better. It has also been a struggle since Aiden likes to stay up for 2-3 hour stretches at night. The doc seems to think he may be experiencing colic. It isn't so fun for Mommy. I just try to remind myself that this too shall pass. And although I can't believe it at the moment... I know I will miss these days once they are gone.

Overall, we are all doing really well. I will try to post more pics and share more stories soon. Hope everyone is doing well!

Welcome Aiden Alexander

Aiden Alexander Robles was born on April 16th at 12:49pm at Southern Maryland Hospital. He weighed a whooping 9 pounds, 6 ounces and was 22 inches long. Everything went well with both Mommy and Baby.

We brought Aiden home to join the family on April 19th. The girls were a bit unsure about the baby at first but they warm up a bit more each day.

Welcome to the world and to our family Baby Aiden. We love you and are so excited to finally meet you!

Easter

Random Thoughts

• 20 days until the big day!
• I am getting more and more ready every MINUTE!
• I am thankful for the patience of my husband, family, and friends as they listen to my daily complaints and whining (Yes...I am a baby!)
• Today some of my coworkers are celebrating baby Aiden with a burrito (cause we know he loves them!) and cupcake lunch. Can't wait!
• Aiden's nursery area is all set up. I can't get enough of the monkeys.
• Kaylee loves to whisper secrets to the baby. She will come up to my stomach, whisper, give my belly a kiss, and then run off.
• Alyssa is going to be a ballerina. She loves to dress up, twirl around, and show us these ballerina moves that must come natural. She sure hasn't seen mommy do them!
• Listening to the girls demand things, throw temper tantrums, and engage in WWF fighting, is driving me crazy. 2 1/2 year girls are not easy!
• Watching the girls hold hands, call each other "sissy", make up games, create mischief, and laugh together is the best gift in the world and makes me forget all about their "badness."
• Alyssa says that she will not be giving her "bo-bo" (pacifier) to her baby brother but she will share if he is crying. I guess that is a start?
• Kaylee is a master at manipulation already. When she doesn't get her way she doesn't just whine like her sister. Oh no, she puts on the saddest face she can muster and utters "Mommy is mean. You hurt my feewings."
• I forgot to mention that the girls pet "Fishie the Fish" is no more. The poor thing lasted all of 3 days in our home. We can thank 2 very crazy cats for that. When you ask Alyssa where her fishie is she will say "Down the potty playing with his friends." Can you tell I was at a loss on what to tell them?

3 Weeks To Go!

A Message for Baby Aiden

Warning: This is a bit sappy. Blame the pregnancy hormones. :-)

I often sit and wonder how our lives will change when baby Aiden arrives. I imagine that is normal especially in the last few months of pregnancy but it is constantly on my mind the closer I get to the finish line. And, boy do I feel ready for that these days!

I wonder the obvious things like what he will look like, what his personality will be like, and how the girls will adjust to having a little brother. I wonder and worry about not getting enough sleep and about finding a new routine when we are so set in our ways with just the twins. Will we struggle to find a new balance and routine or will he just blend in naturally like he has always been there? These things fly through my mind all the time and the answer is that we just don't know. Only time will tell how we will adjust and accommodate this
new little person into our lives.

But, the one thing that I don't and have never worried about is whether we will have enough love to go around because I know that as a parent... you never run out of love. And, isn't it true that there is no greater love than that of a parent towards their child? At times, it stuns me with the sheer intensity and how just when you think you love them more than you ever could.... you realize that it has grown and expanded once again.

I also know that Aiden will complete our family in a way that we are not even prepared for. It is like you never realize how much you were missing something until it is right there in front of you. And then suddenly there it is and you are totally in awe - simply wondering how you could have gone along so long without it in your life. That is how it was when I first met the twins and I imagine this time around it will be just the same.

I received this baby shower card and it sums up so perfectly what I am thinking and why I am so eager for Baby Aiden to join our family:

One of the sweetest things about welcoming a new baby boy

is learning how you fit together....

The way his sleepy weight

fills your arms so perfectly

and how that place

where neck and shoulder meet

suddenly seems made

for him to snuggle his head into.

But even more than that,

it's discovering just how beautifully

he fits into your life-

how there was always a place

right in the heart of your family

just waiting for this precious boy

to come and fill it with so much love.

Aiden... words can't express how excited I am to meet you and for you to join our family. Most of all, thank you for allowing me to share in this miracle all over again and for the fun adventures I am sure to experience as your mommy.

Love,

Mommy