Like Brother, Like Brother

Aaron is 2 mos old now!

As we get to know our sweet little guy, we can't help but draw comparisons from Ian & Audrey. Aaron is definitely his own little man in both looks & personality. He's very cuddly, alert & loves to smile & coo.

In a lot of ways he's been an easy 3rd child - started sleeping through the night around 1 month, he's generally just plain happy, he doesn't spit up much at all and he doesn't "cry" much! He'll sort of complain or fuss instead. He's very patient which is good considering he has to go with the flow with Ian & Audrey around :) All of these qualities are a mix of our experiences with Ian & Audrey. It will be fun to watch him grow into his own!

That said, we can't help but notice he looks a lot like Ian did as a baby. Here they are - each at 2 months. Aaron on top, Ian below. There are some differences - Aaron's got fuller eye-brows & no dimples... but many of the photos are uncanny!

May is here!

Just wanted to share a few new pics. Aaron is growing so fast & starting to show some personality!

He smiles easily & is really noticing all the exciting things around him. Ian & Audrey are excellent playmates for him already - giving him countless cuddles, songs & funny faces.

Kiddo Update

A little update on the kids...

Ian continues to be our "nature/animal/adventure" lover. He got this cool gear as a special "big brother" present. The weather hasn't been too great to do much exploring yet, but we're all gearing up for a fun summer! He's learning a ton in school. His favorite things involve projects, experiments & books. He knows his letters, numbers, can add & subtract very well, & is getting really good at writing too! His favorite show is "The Wild Kratt's" and his favorite song is "Dynomite."

Curly-Q! It took 3 years for Audrey's hair to come in but it sure is coming in now! Our favorite is when it dries after a bath, she gets a head full of ringlet curls. We love when Audrey's silly personality shines through. Lately she entertains us with countless stories, songs & dance moves. She loves playing with Ian or being alone in her imaginative play in her room. Her favorite show is "Doc McStuffins" and her favorite song is "Favorite Things" (Sound of Music)

Aaron is 5 weeks old today! He has changed SO much since birth! Not only is he getting chubby, his eyes are open a lot more and he's taking in the world around him. A few days ago I picked him up, we locked eyes & he gave me the biggest smile. It was a couple weeks earlier than I expected but I've gotten a handful of smiles out of him so far. I'll post pics when I can capture it - right now that camera is a smile deterrent. He seems to be a very observant, alert little guy.

Settling In

One of us wasn't thrilled to pose for this photo...

Yes, it took Audrey a good month to warm up to this whole "baby brother" idea.

She is definitely seeming like her happy little self again. She loves to hold and sing to baby Aaron.

His favorite place to be - all snug as a kangaroo in the Moby wrap. It's been a great way to "hold" him while I tend to the other kids!

Nana's visit to see the little guy!

Easter

We had a fantastic Easter this year - our first holiday as a family of 5!

It was extra special as we celebrated with G'ma Carol, Uncle Scott, Aunt Jody, Hannah & Andrew. The kids all had a great time - colored Easter eggs, did an Easter egg hunt in the yard, made forts, played games - and everyone got to give lots of cuddles to Aaron.

And then there were THREE

Just 2 days after my last post, Aaron James made a surprise, fast appearance!

He definitely completes the family and we feel beyond blessed to welcome this little angel.

So far things have been wonderful as we all adjust to a newborn in the house. Don't get me wrong, Audrey is testing us in some new ways and Ian is disappointed the baby doesn't "do" more. Overall everything couldn't be better. Aaron is quiet & alert when he's not sleeping, he loves to snuggle & he responds to Ian & Audrey as they shower him with love (aka lots of head rubbing & kisses)
These beautiful photos were taken just 1 week after his arrival
Melissa Kay Photography

We had so many great photos, it was hard to pick a few to post!

I imagine this time will go by as fast as it did with Ian & Audrey. We'll try to keep current with photos & stories as this new chapter unfolds :)

Some Updates

Things have been going so well with the baby! Aside from having my most sick first trimester, this pregnancy has been smooth sailing. Once we got past the halfway point, there hasn't been much drama about preterm labor. I'm so grateful I got to experience a normal, healthy, drama-free pregnancy.

Here we are a month ago...Here we are today!We've been enjoying the warm March weather!

The kids have enjoyed 2 trips to the zoo, lots of playing outside, parks & even had to get out our summer clothes today.
Ian LOVED St. Patrick's day (for some reason?) Apparently they've been learning a lot about it at school. He woke us up today with a lovely Irish jig complete with hand gestures. I asked if he learned the song at school & he said, "No, the birds were chirping it out my window." So... he keeps us amused with his sweet imagination :)

St. Patrick's Day art projects before making a cake togetherHere is the cake! Ian made it from scratch & it is delicious.

I showed him what to add & he did all the scooping, adding, mixing & even egg cracking. Earlier this week, he picked out animal print fleece for one of those no-sew blankets for the baby. We made the blanket together & agreed an animal inspired cake would be perfect to welcome the baby. The funny part is... we also agreed the baby would be okay with us cutting a few pieces & freezing the rest.Happy March to all as we patiently await the baby's arrival any day now!