Thursday, April 26, 2012
fussin' & fightin'
Dear Pea,
It's definitely been a challenging week, and it's only Thursday.
It started last Sunday. It was my parents anniversary, the first anniversary that they weren't able to celebrate together. The weather here was horrendous, pouring and windy, but Daddy and I really wanted to look at apartments. So out we ventured, all of us getting drenched and wind whipped. The apartment hunt was discouraging and you were very unhappy to be trekking around. Usually these days, the meltdowns are few and far between. Last Sunday, you had several.I've taken you out in the rain and wind before and you've never really reacted the way you did Sunday, but you screamed the entire way home after both apartments. I think that you were picking up on my sadness and missing my mom. Or I was distracted and not paying close enough attention to your cues until it was too late to realize that you were tired, hungry, frustrated or whatever. But it was a sad day.
And then there seemed to have been a regression in your tolerance for other people taking care of you. All three times I went to teach class, you had a long meltdown. It's so sad for the people taking care of you and so sad for me. I am still questioning if I should be teaching class at all, I may take a break for a month to give you some more adjustment time. We'll see. The last couple of weeks were better, so I'm hoping it's just this rough week and that next week will be better. It can't help that I am sad this week, I know how much your emotions shadow mine. We both have had a lot of tears.
In other, happier news, you are sleeping through the night! I have been waking up at 5 or 6 with one breast completely engorged (ouch) because you have been too busy sleeping to eat. I usually take you to bed between 9:30 and 10 and sometimes you've been asleep for an hour or so, so you're sleeping 8 or 9 hours in a row. And I usually switch positions so I can get my full full full boob in your mouth, and you eat without even waking up. We go back to sleep until 7 or 7:30 or 8.
We have also been to two exercise classes this week and will go to another one tomorrow and you are liking them! Hooray for me! We did yoga on Tuesday and I got to do almost the entire mama part. When it was time to play with the babies, the first song we sang was The Itsy Bitsy Spider and your eyes lit up at me-you were telling me "I know this song!! I like this one!!" Then we did Head Shoulders Knees and Toes and you couldn't hide your delight, laughing as though being tickled. So it definitely has not been all bad. The bright spots still far FAR outweigh any hardships. I love you so much.
It's definitely been a challenging week, and it's only Thursday.
It started last Sunday. It was my parents anniversary, the first anniversary that they weren't able to celebrate together. The weather here was horrendous, pouring and windy, but Daddy and I really wanted to look at apartments. So out we ventured, all of us getting drenched and wind whipped. The apartment hunt was discouraging and you were very unhappy to be trekking around. Usually these days, the meltdowns are few and far between. Last Sunday, you had several.I've taken you out in the rain and wind before and you've never really reacted the way you did Sunday, but you screamed the entire way home after both apartments. I think that you were picking up on my sadness and missing my mom. Or I was distracted and not paying close enough attention to your cues until it was too late to realize that you were tired, hungry, frustrated or whatever. But it was a sad day.
And then there seemed to have been a regression in your tolerance for other people taking care of you. All three times I went to teach class, you had a long meltdown. It's so sad for the people taking care of you and so sad for me. I am still questioning if I should be teaching class at all, I may take a break for a month to give you some more adjustment time. We'll see. The last couple of weeks were better, so I'm hoping it's just this rough week and that next week will be better. It can't help that I am sad this week, I know how much your emotions shadow mine. We both have had a lot of tears.
In other, happier news, you are sleeping through the night! I have been waking up at 5 or 6 with one breast completely engorged (ouch) because you have been too busy sleeping to eat. I usually take you to bed between 9:30 and 10 and sometimes you've been asleep for an hour or so, so you're sleeping 8 or 9 hours in a row. And I usually switch positions so I can get my full full full boob in your mouth, and you eat without even waking up. We go back to sleep until 7 or 7:30 or 8.
We have also been to two exercise classes this week and will go to another one tomorrow and you are liking them! Hooray for me! We did yoga on Tuesday and I got to do almost the entire mama part. When it was time to play with the babies, the first song we sang was The Itsy Bitsy Spider and your eyes lit up at me-you were telling me "I know this song!! I like this one!!" Then we did Head Shoulders Knees and Toes and you couldn't hide your delight, laughing as though being tickled. So it definitely has not been all bad. The bright spots still far FAR outweigh any hardships. I love you so much.
