Yesterday Noah and I made a solo trip to the mall. I wanted to go to Plymouth Meeting to check out H&M's baby clothes and the family restroom. For the most part our trip was successful. There was only one ten minute period where I felt exhausted, exasperated and moronic for attempting to go to the mall alone. I'm sure that is the time period you'd most like to hear about. I'll take you there.
I'm hungry because I haven't eaten any lunch. I decide to peruse the food court. Up until now Noah has been staring slack-jawed at the sights and sounds of commerce from the safety of the Bjorn. I order a six inch veggie delight meal from Subway. We sit down at a low wooden table surrounded by benches - more living room decor than food court. I start chomping away and Noah is watching the carousel. All the sudden he lets out a tortured wail. He's crying hysterically. It was idiotic hubris to think I could actual sit STILL and eat. I'm trying to get him out of the Bjorn. But the damn buttons are stuck. I can't get him out. I'm pushing and tugging, getting red in the face, and he's crying. I finally get him out and while I try to calm him down the snaps on my nursing bra pop open (for the millionth freakin' time!). After several different positions I decide the best way to calm him down is to take him to the bathroom, change him and nurse him. But the problem is that now I'm holding him with my hands - and my purse, my shopping bag, my lunch and the Bjorn are scattered about. I try to gather things with one hand but it's a no go. So I set him on the wood seat to gather things up - and I'm so worried he's going to pick now as the best time to roll. Once I get everything together I make a dash for the food court bathroom. When I get there not only do I realize that this is not the nursing bathroom I have heard tale of, but also I realize that in the path from the table to the bathroom Noah has lost a shoe. His new adorable shoes. I abandon my soda which I bought for the caffeine but haven't had one sip of and we start to backtrack. So he's still whimpering, I'm trying to hold all the crap and him, and I'm perusing the floor. Luckily another mother comes to our aid. Bless her. In the minute and a half from the time it fell off his foot until the time I started looking for it - someone picked the shoe up off the floor and just set it atop one of the counters. This of course made it harder to find because I'm looking on the floor. But soon we find the shoe. And all the action and hubbub has quieted Noah - we are back on the move and that makes him happy. The fiasco ends as I find the family restroom and diaper and feed our hero before returning to shopping.
The rest of the trip was fine, but I might think twice about going it alone again. It would have been a million times easier with another set of hands. Oh - and I wasn't that impressed with the family restroom (dirty and smelled like piss) or the H&M (nothing decent on sale). But Noah scored a few items of clearance clothing at Children's Place and Baby Gap.
After the mall adventure we went to Qtown to visit Super Oma and Grandpa Joe. My Dad asked if I wanted him to cook or if we should go out for dinner. After an already busy day I thought it best we stay in. Plus Dad is a good cook! For the first time I saw signs that Noah might be a little too attached to me. When Oma and Dad tried to hold him for longer than a minute or two he would start to fuss. And he would calm down as soon as I took him. It might have partly been because he was sleepy from being short on his typical naps. But he definitely didn't want to me to be out of sight or even out of reach. In a way that feels nice, in another way it's a concern. For the most part the kid sees me all day every day, you'd think he'd want a break. "Hey lady, don't you got no place to go?"
And all the driving? Yesterday it was a piece of pie. He slept through it all. Even when I had to get off the Blue Route at Norristown and fill up because I was worried I was going to run out of gas. But we finally made it home. And Mark was almost as happy to see us as we were to see him.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Dear Ndugu
My Oma called last week to ask that I gather some pictures to send to her brother Wolfgang in Germany. I met my Great Uncle Wolfgang once about eight years ago and I think our encounter was about an hour long. Oma said when she was speaking to Wolfgang recently about Noah that he expressed interest in photos of my family. She also requested I write him a brief letter to let him know what I have been up to since our meeting. So... how do you encapsulate the last eight years of your life?
So here is a brief summation of my brief summation. Bought a house in beginning of 2001. Got married Fall of 2002. Had baby Fall of 2004. Very excited to be parents of happy, healthy boy. Was working in medical publishing. Now staying home. Husband works in advertising and PR for local university. Enjoy living in the city.
