Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Good to know...
"Mom, Dad said he'd still marry you even if you were bald. But, he'd prefer that you not shave your head."
Friday, April 20, 2007
Blake's third month
To Blake:
We're still struggling with getting enough sleep this month. But, on the plus side, I read a magical book that should come as a user's guide to with every newborn called "The Happiest Baby on the Block" about halfway through the month. It told me how to calm you down and get you to sleep better. Lo and behold, the first time I followed the book's instructions on swaddling, I got an hour and half nap. From that point on, we've been getting slightly better every day, with a few days of backsliding thrown in for good measure. Finally! Even Faith has gotten the hang of this and "jiggles" you when you sit on her lap if you're fussing.
So, you're still eating every two hours or so, but sometimes it's 2 and half or three. And at night we can often get you to go for a couple of three hour stretches. It's amazing what a difference this makes. Of course, Gramma thinks this is because you're a little like Uncle Ryan and just eating so much because you're growing like crazy! A couple of days before your 3 month mark, you weighed 10 lbs, 10 ozs!
The cooing and gooing continues. In fact, you're almost laughing now. You especially like doing this with your sister, who sings made-up songs to you while you smile and coo at her. My favourite sounds are the "ah-goo" sound you make with me when I talk to you. No sweeter words were uttered. :) Actually, the picture below is you saying "ah-goo" to me!
You also had your first cold at Easter. Ughh. Luckily it wasn't too bad...mostly lots of gross excretions from your nose. On the plus side, it let you sleep for a 6 hour stretch without eating...although I think we can find a better way to get you to sleep longer. You were still pretty happy through your cold, unlike your Dad who was laid low for a few days during tax season by the same bug.
I've started trying to give you a baby massage when you have your afternoon bath. So far, you like this about half the time. You like your feet rubbed (who doesn't?) but it all falls apart at your arms. Part of the problem is that you get tired so quickly after you wake up (about an hour max) that fitting in the massage and bath before you start getting cranky is a little difficult. All the books say to wait an hour after eating before you get a bath/massage, but we have to cut this a little short. Consequently, you like to puke on yourself in the tub. Hopefully you remember none of this. :)
You have officially met all of your aunts and uncles now. Easter was at our place, and you were passed around to Uncle Duncan and Deanna for the first time. I think they were impressed with you...you didn't puke all over them, which was good. Grampa was not so lucky. When he showed up, you immediately puked all over his good shirt. It was a sign of love right?
You keep getting more fun as you grow more alert and smile more and more. Your big blue eyes just draw people in and you have this way of looking around that seems like you're processing everything at an amazing rate. I can practically see your synapses firing!
But the best times are when you put your head on my shoulder and rub your soft hair on my cheek. I'm like a great big security blanket and there's nothing better for me.
New t-shirts
Faith and I went shopping at Walmart with Blake on the weekend. Two things that happened:
1) We were hopping out of the car when she said, "I wish it was just the two of us." Uh-oh, I thought. She went on, "It's not that I'm mad at him or anything, it's just easier to shop without Blake." Amen sister. She'll soon understand that it's always easier to shop without the boys!
2) I wanted to buy her a couple of t-shirts. (6x and she'll likely outgrow them in a month after I washed them!!!) Anyway, she chose a purple shirt and a striped pink shirt, both with front pockets, "because I want a pocket shirt like Papa."
1) We were hopping out of the car when she said, "I wish it was just the two of us." Uh-oh, I thought. She went on, "It's not that I'm mad at him or anything, it's just easier to shop without Blake." Amen sister. She'll soon understand that it's always easier to shop without the boys!
2) I wanted to buy her a couple of t-shirts. (6x and she'll likely outgrow them in a month after I washed them!!!) Anyway, she chose a purple shirt and a striped pink shirt, both with front pockets, "because I want a pocket shirt like Papa."
Friday, April 13, 2007
Bouncing baby boy
Blake had his monthly RSV shot today, during which he screamed his head off as usual. But, we did find out that he is now 10 lbs 10 ozs. (OK, 10 lbs, 9 3/4 oz, but I figure I can round up.) So, he's officially reached the weight that his uncle Ryan was when he was born. I just have to say to my mom, "OUCH!!"
Swimming lessons
Faith went to her first "on her own" swimming lessons today at the pool behind our house. I wasn't sure how this experience would go as our previous tries at swimming lessons quickly degenerated into tears.
This time, however, was amazing!
Faith had no trouble getting into the water. She put her face in the water! She slid down the slide! She swam all the way across the pool in her life jacket and then jumped into the water!!!! She did awesome.
Blake and I watched from the sidelines how well she did. I kept giving her the thumbs up.
