So JJ is now 2 months old (actually more like 9 weeks and a day) and has had his first check up. He's a happy and healthy baby, over 2' long and 13 lbs 13 oz! That means he has demoted Buddy to being the smallest member of our family. Amazingly, Cleo is still heavier than JJ but give it a couple of weeks and I'm sure he'll overtake her too...
JJ got his first shots yesterday and handled it really quite well. Well, as well as a baby can handle two nurses jabbing him in both (quite meaty) thighs simultaneously with needles! A brief pause before a cry of pain was the result but as soon as I picked him up he settled right down again. Must admit I felt pretty chuffed that he was so calm so quickly. Actually, yesterday evening was one of the best times I have had with our little guy. He was very content to hang out in my arms for most of the evening. I even got him soothed when he started to feel the ache from his jabs. He just looked me straight in the eyes, took on a sleepy little face and stopped crying. It's as if he decided, yes, I am safe in my Daddy's arms. That was pretty special.
JJ has also found his voice this week. He is cooing and ahhhing, trying to mimic what E and I are saying. It's so much fun to listen to him and hear him try to express himself.
Another skill he is picking up (literally) is grabbing things. Looks like he has made the connection between his hand and his environment. I'm also sure he has picked up his Mom's trait of twiddling his hair.
Last weekend we hosted a reunion party for the couples we went to pre-natal classes with. The thought of eight babies and assorted parents initially filled me with dread (and made me wonder why I'd offered that we'd host) but it went really well. The babies were all so different and amazingly well behaved. Some small, some big, some skinny, some pudgy, some with colic, some happy little things, some bald, some hairy. Couldn't help but feel that JJ looked like the oldest and most grown up (obviously we thought he was the cutest but then all parents do don't they?) - his hair really ages him and where ever we go people think he is much older than his 9 weeks.
All the parents got to share stories, exchange tips and tricks and chat about the amazing past few weeks we'd all been through. I was nice to know that many couples had been through the same emotions and difficulties that we faced. Tip of the hat to whoever suggested bouncing while sitting on an exercise ball to soothe a baby, works like a charm and is less tiring than standing up to do it! It is probably good for me too...
Coming up we've got friends coming from Toronto this weekend and JJ will finally get to meet his other Grandparents (the British ones) next week, can't wait! Lots more good times with family and friends and I might be able to sneak in a round of golf with my Dad soon...
How long will it be before I can get a cut down 7 iron into JJ's hands? Actually, maybe I want to hold off on that, ups the chances of mayhem and destruction...
Friday, April 15, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Penny dropped
This blog hasn't turned out like I expected, but then neither has fatherhood. I was expecting it to be fun-filled and all about the amusing things that happened, people would love it, I'd get a book deal and eventually a movie out of it (actually, I think that was Julie and Julia wasn't it?). Instead, this blog has become a very honest and open account of my development as a Dad and a very useful way for me to reflect on how things are going.
I have to admit that for a while I was a bit disengaged. The initial euphoria of JJ's arrival into the world had worn off with my return to work and general feeling of not being very natural around him. Only seeing JJ in the evenings when he is fussy and tired and trying to get night time feeds with a bottle going left me feeling like JJ and I didn't have much of a connection. I was always comparing how JJ was with E and how he was with me. It must be something all parents that go out to work deal with. Your baby has an incredibly strong bond with it's Mother and a much more casual one with you. The time you have with your little one is incredibly important and can't be wasted or ignored but when it isn't all baby napping in your arms or playing happily on the playmat you begin to wonder if you are being of any use (well I did).
The last week or so have been so much better. Having time with him at the weekend when he is a happy and contented little guy also really helps. Going for a walk after work with E and JJ followed by bath time with Daddy is going great and I'm usually the one to get him down for the night too. Just seeing him smile back and coo at me makes me so much more patient when it comes to those not-yet-easy middle of the night feeds. I really do love the little guy now. I know a few more of his ways, am getting better at reading his body language and feel much more connected to him. This positive feedback gives me more confidence which makes me more relaxed and so on.