That's my life in a nutshell. I'm a homeowner, wife and mother. It makes me sound so grown-up. I rarely feel old because I typically feel like I'm still some dumb kid without any direction. But it turns out I have fashioned a real life for myself. And it's a really happy one - filled with the love of family, friends, my husband and my baby. I feel so proud.
Of course the photos I am sending of myself are pre-pregnancy. That is definitely something I need to continue working on. But everything else is pretty damn good.
So here is a brief summation of my brief summation. Bought a house in beginning of 2001. Got married Fall of 2002. Had baby Fall of 2004. Very excited to be parents of happy, healthy boy. Was working in medical publishing. Now staying home. Husband works in advertising and PR for local university. Enjoy living in the city.
That's my life in a nutshell. I'm a homeowner, wife and mother. It makes me sound so grown-up. I rarely feel old because I typically feel like I'm still some dumb kid without any direction. But it turns out I have fashioned a real life for myself. And it's a really happy one - filled with the love of family, friends, my husband and my baby. I feel so proud.
Of course the photos I am sending of myself are pre-pregnancy. That is definitely something I need to continue working on. But everything else is pretty damn good.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
From Famine to Feast
Just a few weeks ago I was concerned that Noah was too skinny. His weight gain between his one-month check-up and three-month check-up was minimal. Was he starving? Did he have worms? I felt like I was breastfeeding constantly. But where was it all going? Surely something was wrong with the boy.
The Doc assured us that there was nothing to worry about. Obviously she doesn’t know us very well. There is always SOMETHING to worry about. She said that he was healthy and his weight would catch up. I was doubtful. Of course.
In the last month Noah has been enjoying solids. And I do mean ENJOYING. He has gleefully sucked down everything he has been fed - rice cereal, bananas, sweet potatoes, pears, apples, and oatmeal. And at the end of every serving he cries. It's never enough. I think he'd eat until it started coming out of his ears. And as a result, malnutrition is no longer a worry. In fact he's starting to get down right chubby. And just like his poor mom, he first exhibits weight gain by growing many more chins. And his thighs are down right doughy. If his already voracious appetite is any indication of his future zeal for food we'll definitely need to keep this boy active. Luckily his Dad can eat like a Hoover and stay pretty thin. I hope all our children inherit that. Is it to late for me to inherit it?
Monday, March 28, 2005
Sick on Jelly Beans
It was a lovely Easter despite Noah being too damn slow for a proper egg hunt.
We went to Mark's father Martin's apartment for dinner. They also hosted Martin's new wife Sylvia's daughter and her husband who were visiting from Toronto, and Sylvia's son and his two teenage daughters who were visiting from Montreal. Oh, and of course Grandma Laima.
Martin had said that it would be a "light" meal because Sylvia had been entertaining her family for the last few days. Considering that Sylvia cooks enough for ten men whenever just Mark and I come to dinner, I was sure there would be plenty to eat. She cooked beef stew, chicken curry and salmon for main dishes and then many assorted vegetables. There was nothing light about it. She apologized to me for making curry for Easter and I told her she could make curry for any holiday as far as I was concerned.
This was the first time we were meeting Sylvia's family so the afternoon started off with a lot of awkward "So... What is it you do?... And you live where?.. That sounds lovely..." But they were really lovely people. And thank God on his holiest of holy days for Mad Libs - they kept the teens busy and provided the glue that now bonds us all together.
The most notable moments of the afternoon were all provided by the sassy 95 yo Laima. When Mark, Noah and I picked her up she told me I looked really good - which left me glowing about my progressing weight loss. A minute later she announced that her eyes were now completely shot and she was virtually blind. Ha! But we all got our come-uppance. She told the 13 year old she didn't smile enough and the 15 year old what she could do to lose weight. And then she initiated an online shopping search after announcing that her signature scent "Scoundrel" was discontinued. She always puts on a great show. And hell, if any of us makes it to our nineties we shouldn't have to mince words.
Oh, and Noah was there too. He was really incredibly behaved again. He's changing from a mewling infant to a wonderful little boy. He was playful, chatty and charming. I might keep him yet.
We went to Mark's father Martin's apartment for dinner. They also hosted Martin's new wife Sylvia's daughter and her husband who were visiting from Toronto, and Sylvia's son and his two teenage daughters who were visiting from Montreal. Oh, and of course Grandma Laima.
