Friday, January 06, 2006

Pics from Home!

Aidan and his adoring fans at the airport.
Aidan loves his car seat...but did the car seat love aidan...see post!
I love water...can't wait for Coney this summer! I 'm a happy boy!
I told you one more picture and I would run you guys over!!!
Hey look at me...I sat up all by myself!
Lady you look nice...but I think you are up to something???
Doctor visit #2...did I hear them say shot...no they couldn't do that to me again!
At dad's office...the plans look good, but the finishes are so 2005!
Did I tell you that I love to eat!

January 5th

Well, it’s 4:30 a.m., and I got up to check on Aidan (still looking to make sure he’s still breathing! I don’t know when I’ll get over doing that) and so I thought it would be a good time to quickly update the website. In a nutshell, everything has been like a dream. Life really is wonderful for the Dannenfelsers.

As of yesterday afternoon, we’ve just been home with Aidan for a week. In some respects, we can’t believe how quickly time is flying, and in others, we feel like we’ve truly known him forever. We first met him a month ago today, and we now we really can’t imagine not having him in our lives. When we finally arrived in Cincinnati last Wednesday, it seemed surreal. On the car ride from the airport, I rode in the backseat with him, and kept looking at him and thinking – this is our baby! How amazing! During the ride, he broke in his new outfit and car seat with a dirty diaper, and so as soon as we came home, I took him straight up to his room to change him, and when I laid him down on the changing table, I couldn’t believe my eyes. He was actually here, with us, in the midst of his toys and clothes and things, and the world just seemed right. It seemed as if the room we’d been preparing for him for months now finally sighed in contentment, and so did we. We all were exhausted, so we put him in his crib, and it fit him just right. We crawled into bed (the most heavenly, softest bed we’ve ever been in, we thought!) and slept as you do when all is right in the world.

We could be biased, but he really is a smart, beautiful, energetic, personable, lovable, fun-loving, sweet, interactive, happy child. He loves his mom and dad, his stroller, his walker, his car seat (but mostly when the car is moving . . . those pesky stoplights!!) his toys, his grandmas and grandpas and cousins and aunts and uncles, and is even starting to get used to the cat. He zooms around in his walker, but there are lots of roadblocks (rugs, chairs, high chair) that he has to maneuver. He also loves to crawl, and two days ago, he sat up by himself from being on his stomach, which gave rise to clapping and picture taking (by us, not him). Our house has already become Aidan’s house. Our house is happily strewn with a colorful assortment of toys, books, bibs, bottles, burp cloths, formula, walkers, teddy bears, diapers, puppets, puzzles, and baby food jars. We love everything about it. We used to like our home to look “just right,” with everything fluffed and in its place. We now think the place couldn’t be lovelier just as it is. We find lots of fun in feeding him. “Aidan, how about it? Peaches or apple with strawberries? Chicken noodle or Turkey and sweet potatoes?” The boy loves to eat. He doesn’t overeat, but he sucks down his bottles in minutes and happily (and cleanly – he is not a messy eater!) eats whatever interesting baby food we give him. He also adores those Gerber finger puffs, those airy cherry/banana treats that melt in his mouth. We give him some when we’re out to eat, and they keep him occupied (as do all the interesting people he can look around and lean back to look at) and happy. In the past week he’s learned how to pick them up with his finger and thumb instead of his whole hand. It’s unbelievable to watch how much he learns in so short of a time.

He likes to do what we do. If we eat or drink anything, he takes notice and often indicates that he, too, is a growing human being and don’t we think he’d like something as well? He wants to listen when we’re talking on the phone, bang on the computer keyboard as we’re returning a quick email, and chew on the remote control that we find so interesting. If mom and dad like it, he apparently reasons, it must be good. We’ll savor that attitude for as long as we can, since we know that sentiment is fleeting.

He doesn’t like naps. He sleeps 10-11 hours at night (yes, we’re very lucky!!) but isn’t too happy to be put down in the morning or afternoon, although he acts tired and rubs his eyes and so we know he should sleep. I think he doesn’t want to miss anything. Usually, we rock him to sleep and that helps to calm him down for a nap, but not always. Sometimes we give up and let him play and figure when he tires himself he’ll go down. Considering he sleeps so well at night, we think he’s doing really well. He transitioned to the time difference here in a snap. He hasn’t woken up during the night once since he’s been home. Also, he likes to be naked or in his onesie and to play with his feet, and doesn’t like when we take too long to put his clothes on. Darn those baby clothing designers! Don’t they know that any more than 3 buttons or snaps is just too daggone many??

Yesterday we took him to the International Adoption Clinic at Children’s Hospital here in Cincinnati. Well, he’s just doing great. He’s right in the middle of the American growth chart for height and weight, which they said is really rare for adopted kids (and a testament to the great care he received in Kazakhstan), and at the top of the growth chart for head size (Yes, he has a big melon! He’s good-looking with lots of brains – look out world!). Developmentally, he’s right on target, and he allowed the nurse to take some blood for a few tests like a champ. His reward was a Lion King sticker that he wanted to chew on. Next week we take him to the pediatrician for a general check-up and a couple of vaccinations.

Anyway, this past week with the three of us at home has been absolutely wonderful. We feel like we’ve always been a family. We’ve realized three important things in the last month: home is great, we have terrific family and friends, and there’s nothing better that bringing home a baby boy.

We’ll keep posting pictures and little updates for those who want to follow along!

Hope you’re all enjoying 2006!

Love,Scott, Jeanette and Aidan