Feeding with the bottle is still tricky but as E pointed out; breastfeeding took a a few weeks of trying 12-14 times a day to become natural. At the rate of 1 bottle a night that puts me at 8-9 months from being good at it! I'm sure it won't take that long, JJ is growing, learning and getting more comfortable. A new bottle seems to help somewhat and JJ's Auntie showed us a great massaging technique that really soothes him when he's unsettled. Actually, JJ was really taken with his Auntie and Uncle and I was able to draw motivation from my Brother-in-law who, like me, had very little baby experience but took to JJ immediately.
This past weekend was fantastic. Very relaxed, no plans and a lot of time with my son. E managed a few naps, we cooked some lovely pork chops on the BBQ, the weather was warm(ish) and sunny, we relaxed in front of the cooking shows on PBS. My favourite was Saturday afternoon: I had JJ asleep in my arms, E was napping on the couch and one of our cats was being thoroughly entertained by a dried leaf blowing around on the deck. Simple pleasures. The fatherhood penny has indeed dropped...
Speaking of pennies dropping, I'm on the look out for a cool littler piggy bank for JJ. That spare change for taking empties back to the Beer Store won't be buying me coffee anymore. From now on it's JJ's.
I have to admit that for a while I was a bit disengaged. The initial euphoria of JJ's arrival into the world had worn off with my return to work and general feeling of not being very natural around him. Only seeing JJ in the evenings when he is fussy and tired and trying to get night time feeds with a bottle going left me feeling like JJ and I didn't have much of a connection. I was always comparing how JJ was with E and how he was with me. It must be something all parents that go out to work deal with. Your baby has an incredibly strong bond with it's Mother and a much more casual one with you. The time you have with your little one is incredibly important and can't be wasted or ignored but when it isn't all baby napping in your arms or playing happily on the playmat you begin to wonder if you are being of any use (well I did).
The last week or so have been so much better. Having time with him at the weekend when he is a happy and contented little guy also really helps. Going for a walk after work with E and JJ followed by bath time with Daddy is going great and I'm usually the one to get him down for the night too. Just seeing him smile back and coo at me makes me so much more patient when it comes to those not-yet-easy middle of the night feeds. I really do love the little guy now. I know a few more of his ways, am getting better at reading his body language and feel much more connected to him. This positive feedback gives me more confidence which makes me more relaxed and so on.
Feeding with the bottle is still tricky but as E pointed out; breastfeeding took a a few weeks of trying 12-14 times a day to become natural. At the rate of 1 bottle a night that puts me at 8-9 months from being good at it! I'm sure it won't take that long, JJ is growing, learning and getting more comfortable. A new bottle seems to help somewhat and JJ's Auntie showed us a great massaging technique that really soothes him when he's unsettled. Actually, JJ was really taken with his Auntie and Uncle and I was able to draw motivation from my Brother-in-law who, like me, had very little baby experience but took to JJ immediately.
This past weekend was fantastic. Very relaxed, no plans and a lot of time with my son. E managed a few naps, we cooked some lovely pork chops on the BBQ, the weather was warm(ish) and sunny, we relaxed in front of the cooking shows on PBS. My favourite was Saturday afternoon: I had JJ asleep in my arms, E was napping on the couch and one of our cats was being thoroughly entertained by a dried leaf blowing around on the deck. Simple pleasures. The fatherhood penny has indeed dropped...
Speaking of pennies dropping, I'm on the look out for a cool littler piggy bank for JJ. That spare change for taking empties back to the Beer Store won't be buying me coffee anymore. From now on it's JJ's.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Cute baby, he's what 2 or 3 months?
JJ continues to grow fast, he's now 62 cm tall and 12 lbs 5 oz! That has people who meet him pegging his age at 2 or 3 months not 6 weeks! Oddly enough, he seems to be a regular sized 6 week old baby on the bottom half and a 3-6 month old baby on the top half...
Our follow up with the Midwives is now complete and Jack will now be cared for under our Family Doctor (we are lucky to have a great one, in fact we are lucky to have a Family doctor at all in Kingston). All of the staff at Community Midwives were fantastic. We got to know 4 midwives in total and each had something that we really liked. We will definitely be going back when JJ's little brother or sister comes along. We appreciated their "informed choice" approach. They had no problem that we wanted a hospital birth from day one and we were not interested hollistic, homeopathic stuff.
