4 babies

Tried to get a picture of the four babies last weekend. After about 50 pictures taken by several phones and cameras, this is what I ended up with:

Had our last visit with Dr. Sheffield last week. Yes, there was crying and no it wasn't Aaron. This is Aaron saying goodbye. Ann (in the blue) was telling him to eat his sweet potatoes. She is the nurse I had to call his weight into every week and any of my questions. I have talked to her ALOT in the last few months:

Saying goodbye to Alisha, his nurse. She just came back from maternity leave. She was the unlucky one that got to give him his two month vaccinations when he was just 5 lbs and skinny!

Dr. Sheffield- we will miss her! She was awesome and the most supportive of us trying to breastfeed for as long as we did. These girls took good care of Aaron and me. Forever grateful.

Nursery Pics

So I realized as I was packing Aaron's room up that I never posted pictures of his finished nursery. Here it is. Not every detail was finished but it was perfect for Aaron. He loves it and has been sleeping in there for months. Now he even plays in the floor. We will miss this room. I sat in this room very pregnant watching Stephen put the crib together. I sat in there several nights when Aaron was in the hospital, praying and begging God to heal my baby boy. I sat in there and rocked him to sleep when he was home and healthy. Many memories. We will miss this room the most.

Walking in the door. Closet and dresser:

Shelves hold things from mine and Stephen's nurseries. Also some books that our family gave to Aaron:

Changing table (that stays a mess!) and rocking chair. "Aaron" painted by Auntie Mo and the cross was his door hanger in the hospital painted by Aunt Tara:

Crib with bedding made by Mrs. Suzanne, basket of books from Aunt Sassy:

Closer look at bedding:

Love the polka dots!

Five Months

Stats: We go tomorrow for a checkup. Last week he was a little over 13 lbs and 24 inches long

Eating: He is still taking formula and now gets cereal in his bottle twice a day and then solids twice a day in addition to his bottles. So far he has tried oatmeal cereal, apple sauce, sweet potatoes, and carrots.

Sweet potatoes- he's not a fan. We tried several times:

Clothes: He has moved up to 3-6 and 6 month clothes. His three month shirts look like 3/4 sleeves. He is growing so fast these days.

Diapers: Moved up to size 2 yesterday. Boy has a booty now!

Sleeping: It has not been great this last week. He has been waking up at 5:00 am every morning!! Ughh!! We have tried keeping him up later and taking less naps and all sorts but he keeps waking up early. We are pushing his bedtime to 6:30 or 7:00 which is helping some. He is taking shorter naps now. Usually 45 min to an hour. He takes 3-4 naps a day. Every few days he will take a long nap but it is happening less and less.

Toys you love: He is in love with his exersaucer and jumparoo! He gets bored very quickly on his back now and wants to be sitting up playing.

Milestones this month: So MANY this month! He has taken off these last couple of weeks. He is holding his bottle (sometimes now). He is transferring items from hand to hand. He is turning over from his stomach to back. You cannot keep him on his tummy since he figured it out now. He is making alot more sounds. He seems to recognize his name now. When you call him, he will look. He definitely knows Stephen and I as his "people". He gets so excited when he sees us. We have a picture of us on our mantle. This week he saw it and got the biggest smile and started flapping his arms like we had just walked in the room. He knew that was his mommy and daddy. It was so cute. Then next day he found it again and did the same. He loves playing with us and will laugh and laugh and anything we do. So we act like fools and laugh right with him. He is trying very hard to sit up. This morning he was laying on me and sat up into sitting position on his own for the first time. He did it three or four times. He is trying to sit unassisted but is still a little weak. We are working on it. He wants to be mobile so badly. He gets on his belly and gets his legs to going and even tries to pull with his arms but cant quit figure it out how to crawl. He gets so frustrated that I think his stubbornness will pay of in the next couple of months and he will be on the move. He continues to meet milestones on time with his birthday which is not what his doctors expected at all. He is just determined to keep up. He gets that stubbornness from both his parents!

Activities: Talking, eating, biting Daddy's nose, throwing toys on the ground for mommy to pick up 100 times a day, blowing bubbles, smacking his lips, eating off of a spoon, taking candy canes off of the christmas tree and then dropping them on the floor over and over again.

Medical: We saw the cardiologist last week. He is beyond pleased! Aaron's echo was perfect! His aorta is now growing with his body. Dr. A said he doesn't think Aaron will ever need another procedure. I can now see how much his doctors were worried about him before. They get so excited to see how well he is doing and progressing. We see his pediatrician tomorrow for a check up and then we don't have another appointment until FEBRUARY!! That is crazy to me!! And a little scary. This will be the longest he has gone without a doctor laying eyes on him.

Family: Family update- we are moving! Yep! Hello Louisiana! Here comes the Richards! So Aaron's next monthly pictures will be in our new house and taken one day before I start my new job. So excited to learn a new area of nursing but not excited to leave Aaron. I have so enjoyed this time home with him. It was not planned at all for me to be home this long but I'm very glad that I got the opportunity. Now I have to quit tying cause its making me cry :(. Pray for our family as we transition into our new home, state, and jobs during the next month. We are excited but nervous. We have added alot of new things into our lives this year. Why not add a move into the mix, right!?