Martin had said that it would be a "light" meal because Sylvia had been entertaining her family for the last few days. Considering that Sylvia cooks enough for ten men whenever just Mark and I come to dinner, I was sure there would be plenty to eat. She cooked beef stew, chicken curry and salmon for main dishes and then many assorted vegetables. There was nothing light about it. She apologized to me for making curry for Easter and I told her she could make curry for any holiday as far as I was concerned.
This was the first time we were meeting Sylvia's family so the afternoon started off with a lot of awkward "So... What is it you do?... And you live where?.. That sounds lovely..." But they were really lovely people. And thank God on his holiest of holy days for Mad Libs - they kept the teens busy and provided the glue that now bonds us all together.
The most notable moments of the afternoon were all provided by the sassy 95 yo Laima. When Mark, Noah and I picked her up she told me I looked really good - which left me glowing about my progressing weight loss. A minute later she announced that her eyes were now completely shot and she was virtually blind. Ha! But we all got our come-uppance. She told the 13 year old she didn't smile enough and the 15 year old what she could do to lose weight. And then she initiated an online shopping search after announcing that her signature scent "Scoundrel" was discontinued. She always puts on a great show. And hell, if any of us makes it to our nineties we shouldn't have to mince words.
Oh, and Noah was there too. He was really incredibly behaved again. He's changing from a mewling infant to a wonderful little boy. He was playful, chatty and charming. I might keep him yet.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
A Bardnt Shopping Extravaganza!
Noah had a big consumer adventure yesterday at the Willow Grove Mall. And he was an ANGEL. My God - I could not believe how well behaved he was. He bopped about in the Bjorn quietly staring at everything in his path until he nodded off. Then he awoke refreshed and continued to enjoy the sights and sounds of cha-ching. And the boy came home with a stunning outfit suitable for a golfing expedition, rad shades, hunter green loafer boots, and a bucket hat for our summer beach trip. Not to mention stories of shopping with three generations of Barndt women. How did he survive? Many thanks to his Meemaw and GG for a lovely afternoon.
I never did check out the family restroom. Instead I changed and nursed him in the luxurious accommodations of a Macy's fitting room. I can't believe it didn't occur to me before that there are tons of private places to nurse a baby at the mall.
Because he was so adorable and calm during our long shopping expedition, I can't complain too much about the calamitous drive home. He was very distraught to be locked in the damn seat for another hour - but once we returned home to Dad he was all smiles.
As if yesterdays shopping wasn't enough, Mark, Noah and I headed to Walmart this morning. We left the house at 8 am. Yup. You heard me - 8 AM!!! Since we were up at 5:45 am, we thought it'd be great to get in there early and avoid the zany atmosphere of our local ghetto Walmart. It was our most pleasurable Delaware Avenue Walmart shopping experience. But I still can't believe that on a Saturday we left the house before 8 am and returned at 9 am. Who am I again? It's amazing. Luckily we made up for it by taking a family nap from 10 am to noon. Oh how I've come to appreciate a good nap. Especially when I can share it with the men I love.
Noah will be thrilled tomorrow to celebrate an Eggerts family Easter. We look forward to seeing more family but unfortunately the day involves between three and four hours of driving. Yippee! I have started saving up to buy a helicopter. Let me know if you see a good price on a used one.
I never did check out the family restroom. Instead I changed and nursed him in the luxurious accommodations of a Macy's fitting room. I can't believe it didn't occur to me before that there are tons of private places to nurse a baby at the mall.
Because he was so adorable and calm during our long shopping expedition, I can't complain too much about the calamitous drive home. He was very distraught to be locked in the damn seat for another hour - but once we returned home to Dad he was all smiles.
As if yesterdays shopping wasn't enough, Mark, Noah and I headed to Walmart this morning. We left the house at 8 am. Yup. You heard me - 8 AM!!! Since we were up at 5:45 am, we thought it'd be great to get in there early and avoid the zany atmosphere of our local ghetto Walmart. It was our most pleasurable Delaware Avenue Walmart shopping experience. But I still can't believe that on a Saturday we left the house before 8 am and returned at 9 am. Who am I again? It's amazing. Luckily we made up for it by taking a family nap from 10 am to noon. Oh how I've come to appreciate a good nap. Especially when I can share it with the men I love.