All the books we've read always mention things get better at 6 weeks. Well, JJ seems to have read that too. He is sleeping great (only 1 feed during the night), growing, happy, smiling and cooing. He has taken straight to his Aunt and Uncle and does well when we take him places. He did have a bit of a shell shocked look on his face after we brought him to a restaurant last night (it was possibly a bit much for him) but it didn't throw him off his routine.
Now the only issue we have is getting him to do well with a bottle so we can share feeding duties. He was doing great but now he gets fussy and upset part way through. As this is one of my roles as Dad I'm keen to make it easy for both of us. Bath time is going great, settling him down for bed goes well too. It's just the 1 am feed that causes (me and JJ I imagine) stress. Maybe we'll change the time, maybe we'll change the bottle. I know this will get resolved and JJ and I will get the hang of it but it is difficult.
I'm realising a few things as a new Dad. First, I'd never planned or got myself ready for looking after such a young baby. I'd focused on the toddler stage and with very little experience of newborns, I felt completely useless. Nothing came naturally really. I focused on getting things done to help E but the best help would have been getting more involved with JJ earlier on. Second, once I returned to work I was now spending much less time around JJ and my chances to gain experience were fewer and further between. Again, I defaulted to getting things done, reasoning that this was a positive contribution to our family but really it meant my bond with JJ was getting thinner.
The solution: re-prioritise, not be so "cool-Dad" and spend quality time with JJ. As I mentioned above, bath time is now Daddy time. So is putting him to bed at night and play time when I get home from work. I can see the results already. It is very heart-warming to know he looks around for me when he hears my voice after I've been gone for a while and I'm much happier now I know how to make him smile (basically give in to baby-talk and general sillyness, something I was reluctant to do).
It would be great to have some more family leave at this stage. For now, I'll settle for a long weekend with our little family and his Auntie and Uncle. This weekend we're off to see how Maple Syrup is made. It'll be our first day out and fingers crossed JJ does well...
Our follow up with the Midwives is now complete and Jack will now be cared for under our Family Doctor (we are lucky to have a great one, in fact we are lucky to have a Family doctor at all in Kingston). All of the staff at Community Midwives were fantastic. We got to know 4 midwives in total and each had something that we really liked. We will definitely be going back when JJ's little brother or sister comes along. We appreciated their "informed choice" approach. They had no problem that we wanted a hospital birth from day one and we were not interested hollistic, homeopathic stuff.
All the books we've read always mention things get better at 6 weeks. Well, JJ seems to have read that too. He is sleeping great (only 1 feed during the night), growing, happy, smiling and cooing. He has taken straight to his Aunt and Uncle and does well when we take him places. He did have a bit of a shell shocked look on his face after we brought him to a restaurant last night (it was possibly a bit much for him) but it didn't throw him off his routine.
Now the only issue we have is getting him to do well with a bottle so we can share feeding duties. He was doing great but now he gets fussy and upset part way through. As this is one of my roles as Dad I'm keen to make it easy for both of us. Bath time is going great, settling him down for bed goes well too. It's just the 1 am feed that causes (me and JJ I imagine) stress. Maybe we'll change the time, maybe we'll change the bottle. I know this will get resolved and JJ and I will get the hang of it but it is difficult.
I'm realising a few things as a new Dad. First, I'd never planned or got myself ready for looking after such a young baby. I'd focused on the toddler stage and with very little experience of newborns, I felt completely useless. Nothing came naturally really. I focused on getting things done to help E but the best help would have been getting more involved with JJ earlier on. Second, once I returned to work I was now spending much less time around JJ and my chances to gain experience were fewer and further between. Again, I defaulted to getting things done, reasoning that this was a positive contribution to our family but really it meant my bond with JJ was getting thinner.
The solution: re-prioritise, not be so "cool-Dad" and spend quality time with JJ. As I mentioned above, bath time is now Daddy time. So is putting him to bed at night and play time when I get home from work. I can see the results already. It is very heart-warming to know he looks around for me when he hears my voice after I've been gone for a while and I'm much happier now I know how to make him smile (basically give in to baby-talk and general sillyness, something I was reluctant to do).
It would be great to have some more family leave at this stage. For now, I'll settle for a long weekend with our little family and his Auntie and Uncle. This weekend we're off to see how Maple Syrup is made. It'll be our first day out and fingers crossed JJ does well...
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Like a hibernating bear...
