Thanks to crappy weather I got to experience my first night away from E and JJ this week. I was up in Ottawa attending a conference for work and we were all set for E and JJ to come with me and have a lovely time . Then we got several days of cold dreary rain that made us rethink and I ended up going alone.
On the drive up I kept thinking "should I be happy about this?" A night off from looking after JJ, uninterrupted sleep and the chance to chat with other adults about something other than babies... Funny thing was, I wasn't happy, I was nervous (and not just for how E would handle having to look after JJ through the night after having him all day) and uncomfortable.
The conference distracted me well enough until right around when I would be having bath time with JJ and then it got worse. I just hoped he would be good for E and Grandma and go to sleep easily. Lots of texting and calling during the (slightly crazy) conference banquet ensued. This accomplished at least two things, I felt a bit better having talked to E and I got out of some group dancing and conga lines (seems Research Administrator's are a repressed bunch and free wine helps them shed their inhibitions). I also took comfort from seeing the other parents of young babies/kids pacing up and down outside the conference room. We acknowledged each other (nod of the head, a little smile), we knew what we were all doing, ducking out during breaks in the meal to wish someone good night or get updates on how the day went.
Bed time rolled round and I just couldn't settle. I thought for sure that I would just pass out and wake fully rested. Nope, I just couldn't get comfy and thought that every little noise would be my phone ringing and E calling to say JJ was being fussy and not sleeping. In the end it went fine, E had support from Grandma and everyone got through the night without any incidents. It was nice to hear JJ on the phone in the morning and I knew I'd be home later that day to resume my duties and give E a break.
Even though JJ woke three times last night I got much better sleep at home than at the hotel. Its just nice to be home with my family, in my own bed. Next trip, bad weather or not we're going as a family! The experience should be good for JJ... Actually, we'll get a nice trial run when we visit Toronto later this month for a wedding and visiting relatives...
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Waffles and a walk
E's first Mother's Day was perfect!
Must admit I was a bit nervous but got some great tips on gifts and I had a simple plan, let Erin enjoy the weekend as much as possible! I have to admit I also wanted it to be fantastic so that I get a good first Father's Day too ;)
On the Day Jack slept really well and even gave Mommy a bit of a sleep-in. We then had some family time on the couch and JJ let me know where he'd hidden his Mommy's gifts (resourceful little guy). E was delighted with the choices JJ and I had made and I set to work on making waffles with her new Waffle Iron. They came out perfectly and tasted great with some syrup, banana and toasted walnuts!
We all got out for a sunny walk then set about prepping Mother's Day dinner with Grandma and Grandpa, probably the fanciest food we've cooked since JJ arrived. Grapefruit and avocado salad followed by a very cheesy and rich asparagus and sundried tomato lasagne and a delicious poached pear, ginger snap and cream cheese dessert (Thank you Grandma!). Grandpa even washed up! (and we even trusted him with the good dishes too, I know E is very happy to have a place for her Grandmother's china at our new house)
We also got to Skype with JJ's Granny and Grandad and Uncle and Aunt-equivalent and the little photo books we made for Grandma and Granny went over very well, Thank you Picaboo!
I made sure E didn't have to do too much and I did my best to give her a break over the weekend, she even sneaked in a pedicure! Everything just came together over the weekend. The sun was out, the annoying little bugs that had surrounded our house for the past few weeks went away and we were very happy and relaxed (probably because JJ was also happy, relaxed and was sleeping really well - only waking once a night and napping like a champ!). It was a good day for some Zac Brown Band on the stereo.
Mother's Day weekend was a chance for me to say thank you to E for being such a loving and dedicated Mommy to our little baby. She has thrown herself into the role with everything she has (not surprising for those of you that know E well) and that is reflected in how well JJ is doing. I would be exhausted if I was putting in that much time, energy and commitment! Her pride in raising JJ to be such a wonderful little boy is very well deserved!
All-in-all, E decided it was the best weekend she's had since we got married so I guess JJ and I nailed our first Mother's Day :)
Must admit I was a bit nervous but got some great tips on gifts and I had a simple plan, let Erin enjoy the weekend as much as possible! I have to admit I also wanted it to be fantastic so that I get a good first Father's Day too ;)
On the Day Jack slept really well and even gave Mommy a bit of a sleep-in. We then had some family time on the couch and JJ let me know where he'd hidden his Mommy's gifts (resourceful little guy). E was delighted with the choices JJ and I had made and I set to work on making waffles with her new Waffle Iron. They came out perfectly and tasted great with some syrup, banana and toasted walnuts!
We all got out for a sunny walk then set about prepping Mother's Day dinner with Grandma and Grandpa, probably the fanciest food we've cooked since JJ arrived. Grapefruit and avocado salad followed by a very cheesy and rich asparagus and sundried tomato lasagne and a delicious poached pear, ginger snap and cream cheese dessert (Thank you Grandma!). Grandpa even washed up! (and we even trusted him with the good dishes too, I know E is very happy to have a place for her Grandmother's china at our new house)
We also got to Skype with JJ's Granny and Grandad and Uncle and Aunt-equivalent and the little photo books we made for Grandma and Granny went over very well, Thank you Picaboo!
