Twins born 6 years apart

I swear he looks more like her every day...

Can you tell which is Aaron and which is Genevieve? (hint: you've seen one of these photos recently)

Hallelujah!

A miracle happened last night. After an unusually fussy day, Aaron slept through the night.

Lately he has been taking longer naps and enjoys watching his mobile, sitting in the swing, etc. But yesterday he couldn't be distracted and only took a couple of catnaps. By the end of the day I was very frustrated. Out of my long list of things I wanted to get done, I only accomplished one--taking Aaron to get his 3 month portrait taken. (John, on the other hand, was quite satisfied. He had pulled down the remains of our broken fence and cleared out all the branches and debris.)

Aaron fell asleep several times nursing that evening, but he always woke up within minutes after I put him down. He finally fell asleep for real around 10:30 pm on the couch. About an hour later John put him in his crib, and (miracle of miracles) he stayed asleep. When the cat woke me at 5:30 am, I realized that we had made it through the entire night! When I came back upstairs after putting the cat out, Aaron was stirring, so I took him back to bed with me and fed him. We then went back to sleep until Genevieve woke us up at 7:15.

So it goes in the baby book: first slept through the night at 12 weeks old. We'll see if it's just a fluke. Genevieve actually slept through the night at 9 weeks and did so for the next 6 weeks. Not again for the next 3 years...

Aaron's first day of "school"

Aaron started daycare today. I knew he would be fine since he's such an easygoing, happy little guy. We're pretty lucky, too, since there are only a maximum of 4 other babies in his room right now. I already knew one of his teachers from back when Genevieve went there. She is super nice and reassuring. They said he did really well today. He ate well, slept well and seemed happy. When I came to pick him up he was sitting in a bumbo chair watching a cool toy that plays music and has all sorts of moving parts that start at a baby's kick. It hadn't even occurred to me to try the bumbo chair or the exersaucer, but they pointed out that he holds his head up so well that it's no problem.

I'm a strong believer in the positive effects of a good daycare center. Even though it's hard on mom to let go, it's best to start them early. This way they don't know enough to be scared, and when they get old enough to experience stranger anxiety, the staff are no longer strangers!

Here is an exerpt from Aaron's very first care note.

Aaron's First Playdate

My friend Kate had a baby last week, so Aaron and I went to visit. He and Oliver are going to be in the same daycare, so we're sure they will become great friends.

The amazing thing about this picture is that you can see how much babies change in the first couple of months (Aaron is 11 weeks old). They were the same size at birth, so you can really see how much Aaron has grown and filled out, and you can really see the difference in muscle tone and facial features. Wow, he's not a newborn anymore!

Appreciating my good fortune

One of my friends lost her 4-1/2 year old son this week. He had a rare genetic disorder and had a host of medical and developmental issues. She and her husband were great parents, though, and their lives revolved around caring for this poor kid. I can hardly imagine what they have gone through and what they are going through now.

John said today was the first time he had been to a funeral for someone under 60. It was my second experience of a friend losing a child, and I hope I never have another one. What a horrible thing!

It really makes you appreciate what you have. I have two such happy, healthy, beautiful, practically perfect children!

If I were religious I would say I was blessed. I believe I'm just lucky. And so glad to be...

Paper Family

Spring Flowers

Contrary to popular belief, Rochester does eventually thaw and become a nice place to live every year. Gotta love those first flowers of spring!