We're five weeks into our adventures with JJ and I'm kind of amused by some of our behaviour...
Whenever we put JJ down to sleep we tiptoe away so we don't startle him or wake him up. Its as if we've just lulled a large, dangerous, and hungry bear to go back into hibernation. There is usually some sort of hand signal directed at the other person, a thumbs up, a not so sure he'll probably wake up as soon as I get in bed gesture or maybe just a relieved sigh and rub of bleary eyes. We're usually holding our breath too. In the evening, lights are turned down low or off, the TV is barely audible. I try and make as little sound as possible getting ready for work in the morning.
The silly thing is he can sleep through the excavation of two lots behind our house (including dumping of rock into a truck) and doze off while we navigate potholed Kingston roads. Mind you, he can tell when we are at a stop light or going slowly (or he already has road rage...).
Of course, when he goes down first time and sleeps deeply for 4 hours you feel like the champion baby-whisperer, able to sooth and calm him in any situation. Then there are the times when he just cries and cries. Then cries a little more. Then he goes quiet, then he cries more. I'm sure he once just passed out from crying and fell right to sleep in my arms. Or I inadvertently found a puts-baby-to-sleep pressure point...
We are making good progress. Things are generally "better". We are both finding him more and more entertaining and interesting (and yes, even more lovable). JJ is getting used to me feeding him at night with a bottle (his early attempts resembled a person with bronchitis entering a milk chugging contest) and I'm enjoying that time much more. He is more alert, can see further and hold his attention on random objects. And is he ever getting big and strong! We've already filled a good size box of really cute clothes that he has outgrown.
I'm sure he is starting to smile at us not just when he is pleased with his latest attempt to pass wind. We've even had a couple of quiet bath times. My new favourite thing to do is give him a mohawk while drying his hair, it stays in for hours. It will be time for a haircut soon though, he's straying into redneck mullet territory. Perhaps we can find him a baby-sized trucker cap and convert his crib into a trailer...
Looking forward to JJ meeting more of his family this week and having a proud uncle and aunt-equivalent to share caring duties with!
Whenever we put JJ down to sleep we tiptoe away so we don't startle him or wake him up. Its as if we've just lulled a large, dangerous, and hungry bear to go back into hibernation. There is usually some sort of hand signal directed at the other person, a thumbs up, a not so sure he'll probably wake up as soon as I get in bed gesture or maybe just a relieved sigh and rub of bleary eyes. We're usually holding our breath too. In the evening, lights are turned down low or off, the TV is barely audible. I try and make as little sound as possible getting ready for work in the morning.
The silly thing is he can sleep through the excavation of two lots behind our house (including dumping of rock into a truck) and doze off while we navigate potholed Kingston roads. Mind you, he can tell when we are at a stop light or going slowly (or he already has road rage...).
Of course, when he goes down first time and sleeps deeply for 4 hours you feel like the champion baby-whisperer, able to sooth and calm him in any situation. Then there are the times when he just cries and cries. Then cries a little more. Then he goes quiet, then he cries more. I'm sure he once just passed out from crying and fell right to sleep in my arms. Or I inadvertently found a puts-baby-to-sleep pressure point...
We are making good progress. Things are generally "better". We are both finding him more and more entertaining and interesting (and yes, even more lovable). JJ is getting used to me feeding him at night with a bottle (his early attempts resembled a person with bronchitis entering a milk chugging contest) and I'm enjoying that time much more. He is more alert, can see further and hold his attention on random objects. And is he ever getting big and strong! We've already filled a good size box of really cute clothes that he has outgrown.
I'm sure he is starting to smile at us not just when he is pleased with his latest attempt to pass wind. We've even had a couple of quiet bath times. My new favourite thing to do is give him a mohawk while drying his hair, it stays in for hours. It will be time for a haircut soon though, he's straying into redneck mullet territory. Perhaps we can find him a baby-sized trucker cap and convert his crib into a trailer...
Looking forward to JJ meeting more of his family this week and having a proud uncle and aunt-equivalent to share caring duties with!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
TMI?
I've been thinking that there may be too much information out there in the world-wide-intra-web-net...