Monday, April 23, 2012
16 weeks old!
Dear Pea,
You are in the beginning stages of grabbing for things, holding them and bringing them to your mouth. It's wonderful to watch you discover this, though you don't even realize you've learned a new trick. Today as I was finishing changing your diaper, you grabbed the empty container of wipes, seemingly without making a conscious choice to do so. Since the package was already in your fist, why not bring it to your mouth? Again, I'm not sure if you were thinking, ooh, something to chew on or if you were bringing your hands to your mouth full or empty. You sort of gnawed on the package for a minute and then dropped it.
I should mention here that I debated allowing you to do this the whole time it was happening. Should you put this in your mouth? Should you be making a toy out of diaper wipe packaging? Probably the answer is no on both counts, but I wanted you to realize that you had grabbed something and maneuvered it. Would I prefer that you were grabbing a bottle and bringing that to your mouth? Of course, but one of the most salient lessons of parenthood so far is that nothing really goes the way you think it should.
You are definitely ticklish and break into hearty guffaws when we tickle your neck, your belly or under your arms. We have changed our Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes from me touching your body parts to me now moving your hands so you touch your body. You love this, though you have to be in a specific position to touch your toes and it often doesn't work perfectly. Sometimes this makes you giggle, too.
I got a new (to us) carrier for you, also. It's called a Moby wrap and I like it because it goes over both of my shoulders, instead of the one shouldered sling. We've had it for almost a week and today is really the first day that you've warmed up to it-every other day you'd be happy for about 10 minutes, then frustrated. Today you have taken two naps in it, the second happening right now and has been going on for over an hour. I feel like now you're okay with it...maybe that's a good indication on how long it takes you to get used to things. If Daddy gave you a bottle every night, would you take it after five days? Let's find out.
You are in the beginning stages of grabbing for things, holding them and bringing them to your mouth. It's wonderful to watch you discover this, though you don't even realize you've learned a new trick. Today as I was finishing changing your diaper, you grabbed the empty container of wipes, seemingly without making a conscious choice to do so. Since the package was already in your fist, why not bring it to your mouth? Again, I'm not sure if you were thinking, ooh, something to chew on or if you were bringing your hands to your mouth full or empty. You sort of gnawed on the package for a minute and then dropped it.
I should mention here that I debated allowing you to do this the whole time it was happening. Should you put this in your mouth? Should you be making a toy out of diaper wipe packaging? Probably the answer is no on both counts, but I wanted you to realize that you had grabbed something and maneuvered it. Would I prefer that you were grabbing a bottle and bringing that to your mouth? Of course, but one of the most salient lessons of parenthood so far is that nothing really goes the way you think it should.
You are definitely ticklish and break into hearty guffaws when we tickle your neck, your belly or under your arms. We have changed our Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes from me touching your body parts to me now moving your hands so you touch your body. You love this, though you have to be in a specific position to touch your toes and it often doesn't work perfectly. Sometimes this makes you giggle, too.
I got a new (to us) carrier for you, also. It's called a Moby wrap and I like it because it goes over both of my shoulders, instead of the one shouldered sling. We've had it for almost a week and today is really the first day that you've warmed up to it-every other day you'd be happy for about 10 minutes, then frustrated. Today you have taken two naps in it, the second happening right now and has been going on for over an hour. I feel like now you're okay with it...maybe that's a good indication on how long it takes you to get used to things. If Daddy gave you a bottle every night, would you take it after five days? Let's find out.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
family resemblance
Dear Pea,
Everyone says how much you look like Daddy and you really do! Your face and expressions really look like him. But you don't look like his baby pictures. At all. You look just like my mom.
Spirit Grandma at 3 months
Sweet Pea at 3 months
Crazy, right??
15 weeks old!
Dear Pea,
You are 15 weeks old, AKA three and a half months. You laugh when you find things funny (being tickled, having raspberries blown at you, peek a boo), you smile when someone-anyone-tells you how pretty/cute/adorable/gorgeous you are and you are pretty much over the "I hate everyone except my mama!" phase. Which is to say, you are SO much fun! Not that you weren't fun before, but life just keeps getting more and more so.