Noah will be thrilled tomorrow to celebrate an Eggerts family Easter. We look forward to seeing more family but unfortunately the day involves between three and four hours of driving. Yippee! I have started saving up to buy a helicopter. Let me know if you see a good price on a used one.
Friday, March 25, 2005
Little time for Jenga
We've been MIA because we had company. My ten year old sister Jessica came to spend part of her spring break with us. The whole time she was here I was feeling a tad guilty because we couldn't really focus just on her as I would have in the past. We spent almost her entire time playing with the baby. She and I would try to play a game of cards or Jenga while Noah was sleeping, but I also needed to do the dishes, get dinner ready, and start a load of laundry. On the trip to drive her home I apologized for her visit not being all that thrilling. She said she had a good time. I promised her that next time she came Mark would watch the baby for awhile and just her and I could go to dinner, skating or the movies. She seemed pleased with that.
I'm feeling a bit better because the weight is coming off slowly but surely. It took nine months to put it on, so I should give myself nine months to take it off. Right? And what a huge amount of weight it was. The other day I saw myself right after returning from the hospital on a home movie. MY GOD! I knew I was big but not THAT big. But it shouldn't be that surprising. Not only was my pregnancy voracious, but I also packed on the pounds because I quit smoking. I'm happy to say that I 've lost 50 pounds since giving birth but unhappy to say I have about 20 more to lose. And that won't get me back to my former ideal weight - the one I had on my wedding day. I just want to return to the weight I was right before I got pregnant - after I had already gained some weight because I was depressed about my apparent inability to get pregnant. Go figure. I think my former ideal weight is not attainable for me anymore, so I set a new one. I'm now an aging former-smoker mom. Let's be realistic. I just want to feel better in my own skin. All my stretch marked skin.
Noah is getting better at sitting up with support. He's also giggling more. And I swear he made a "D" sound this morning. This afternoon we are off to the mall to meet Meemaw and GG (I didn't pick those names) for lunch and some shopping. Hopefully he'll be on his best behavior. It's a big trip - long drive, lunch and then walking around the mall. Luckily the Willow Grove Mall has a family restroom for nursing and changing.
I've said it before and I'll say it again - my mom is an overly generous angel and I don't know what we would do without her. She called me on her way to Costco yesterday to ask me what groceries we needed. I told her I was uncomfortable telling her what to buy us. It just seems so entitled and wrong. But she said that she didn't get to stay home with me long when I was a baby because she had to go back to work. But that she was glad I was staying home with Noah and she wanted to help us out. What do you say in response to that? Thank you never seems enough. I just keep telling myself that I will pay it forward - be just as generous with my kids.
I'm feeling a bit better because the weight is coming off slowly but surely. It took nine months to put it on, so I should give myself nine months to take it off. Right? And what a huge amount of weight it was. The other day I saw myself right after returning from the hospital on a home movie. MY GOD! I knew I was big but not THAT big. But it shouldn't be that surprising. Not only was my pregnancy voracious, but I also packed on the pounds because I quit smoking. I'm happy to say that I 've lost 50 pounds since giving birth but unhappy to say I have about 20 more to lose. And that won't get me back to my former ideal weight - the one I had on my wedding day. I just want to return to the weight I was right before I got pregnant - after I had already gained some weight because I was depressed about my apparent inability to get pregnant. Go figure. I think my former ideal weight is not attainable for me anymore, so I set a new one. I'm now an aging former-smoker mom. Let's be realistic. I just want to feel better in my own skin. All my stretch marked skin.
Noah is getting better at sitting up with support. He's also giggling more. And I swear he made a "D" sound this morning. This afternoon we are off to the mall to meet Meemaw and GG (I didn't pick those names) for lunch and some shopping. Hopefully he'll be on his best behavior. It's a big trip - long drive, lunch and then walking around the mall. Luckily the Willow Grove Mall has a family restroom for nursing and changing.