She is also the tallest kid in her class by a good foot, so it's kind of cute watching the four kids in the class standing together. There's even a girl from her SK class with her. So, all in all, the experience exceeded all my expectations, and I think Faith's as well.
Yippee!!
This time, however, was amazing!
Faith had no trouble getting into the water. She put her face in the water! She slid down the slide! She swam all the way across the pool in her life jacket and then jumped into the water!!!! She did awesome.
Blake and I watched from the sidelines how well she did. I kept giving her the thumbs up.
She is also the tallest kid in her class by a good foot, so it's kind of cute watching the four kids in the class standing together. There's even a girl from her SK class with her. So, all in all, the experience exceeded all my expectations, and I think Faith's as well.
Yippee!!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Spring so far?
Spring has been interesting so far. We had some real warmth a couple weeks ago (see the previous post of my flowers). Then, April hit and we've had cold weather and snow!
Just what to say...
Faith had her "best Sparks meeting ever" last night. They went to a local pizza place and took a "pizza tour". This involved going into the "giant" freezer and seeing how pizza was made from scratch. (She also picked up a good tip about poking holes in the dough before you put it in the oven to prevent the air bubbles that always get into our homemade pizza. Who knew?)
The best part was that they got to make their very own pizza. She informed me that this was a "personal pizza, Mom". Her's was cheese and pepperoni...no sauce of course. I actually had a slice when she came home and it was really good. She's insisting that we go back there to get more pizza soon...she knows which one I should order now.
Anyway, when she went to bed at 8:00 , she was still very keyed up. So, when I went to bed at 8:30 she came into my room saying she couldn't sleep. I let her watch one singer on American Idol and then it was back to bed. A few minutes later she was back again! Uggh. So, I informed her that she had to put herself back to bed. This did not go over well.
Being sleep-deprived myself, I ended up taking her back to bed to circumvent another 10 minutes of arguing. I tucked her in and then went to leave the room, only to hear, "You are the best mom ever." Man, that kid always knows just what to say!
The best part was that they got to make their very own pizza. She informed me that this was a "personal pizza, Mom". Her's was cheese and pepperoni...no sauce of course. I actually had a slice when she came home and it was really good. She's insisting that we go back there to get more pizza soon...she knows which one I should order now.
Anyway, when she went to bed at 8:00 , she was still very keyed up. So, when I went to bed at 8:30 she came into my room saying she couldn't sleep. I let her watch one singer on American Idol and then it was back to bed. A few minutes later she was back again! Uggh. So, I informed her that she had to put herself back to bed. This did not go over well.
Being sleep-deprived myself, I ended up taking her back to bed to circumvent another 10 minutes of arguing. I tucked her in and then went to leave the room, only to hear, "You are the best mom ever." Man, that kid always knows just what to say!
Monday, April 02, 2007
Blake's second month
OK...so Blake is almost three months old and I'm just posting this now. Call me a bad mother. :)
To Blake:
All I can say about month two is that we both survived. OK. A bit of an exaggeration. But, I have constantly been amazed at how little sleep a human being can survive on and still function.
No, you are not the greatest sleeper...or at least you didn't start out the month that way. You liked to eat every two hours, and at night it often took almost an hour or more to get you back to sleep. So, by my calculations, that meant no sleep. (I'd do the math but mental tasks like this are just beyond me right now.)
The month itself had lots of interesting activities and milestones. The biggest one is your first smile! This happened just before March break, and the smiles have been getting more frequent and bigger every day. Smiles are your saving grace...they remind me why you're worth all the work. That and you're pretty cute too.
Other milestones include tracking objects and, cutest of all, making cooing and gooing noises. You still grunt a lot, but you're actually starting to sound more like a baby and less like a caveman. Your favourite object to follow with your eyes is your sister. Faith still adores you and is always hugging, kissing, and generally mauling you. I wonder if this will continue when you start pulling the heads off her Barbies? She even sings you made-up songs and whispers in your ear, "I'll always love you baby brother." I can only hope you both remember this when you're older and getting on each other's last nerves.
Big events this month included your first overnight trip. Actually it was supposed to be a trip to see Gramma and Grampa over March break, but it ended up being the week before at Karen and Rob's house. We got stuck in Waterloo due to a huge snowstorm/windstorm. I tried to get home, but the road was packed with cars, and we could hardly see. At one point I pulled over into the parking lot of the Sikh temple to feed you, then we got back on the road, only to come to a dead stop for about 20 minutes with no end in sight. So, I turned around and headed back to Karen and Rob's house. Faith was very happy to have a sleepover at Cordelia's, and you and I stayed on the pull-out couch in the basement. What an adventure.
We did go to Gramma and Grampa's the next week for a few days to meet your great-grandparents, great aunt, and some of my friends. After our dry run the week before, this trip was easy. You like to sleep in the car. :)
You also went to church with us for the first time this month...now that you're past your due date, we're bringing you a little more. Happily, you were angelic and slept through the whole thing.