You really love to put things in your mouth-I often find that my (your?) sling is damp from being gnawed on after a walk. A couple of days ago you were very frustrated because you couldn't get what you wanted in your mouth. You were sucking your fingers, you were chewing on Sophie and you would nurse for a few seconds, but you were clearly looking for something else. I kept offering you pacifiers-we have several and you hate them. You would take one in your mouth and then make a face like you were eating something disgusting and swat it away. I thought for sure it was the beginning of teething, though this would be extremely early, but it seemed to pass after than episode. But ever since then, when it's time to nurse, you open your mouth so wide and sort of chomp down. You look exactly like you have a huge appetite and are ready to gobble up the world.
You seemed to have had a growth spurt in the past week or so-you seem so much heavier and sturdier. So much more of a baby. That may sound stupid, but it's true: there's definitely a point where newbornness transitions to babyhood and you have reached it. You seem less fragile, more comfortable in your world. More sure of your surroundings and more trusting of all of us who take care of you. I will try to live up to that trust.
You are 15 weeks old, AKA three and a half months. You laugh when you find things funny (being tickled, having raspberries blown at you, peek a boo), you smile when someone-anyone-tells you how pretty/cute/adorable/gorgeous you are and you are pretty much over the "I hate everyone except my mama!" phase. Which is to say, you are SO much fun! Not that you weren't fun before, but life just keeps getting more and more so.
You really love to put things in your mouth-I often find that my (your?) sling is damp from being gnawed on after a walk. A couple of days ago you were very frustrated because you couldn't get what you wanted in your mouth. You were sucking your fingers, you were chewing on Sophie and you would nurse for a few seconds, but you were clearly looking for something else. I kept offering you pacifiers-we have several and you hate them. You would take one in your mouth and then make a face like you were eating something disgusting and swat it away. I thought for sure it was the beginning of teething, though this would be extremely early, but it seemed to pass after than episode. But ever since then, when it's time to nurse, you open your mouth so wide and sort of chomp down. You look exactly like you have a huge appetite and are ready to gobble up the world.
You seemed to have had a growth spurt in the past week or so-you seem so much heavier and sturdier. So much more of a baby. That may sound stupid, but it's true: there's definitely a point where newbornness transitions to babyhood and you have reached it. You seem less fragile, more comfortable in your world. More sure of your surroundings and more trusting of all of us who take care of you. I will try to live up to that trust.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Sophie la Giraffe
Dear Pea,
It seems that these days it is tantamount to child abuse to raise a baby (at least in Brooklyn) without a toy called Sophie. Sophie is a rubber giraffe who squeaks when squeezed, but something about her shape just beckons babies to gnaw on her. Since you are still months away from teething, your Sophie has been waiting patiently for you on our bookshelf, but one of my mama friends told me that her baby girl, who is 5 weeks younger than you, loved hers, so out of the box she came.
Sophie is a French toy, so she only speaks to you in French. We had to get some help from your cousin in Seattle on this one-I know how to say "eat me" by really Sophie wants you to chew on her. And you do! It's amazing! You have never taken to a binkie, we've discussed your bottle-shunning ways...and yet, you will mache sur Sophie. Maybe it's because she asks so nicely?
The other amazing power of Sophie so far is that she has gotten you to reach for things. The first time we brought Sophie out to play, you were intrigued and made your first conscious sweeping for her. Now you will hold her as you bring her to your mouth (!!!) and you've transferred that skill to my breast. I think the books call this "gathering in" (though I really only read one baby book and read is a generous term) and it's right on schedule. You have also begun swiping at your mobile and enjoy watching the hearts spin and sway above you. Hand-eye coordination is developing! So exciting!
It seems that these days it is tantamount to child abuse to raise a baby (at least in Brooklyn) without a toy called Sophie. Sophie is a rubber giraffe who squeaks when squeezed, but something about her shape just beckons babies to gnaw on her. Since you are still months away from teething, your Sophie has been waiting patiently for you on our bookshelf, but one of my mama friends told me that her baby girl, who is 5 weeks younger than you, loved hers, so out of the box she came.
Sophie is a French toy, so she only speaks to you in French. We had to get some help from your cousin in Seattle on this one-I know how to say "eat me" by really Sophie wants you to chew on her. And you do! It's amazing! You have never taken to a binkie, we've discussed your bottle-shunning ways...and yet, you will mache sur Sophie. Maybe it's because she asks so nicely?
