Acalias and Mommy

I made it through my first week alone with Acalias. Derek finished with work study last week and started school this week. Acalias' schedule is still unpredictable but I take advantage of his long morning naps to get things done around the house.

I've been saving Acalias' cute clothes for when we actually leave our house. Last Sunday was Acalias' first time to church so I pulled out a super cute outfit and gave it to Derek to put it on him. When we arrived to church, Acalias had massive poop explosion and when I went to change him I couldn't figure out how Derek managed to put the outfit on him. The 0-3 month outfit was so tight! I was sad that he never even had a chance to wear the outfit more than once so now i'm no longer saving outfits. This is a bath robe size 3-6 months, it's already a bit snug.



Roar, says this cute pjs he's wearing. This little boy has been held so much that he never had the chance to really cry. Goodness, this week has been filled with cries it's sad to hear but I can't get anything done with him in my arms. I estimate that he is 12 lbs now.

This outfit says it best because it's what I do the majority of the day. Acalias has a healthy appetite. He's been smiling a lot lately and we love it!

On exhausting days, I look forward to Acalias' naps.

He looks so peaceful, so content.

I'm excited for the day I don't have to hold his binky in his mouth. It surpised me to see him grasping on to his binky.


Rather than napping along side Acalias as usual, this week I've been journaling. Yesterday I completed my 17Th journal. I have my whole life recorded in books, the good times and the bad. This particular journal is special because it took three years to complete. I wish I had written more but, since getting married I haven't been as consistant as I once was.

The bulk of this journal was written during my pregnancy. It was such a trying time for me and to remain optimistic I had to write nearly every day. Journaling is therapeutic for me. I notice that I tend to write more during the challenging and happy phases of my life. I began writing when I was 5Th grade, I never missed a day on my mission and I love reading about how I felt when I was dating Derek. I keep my self in check by writing about my blessings, things I need to improve (which are many), goals and so forth.

Many people ask what I eventually plan to do with all my journals. I plan to leave them behind for my children. When Acalias serves a mission I'll have plenty of my own stories to share with him, he'll receive copies of my mission journal entries. If I have a daughter, I may have an idea of all the emotions she will feel as an adolescent/teen through my journal entries. Hopefully my children will appreciate and cherish my journals as much as I do.

One Month Mark

I can't believe my baby is already one month old. It seems like we just barley brought him home from the hospital. I've stopped calling him "banana hands" and now call him "chunky monkey". He can eat...A LOT! It seems like every time he's awake he's eating. My nurse says he's going through a growth spurt so it's not unusual to feed him more often in the evening time.



Dad needs to get this book read before the first day of class. He is reading it to me but it's not as exciting as moms breast milk so I think I'll take a nap.


Mom and I having a conversation in Spanish. I like to be rocked in this glider while listening to Baby Mozart.


Although I've taken up all Mom and Dads attention, this is my protector. He's always by my side once I start crying.


Smiling at mama. He's been smiling a lot more often, typically after he eats. It's fun to see his dimples that are only revealed with a huge grin. His dimple is on his right cheek.


Adorable, need I say more?


Grandma Nativa has been helping out for 2 weeks now. It's been so VERY nice to have her. She's 79 years old, but the woman is like an energizer bunny. She cooks AMAZING food, no matter how hard I try I've never been able to make my food taste like hers. When she's not cooking, she's cleaning the house or doing laundry. Our dog Skofeild loves her because she pays attention to him. He now follows her around the house and asks her to be let out when he needs to potty. Grandma also goes on walks with me and baby almost every day.



Acalias is typically fussy from 11pm to about 1am. Derek and I try everything to comfort him but sometimes we get so tired and Grandma is always right there to take him off our hands. She has some kind of magical trick up her sleeve because as soon as he goes to her he falls asleep.

It's been so fun to watch Grandma and our son, she seems so content just holding him. She has told me stories of how she helped out when I was first born and how blessed she feels to be helping out with our son. I've convinced her to come back every year (if her health permits of course).


One last thing...check out our Basil! It's the only herb along with Oregano that has thrived to live. I think I over watered the seeds, I'll try again because I was really looking forward to all the other herbs that I had planted.

Acalias' First Week

IMPORTANT NOTE: Many have asked us how to pronounce our sons name. It is spelled the way it sounds. If your still struggling pronounce it try sounding it out Aka-lie-ous.

After over 48 hours in the hospital, I was ready to bring our son home. The Nurses were great, they took really good care of us but I was anxious to be in the comforts of my own home. We were fortunate to have my father-in-law visit during our stay at the hospital. We live so far away from family and we were thankful to share our joy with family.

Acalias meeting Grandpa David, about 30 minutes after delivery.

Acalias slept the entire time while we were in the hospital. Our first night home, he decided to stay awake all night long. Thankgoodness my mom flew in on Monday and with her help we were able to get some sleep.

Acalias being smothered with kisses by Grandma Cindy

For the most part our son sleeps the majority of the day. I love watching him sleep, I'm still amazed that my husband and I created him. My mom says that he looks like Derek when he's asleep and he looks like me when he's awake.

We had our first Doctor appointment on Tuesday. Acalias wasn't too happy about being undressed and weighed. He sprayed down the entire scale with his urine.

Our little family, shortly after his first appointment. They pricked his heal again so we left the shoe off the foot that was pricked.

We have nicknamed our son bananna hands, his hands are so big and they tend to get in the way when I'm trying to feed him.

When his hands arn't flailing everywhere, he has his index finger pointed as to say "I'm #1", we think it's pretty hillarious.

Acalias is very alert for a newborn, Grandma Milar sent us this bouncer and he seemed to really enjoy it.

His flailing bananna hands helped to activate the sounds on this toy.


We didn't want Grandma Cindy to have to spend the entire time in our little apartment. We took her to the Farmer's Market and we strolled around down town while she looked at the Antique stores (which she really enjoys).

This week has flown by way too fast. We're thankful Grandma Cindy spent an entire week with us. We've been well fed, well rested and our home is the cleanest it has been in a long time.


Grandma's love is so evident for Acalias, I really enjoyed watching her smother our son with love.

June 25th, 2010...

Our son Acalías Maxwell Rodeback has finnally joined us!



On Friday at 5:55pm he came into this world weighing 9 lbs 1/2 oz and 20 1/2 inches.



This little boy has already brought us so much joy, we love him so much.



We look forward to sharing more about our adventures with him as we learn how to be his parents.