Christian has four visible teeth. They are not yet all the way through - but I think the cutting stage is over. Thank goodness! Because he has not been sleeping well and has been what Dan calls 'evil Christian.' Poor baby! He doesn't understand what's happening to his body. (Probably won't until he's an adult and perhaps not even then!)
He's also rolling and scooting and stretching and really trying to crawl. I'm excited for that but I think Dan would like him to hold off. We definitely have to 'baby proof' the apartment. I would like to use the opportunity to rid ourselves of some junk we've accumulated over the past 3 years of living there. Definitely books can go! Articles say to get on your hands and knees in order to see what Christian will. So I see so many problems everywhere! Pack n play may be his prison until I have time to sort and dispose! Oi weh!
Generally we are doing better. We are used to the business of life. I'm still desiring a slower pace, but am glad for business mostly. It keeps me from being too pensive and too existential.
the hood of parenting...
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Growth spurt withdrawal
So Christian has been on a growth spurt. It abruptly stopped earlier this week. He is sleeping a little better, but his eating has changed. He no longer likes solids very much and it's a fight for Dan to feed him even 4oz of milk with the bottle. Fickle little guy! Once we get in a groove he changes his rhythm. Not fair! Dan is struggling. He is coming up on deadlines and needs Christian to be more cooperative, but he's a baby! We don't want to learn these lessons now - just want things to work. I'm just glad it's Friday so I can be home to help out a little more.
Monday, September 8, 2008
6 months...
Christian is 6 months old today. At the pediatrician's, we found him to be 75% height and weight and 85-90% head circumference! Big head!
He has learned so much! And every little thing we try to notice, but often don't write it down before he learns something more.
He is now eating rice and oatmeal cereal, and purees of peas, carrots and bananas. Needless to say, his bowel movements have changed - in color, texture, and DEFINITELY odor:)
He moves toys from hand to hand. Grips toys with both hands and bangs them. Shakes his rattle like he wants to kill it (which is hilarious). He rolls and rolls - even in his sleep, which makes him wake up crying. Flipping from tummy to back still involves banging his head - he has to develop the graceful landing still.
He is so curious and now notices individuals and different settings.
So much to record, but even now I'm not remembering all I wanted to note...
He has learned so much! And every little thing we try to notice, but often don't write it down before he learns something more.
He is now eating rice and oatmeal cereal, and purees of peas, carrots and bananas. Needless to say, his bowel movements have changed - in color, texture, and DEFINITELY odor:)
He moves toys from hand to hand. Grips toys with both hands and bangs them. Shakes his rattle like he wants to kill it (which is hilarious). He rolls and rolls - even in his sleep, which makes him wake up crying. Flipping from tummy to back still involves banging his head - he has to develop the graceful landing still.
He is so curious and now notices individuals and different settings.
So much to record, but even now I'm not remembering all I wanted to note...
Thursday, August 21, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, August 18, 2008
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?)
Friday, August 8, 2008
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...
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...
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Rolling over and other milestones
I thought I'd get back to blogging, not that I ever did it very faithfully or well. But I hope to use the space to 'talk through' parenting issues, problems, epiphanies, whatever. I'm not sure of another way to introduce since I'm not sure of what it will contain. So I'll just begin...
Christian Peter was born to Dan and I on March 8th. He's almost 5 months now and getting cuter by the day. Yesterday he began to move! While supervising his tummy time, he tottered over from front to back (pictures forthcoming). Later, I left him on a blanket on the floor as I ran to the bathroom or kitchen or somewhere - when I returned he was on his tummy!! (no pictures forthcoming:))
I'm just amazed sometimes that he's a person and that he moves and babbles! I can't believe he's ours, at least to raise. Other times, I just want him to grow up already and move out! (Mainly when he won't fall asleep.) But how patient we must be.
Well, that's it for now. I hope to become more eloquent and purposeful. I just wanted to get it started...
Christian Peter was born to Dan and I on March 8th. He's almost 5 months now and getting cuter by the day. Yesterday he began to move! While supervising his tummy time, he tottered over from front to back (pictures forthcoming). Later, I left him on a blanket on the floor as I ran to the bathroom or kitchen or somewhere - when I returned he was on his tummy!! (no pictures forthcoming:))
I'm just amazed sometimes that he's a person and that he moves and babbles! I can't believe he's ours, at least to raise. Other times, I just want him to grow up already and move out! (Mainly when he won't fall asleep.) But how patient we must be.
Well, that's it for now. I hope to become more eloquent and purposeful. I just wanted to get it started...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)