All I Want for Christmas....

September 12 Aron cut his first tooth. It was a battle royal which involved multiple applications of Tylenol and Ora-Gel but it finally made an appearance.

Making Sense

This month the boys went on their first road trip to Austin to visit their cousins Christopher and Quinn. We timed it perfectly where they slept for 3 hours in the car but were ready to get out of their seats the last 30 minutes. In Austin they had fun swimming and playing. Aden is fearless in that he enjoys splashing water in his face. Aron stayed out of the turbulence and just lounged in his lily pad float. On the way home we stopped off at one of daddy's favorite sausage stores and enjoyed the new sights and smells. It has been very interesting to watch the boys developing their senses and facial expressions. They are reaching for toys and selecting them by sounds or texture. Also they are more aware of their surroundings and can see you making eye contact with them from across the room. Aden did something so cute tonight. I had him in his crib trying to sleep while I was rocking Aron. He scooted himself to the front of his crib and pulled down on the crib liner so he could see me. He then proceed to tell me that he was not tired and wanted to come out. I was very impressed that he knew where to look for me by just hearing my voice. Aron is so close to crawling. Both boys have the tummy scoot down but can't quite get the coordination of moving arms and legs, although Aron has figured out one leg and two arms, it is only a matter of time before he gets that second leg moving. Right now he is just finding himself in the splits a lot. In addition to their improved mobility their dexterity has really developed. They are now reaching for toys out of a bin and able to hold balls. Aden thinks it is a fun game for me to bounce balls off his chest and he tries to catch them. We are cherishing this time when they are still semi-stationary, before we know it we will be chasing after them.

Hilarity Ensues

There has been a lot of laughter in our house this month. The boys have really become best friends and find each other hysterical. They have started to interact and have lengthy conversations. Aden already is a prankster and instigator. He enjoys giving Wet Willies, has talked Aron into staying up late and offers lessons on how to give "raspberries." With all the practicing Aden does talking he is the first one to start making sounds that are like words. His new favorite is Dad-Dad. Aron on the other hand is our little observer. He enjoys watching Aden and being part of the conversation. I took them to the Children's Museum and he really enjoyed watching the gears exhibit, as if studying how they worked.
Other than packing on the pounds the boys are growing in their dexterity and balance. They are both rolling over from both sides and able to sit up straight on their own. Hand and eye coordination improves daily and they enjoy vertical play time in their Exersaucer and Jumper. This month they have tried many new foods including pluots and their favorite, peanut butter frozen yogurt.

Discoveries

We finished our first month of summer with new discoveries. Aron discovered that he can flip over in his crib and this has been his method of waking up all month. He does what we call flip'in because he sticks his butt in the air and then throws himself over. In the morning he likes to flip and then talk for about 10 minutes before he calls mama for breakfast. Aden has discovered the joy of sleeping in. He as made a record of 12 hours. It is so funny how they are so different even though their day to day activity is the same. Aden we have nicknamed Dr. Nitro because he is full of energy, talking and kicking past his bed time but is hard to wake in the morning. Aron is the opposite. He will gladly go to bed early so that he can be up at 4:00 am for play time. Another discovery is the joy and disappointment of solid foods. At the top of the list bananas and applesauce, at the bottom carrots and peaches. We have been giving them fruit in the morning and a veggie at night. Aron eats like a baby bird in that his mouth is always open and sometimes you can't shovel it in fast enough. Aden who has been our Chubba-Hog has taken a leisurely approach to eating. We have to dab a small amount of food on his lips for him to sample and if it is acceptable then he will open for small bites. I will try to get this on video because it is too cute. Also in food discoveries Aron snuck a cupcake at our 4th of July BBQ. Unfortunately for him it had blue frosting and was not easily concealed. And lastly their most tasty discovery is their feet. Only second to the Meaty Mitts the bean like toes are their favorite snack.
Overall the boys have been very healthy this month. We have been treating Aron's breathing problems with reflux medication which seems to be helping tremendously. Both boys have started teething and we are waiting anxiously for the first sign of little teeth. Also they are becoming more aware of their surroundings and are responding to their names being called. Aden has an affinity for the camera and gives us a cheeky smile when he's being filmed.
I have started posting videos on YouTube. I am still working out the kinks but check out the Video of the Week for more postings.

Publish Post

Too Cool for the Pool

This month has been jamb packed with fun and new experiences. We started out trying solid foods. We have been giving them rice cereal at meal time and it has been a messy adventure. Also this month the boys have been exhibiting their skill in rolling over from both sides and showing a strong determination to crawl. In the last few weeks we have started on the play date circuit. We met our new best friends Charlie and Valerie but the funnest date was with Maya because she had a pool. The boys were very stylish in their summer threads and sunglasses. Aron was so proud of his outfit and was wearing it so until he got in the water. He was not enjoying himself and did not understand why he was wearing his clothes in the "bathtub". Aden on the other hand embraced swimming and relaxed as we towed him around the pool. It was very fitting that Aron was the first one out of the pool and Aden was the last.

Laughing

The boys are 5 months old and everyday it seems they are bigger and smarter. At the end of May we started making formula in the blender due to shear quantity but we will be starting solid foods in June. The boys are so active laughing, playing and rolling over. They have been playing with toys vertically like the Johny Jumper and Exersaucer. The first time we opened the JJ we put Aden in thinking he would be the one who would bounce off the walls but he just sat there, but Aron watching him just about jumped out of Daddy's arms for a turn. So we put Aron in and when Aden saw Aron enjoying himself he became interested. After Aron's turn we put Aden back in and he used his feet to turn himself in a circle and then lift his feet so he would spin. Alex was scolding him that kind of behavior was against the recommendation of the instructions. I am just thinking, "that's my boy." So we have had a lot of laughs this month and so have the boys. We call Aden Mr. Chuckles because he likes to laugh at his brother and the doll known as his girlfriend. Aron thinks Mama is hysterical. Finally someone who appreciates my jokes.

Hallelujah!! Aron slept through the night from 8:00pm to 5:00am and would have kept going if not woken. Aden made it to 3:00am and I am sure will add those extra hours soon. Both boys are starting to get the concept of day and night. They are taking fewer and shorter naps during the day and ready to go to sleep right at 8:00pm.

Today I took Aron to the pulmonologist to check up on his crackly breathing. Earlier in the month we took him for an x-ray in fear of pneumonia but was diagnosed with a chest cold. The advice this time was "do nothing". The sound he is making is his trachea underdeveloped and loose. Like the squeaking with his swallowing this is something he has to grow out of. Aron doesn't seem to mind and was all smiles for the doctor. So good news is that we can stop the medication we were treating the chest cold with and are now in a holding pattern to see how he grows.

There is no doubt the boys are growing. This week Aron rolled over on to his tummy and was trying so hard to crawl. He was able to get his legs under him but still not strong enough in the arms to lift. Yesterday Aden was happily playing in the next step of developmental toys called the Exersaucer. It might be time to upgrade from the horizontal play mat to the vertical. I was looking at Johnny Jumpers online remembering how much I loved mine but then also remembered my parents telling my how many door frames were damaged from my enthusiastic jumping. Maybe an outside swing would be better :)

This weekend the boy are going to be baptized in the church where I was baptized. The posted photos are early shots of their christening outfits and more are posted on the photos link.