7 months a go go

June

Hi everyone! Hope you are enjoying your summer. Life sure is good here at my house. I'm seven months old now.... can you believe it? I'm getting to be such a big boy... I'm almost 18 pounds. My mama says I feel like a sack of potatoes.... I like sweet potatoes. I only eat vegetables if they are loaded up with applesauce. I tried green beans once.... I gagged so hard I threw up. Same thing happened with mashed potatoes except those came out of my nose. They were too thick for me. Oh well... Cheerios and cookies are even better! I'm doing so well.

My health is really good. I've been seeing some doctors.... I saw the head doctor and he said that my head is starting to fit better on my body... whatever that means! He said that I'm ahead so much developmentally that he isn't concerned about the size or my "fontanel" I didn't need a head CT this time which was kind of a bummer since I wanted to see the new scanner at the new hospital. Wow that place is great. Too bad it wasn't there when I had my surgery... momma and dadda would have had a real nice place to stay. It's so colorful and bright... there's something to look at and touch everywhere you go. I still have to see the snip snip doctor next week.... I don't want to talk about it.

Look - there's Denver.

Speaking of touching things... I've found all kinds of things to touch in our house. It's really fun too. You see... I learned to crawl a few weeks ago and the world is a more interesting place now that I'm mobile. I'm everywhere. Mommy's been really busy running around putting plastic things in holes in the walls and daddy's putting gates up everywhere. Not sure what all the fuss is about. They seem to get jumpy a lot too... like what's the big deal if I suck on Denver's ball or play in his dog food bowl? He IS my brother. I love to dump his water... that's fun. Oh... and I got a pool. It's not an in-ground or anything... it's just 3-4 inches deep but it's perfect for me. I have a tug boat with little fish that I play with. I wish mommy would lay off the sunscreen though... geez!

Crawling is fun and and all but standing is even better.... the problem is that my legs are a little like jello and I topple over a lot. Hard wood floors are pretty but not soft :( I do better walking while holding someone's fingers. The thing is.... I just can't get enough of Denver. I just love my older brother! I try to follow him everywhere. He seems a little annoyed with me. Not sure why. The other day... he was so mad at me that he peed on my toys! Can you believe that? I think mommy should make him wear a diaper too! Daddy says he's just jealous. I dont understand why... he even gets to sleep in bed with mommy and daddy! I have my own room. I like to pull up and stand in my crib. I can see Denver from there.

I've been doing lots of fun stuff with mommy and daddy. We've been to the park, the store, the mall, birthday parties, the lake, hiking, biking and even to the zoo! I loved the zoo. My favorite part was the fishies. I like when they swim past my face. Mommy thought maybe I'd like to have my own fish at home so she bought me a Betta. I got to name him. I call him "Ba". He's red. Daddy and Pappy put up a swing in our back yard and I love to fall asleep out there going back and forth.

Wait..... there's Denver again..... oh... he makes me giggle. OK... back on track. So life is good... I'm having tons of fun. I have an ear infection though and that stinks. My ear hurts a lot. I'm on biotics for 10 days! Yuk more medicine.

Ok everyone... see you next month!

Lots of Love and kisses!

Sushibye and goodnight!

xo

Aiden

Moving right along!

May

Hi everyone... Aiden is 6 months old already... Can you believe it? We remember asking the surgeon if we were really going to get to take him home and now he's been here half a year!

He brings so much joy to our day... we do nothing but smile and laugh around him. He's really developed quite the little personality. He's such a ham and smiling ALL the time. He's a real little talker too. He's saying Mama and Dada but not to either of us specifically... but he does yell MAAAAMAAA when he's crying. He's even so adorable when he cries.... big crocodile tears... and a turned down bottom lip... we just can't get enough of him.

Things are going well in the Curry household. We're very excited for the warm weather. Aiden's been out in the yard... playing on blankets... out for walks. Today mama even cut the grass with Aiden in his baby bjorn. It was a workout! As soon as we can find a little helmet we're heading to the bike trails with the trailer a friend gave us.... (thanks Jim and Chris!)