I made sure E didn't have to do too much and I did my best to give her a break over the weekend, she even sneaked in a pedicure! Everything just came together over the weekend. The sun was out, the annoying little bugs that had surrounded our house for the past few weeks went away and we were very happy and relaxed (probably because JJ was also happy, relaxed and was sleeping really well - only waking once a night and napping like a champ!). It was a good day for some Zac Brown Band on the stereo.
Mother's Day weekend was a chance for me to say thank you to E for being such a loving and dedicated Mommy to our little baby. She has thrown herself into the role with everything she has (not surprising for those of you that know E well) and that is reflected in how well JJ is doing. I would be exhausted if I was putting in that much time, energy and commitment! Her pride in raising JJ to be such a wonderful little boy is very well deserved!
All-in-all, E decided it was the best weekend she's had since we got married so I guess JJ and I nailed our first Mother's Day :)
Monday, May 9, 2011
Lucky little guy...
At almost 12 weeks of age JJ has already managed to do something E and I never did. With my parents visiting from England he has now met (and charmed) all four of his grandparents.
E and I very much loved our grandparents and we are so happy that both sets will play such a big role in JJ's life. Grandma and Grandpa have a geographical advantage but, thanks to Skype, Granny and Grandad will be able to interact with JJ on a regular basis. Whoever invented Skype should get a big pat on the back in my opinion! (update - I see Microsoft have just bought Skype for US$8.5 billion, that's a pretty good pat on the back!)
I could not get over my emotions when I saw Mum and Dad meet JJ for the first time and get to know him over the course of their trip. It made me realise I hadn't properly thought through how amazing it must be for E to see her parents with JJ so frequently (and how hard it must have been for my parents to not get to meet him until he was 10 weeks old). Again, Skype helps a lot and as my parents said, JJ will know their voices and recognise their faces and be able to talk to them regularly as he grows up. Its also great to be able to snap pictures of JJ and send them from our phones straight to their email in-boxes (and the string of amusing comments that come back in reply).
Considering a few years ago E and I had promised gran-kittens and possibly grand-puppies but nothing more I am sure both sets of grandparents are very happy to have a grandson! It certainly looks like it. I think I am safe to use the words proud and loving to describe their emotions! E and I look forward to seeing JJ learn valuable things from his grandparents, and the free babysitting! Not sure when ice cream Wednesday with Grandpa will start but I'm sure JJ will enjoy it...
Now that Granny and Grandad are back in the UK it is great to know that they know JJ, know our routine, know his little ways and that Grandad blowing raspberries can be heard every Sunday morning. Saying goodbye to them was harder than usual this trip (for obvious reasons) but we know they will be back and we'll visit the UK next year. For now weekly Skype, emails, picture messages and this blog will keep us connected.
JJ is lucky because he not only has parents that love and care for him but four grandparents that do too. E and I are lucky because we get to share all of that love and know that we've made our parents incredibly happy :)
E and I very much loved our grandparents and we are so happy that both sets will play such a big role in JJ's life. Grandma and Grandpa have a geographical advantage but, thanks to Skype, Granny and Grandad will be able to interact with JJ on a regular basis. Whoever invented Skype should get a big pat on the back in my opinion! (update - I see Microsoft have just bought Skype for US$8.5 billion, that's a pretty good pat on the back!)
I could not get over my emotions when I saw Mum and Dad meet JJ for the first time and get to know him over the course of their trip. It made me realise I hadn't properly thought through how amazing it must be for E to see her parents with JJ so frequently (and how hard it must have been for my parents to not get to meet him until he was 10 weeks old). Again, Skype helps a lot and as my parents said, JJ will know their voices and recognise their faces and be able to talk to them regularly as he grows up. Its also great to be able to snap pictures of JJ and send them from our phones straight to their email in-boxes (and the string of amusing comments that come back in reply).
Considering a few years ago E and I had promised gran-kittens and possibly grand-puppies but nothing more I am sure both sets of grandparents are very happy to have a grandson! It certainly looks like it. I think I am safe to use the words proud and loving to describe their emotions! E and I look forward to seeing JJ learn valuable things from his grandparents, and the free babysitting! Not sure when ice cream Wednesday with Grandpa will start but I'm sure JJ will enjoy it...
Now that Granny and Grandad are back in the UK it is great to know that they know JJ, know our routine, know his little ways and that Grandad blowing raspberries can be heard every Sunday morning. Saying goodbye to them was harder than usual this trip (for obvious reasons) but we know they will be back and we'll visit the UK next year. For now weekly Skype, emails, picture messages and this blog will keep us connected.
JJ is lucky because he not only has parents that love and care for him but four grandparents that do too. E and I are lucky because we get to share all of that love and know that we've made our parents incredibly happy :)
Friday, May 6, 2011
Changing so fast
Wow, three weeks since my last post. So much has happened and JJ has changed so much.