I've said it before and I'll say it again - my mom is an overly generous angel and I don't know what we would do without her. She called me on her way to Costco yesterday to ask me what groceries we needed. I told her I was uncomfortable telling her what to buy us. It just seems so entitled and wrong. But she said that she didn't get to stay home with me long when I was a baby because she had to go back to work. But that she was glad I was staying home with Noah and she wanted to help us out. What do you say in response to that? Thank you never seems enough. I just keep telling myself that I will pay it forward - be just as generous with my kids.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
The Little Music Man
Music plays a big part in our life at Maison Noah. We listen to a lot of The Beatles. It's important to get the kid interested in the basics and work out from there. Plus for some sadistic reason the boy actually likes me to sing to him and The Beatles catalog is great fun f or me to sing along. We have "Please Please Me," "Revolver," "Rubber Soul," "Magical Mystery Tour," and even "1" in heavy rotation. We also enjoy the cable Music Choice channels. Party Favorites plays an odd assortment of every song you might hear at a wedding DJed by the Pros. Even if you hate the songs I guarantee you can sing along. We also enjoy Retroactive and Light Classical - but we might need to branch out soon as the playlists have grown tiring. And of course we have some Baby Einstein and Baby Genius CDs - because no one would buy a CD promising to give their child subpar intelligence.
This weekend my mom brought Noah two new CDs by Fisher Price - "Dance, Baby, Dance" and "Baby Boogie." I was a bit worried when I first saw them - assuming it would be earth shatteringly horrible, as much music designed for babies often is. It isn't half bad. Actually I have to admit I've been enjoying them though Noah barely pays them mind. They are in fact instrumental dance remixes of songs like "Mary Had a Little Lamb," "Hush, Little Baby" and "The Itsy Bitsy Spider." I never quite imagined enjoying a cheesy techno version of "Baa Baa Black Sheep," but damn - it's pretty bumpin'.
Yesterday Noah received the LeapStart Learning Table from Mark's friend Steve and his family. Right now it's a bit too advanced for the boy, but that didn't stop Mark and I from taking it out of the box and spending at least a half hour playing with it ourselves. It uses music to teach a bunch of skills not unlike how to start a dotcom and how to file for bankruptcy. But thanks to last nights tutorial Mark and I now know our alphabet and how to scat.
This weekend my mom brought Noah two new CDs by Fisher Price - "Dance, Baby, Dance" and "Baby Boogie." I was a bit worried when I first saw them - assuming it would be earth shatteringly horrible, as much music designed for babies often is. It isn't half bad. Actually I have to admit I've been enjoying them though Noah barely pays them mind. They are in fact instrumental dance remixes of songs like "Mary Had a Little Lamb," "Hush, Little Baby" and "The Itsy Bitsy Spider." I never quite imagined enjoying a cheesy techno version of "Baa Baa Black Sheep," but damn - it's pretty bumpin'.
Yesterday Noah received the LeapStart Learning Table from Mark's friend Steve and his family. Right now it's a bit too advanced for the boy, but that didn't stop Mark and I from taking it out of the box and spending at least a half hour playing with it ourselves. It uses music to teach a bunch of skills not unlike how to start a dotcom and how to file for bankruptcy. But thanks to last nights tutorial Mark and I now know our alphabet and how to scat.
Monday, March 21, 2005
Rock-n-Shop
It was another late night grocery shopping trip on Friday night for me. I think they should blare the music and turn on strobes to make it Rock-n-Shop after 8pm. And if I could wear roller skates, all the better.
Saturday we trekked to Ldale for Noah's date with Ms. Bella. She is getting SO big and increasingly more enchanting. Her and Noah went head to head. Photos to be added later. And of course because Patrice was intent on seeing Noah roll over, he never did it. Though I can't get the kid to stop at home. Figures. It would be so much cooler if babies operated like trained seals. Then to the LDale Ross where we bought Noah a very cute "nerd outfit" as Mark termed it. It consists of khakis, a lime green sleeveless knit vest with navy trim, and a grid checked short sleeve button up shirt. It merely lacks a pocket protector. Accountants - not so cute. Infants dressed up as accountants - cute to the point of insanity. After Noah went to bed we opened a bottle of wine and started watching Ladykillers. I was so tired that I couldn't finish one glass or watch even a smidgen of the movie. Mark had to wake me up to go to bed.
