Profound, Mundane : Hamlet, Poopy Diapers

On facebook you can add an application called Pieces of Flair, originating from the movie Office Space. One of the pieces (buttons) that I chose to stick on my fair board says

We're adults. When did this happen? And how do we make it stop?

The fleetingness of life - are we like grass. I have had this thought recently, mainly when realizing that I am a mom. I know it sounds silly to keep having to realize this, but it's profound to become something like a mother and yet so ordinary, so usual and common. So the time passing but also the becoming, the life changing...

It reminds me of the beginning of Hamlet when Hamlet's mother wonders why Hamlet is so distraught at his father's dying. Pardon the quote:

Thou know’st ’tis common; all that live must die,
Passing through nature to eternity.

Ay, madam, it is common.

If it be,
Why seems it so particular with thee?

Seems, madam! Nay, it is; I know not ‘seems.’

And his 'new father' adds:

’Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet,
To give these mourning duties to your father:
But, you must know, your father lost a father;
That father lost, lost his; and the survivor bound
In filial obligation for some term
To do obsequious sorrow; but to presever
In obstinate condolement is a course
Of impious stubbornness; ’tis unmanly grief

So grieve but not too long for that would be unmanly. Application: think on change but a little and then get on with living?

But what a digression. Anyway, I'm not grieving just find myself marveling at life. And then the thoughts go from the heaviness of 'mother' to the mundane tasks of cleaning up poopy diapers:)

oi weh

Anyhoo, Christian is a joy to us. We thank the Lord for him. There are glimpses of him understanding things. He understands through repetition and routine. For instance, after he is done in the bath, I lay the towel across my chest, look down at him and reach my arms toward him. He looks up smiling and knows that the bath is done and that I will pick him up. I think I saw him reach back, though this would be a little early in development.

Can it be he trusts in me completely? He knows his mom even before I realize (again) that I am his mom.

Teething

I think we've entered the world of teeth. We realized it last Thursday. The cutting has made our sweet boy clingy and crabby. Knowing that it is teeth makes it easier in some way - we can help comfort him. I was able to buy some teething rings that you chill in the fridge, and we did also buy some Oragel. I don't like the idea of giving him medicine too much already, but I did apply some this morning. He was happy for about 15 minutes! Maybe the washcloth we gave him to chew on wiped the gel away... Dan doesn't want him to have teeth yet, says he's cute the way he is. I think he'd be cute with a little tooth on the bottom gum, which is where I can feel them. We hope that the soreness isn't too intolerable. How annoying pain can change one's mood! (Aren't we all like that?)

Screeching, cereal, and plane rides...

Christian started to screech. Not just cooing anymore. We hope it's a sign he's developing verbal communication skills ;)
That's not all he's learned since rolling over three weeks ago. He's eaten rice cereal, flown on a plane, swam in a pool, dipped in the ocean, and is still learning to fall asleep by himself. It's such an amazing thing to see how fast he picks up on things, but at the same time one feels like it's taking time. You look for the next development and then suddenly it along with five other things have taken place.
To back up...
the rice cereal was almost a non-event. He accepted the spoon - indeed he had been eyeing us eating for awhile - and made faces at the food on it when inserted into his mouth. But he was still interested and even ate the whole tablespoon or whatever it was. Later that night in his crib, though, he was Mr. Grunters for a long time. And the following day, my husband told me, he had one of the most forceful poops of his life, pooping out of his diaper onto his clothes as well as on Dan's arm (he was holding him). So because of the possible digestive immaturity or sensitivity, we have yet to give him the cereal again. But perhaps tomorrow the bowels will cooperate.
Luckily the plane rides were short. The first was delayed and so we were able to fly with a sleeping child. Very cool. The return flight, however, started at nap time, which we missed because of the loading and taking off and cabin pressure, etc. He had a freakout, even though I tried to nurse him through it. Dan turned out to be the better comforter. When we were boarding, a couple with two children related their experiences flying with their kids. Apparently their son was not a pleasant companion his first two years of life. I can understand why. Adults aren't necessarily comfortable either on planes. The seat's small, the air smelly, the food nonexistent, the service getting less. Though it is still exciting to be flying over land - people, houses, cars, farms, cities, oceans...Another woman approached us when Christian was freaking out to say that the air blower - term? - that you can adjust helps babies get through the pressure cooker situation. I opened it as wide as it would go, but am not sure it did much. I think Christian just eventually cried himself to sleep.
I'm beginning to understand that Christian is a sensitive yet very good baby. You just don't really know what's normal - ever! But as his personality begins to shine through the babyness I think he is a lovey, sensitive boy - but one with some frustrations and tempers. Typical human perhaps. Typical relative of mine most likely.
More next time on family, finding a babysitter and cereal continued...