As a result of a tricky growth spurt phase, E and I have been making use of a number of resources related to newborns. We are very fortunate to have our caregivers following up for 6 weeks postpartum, access to a Public Health Breast Feeding Buddy and their Babytalk line, friends who have recently had kids and of course Family. We're also reading various books and websites. Trouble is, sometimes (well a lot of the time) I've been getting confused from one source to the next. What is normal, what to expect (it seems the unexpected is what you should expect), what we "should" be doing...
As a scientist at heart I'm trying to get to the bottom of this newborn raising lark. I'm starting to realise that that won't happen. There isn't a set answer or way of doing things. We can go by our instincts or by what a book says but there is nothing like talking to someone and hearing that everything is fine and normal. So far we've realised that we are falling into a few "Accidental Parenting" traps (as one book labels them) and it is best to deal with these earlier rather than later.
For example, we needed a few closet door handles to match what we already have (I've mentioned we're kind of perfectionists haven't I?). The nearest place that stocked them was 45 mins away so off we went with JJ in tow one Saturday afternoon. He let us know by the time we got home that he didn't really care if the handles on his closet matched the ones in the rest of the house!
We're trying out a few things and seem to be getting results. We like the approach a particular book uses, its logical to us and sets up some basics that we can use daily - wash, rinse and repeat if you will. It is appealing to the science/critical thinking side of our nature and we'll see how we go.
Of course at 3am when JJ won't settle after a long feed and I can't remember what I should be doing and where I read it I get a bit frustrated. Too much information! Then you remember he is only this little thing that doesn't realise that the arm he just bopped himself on the nose with is actually attached to him, he just has no control over it. He really has pretty simple needs and simple things will help him.
Whatever E and I are doing, JJ is thriving physically. As he reaches 4 weeks/1 month of age (already!) he is now tipping the scales (and peeing on them at our last visit to the midwives) at 10 lbs, 12 oz! He's outgrowing clothes, getting longer and stronger.
For now, we'll keep reading and asking our questions. Everyday seems a little bit easier and we have a little more confidence. Maybe we are being too hard on ourselves to be perfect parents. In the end, we'll find out what works best for the three of us.
After all, humans have been successfully having kids for a while now and the internet wasn't that good pre-1995! I understand people used "books" from a "library" or spoke to people "in person" or just went with their intuition. Imagine...
As a result of a tricky growth spurt phase, E and I have been making use of a number of resources related to newborns. We are very fortunate to have our caregivers following up for 6 weeks postpartum, access to a Public Health Breast Feeding Buddy and their Babytalk line, friends who have recently had kids and of course Family. We're also reading various books and websites. Trouble is, sometimes (well a lot of the time) I've been getting confused from one source to the next. What is normal, what to expect (it seems the unexpected is what you should expect), what we "should" be doing...
As a scientist at heart I'm trying to get to the bottom of this newborn raising lark. I'm starting to realise that that won't happen. There isn't a set answer or way of doing things. We can go by our instincts or by what a book says but there is nothing like talking to someone and hearing that everything is fine and normal. So far we've realised that we are falling into a few "Accidental Parenting" traps (as one book labels them) and it is best to deal with these earlier rather than later.
For example, we needed a few closet door handles to match what we already have (I've mentioned we're kind of perfectionists haven't I?). The nearest place that stocked them was 45 mins away so off we went with JJ in tow one Saturday afternoon. He let us know by the time we got home that he didn't really care if the handles on his closet matched the ones in the rest of the house!
We're trying out a few things and seem to be getting results. We like the approach a particular book uses, its logical to us and sets up some basics that we can use daily - wash, rinse and repeat if you will. It is appealing to the science/critical thinking side of our nature and we'll see how we go.
Of course at 3am when JJ won't settle after a long feed and I can't remember what I should be doing and where I read it I get a bit frustrated. Too much information! Then you remember he is only this little thing that doesn't realise that the arm he just bopped himself on the nose with is actually attached to him, he just has no control over it. He really has pretty simple needs and simple things will help him.
Whatever E and I are doing, JJ is thriving physically. As he reaches 4 weeks/1 month of age (already!) he is now tipping the scales (and peeing on them at our last visit to the midwives) at 10 lbs, 12 oz! He's outgrowing clothes, getting longer and stronger.
For now, we'll keep reading and asking our questions. Everyday seems a little bit easier and we have a little more confidence. Maybe we are being too hard on ourselves to be perfect parents. In the end, we'll find out what works best for the three of us.