On Sunday my mother came and gave Mark and I a respite at Silk City. And while we were out Noah was introduced to the wacky world of pears. And after bedtime for Noah, it was all about the HBO lineup.
And of course there were tons of smiling, cooing and kisses. My mom once said to me that she was at her happiest when she saw me happy. And I once heard said that the best compliment you could ever get was that you raised a great kid. Raising children isn't all sunshine and roses, it requires a lot of sacrifice. But for my life I have decided it will bring with it the greatest and most long lasting rewards. So bring on the hip Friday nights at Super Fresh pricing diapers - they are the stuff that my dreams are made of.
Saturday we trekked to Ldale for Noah's date with Ms. Bella. She is getting SO big and increasingly more enchanting. Her and Noah went head to head. Photos to be added later. And of course because Patrice was intent on seeing Noah roll over, he never did it. Though I can't get the kid to stop at home. Figures. It would be so much cooler if babies operated like trained seals. Then to the LDale Ross where we bought Noah a very cute "nerd outfit" as Mark termed it. It consists of khakis, a lime green sleeveless knit vest with navy trim, and a grid checked short sleeve button up shirt. It merely lacks a pocket protector. Accountants - not so cute. Infants dressed up as accountants - cute to the point of insanity. After Noah went to bed we opened a bottle of wine and started watching Ladykillers. I was so tired that I couldn't finish one glass or watch even a smidgen of the movie. Mark had to wake me up to go to bed.
On Sunday my mother came and gave Mark and I a respite at Silk City. And while we were out Noah was introduced to the wacky world of pears. And after bedtime for Noah, it was all about the HBO lineup.
And of course there were tons of smiling, cooing and kisses. My mom once said to me that she was at her happiest when she saw me happy. And I once heard said that the best compliment you could ever get was that you raised a great kid. Raising children isn't all sunshine and roses, it requires a lot of sacrifice. But for my life I have decided it will bring with it the greatest and most long lasting rewards. So bring on the hip Friday nights at Super Fresh pricing diapers - they are the stuff that my dreams are made of.
Friday, March 18, 2005
It's Oh So Quiet
During the day the house can be so quiet. I decided after being home a few weeks that I was no longer going to watch any TV during the day. There isn't anything worthwhile on and I was wasting my time and my attention on it. But growing up we always had the TV on. And when I moved out on my own I would sleep with it on. I have often used TV for noise, for company. So it really has been an adjustment to just listen to some music or even operate with no noise but me, Noah and the Philadelphia street out our door. And part of me has grown to enjoy the silence in a way I never was before. Especially during nap time. And luckily Noah is in bed just in time for primetime - so my TV junkie ass doesn't miss Survivor, Amazing Race, or Deadwood. Ah, the best of both worlds.
Apparently in addition to fulfilling the infant sucking instinct, pacifiers are hella fun too. Noah's new trick is plucking the pacifier out of his mouth, passing it from hand to hand, staring at it, and trying, unsuccessfully thus far, to put it back in his mouth. You would not believe the amount of time he can spend just gazing at that thing. Like it was the Taj Majal.
Thank God for his easy smiles. They get me through.
Apparently in addition to fulfilling the infant sucking instinct, pacifiers are hella fun too. Noah's new trick is plucking the pacifier out of his mouth, passing it from hand to hand, staring at it, and trying, unsuccessfully thus far, to put it back in his mouth. You would not believe the amount of time he can spend just gazing at that thing. Like it was the Taj Majal.
Thank God for his easy smiles. They get me through.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
I can't move, dammit!
Now that Noah can roll from his back to his stomach, he wants to do nothing but that. And once on his stomach he kicks his legs and flails his arms. He's puts all his energy and concentration into trying to move forward. Of course he isn't going anywhere and that is very frustrating. I know I'd be pissed off. So he grunts and flails for awhile and then he whines and cries. I then flip him back on his back and he literally yells at me. As if to say "MOM! I'm not going to get anywhere on my back!!" And then he flips back on to his stomach again to start it from the top. This is very frustrating for me too because I want to make him smile, to play with his little limbs, to watch him bat blissfully at the play gym- but all he wants to do is flail and bitch. Oh and eat. He still LOVES the eating. Sweet potatoes were a big hit.