I've (Kimberly) returned to school for one last semester and it's just a practicum... so I go to work one extra day and follow an advanced practice nurse around and don't get paid for it :( I take my comprehensive exam for graduation on Friday the 29th. I'm trying to study but I'm just not motivated.... there's so much more to life than school. It's essay and I'm usually pretty good at BS-ing my way through a narrative. It's hard being away from Aiden 4 days a week. Thank god for family and friends.... they've got all 4 days covered and Aiden is in the best hands I could ever ask for.;

Jeff's been busy with work.... demanding projects at Fed Ex. He's also training for the MS 150. He's biking several times a week to get in tip top shape... as if he isn't already :) He's been doing lots of yard work and outside stuff...enjoying the weather. And of course... he's faithfully following the Penguins. GO PENS!

As far as Aiden goes... his health couldn't be better... no problems... We go back to the cardiologist in July. We see the neurosurgeon in June... Aiden's head is in the 90th percentile (like his dads) and his fontanel is still big... he'll probably have another CT scan. That's ok though... he loved the last one... and the scanner at the new Children's Hospital is probably even more fun. We made an appointment with the urologist.... snip... snip. He didn't get circumsized due to all the surgical stuff going on at birth. Poor little thing (no pun intended)!

Aiden is developing really well too. The developmental specialist says that he has hit all the 6 and 7 month markers and is quite ahead. He's playing with lots of toys.... talking... sitting up unassisted.... eating... even feeding himself with the spoon every so often. He HATES vegetables... unless they are dunked in fruit. He's even eating cookies. Aiden is rolling over and starting to get into the all fours position and rocking back and forth... pretty soon - he'll be crawling. We need to baby-proof the house!

Bedtime is usually between 830 and 9pm. Thank goodness... he's sleeping all night. He wakes for a morning bottle around 6am but goes back to sleep until about 9. We're blessed and well rested ...well, sometimes :).

Well... we'll be posting again next month with lots of good things to report!

Take care everyone!

xoxo

Kimberly, Jeff and Aiden

I found my feet!

April

Hey there everyone! How are you? I'm doing super duper! This month has been lots of fun... I'm getting kinda coordinated with my hands and then one day a few weeks ago... the best thing happened.... I found my feet! They are the best thing ever! My mommy and daddy make the funniest faces when I suck on them but I think they taste so good. I've also discovered how to shake my head "no no", how to do "big boy" and how to stand on my feet with mommy and daddy's help. My favorite thing to do is to jump in my doorway jumpster. It's like a bungie cord for babies. It's helping me to build real strong muscles in my legs. You can see me in it if you click on the picture.

Eating is getting funner too. I'm trying lots of different foods but my favorite so far is apples, banans and pears with cinnamon. Cherries are only ok and I didn't really like avacado... I love to sit in my high chair and bang on things while I wait for dinner. I'm still drinking mommy's milk but she says she's counting the days to six months... not sure what that means. I'm going to bed so good now too... I get to na na around 9:30 which is much better for mommy and daddy then 11pm. Now mommy has some time to do mommy stuff. I usually sleep through the night but mommy says I'm teething so sometimes I wake up screaming and she rubs my gums with this cherry stuff that makes your mouth tingle.

We've been out hiking a few times and one of mommy and daddy's friends brought over a cool little carriage that connects to daddy's bike and as soon as I can sit unsupported (which won't be long)... I"m hitting the trail! There's even room for Denver to sit next to me. The weather's been real nice and I like to go for walks in my stroller. I've been on a few field trips. I went to the Burgettstown Elementary school.... where Aunt Misa works. It was so fun because everyone made a big deal over me. All of Aunt Misa's friends say " I washed" and throw their hands in the air... I guess it's the way teachers say hello... not sure but mommy smiled every time. Aunt Misa has a big black chair in her office.... I sat in it and pretended to be the head of the class. This guy named Pic was real nice to me. Mommy said he's my biggest fan :) He was funny.

