My first father's Day was great!
Had a lovely day with E and JJ. JJ thoughtfully bought me a very nice Elmo Father's Day Card and appropriately, a new coffee maker (an essential kitchen gadget these days) and we had pancakes for breakfast! Got to Skype with JJ's Granny and Grandad, family from the UK and his Uncle and Aunt in Brussels. Shame the postal strike has swallowed up the package we sent to JJ's Grandad, I'm sure it will arrive in due time... As I type our MPs are still "discussing" the situation...
We also got to have some fun in the sun and pool with Grandma and Grandpa and E made the most amazing spare ribs (following Anna and Michael Olsen's dry rub recipe) - these went down very nicely indeed! I even got to dress little JJ in an outfit that almost exactly matched my own (and I had been planning that for weeks in advance, I even ironed my shirt the day before) and he had the courtesy not to poop through it :) Bubba (our new nickname for JJ) is so amazing and I am so proud to be his Dad. I'm also really proud of E and what an amazing job she is doing of caring for JJ. I couldn't wish for a better wife and mother for my son.
The last week or so I've been doing a lot of reflecting on everything that has happened in the past 12 months. It's now a year since we completed our move back to Kingston. The few months following the move were ridiculous and we don't really remember them fondly! But here we are with a cracking "little" baby boy (someone recently called him delicious, I like that), a lovely house and jobs to pay for it all! I am very relieved our leap of faith worked out, for a while it looked like we may have jumped a little too far... In the words of the Zac Brown Band "life is good today" (if a little sleep deprived).
Now we are anxiously awaiting news from Belgium regarding another move back to Kingston that will see JJ being able to spend much more time with his Uncle and Aunt. Fingers crossed!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Firsts
JJ is now just over 4 months old and continuing to thrive. He tips the scales at 17 lbs and is almost 70 cm tall (or as his Grandad puts it; almost 40% of the way to being 6' tall). He's had his latest shots and checkup. He is so strong and stable now. He is also continuing to change at such a fast rate!
We've been able to achieve several firsts in the last month or so:
It is almost exactly a year to the day when we found out little JJ was headed our way and we really were in such a different place. Life has changed so much, we have an entirely new focus, so much has happened. I really could not have been prepared for this but feel like I learn a little more every day about how to be a good Dad (and husband to a new Mum).
It is amazing to see JJ first thing in the morning, when I get home from work or even in the middle of the night and see his big wide smile, little kicks of excitement and usually some accompany noises and drool. The bond I was looking for in the early days (and having trouble with) is absolutely there and nothing (short of the bond I have with E) can match it! The last four months have passed by in a daze. I'm the next four and beyond will pass similarly quickly and he'll be walking and talking before I know it. I hope that I remember as much as possible about this stage in his life, how dependent he is on E and I and how amazing that is.
We've been able to achieve several firsts in the last month or so:
- First milk via a spoon (those of you that know E and I know how important food and dinner time is to us so we're getting JJ ready to start at an early age!)
- First time in the front pack and not the car seat (which he loves as he can see so much and interact with people)
- First experiences in the Exersaucer and Jolly Jumper (again, which he loves, although drool ends up everywhere)
- First visit to the playground (and accompanied slide and swing, I think E enjoyed that part more than JJ)
- First classic thumb sucking (you know, with only the thumb in his mouth and his fingers kind of curled up rather than him trying to shove as many fingers from both hands in his mouth)
- First giggles (although these are hard to earn, E and I must not be very funny)
- First long car ride (see last post)
- First dip in a swimming pool (I think he just thought it was a rather large, not so warm, bath with no bubbles)
It is almost exactly a year to the day when we found out little JJ was headed our way and we really were in such a different place. Life has changed so much, we have an entirely new focus, so much has happened. I really could not have been prepared for this but feel like I learn a little more every day about how to be a good Dad (and husband to a new Mum).
It is amazing to see JJ first thing in the morning, when I get home from work or even in the middle of the night and see his big wide smile, little kicks of excitement and usually some accompany noises and drool. The bond I was looking for in the early days (and having trouble with) is absolutely there and nothing (short of the bond I have with E) can match it! The last four months have passed by in a daze. I'm the next four and beyond will pass similarly quickly and he'll be walking and talking before I know it. I hope that I remember as much as possible about this stage in his life, how dependent he is on E and I and how amazing that is.