I told my mom about Noah's determination and frustration. She said she clearly remembered me being frustrated and bored as an infant because I couldn't do anything. Funny, now I look forward to a chance to do nothing.
I told my mom about Noah's determination and frustration. She said she clearly remembered me being frustrated and bored as an infant because I couldn't do anything. Funny, now I look forward to a chance to do nothing.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
What if he tells me to shut up?
Noah was awake from 3am to 4:30am last night. Yawn. It's going to be a long day.
Have you heard about this baby sign language thing? Apparently babies are intellectually capable of expressing themselves prior to fully developing their verbal capabilities. So you can teach your child some basic signs so that they communicate to you their wants and needs earlier. They can learn signs for milk, more, hurt, bed, etc. They say as a result the children are a lot happier - less frustrated that they can't communicate. I am loving this idea so much that I already bought an instructional book and video. Of course kids can't really learn hand signals prior to nine months so I've got awhile to wait. But I really hope that I follow through with it.
We also joined the Children's Book of the Month Club. It's like Columbia House but with kids books. Of course at this point it's just for me. I ordered a bunch of award winning picture books to read to Noah - for more variety in my reading selections. I could have ordered him some easy board books to chew on and learn the alphabet - but instead I really wanted "Where the Wild Things Are." We'll get his books later.
I think today we may try sweet potatoes! Unfortunately not sweet potato fries from Silk City - but instead orangey mush. I'll let you know how that goes - because I know you are just dying to know.
Did I mention that I have a baby? A son. His name's Noah. He's four and half months old. Hadn't I mentioned it before? Oops. Must have forgotten all about it.
Have you heard about this baby sign language thing? Apparently babies are intellectually capable of expressing themselves prior to fully developing their verbal capabilities. So you can teach your child some basic signs so that they communicate to you their wants and needs earlier. They can learn signs for milk, more, hurt, bed, etc. They say as a result the children are a lot happier - less frustrated that they can't communicate. I am loving this idea so much that I already bought an instructional book and video. Of course kids can't really learn hand signals prior to nine months so I've got awhile to wait. But I really hope that I follow through with it.
We also joined the Children's Book of the Month Club. It's like Columbia House but with kids books. Of course at this point it's just for me. I ordered a bunch of award winning picture books to read to Noah - for more variety in my reading selections. I could have ordered him some easy board books to chew on and learn the alphabet - but instead I really wanted "Where the Wild Things Are." We'll get his books later.
I think today we may try sweet potatoes! Unfortunately not sweet potato fries from Silk City - but instead orangey mush. I'll let you know how that goes - because I know you are just dying to know.
Did I mention that I have a baby? A son. His name's Noah. He's four and half months old. Hadn't I mentioned it before? Oops. Must have forgotten all about it.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
I'll just put these scissors right HERE
Time to batten down the hatches. Noah is on the move!
Noah had rolled over a handful of times in the past, but they seemed like flukes and he always seemed really surprised when it happened. Yesterday afternoon when I was enjoying floor time with the monkey he became very focused on rolling. For a half hour he repeatedly curled up his legs, pulled in his arms and threw his weight to the side. And when he succeeded in landing on his stomach he then very purposefully hoisted himself up on his arms and tried to throw his weight to the side so he could roll back over. It was as if he had employed himself a Russian Olympic coach who was pushing him for the Gold. And he did the same thing last night before bedtime. Mark and I were just dumbfounded by his determination.
This morning I laid him on the office floor to tackle one of his play gyms and then I turned to the computer to check my email. I soon heard Noah grunting. I turned to see him on his stomach a couple of inches away from where I left him and turned in a different direction. And laying on the floor a foot from him was a pair of scissors. I can never find a scissors when I want one, and apparently it's because we leave them laying all over the floor. Now storing sharp and dangerous things in the middle of the floor is a thing of the past. We might even have to put things away in drawers!