He is now 12 weeks old, over 15 lbs and last night was a big milestone - his first night in his own room! He did pretty well (considering his sleep patterns have been all over the place lately) and his room looks great now that all of his furniture and things are in there. Must admit it was very odd to go to bed last night and not have to worry about waking him up. Our bedroom now looks enormous without the crib in it. Of course, we have further to go to tend to him (and have to get used to the white noise of the baby monitor rather than the white noise of the humidifier) but we hope that he will sleep sounder without having to share a room with us (well, his Daddy who sometimes stays up playing video games and has a tendency to snore now and then).
JJ has added to his skill set quite considerably:
1) Holding his head up
2) Supporting himself when lying on the floor
3) Trying to sit up
4) Little squeals of delight
5) Mimicking (or at least trying to mimic) the silly noises E and I make
6) Really paying attention to his surroundings and following objects/people
7) Turning towards voices he recognises
I could go on.....proud Dad, eh?
All the above have made JJ quite the fun little guy to interact with.
I recently had 9 days out of 12 with him (thanks to time off for my parents visiting, JJ's visit with all of his Grandparents went so well, more on that in my next post!) and I cannot express how amazing it was. I feel like the bond between us has really grown. It's so rewarding to see him smile back at you or to be able to cheer him up when he's a bit grumpy. Knowing more of his signs and cues makes looking after him that bit easier. Bath time is going great thanks to him being easily distracted by silly noises (especially blowing raspberries - thanks Grandad!). I love that he will turn to wherever the sound of my voice is coming from when I get home from work (assuming he is awake and not feeding) and that I can relax and calm him down when he's upset (well, usually). Having him fall asleep in my arms while rocking or bouncing is so special.
I also have to tip my hat to E. Being with him and looking after him 24/7 was exhausting (even with us sharing the load) so how she gets through Monday to Friday I don't know! Being able to give E help, support and a bit of a break felt good and I got a new sense of appreciation for how dedicated and loving she is as a Mom.
During these few day I noticed a big difference between how E and I dress JJ. I love him to look like a little man (or in an outfit very similar to something would wear) while E wants him to look like a baby (which after all he is, all that hair just makes him look much older). E wants to hold on to these precious baby days and I can't wait for him to be running around outside! The geek in me already has his Father's Day outfit planned to match what I'll wear :)
Of course JJ and I get to treat E to her first Mother's Day this weekend. I hope JJ managed to get out to the shops and buy something nice for his Mommy ;)
He is now 12 weeks old, over 15 lbs and last night was a big milestone - his first night in his own room! He did pretty well (considering his sleep patterns have been all over the place lately) and his room looks great now that all of his furniture and things are in there. Must admit it was very odd to go to bed last night and not have to worry about waking him up. Our bedroom now looks enormous without the crib in it. Of course, we have further to go to tend to him (and have to get used to the white noise of the baby monitor rather than the white noise of the humidifier) but we hope that he will sleep sounder without having to share a room with us (well, his Daddy who sometimes stays up playing video games and has a tendency to snore now and then).
JJ has added to his skill set quite considerably:
1) Holding his head up
2) Supporting himself when lying on the floor
3) Trying to sit up
4) Little squeals of delight
5) Mimicking (or at least trying to mimic) the silly noises E and I make
6) Really paying attention to his surroundings and following objects/people
7) Turning towards voices he recognises
I could go on.....proud Dad, eh?
All the above have made JJ quite the fun little guy to interact with.
I recently had 9 days out of 12 with him (thanks to time off for my parents visiting, JJ's visit with all of his Grandparents went so well, more on that in my next post!) and I cannot express how amazing it was. I feel like the bond between us has really grown. It's so rewarding to see him smile back at you or to be able to cheer him up when he's a bit grumpy. Knowing more of his signs and cues makes looking after him that bit easier. Bath time is going great thanks to him being easily distracted by silly noises (especially blowing raspberries - thanks Grandad!). I love that he will turn to wherever the sound of my voice is coming from when I get home from work (assuming he is awake and not feeding) and that I can relax and calm him down when he's upset (well, usually). Having him fall asleep in my arms while rocking or bouncing is so special.
I also have to tip my hat to E. Being with him and looking after him 24/7 was exhausting (even with us sharing the load) so how she gets through Monday to Friday I don't know! Being able to give E help, support and a bit of a break felt good and I got a new sense of appreciation for how dedicated and loving she is as a Mom.
During these few day I noticed a big difference between how E and I dress JJ. I love him to look like a little man (or in an outfit very similar to something would wear) while E wants him to look like a baby (which after all he is, all that hair just makes him look much older). E wants to hold on to these precious baby days and I can't wait for him to be running around outside! The geek in me already has his Father's Day outfit planned to match what I'll wear :)
Of course JJ and I get to treat E to her first Mother's Day this weekend. I hope JJ managed to get out to the shops and buy something nice for his Mommy ;)
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