About 2 hours...
That is how long JJ is happy for in a car. Toronto is 2.5 hrs away. Yep, pretty much 30 mins of unhappy baby on our first long car ride. It could have been much worse and JJ was a resilient little guy, as soon as we were out of the car and at the hotel he perked up and began charming anyone within sight. he had a good hour or so of sleep at first and then distractions kept him occupied for the next 60 mins but nothing was working for that last half hour. To be fair, he was hungry and it was 8pm at night which is when he is usually nodding off in hid crib.
Once we were at the Hotel our anxiety lowered until we got the room next to two people who must have been hard of hearing (or they just like watching tennis with the volume all the way up and shouting at each other who they think is the best player, Federer or Nadal). We were armed with most of things we use to help get JJ to sleep (or stay asleep) but not a fan, our white noise maker of choice. Despite this, JJ slept pretty well (I can't sat the same for us) in his playpen (which is so much lower than his crib and a bit of a back breaker now he is packing the pounds on). At one point we figured there must be an App for this. There is. It is called White Noise Lite and it is excellent and free. The following night we all drifted off to the sounds of waves lapping on the shore courtesy of my iPhone (and there wasn't any tennis on).
The weekend went really well, we had a fantastic visit with JJ's Great Great Aunt and Uncle (yep, two Greats!) and the Wedding was beautiful. JJ once again charmed everyone he met, including the official photographer who seems to take a lot of pictures of him! The groom's sister had her little boy there too, 1 day younger than JJ and astoundingly a pound heavier! The following day we had a lovely morning walk to get coffee with JJ in his front pack rather than the stroller/car seat combo. He loved it, even the local crazy at Yonge and Bloor that wanted to know all about him didn't phase him. Next was brunch with another group of friends and Jack was on top form (after a very large bowel movement that forced a roadside diaper/outfit change as soon as we arrived at the restaurant). It was really good to see downtown Toronto again, catch up with friends and introduce them to our "little" baby boy. It was also fun to have an excuse to get dressed up a bit.
The trip home was just like the trip to Toronto. I am very thankful we live on the West side of Kingston and get home that bit sooner! At this point I can't fathom a longer trip. Plans to go out East for a holiday this Summer have been rethought and we'll stay close to home. JJ will obviously mature and get more used to travel but I can't even imagine taking him to the UK. It will happen and it will certainly be an adventure but for now we'll stick relatively close to home!
Once we were at the Hotel our anxiety lowered until we got the room next to two people who must have been hard of hearing (or they just like watching tennis with the volume all the way up and shouting at each other who they think is the best player, Federer or Nadal). We were armed with most of things we use to help get JJ to sleep (or stay asleep) but not a fan, our white noise maker of choice. Despite this, JJ slept pretty well (I can't sat the same for us) in his playpen (which is so much lower than his crib and a bit of a back breaker now he is packing the pounds on). At one point we figured there must be an App for this. There is. It is called White Noise Lite and it is excellent and free. The following night we all drifted off to the sounds of waves lapping on the shore courtesy of my iPhone (and there wasn't any tennis on).
The weekend went really well, we had a fantastic visit with JJ's Great Great Aunt and Uncle (yep, two Greats!) and the Wedding was beautiful. JJ once again charmed everyone he met, including the official photographer who seems to take a lot of pictures of him! The groom's sister had her little boy there too, 1 day younger than JJ and astoundingly a pound heavier! The following day we had a lovely morning walk to get coffee with JJ in his front pack rather than the stroller/car seat combo. He loved it, even the local crazy at Yonge and Bloor that wanted to know all about him didn't phase him. Next was brunch with another group of friends and Jack was on top form (after a very large bowel movement that forced a roadside diaper/outfit change as soon as we arrived at the restaurant). It was really good to see downtown Toronto again, catch up with friends and introduce them to our "little" baby boy. It was also fun to have an excuse to get dressed up a bit.
The trip home was just like the trip to Toronto. I am very thankful we live on the West side of Kingston and get home that bit sooner! At this point I can't fathom a longer trip. Plans to go out East for a holiday this Summer have been rethought and we'll stay close to home. JJ will obviously mature and get more used to travel but I can't even imagine taking him to the UK. It will happen and it will certainly be an adventure but for now we'll stick relatively close to home!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
First Night Away
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...
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...
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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