Noah had rolled over a handful of times in the past, but they seemed like flukes and he always seemed really surprised when it happened. Yesterday afternoon when I was enjoying floor time with the monkey he became very focused on rolling. For a half hour he repeatedly curled up his legs, pulled in his arms and threw his weight to the side. And when he succeeded in landing on his stomach he then very purposefully hoisted himself up on his arms and tried to throw his weight to the side so he could roll back over. It was as if he had employed himself a Russian Olympic coach who was pushing him for the Gold. And he did the same thing last night before bedtime. Mark and I were just dumbfounded by his determination.
This morning I laid him on the office floor to tackle one of his play gyms and then I turned to the computer to check my email. I soon heard Noah grunting. I turned to see him on his stomach a couple of inches away from where I left him and turned in a different direction. And laying on the floor a foot from him was a pair of scissors. I can never find a scissors when I want one, and apparently it's because we leave them laying all over the floor. Now storing sharp and dangerous things in the middle of the floor is a thing of the past. We might even have to put things away in drawers!
Monday, March 14, 2005
Don't feed a hungry child?
I don't give Noah enough credit. On the very few occasions we have taken him out into the world I have felt panicked the entire time. I'm absolutely stressed out that he is going to start crying inconsolably. People will be staring, pointing and complaining that I obviously don't know how to calm my child. And I'll be too busy having a nervous breakdown to get it together enough to even make an attempt. This is a ridiculous scenario because not only has Noah never cried inconsolably, but every time we have taken him out into the world he has just stared wide eyed at all the chaos with his mouth hanging open. So I really need to give the boy a break and expect better from him.
Eating solid food has a TREMENDOUS impact on diaper contents. My God. I've never seen anything quite like that before. 'Nuff said.
Yesterday we did something that I'm sure was truly futile. We made Noah a schedule. Both his pediatrician and our First Year book said that by now he should be transitioning into two longer naps from three. And the book said that there should be a four hour gap between his second nap and bedtime. Based on that info and the fact that during the night he typically sleeps from roughly 8pm until 6 am, we penciled in a daily schedule with a two hour nap at 9 and a second two hour nap at 2. We even went so far as to include times for his feedings and possible bath times. There is no way in hell that he's going to follow it at this point, but I like to have something to aim for.
Of course sleeping at night still isn't 't perfect. It's been getting progressively better, but when I called the pediatrician about it this morning she said she isn't convinced that his problem is reflux related. She doesn't want to up his dosage any further because it is getting high for his weight, so she made some other suggestions. When he wakes up at 1:30 am and wants to be fed, she suggested I don't feed him. That's right - don't feed him. WHAT? I'm supposed to try to settle him back to sleep without feeding him. Also she suggested that during the day that I start trying to put him down for a nap when he seems sleepy but before he has fallen asleep. She said he needs to learn to soothe himself to sleep and that this too will help him in the night. I'm so tired right now. And I think making these changes will make things worse for the time being, but hopefully in the long term it'll get better. Yawn.
Eating solid food has a TREMENDOUS impact on diaper contents. My God. I've never seen anything quite like that before. 'Nuff said.
Yesterday we did something that I'm sure was truly futile. We made Noah a schedule. Both his pediatrician and our First Year book said that by now he should be transitioning into two longer naps from three. And the book said that there should be a four hour gap between his second nap and bedtime. Based on that info and the fact that during the night he typically sleeps from roughly 8pm until 6 am, we penciled in a daily schedule with a two hour nap at 9 and a second two hour nap at 2. We even went so far as to include times for his feedings and possible bath times. There is no way in hell that he's going to follow it at this point, but I like to have something to aim for.
Of course sleeping at night still isn't 't perfect. It's been getting progressively better, but when I called the pediatrician about it this morning she said she isn't convinced that his problem is reflux related. She doesn't want to up his dosage any further because it is getting high for his weight, so she made some other suggestions. When he wakes up at 1:30 am and wants to be fed, she suggested I don't feed him. That's right - don't feed him. WHAT? I'm supposed to try to settle him back to sleep without feeding him. Also she suggested that during the day that I start trying to put him down for a nap when he seems sleepy but before he has fallen asleep. She said he needs to learn to soothe himself to sleep and that this too will help him in the night. I'm so tired right now. And I think making these changes will make things worse for the time being, but hopefully in the long term it'll get better. Yawn.
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