I went to this thing called Easter.. it had something to do with baby Jesus maybe... anyway... he and this bunny are pretty famous on this day. Bcause of them... I got tons of presents! Maybe one day - I'll understand why. I got some really cool sneakers and even a pair of baby crocs. My daddy has big boy crocs... we're going to wear them on the same day. We'll be twinkies! I'm doing really good in church. I figure I owe the big guy one... so I'll try not to be too rambunctious! I try not to babble there very much but I'm usually good for one big "MAMA" sometime during the hour.

I also went to my pappy's new barn and got to sit on a big green tractor just like the one in my book that mommy and daddy read to me. I love to read. I get super attentive and excited over the stories. Auntie Misa and Uncle Rob bought me lots of books to read for Easter.

One of the best things that happened this month is Grammy C moved back! Yippeee. She's right over the hill from us. I get to see her all the time now. Life is good. Mommy goes back to school for one last semester starting in May and daddy won't be working from home anymore and I'll miss them...but the flip side is that I'll be spending more time with Granny C and some of mommy's friends are going to help watch me. Yeah,,.. I got people.

Well - time to go. Gotta get in my jammies and babble for about a half hour... read a book or two, stare at Denver for a while and then bottle and na na for me! Off to sushibye land.

Take care everyone.... Sushibye and Goodnight!

xo

AC

Apples for Aiden

March

Well, It's official... I'm finally a big boy! No more newborn nonsense! I'm having so much fun with my mommy and daddy that I can hardly control myself... Life is good here at my house. I feel like a rock star. It seems like I get pampered all the time. There's lots of people coming to see me and everyone wants to play and smile and giggle. I smile back all the time... my daddy says I have my mommy's smile. I don't have her teeth yet though.... I don't have any teeth at all... but I like to chew on everything I can get my little hands on.

I'm going to bed around 10 or 11 at night and I sleep until 7 or 8 in the morning. When I wake up... I'm so happy to be in my room that I babble and giggle until someone comes in to get me. I still love my changing station the most though. I've learned how to grab my beads of courage and sometimes I kick the mirrors off the wall. I constantly dance around kicking my legs... my Auntie Melissa says I look just like Michael Flatley (irish step dancer... Lord of the Dance?). My middle name IS Michael :) Mommy... are we Irish? My Grammy H. tells me every day... "You're such a pleasant baby"... not sure what other babies are doing but how can I NOT be pleasant with all the amenities I get 24 hours a day!

I'm eating now.... It's really fun... I've had apples, sweet potatoes, pears, carrots, and bananas. Mommy steams real food and puts it in the processor. I love to sit in my highchair and eat. Daddy took a video of me... you can see it when you click on the picture. Mommy also gave me a pot lid one night and I had fun playing the drums like a real rock star... I get very focused. You can see that video too.

I'm going outside a lot now... for walks and hikes. Today we took a hike with Auntie Jill and Jay. It was so much fun.... I kept squealing the whole time. I like to listen to my voice when I'm outside. She's got a baby in her tummy you know. My official first coursin. Oh... and I'm getting lots of exercise in my Baby Einstein activity center.... It's like a spaceship. I sit in there and music plays and I bounce up and down.... pretending like I'm shooting off into space. I laugh and laugh. There's lots of gadgets and toys to play with.

I haven't had to go to any special doctors and mommy says I'm just a regular baby now... but she whispers in my ear that I'll always be special. I agree. My grammy C. is moving here real soon and I can't wait to see her. My Auntie Melissa visits me too. Pappy H. is funny.... I think he was nervous to hold me when I was a newborn.... he's learning how to speak babytalk and it's pretty cute. I'm learning how to speak spanish when I watch baby TV and "Hola Bebe" comes on. Reading is lots of fun too.... I get super excited to read a book..... I like to suck on the pages. The pictures are really cool.

Well - I've got to go play. I turned over twice on my own and everyone thought it was a big deal. These people are so easy to please.

TTYL!

Aiden

Hi Everyone I'm 3 Months Old!