After all, humans have been successfully having kids for a while now and the internet wasn't that good pre-1995! I understand people used "books" from a "library" or spoke to people "in person" or just went with their intuition. Imagine...
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Our little feeding machine
JJ may be the smallest member of our household (both cats have him beat by a couple of pounds) but he is feeding like I would at a $5 all you can eat 24 hour buffet! We're going to try and weight him using Wii Fit tomorrow. While we're at it we'll weight the cats too! Maybe I'll add the numbers to that Excel file I'm working on...
He is presumably going through his 3 week growth spurt (after all, three weeks ago exactly E was resting before the final push) but it is bordering on the ridiculous. No sooner has E stopped feeding him then he is rooting around for more. We both know this is only temporary but it doesn't stop me from feeling pretty useless when I hold him and all he wants is more milk.
He has currently mastered 4 activities:
1) eat
2) pee/poop (so he has more room to eat)
3) sleep (so he is rested enough to eat) and
4) dream (about eating)
At least I can help with number 2 (pun intended). It's actually impressive how much exertion he puts into removing waste from his body. He's going to strain something one day.... You can tell what he is up to from a few rooms away. He also has impeccable timing, he knows exactly when I'm just about done and he decides that he isn't. Our record so far is 4 diapers for one change! My changes are far from the rapid efficiency of a Formula 1 pit crew that I am striving for. Currently, I'm happy if he doesn't pee partway through and I don't have to change his clothes.
Thankfully, the feeding machine shuts down for a few hours overnight (except for one night when bedtime ended up being 6am) so E can get some rest. Our bodies are definitely adapting to less sleep and neither of us has had the need for IV caffeine (yet), in fact I think I'm drinking less than before. An afternoon coffee just makes me groggy in the evening. Of course the special kind of groggy that a beer or glass of wine brings of an evening is a different matter. How E is surviving is beyond me - well actually it isn't, she is eating well, trying to get out every day, meeting up with friends/family and she has found a whole new level of zen-like patience. Getting to have a shower everyday seems to help too.
On the flip side to the feeding frenzy, E and I have still been able to enjoy some of favourite things. Coffee and the paper on Saturday morning, a freshly prepared dinner eaten together at the table, popping out to the shops - things we took for granted before but cherish now. We can see how we'll be able to have time for each other and to ourselves in the not too distant future - something that will save our sanity I'm sure.
We are also looking forward to JJ being more interactive and, dare I say it, more lovable. Obviously we both love our cute, hairy, robust little feeding machine but at such a young age he isn't yet that little person that I imagined. He is happy so long as his basic needs are being met (no matter how regularly) but I can't wait to see him grow into his own little man (and not just so I can dress him in cargos, cool t-shirts and hoodies).
There may be a silver lining to the growth spurt, apparently once JJ hits about 11 lbs his stomach can hold enough milk to allow him to sleep for 4 hours! We'll see...
He is presumably going through his 3 week growth spurt (after all, three weeks ago exactly E was resting before the final push) but it is bordering on the ridiculous. No sooner has E stopped feeding him then he is rooting around for more. We both know this is only temporary but it doesn't stop me from feeling pretty useless when I hold him and all he wants is more milk.
He has currently mastered 4 activities:
1) eat
2) pee/poop (so he has more room to eat)
3) sleep (so he is rested enough to eat) and
4) dream (about eating)
At least I can help with number 2 (pun intended). It's actually impressive how much exertion he puts into removing waste from his body. He's going to strain something one day.... You can tell what he is up to from a few rooms away. He also has impeccable timing, he knows exactly when I'm just about done and he decides that he isn't. Our record so far is 4 diapers for one change! My changes are far from the rapid efficiency of a Formula 1 pit crew that I am striving for. Currently, I'm happy if he doesn't pee partway through and I don't have to change his clothes.
Thankfully, the feeding machine shuts down for a few hours overnight (except for one night when bedtime ended up being 6am) so E can get some rest. Our bodies are definitely adapting to less sleep and neither of us has had the need for IV caffeine (yet), in fact I think I'm drinking less than before. An afternoon coffee just makes me groggy in the evening. Of course the special kind of groggy that a beer or glass of wine brings of an evening is a different matter. How E is surviving is beyond me - well actually it isn't, she is eating well, trying to get out every day, meeting up with friends/family and she has found a whole new level of zen-like patience. Getting to have a shower everyday seems to help too.
