Post Thanksgiving Nap

Ever since Thanksgiving I have been sleepy... Wait a minute... come to think of it, ever since I have been BORN I have been a little tired from the move.

A Shirt to Commemorate the Occasion

Aaron went home from the feast with a souvenir.

Happy Turkey Day!

Mom went well out of her way to cook up an enormous feast for the family.

G-Pops, G-Monster, and Cousin Ryan

This is how we spent Grandma Newman's Birthday. Aaron did not sleep the entire time, but he was getting Papa-Razzi camera eyes.

Grandpa Newman's Not Too Bad at This

Aaron guides Grandpa on where the bottle goes!

Christy's First Time Seeing Aaron

Christy holds Aaron like she has some experience with this.

Kara Visits with Mom

This was the first time Kara got to see and hold Aaron, and he loved it.

Trying Out Some New Toys

Aaron really likes to swing. This was his first adventure and it put him right to sleep. Well, maybe it was the lullaby music.

Why aren't you feeding me?

I promise to open my eyes if you promise to give me a bottle!

Grandma Newman - Expert bottle-giver

This is another picture showing Aaron looking deep into the eyes of the person that's feeding him. He develops deep connections very fast.

First Well Doctor Visit

This whole visit was all the good news we had been hoping for since birth.

Baby Announcement

This is the picture we decided was the best baby shot since the big day - no marks from tubes, no puncture band-aids, completely wireless, and all ours! He's so cute!

Mami feeding Aaron

Aaron loves to look in your eyes while you're feeding him. It's his way of saying that he trusts and loves you.

Feeding time

Mom is so happy and excited to feed the baby, try out the new chair and the new baby room... everything is so new.

HOME!

Papi didn't get to see Aaron much in the first few days, so this was a real treat - he didn't want to let Aaron out of his sight and kept touching him to make sure Aaron knew he was right by his side.

FINALLY!

It took a minute to figure this contraption out, but Aaron is strapped in and ready! Dad feels like his car-seat practice-runs are starting to pay off!

Getting ready to go home!

Aaron called back to heaven on his invisi-phone (the original iPhone) and told the angels that we received the "all-clear: from the ER Doctor and we're heading home!

Aaron's first bath

Washing Aaron for the first time was a ground breaking moment for Dad. It felt like things were starting to get to normal. This was definitely a "bonding" moment, and Dad wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else in the world.

Dad holds Aaron close to his heart

Dad still is overwhelmed with emotion when he remembers how life got so much better the day Aaron arrived. Spending time in a rocking chair with your brand new baby in your arms is something everyone should get a chance to do.

Mami D. Visits

Mami D. provided a great source of calming for Mom. She drove all the way from her and Pappy's house which was almost two hours away for what felt like only a few minutes of baby time. Fortunately, she stayed with Mom and Dad in the hotel where we talked and talked about how wonderful it is to have a son, and how thankful we were that he was recovering so quickly.

Cousin Ryan Visits

Aaron really wanted to arm wrestle Ryan, but felt that he still needed some more time to bulk up and didn't want to embarrass him on camera. Even at just a couple of days old, Aaron was thoughtful.

Family starts to visit

The Farmington NICU limits baby visitors to two at a time and Mom wasn't letting you go. Grandma N. got to touch Aaron for the first time. She said it was so much better than only seeing him through the window.

Mom finally gets some quality time

Mom was able to leave the Maternity Ward at the earliest possible opportunity so her and Dad could come see you. Aaron looked very long and hard at Mom. He knew right away that this was his Mom (not to be confused with the parade of nurses that took care of him).

The Waiting Was Finally Over

Nothing in a man's life is like holding your son for the first time. The emotion is overwhelming. So much love that you never even knew you had inside you comes out, and you feel forever changed. Aaron is amazing.

The NICU is a very hard place to be.

This is the rig they kept Aaron in. Dad was able to visit, even though he was anxious to return back to Day Kimball Hospital to be with Mom who was recovering quickly.
Aaron's numbers would stay good as long as he was in the O2 tent. Over the next few days they would slowly wean him off of it. Even though Aaron showed progress quickly, this was not remotely close to the happy environment we were hoping for.

Making Every Second Count

This was a great family moment, but it was also very sad because Aaron had to go to the Uconn Hospital in Farmington. There he would finish his MAS recovery but Mom couldn't go because she was recovering. It was hard signing the release forms to let them take our angel away, but it was for the best.

You Never Forget the First Time

Less than 16 hours ago Aaron wasn't here, yet. Mom couldn't believe how amazing this experience was. She was in great spirits, even though she was exhausted and really concerned about the MAS. This was the first time she got to hold him in her arms. She didn't want to let go... and still doesn't.

All hooked up

In the window notice Pappy and Mami D., Grandpa and Grandma N., and Kris waiting to hold the little guy.

8 pounds
10 ounces

Aaron had to wear a space helmet filled with Oxygen to help him recover from Meconium stuck in his lungs. they call it Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS). It gives pneumonia-type symptoms which are scary for everyone.