PT and making bread

Lisa the therapist and Aiden


Aiden is going to physical therapy for his neck. Poor bug. He doesn't understand and he DOESN'T like it... at all. His neck muscles were pinched during the very long 32 hour labor when he was stuck in one position. We are working diligently to get him to look to his left. Anyway, our therapist, Lisa is darling and very understanding when he cries and screams, kicks and jabs. We will go for another month and see where he is after that. Aiden slept like a log for the rest of the day after his therapy appointment. MOM LOVED IT!!


Making bread at the Smeds.


How did I get to be 31 (shh.... don't tell anyone my real age...) and not know how to make bread? Let me tell you - I am the youngest of many children. By the time I got to be the age when most young women learn to do domestic things like cooking from scratch, my mother had cooked and cleaned her entire life and, frankly was tired. We had the daycare then and were also catering weddings 2 or 3 nights a week. We were all tired. But, therefore, I never learned to make bread. Now, I can make bread in the bread machine like no one's business. But from scratch - hmmm... that is another story.

Kari was showing her girls how to make bread on Wednesday morning and asked if I would like to come and learn. It was so fun. The bread was great, too.

Aiden's Special Day

Aiden Michael Biddulph was blessed on September 5th in Tremonton. His older cousin, Alyssa Goodwin, was being baptized and I decided that, since all the family would be there anyway, we would do the blessing at the same time. He was blessed by his cousin, Michael. Michael is the oldest of all the grandkids and Aiden will be the last of the grandkids, so I thought it was fitting. Michael and his wife have also been two of my strong supporters through the whole journey with Aiden. In fact, they were some of the first people I told on the day the in vitro was successful.

Aiden wore the cutest little tuxedo that his Aunt Kari helped pick out - complete with cumberbund and bow tie. It was too big, but there was nothing we could find smaller. He is a tiny guy, so it was great. He was so good for the blessing and Michael did the most amazing, eloquent blessing for Aiden. He told Aiden that the people who have gone before were instrumental in hand-picking him to be part of our family and they taught him so much before his trip to earth. Michael also blessed him with health - something he has not had much of - and a keen intellect. He blessed him to know of the love of his mother and to stay close all his life - that is something I was so grateful to hear.

After the blessing, the family went to Jodi and Dustin's for lunch. It was so good to see all of Dustin's family again. They are so sweet and I miss having them close.

Two Month Check-up... ALREADY!!!

So Sad after shots!

Three pokes. Three bandaids. Lots of Tylenol.

Aiden got a new toy for his carseat. He had a staring contest with the little orange elephant. Ah, to be a baby again....

Already? I am so sad that my little man is 2 months old already. He is so cute, though, that I can not help but think he is the cutest thing alive. Okay, him and the puppy.

We went to see the doctor yesterday. He is 2 1/2 inches and weighs 10 pounds 5 ounces. WHAT A PORKER!! Actually, Dr. Martini (don't you love her name...) says he is in the 30%ile for his age, so he is still little, but is growing fine.

We were given a prescription for physical therapy since he doesn't like to look left and that muscle on his neck is tight. The therapy will be to loosen that muscle and give his head more freedom. Aiden has been poked, prodded, manipulated, and manhandled more than any other baby I know. Poor kid. We will start therapy next Tuesday in Bountiful.

He also got his shots. A little drama happened here. The nurse told me that the national database said that Aiden had already had his 2 month immunizations at a clinic in Taylorsville on August 17th. a)Aiden was with me at home on the 17th and b)Taylorsville??? The nurse made a big scene that she was not going to take the liability of giving shots if he had already had them. I assured her that he had not had his shots. She was still questioning me when Dr. Martini came out of a room and said, "Jill (the nurse), I have told you before. When there is a discrepency between the computer and what Mom says, we ALWAYS go with what Mom says. Give the damn shots." Come to find out, there was an Aiden M. Biddulph born at the IMC Hospital the day after my little guy.

Aiden didn't do very well with the immunizations and threw up pretty consistantly the rest of the day and ran a fever. The doctor said to give him apple juice through the night, so he kept most of that down, but we both went through 3 pairs of pajamas each.

I know that immunizations are important to give Aiden, and I wouldn't have it any other way, but it is so hard to watch as they give the shots. I thought briefly about when he was in the hospital and watching him cry with his ventilator - I couldn't hear a sound, but could only see the frantic need for comfort in his eyes. In that moment, it is so hard to think that they put their trust in you...

Karate Belt Test

Aiden and Mom got to see Kelle, Shiree, and Breanna do their belt test on Saturday. Shiree had been sick all week and was, unfortunately, too sick to finish. Breanna and Kelle both tested to red belt and will test to black belt next year. SO PROUD OF THEM!!

Bathtime...

Aiden's appendix scar. The hernia scar is a little further down...

Strategically placed bubbles...

Aiden loves bathtime. (He takes after his mom...)

Happy Birthday, son.... sort of...

Deer in the headlights. And look at that double chin!!

This is a speedster from 1927. Mom's favorite car of the night.

Shiree, Kelle, and Aiden by the old Model T..we think it is a Model T anyway.

Cousins Shiree and Kelle by the beautiful yellow "vet".

My two little guys.

Aiden is 2 months old today! Happy Birthday, Son! I have to say that the last two months have been by far the happiest, the scariest, the most rewarding, and the most anxious of my life. I would not trade my last 8 weeks for anything in the world. We have had many, many family outings and hospital visits. We feel support from family and friends. We have spent many waking hours bonding. It has been great. It is the most warm reward for just being a mom.

My heart is full for all the fun we have had as a family of 3 (Aiden, the dog - Roman - and me). Yesterday we went with the Smedleys to a street festival in Layton that included antique cars, food, and music. The band was actually really great (they played my favorite song by Steppenwolf) and the cars were very cool. My favorite was the 1927 yellow speedster. It was great to have Aiden with his cousins who love him.

I have learned many things about life in the last 2 months -
-when the baby is asleep you can get so much done. When he is awake, you get nothing done.
-baby's first smile will make you cry
-sacrifice means nothing. Time, money, energy, and sleep - I will gladly give all if it makes him grow to be a good man.
-family (my extended family) suddenly becomes so much more important
-Things that you usually struggle to make part of your life become paramount (Scripture study, prayers, and church...) because you know your son is watching
-people say you think twice about every decision - once for yourself and once for your child. I think you only have to think once... for your child. Your needs mean nothing any more
-True love is totally redefined.
-Laundry does not double - it quadruples - how do baby socks get lost so easily?
-More than anything, I have learned that I love my son. So much. A friend said to me, "Did you ever think you could love something so much?" Never.

Aunt Kari's Black Belt Test

Congratulations to Aunt Kari! We went to see her black belt test on Aug 22nd and were amazed at how much work was involved. She ran 2 miles, 200 sit ups, 200 push ups, 15 minutes in this crazy "horse" stance... then about 2 hours of straight punching and kicking, about 1 hour of kadas, then hours of self-defense, sparring, and breaking boards. We were so happy to see her reach a goal that she has had for nearly 4 years.

On Monday night, we went to the ceremony where she received her black belt. It was an amazing ceremony that was really traditional. The black belt people received their black uniforms, black belts, rings, and lots of flowers. Aunt Kari can really be called Sensai Kari now!!