February

I'm doing really well everybody! Thanks to all of mommy and daddy's friends and families who are cheering and praying for me! I've really made quite the recovery. You should see my scar... it's fading fast. Can you believe that I'm three months old? I weigh 13 pounds and am 25 inches long. I'm going to be tall and lean like my daddy. Me and him are gonna eat my mommy right out of the house! I'm drinking 5.5 ounces of mommy milk every 3 hours during the day and sleeping about 6-7 continuous hours a night. Everyone tells mommy that she and daddy are really lucky.... not sure why... I love sleeping in my room. When I wake up... I coo and giggle and smile like crazy. I'm just so happy to be here.

I started playing with lots of toys. My rings are my favorite thing to play with. I shove everything I can into my mouth. I can hold things with both hands and transfer from one to the other. I still love my binky but not as much... usually when I get sleepy and in the car. I got some cool new blue ones that are a litle harder to bite on. I'm having lots of fun on my tummy too. You should see how high I can hold my head up. I've even rolled over twice from tummy to back. I'm talking to mommy and daddy a lot too. I love making new sounds and everyone smiles and laughs when I talk so I try to talk more and more every day. This week I learned to squeal at the top of my lungs which seems to get everyone's attention. I love to do that over and over when daddy is watching sports on TV.

Grammy H. is watching me 2 days a week. I have so much fun with her because she plays with me for 8 hours straight. I love her so much. Grammy C came to see me last weekend too and babysat me for a day. I love Grammy C... she's so cuddly. I miss her and can't wait till she moves back here.

Auntie Melissa is busy taking lots of pictures of me. Mommy says she like the paparazzi... I can't say that word yet! It sounds fun though. Auntie Jill's got a big belly and I might go to visit her and baby J soon. Mommy and Daddy have some friends who are getting big bellies too. That's great coz I'll have lots of friends to play with almost the same age as me. I had a play date with Cooper this weekend too. We mostly slept though. It was nice.

As far as my heart goes... I don't have to go back to the doctor until June! My heart is doing so good. I saw a doctor about my head.... my soft spot is big and my head is a little big too.... but I take after daddy.... I had a CT scan and everything worked out fine. I just have to see this doctor every 4 months until my head gets hard I guess. Mommy cried when she found out that I needed a scan but once she saw how much I loved it.. she laughed. They swaddled me real tight and the room was dark with big lava lamps. A huge mermaid came out of the scanner and a big TV played ELMO inside the machine. I smiled the whole time. I think that made mommy feel better. Mommy and Daddy say I still have to get pee pee surgery.... that's the next thing but I don't want to even think about that :)

I saw my developmental specialist this week. Daddy attached a picture of her. She sees me every 3 months since I was in the ICU and it's a federal program mommy enrolled me in. She says "another person keeping a close eye on you is a good thing". Mommy is smart. Rose my specialist is nice. I can't believe she gets paid for the visits though.... all we do is sit on the floor and play. I want her job when I grow up.

Mommy and Daddy are doing good. They seem more rested these days and we are having so much fun every day playing. Denver is still right next to me everywhere I go. I love him too.

Well, I'm going to go to bed soon.... I got a bath tonight and loved it. I'm finally getting the hang of it. Mommy and Daddy give me toys to play with. Life is good.... Mommy and Daddy know how blessed we all are.

I love all of you! Thanks for your thoughts and prayers..

Aiden Michael

Returning to Work :(

January

Twelve weeks have gone by really fast. Unfortunately - I will return to work next week. I'm sad to leave Aiden 3 days a week but it will be nice to get back to normal. I do miss the people who I work with and the sense of purpose that comes with my job. I'm grateful that I'll be able to return 3 days a week and share the position with another educator so that the unit is covered five days a week. Jeff is still working at FedEx and is doing well. He went skiing the other day to get "out of the house" and enjoy his favorite passion. He and I both enjoy the outdoors and it's been a little rough being held captive in our house these last 3 months.... but we wouldn't have it any other way :)

