Reflections on turning 1

Now that our family has left, the house is much quieter. And lonelier! Although this gives me a chance to get Aidan back on routine, it's just not the same! It was so wonderful to have Aidan hanging our with his cousins and Ah-Bor E-Laine, Mai Po, Gran and Grandad, and they've been such a blessing helping out with the big move and the birthday party.

Although of course with all the revelry and going-outs, and especially 'coz of the move, his routine has been a little off, and he'd been having a hard time getting to sleep on his own in a strange room. The last two weeks was spent cuddling with Mama and Dada in bed, and I don't think he was all that comfy either 'coz he kept waking up crying. But yesterday and today he's getting there - pop him down on the bed and he'll sleep on his own again, phew! At least, for the day-sleeps. He still wakes up at night (last night twice), but he'll adjust eventually. He'd have been there sooner, but he was actually having a fever the last couple of days, reaching 39.6 degrees the other night! The doc said he was probably fighting off a viral infection, so it was a "good" fever. But worrysome to me nonetheless, especially since backup support (Gran and Grandad) have left for home!

I can't believe how the past year has, well, I wouldn't say flown by, since some days are interminably long! But it has moved forward, and we've really progressed. I emailed Simone from boswellbunch.com, whose book Calm Baby Confident Mum (available on her website and at Koorong too) has been a lifesaver and my baby-caring bible, recounting how it's been a year since we 1st corresponded when Aidan was only 2 weeks old! I wouldn't have known about routines and how to handle some situations (and the crying, oh GOD the crying!), if not for her support, her quick replies via emails and encouragement. She's an amazing lady!

Aidan's 1st birthday feels like a birthday of my own too. An anniversary, something to commemorate a year of hard work and humility, of dying (dying dying dying!) to self, putting someone else 1st in my life (besides EG of course). It hasn't been easy - Aidan's such a lively vivacious precocious child, and I've been thoroughly blessed - but boy I don't have enough energy to keep up! Even my in-laws said they can't keep up either! So thank God we can celebrate this past year, this year of joys, frustrations, heartaches, tantrums, sleeps (or lack therof) and crying - his and my own!

Thank you for reading too! And your support... here's to the next one!