On the flip side to the feeding frenzy, E and I have still been able to enjoy some of favourite things. Coffee and the paper on Saturday morning, a freshly prepared dinner eaten together at the table, popping out to the shops - things we took for granted before but cherish now. We can see how we'll be able to have time for each other and to ourselves in the not too distant future - something that will save our sanity I'm sure.
We are also looking forward to JJ being more interactive and, dare I say it, more lovable. Obviously we both love our cute, hairy, robust little feeding machine but at such a young age he isn't yet that little person that I imagined. He is happy so long as his basic needs are being met (no matter how regularly) but I can't wait to see him grow into his own little man (and not just so I can dress him in cargos, cool t-shirts and hoodies).
There may be a silver lining to the growth spurt, apparently once JJ hits about 11 lbs his stomach can hold enough milk to allow him to sleep for 4 hours! We'll see...
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Two weeks already!
Can't believe JJ is two weeks old today.
He has changed so much, it is like someone inflated his face and body. His ears and nose have popped out, cord stump dropped off, forehead, cheeks and chin expanded, his limbs are straightening out (and getting stronger). We just found out today that he is also packing on the pounds (well ounces, 12 of them in just 6 days!). I know E has gained a sense of validation from that, all those feeds and disrupted sleep now have a physical value, a number (and being somewhat of a geek, yes, I have an Excel file keeping track of all of this). JJ is clearly not suffering! We both feel so happy and proud! Maybe he's going to be a linebacker instead of a quarterback...
We are starting to get used to sleeping whenever JJ lets us and much more comfortable taking him out and about in the stroller and car. We're just more comfortable doing everything, practice I guess. Now we have to figure out how to entertain him when he isn't feeding or asleep...
Being back at work here and there hasn't been too bad, I'm busy so time flies. Glad I'm phasing in going back to a 5 day week. I really miss E and JJ in the day (and getting up around 9 instead of 6.45) but it is so good to come home to them and I'm so happy I get home by 5pm. It is way better than my commute from Toronto to Milton, I can't imagine what this would be like if we were still living there. No family close by and much longer days - a very good reason why we upped sticks.
On a random note, who writes Nursery Rhymes? I'll have some of what they were on. Seriously, they don't make sense. I can't believe what I'm reading to JJ. A vindictive gingerbread man running amok, a pig getting up early to throw acorns at a wolf, kittens getting dressed up for tea and cake, a puppy going on a picnic with a crocodile, hippo and monkey? I might just start making my own stories up...
Two weeks already, wow!
He has changed so much, it is like someone inflated his face and body. His ears and nose have popped out, cord stump dropped off, forehead, cheeks and chin expanded, his limbs are straightening out (and getting stronger). We just found out today that he is also packing on the pounds (well ounces, 12 of them in just 6 days!). I know E has gained a sense of validation from that, all those feeds and disrupted sleep now have a physical value, a number (and being somewhat of a geek, yes, I have an Excel file keeping track of all of this). JJ is clearly not suffering! We both feel so happy and proud! Maybe he's going to be a linebacker instead of a quarterback...
We are starting to get used to sleeping whenever JJ lets us and much more comfortable taking him out and about in the stroller and car. We're just more comfortable doing everything, practice I guess. Now we have to figure out how to entertain him when he isn't feeding or asleep...
Being back at work here and there hasn't been too bad, I'm busy so time flies. Glad I'm phasing in going back to a 5 day week. I really miss E and JJ in the day (and getting up around 9 instead of 6.45) but it is so good to come home to them and I'm so happy I get home by 5pm. It is way better than my commute from Toronto to Milton, I can't imagine what this would be like if we were still living there. No family close by and much longer days - a very good reason why we upped sticks.
On a random note, who writes Nursery Rhymes? I'll have some of what they were on. Seriously, they don't make sense. I can't believe what I'm reading to JJ. A vindictive gingerbread man running amok, a pig getting up early to throw acorns at a wolf, kittens getting dressed up for tea and cake, a puppy going on a picnic with a crocodile, hippo and monkey? I might just start making my own stories up...
Two weeks already, wow!
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