Aiden is doing so well. He is 11 weeks old and weighs 12 pounds and is 24.5 inches long. He is gaining weight nicely. He's a little finicky with bottle time but we've got some tricks up our sleeves to get him to take the volume he needs. He's being followed by a developmental specialist (courtesy of a federal program for all "at risk" babies) and she states that he is progressing nicely. He's right on target for all developmental milestones. He does loathe tummy time though and is a little weak in the upper extremities. This probably comes from the fact that we didn't put him on his belly for obvious reasons until the second month. He's sitting up with support and loves to sit on the couch like a big boy with mommy and daddy. He is also full of lots of baby talk. He loves to make new noises and wiggle around. The bouncer is his favorite place to be and he loves to smile. If you smile at him, he raises his shoulders and flashes a smile back that will melt your heart. He's holding on to rings and rattles and absolutely loves to watch baby tv and music concerts that his dad records. Currently, his favorite band is Dashboard Confessional. He bounces up and down when the songs are upbeat. It's so cute to watch.

Aiden is being followed by his pediatrician closely and his cardiologist. But we don't have to return to the heart doctor for another 6 months. At that point she's going to discontinue his medication since he will have outgrown his dosage and won't need it at that point. His echo this week showed good heart function and good valvular function. He does have a trivial amount of leaking from his aortic valve but the doctor did not seem concerned. We are hoping that it will go away on it's own as Aiden grows.

This week we saw a neurosurgeon to have Aiden's anterior fontanel (soft spot) evaluated. It's quite large and irregular. The surgeon said that it's not uncommon to have a large fontanel and Aiden's head is a little on the larger side... he's in the 75th percentile. He did however want to do a head CT to make sure that there isn't excess fluid around the brain. Luckily this issue is probably familial as the surgeon found that the size of Jeff's head is larger than normal. One less thing to be concerned about would be great!

Aiden is sporting lots of Steeler attire these days. He's a true fan already. He's looking forward to the Super Bowl... he has a Steeler Onsie hanging on the wall in his nursery and a football in his crib.

We'll update the blog next month. Hope everyone is doing well. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. We are so blessed.

Love,

Kimberly, Jeff and Aiden

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Pre-Christmas

Christmas

Wow.... can you believe that I'm 7 weeks old already? Time is flying by so fast. My mommy is upset because her maternity leave is more than half over. She says that she'll have a hard time leaving me to go back to work. She says it's because I'm so cute....I dunno :)

I"m doing really well everyone! Thanks for all of your prayers. Last week I weighed 10 pounds and 4 ounces. I'm in the 50th percentile for everything except for height.... I'm the 70th percentile for that. Maybe I'll take after my dad and be 6 foot 4! I already have his blonde hair and blue eyes. I'm having fun meeting all of my Aunts and Uncles and Grandparents.... even some of my mommy and daddy's friends have stopped by to visit. It seems like I get a present everytime I see a new face. Sometimes I even get gifts from people that my mommy and daddy really don't even know! My mommy says we are blessed. I just know that I have a kick bottom wardrobe. Everyone takes my picture everywhere I go. I've heard stories about the paparazzi but these people seem really nice. Sometimes I smile for them... sometimes I pout. It depends on what's in my diaper at the time. :)

Christmas was fun... more clothes and some toys. I got 2 cool gyms to work out in... I want to be just like my dad and be big and strong. I also got lots of books. Some of them make sounds. My mommy and daddy read to me every night in my tripped out room. I love to lay there and look at all the colors and shapes. My favorite time is when my mommy turns on the disco ball and sings and dances around the room with me.

I'm getting bigger and stronger every day. I'm drinking 4 ounces every 3-4 hours. I'm sleeping through the night for about 5-6 hours. One night I slept for 7 hours. My mommy says she still doesn't sleep that well because she's always checking on me. My daddy rigged up a video monitor so every night I'm the star of my own TV show...."Aiden Curry in the Sleepsack Snooze". Sometimes I scream really loud just to see how many seconds it takes for mommy to get to the room.... she's always there in under 10.

So life is good. I can't complain. My parents say I've come a long way but I'm not sure what that means... I don't think I've ever lived anywhere else. I love mommy and daddy and all my grandparents. My 2 aunts are cool and Uncle Rob is warm and cuddly too. I guess I am blessed. Even my brother Denver loves me..... he licks my face every morning.

Well I'll talk to you later! Gotta go! It's bottle time!

xo
Aiden