The other amazing power of Sophie so far is that she has gotten you to reach for things. The first time we brought Sophie out to play, you were intrigued and made your first conscious sweeping for her. Now you will hold her as you bring her to your mouth (!!!) and you've transferred that skill to my breast. I think the books call this "gathering in" (though I really only read one baby book and read is a generous term) and it's right on schedule. You have also begun swiping at your mobile and enjoy watching the hearts spin and sway above you. Hand-eye coordination is developing! So exciting!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
14 weeks old!
Dear Pea,
It is Passover. We celebrated with all of Daddy's side of the family-it was your first time meeting most of them, and, man, were you a champ. Despite you being tired and screaming for the entire car ride, once at the party, you were wide eyed, alert and charming. Of course, you screamed the whole way home, too, but we thought that you are just a social butterfly and would rather engage with people than sleep.
So, we took you to another little party the following day-my dear friend (and one of the people who helped bring in into this world!) is moving far away and we went to say goodbye. You must have been as sad as I am that she's leaving because you screamed for a good portion of the time. Finally you settled down, so we sat down and had some snacks. And then you pooped on their couch. We decided it was time to leave.
The next day was Easter. It was such a glorious day, little Pea. Last Easter was the day we discovered that you were growing inside of me and we decided to celebrate by taking lots of long walks around our neighborhood. We tried the stroller, which worked for about an hour and a half, then we stopped so you could have a snack, then I wore you the rest of the day. Your great-grand aunt made you a special Easter hat with ears, so you wore that all day.
This week we discovered that you are ticklish! Sometimes when you are getting dressed or undressed or just having your diaper changed, I will run my fingertips over your collarbone and you laugh. A couple of days ago you wouldn't stop laughing. I tickled and tickled and you still laughed every time. Peek-a-boo is also getting to be a hit, though I think you are just responding to our ridiculousness when we exclaim in a high pitched voice "peek a boo!!"
Grammy got you playing with a bottle and you thoroughly enjoy it as a toy, even putting it in your mouth and sucking a bit.
Though later that night when I was away for three and a half hours teaching, Daddy tried to feed you with it and you weren't interested. But we're feeling more confident that maybe you will now that you at least like it and put it in your mouth. The trouble is that you constantly have your fingers in your mouth, so getting a nipple of any kind in there instead is sometimes a challenge. There's a lot of drool in our lives. And you don't mind when we wipe it off your face; this too seems like a game for you and you often smile.
It is Passover. We celebrated with all of Daddy's side of the family-it was your first time meeting most of them, and, man, were you a champ. Despite you being tired and screaming for the entire car ride, once at the party, you were wide eyed, alert and charming. Of course, you screamed the whole way home, too, but we thought that you are just a social butterfly and would rather engage with people than sleep.
So, we took you to another little party the following day-my dear friend (and one of the people who helped bring in into this world!) is moving far away and we went to say goodbye. You must have been as sad as I am that she's leaving because you screamed for a good portion of the time. Finally you settled down, so we sat down and had some snacks. And then you pooped on their couch. We decided it was time to leave.
The next day was Easter. It was such a glorious day, little Pea. Last Easter was the day we discovered that you were growing inside of me and we decided to celebrate by taking lots of long walks around our neighborhood. We tried the stroller, which worked for about an hour and a half, then we stopped so you could have a snack, then I wore you the rest of the day. Your great-grand aunt made you a special Easter hat with ears, so you wore that all day.
This week we discovered that you are ticklish! Sometimes when you are getting dressed or undressed or just having your diaper changed, I will run my fingertips over your collarbone and you laugh. A couple of days ago you wouldn't stop laughing. I tickled and tickled and you still laughed every time. Peek-a-boo is also getting to be a hit, though I think you are just responding to our ridiculousness when we exclaim in a high pitched voice "peek a boo!!"
Grammy got you playing with a bottle and you thoroughly enjoy it as a toy, even putting it in your mouth and sucking a bit.
Though later that night when I was away for three and a half hours teaching, Daddy tried to feed you with it and you weren't interested. But we're feeling more confident that maybe you will now that you at least like it and put it in your mouth. The trouble is that you constantly have your fingers in your mouth, so getting a nipple of any kind in there instead is sometimes a challenge. There's a lot of drool in our lives. And you don't mind when we wipe it off your face; this too seems like a game for you and you often smile.
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