And, now that the weather is nicer, we've all been getting out for walks. You even got a little sunburn on your face (sorry!) one day from riding in the sling. I'll do better on this next time.
Month two has been all about eating, sleeping (sometimes) and growing. You're even outgrowing your little round plastic bowl that I use for your baths. I sit you in it now and you look like a little buddha baby with all the little rolls of fat growing on your legs, arms and belly.
I can only imagine how big you would have been had you been born on your due date, March 3rd. Having a preemie does have some advantages! And the best part is that we got to know you that much sooner.
To Blake:
All I can say about month two is that we both survived. OK. A bit of an exaggeration. But, I have constantly been amazed at how little sleep a human being can survive on and still function.
No, you are not the greatest sleeper...or at least you didn't start out the month that way. You liked to eat every two hours, and at night it often took almost an hour or more to get you back to sleep. So, by my calculations, that meant no sleep. (I'd do the math but mental tasks like this are just beyond me right now.)
The month itself had lots of interesting activities and milestones. The biggest one is your first smile! This happened just before March break, and the smiles have been getting more frequent and bigger every day. Smiles are your saving grace...they remind me why you're worth all the work. That and you're pretty cute too.
Other milestones include tracking objects and, cutest of all, making cooing and gooing noises. You still grunt a lot, but you're actually starting to sound more like a baby and less like a caveman. Your favourite object to follow with your eyes is your sister. Faith still adores you and is always hugging, kissing, and generally mauling you. I wonder if this will continue when you start pulling the heads off her Barbies? She even sings you made-up songs and whispers in your ear, "I'll always love you baby brother." I can only hope you both remember this when you're older and getting on each other's last nerves.
Big events this month included your first overnight trip. Actually it was supposed to be a trip to see Gramma and Grampa over March break, but it ended up being the week before at Karen and Rob's house. We got stuck in Waterloo due to a huge snowstorm/windstorm. I tried to get home, but the road was packed with cars, and we could hardly see. At one point I pulled over into the parking lot of the Sikh temple to feed you, then we got back on the road, only to come to a dead stop for about 20 minutes with no end in sight. So, I turned around and headed back to Karen and Rob's house. Faith was very happy to have a sleepover at Cordelia's, and you and I stayed on the pull-out couch in the basement. What an adventure.
We did go to Gramma and Grampa's the next week for a few days to meet your great-grandparents, great aunt, and some of my friends. After our dry run the week before, this trip was easy. You like to sleep in the car. :)
You also went to church with us for the first time this month...now that you're past your due date, we're bringing you a little more. Happily, you were angelic and slept through the whole thing.
And, now that the weather is nicer, we've all been getting out for walks. You even got a little sunburn on your face (sorry!) one day from riding in the sling. I'll do better on this next time.
Month two has been all about eating, sleeping (sometimes) and growing. You're even outgrowing your little round plastic bowl that I use for your baths. I sit you in it now and you look like a little buddha baby with all the little rolls of fat growing on your legs, arms and belly.
I can only imagine how big you would have been had you been born on your due date, March 3rd. Having a preemie does have some advantages! And the best part is that we got to know you that much sooner.
Thank god it wasn't me
On Friday I dropped Faith off at Karen's house for a few hours. I had to sign some paperwork at a lawyer's office and dragging both kids along didn't seem too palatable. So, instead Faith got to hang out with Karen and William and play with Cordelia when she got home from school.
As every parent knows, you're always hoping that your kid behaves at some else's house and doesn't start telling strange stories about how much daddy and mommy love to drink or discussing what color underwear mommy wears. So, when I picked her up, Karen's first comments were about a question that Faith asked her. I thought, "Please...don't let it be embarassing."
So, they were sitting together on the couch playing polly pockets, when Faith says, "I have a question. Where does life come from?"
Faith goes on to say, "I mean...I don't understand it. To me it just seems like magic or something."
At this point I'm thinking two things. One...yippee, it wasn't embarrassing! Two, "Wow...glad you had to field this one and not me!"
As every parent knows, you're always hoping that your kid behaves at some else's house and doesn't start telling strange stories about how much daddy and mommy love to drink or discussing what color underwear mommy wears. So, when I picked her up, Karen's first comments were about a question that Faith asked her. I thought, "Please...don't let it be embarassing."
So, they were sitting together on the couch playing polly pockets, when Faith says, "I have a question. Where does life come from?"
Faith goes on to say, "I mean...I don't understand it. To me it just seems like magic or something."
At this point I'm thinking two things. One...yippee, it wasn't embarrassing! Two, "Wow...glad you had to field this one and not me!"
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