2nd Tooth Up & Coming

Bottom right tooth has decided to join in the race to the top, still pretty weeny but SHARP.  Who knew baby teeth would be so sharp!!!  Like a razor blade.  When she gives me the big, open-mouthed grin I see the teeth... her smile is changed forever.  Still unbelievably cute and adorable, but it is a change.

First Tooth Has Arrived!

It's here, bottom left, sharp as can be, already poked through the gum.  She's been an absolute trooper, a little out-of-sorts but nothing like I've heard about with other babies.  Oh, and then there's the increase in drool.  Sometimes she drools so much she gets a little red rash on her chin.  Of course I've read that this is common when babies are teething, once again referring to other parents experience on the internet.  How did our folks handle all this when only doctors and hard-cover books were available? ;~)

The arrival and hence our discovery of the tooth was both elating and sad for me.  I was so excited to feel it and to see my baby growing up and changing... and then I was quite sad that my baby is growing up and changing.  The two-sides of parenthood.  Does it ever change?

Carrot Face

I had to post this picture, as all the rest are pretty sweet and "picture-perfect".  This was one of her first solid foot experiences and we were letting her figure out how to use the spoon herself, as you have probably guessed.  I love the expression on her face, like "what the *#$@* is going on here?".  It's fun watching her facial expressions when she gets a new food to try.  We are following the every-4-days rule, and I feel so limited by what I can prepare for her at the moment but the list of options is growing.  So far avocado, sweet potato, carrot and green beans are her favourites, and I now have garlic and oregano available for flavouring!

We have started with mashed and pureed food, by are beginning to move toward the Baby-Led-Weaning (BLW) approach now, where we provide soft chunks of finger-food and let her feed herself what she wants, rather than accepting what we put on the spoon for her.  There's tonnes of information about this on the web but the link I provided is for the original paper written by Gill Rapley (Deputy Programme Director of Unicef Baby Friendly Initiative).

It feels a lot more natural and now that she's getting better at her pincer-grasp I think it's a good time to move in this direction.  The gagging reflex still has me watching like a hawk, but I know she's practicing an important skill and NOT choking when she does this.  Took me a few goes to realize that.  If you are interested check out this funny write-up The Gagging Thing v. The Choking Thing.

I've also been hesitant to start this process as she is a late tooth-bloomer, but all the articles and mums agree that the gums work just fine so long as everything is soft enough and small enough.  So, here we go!

First Baby Fever

We just had our very first "baby fever", and yes... we are certainly first-time parents.  While we instinctively know that she's okay, (having referenced numerous websites!), there's still that niggling thing at the back of the mind that whispers... "What If" into my ever listening ear.  "What If" it's this, "What If" it's that... and back to google we go... reading other parents stories, comparing symptoms (real or imaginary), reviewing medical sites, and round and round the merry-go round.  All the while keenly tuned into every sound and action of my little girl.  And breathing.

And how many times did we take her temperature?  We'll just let that question roll around in your own imagination, I prefer not to answer that and I also think you'll have more fun that way.  In addition, I  discovered that the thermometer we are using might just be a piece of crap, giving very different readings within minutes of each other (can you imagine the loops that sent me on!).  So I check it on myself, and my husband, and then compared it to our oral thermometer... oh what fun we had!  So I'm off to the drugstore today to get a better thermometer... for next time.  In addition, after spending 20-minutes on the healthline with a very helpful and kind nurse, I discover the medical profession here will not recognize forehead temperatures, only underarm or anal (I can hardly even type that one, let alone perform it).  So underarm it is... unless of course "What If" should scream loudly at me next time.

As we are still relatively new to this town, we also googled the directions to the hospital... just in case.  I've done it before but thought it best to have it newly burned on my internal hard-drive unit (my brain)... just in case "What If" reared it's ugly head again.

All quite hilarious in hindsight and really it wasn't that big of a deal, but you can see the potential for a funny story here... if it wasn't MY kid!

FOR THE GRANDPARENTS:  she feels much cooler today and is getting lots of sleep in, so nothing to worry about if you are reading this.  I'm certain you remember your first time with our fevers?  How did you survive the night without dr. google??

6 months... a time of milestones.

So she's reached the 6-month mark, WooHoo!!  Unbelievable how quickly time goes, yet it feels like she's been here forever.  While reaching the half-year mark is a celebration... it also brings a whole big other list of things such as physical milestones, mental/intellectual learnings, new habits/patterns, etc., some of which feel a little less than celebratory.  Here, let me explain in more detail:

1. Crawling:  She hasn't quite got this one down, but she is up on all hands and feet while wiggling her wee bum around in the air.  Yes, unbelievably funny and adorable... but NOT at 3am.  It seems her perfect little body has a in-built need to perfect this new skill at ALL hours of the day and night.  We are back to waking pretty much every two-hours, and usually I find her on her hands and knees at this time, crying but still asleep.  Talk about multi-tasking!  Thankfully I can often get her back down pretty quickly but SHEESH... save it for the daytime!
2. Sleep-Regression:  See above!  She's back in my bed, waking pretty much every two hours (although its usually quick to get her back to sleep).  I've been reading that these "regressions" are common, just got to ride 'em out and she'll eventually go back to her "normal" habits (hers, in all fairness, are pretty good).  Now, if only I can be assured that Mum will go back to "normal"!! 
3. Eating Solid Food:  We've begun to introduce our little girl to the world of eating solid food, stuff that comes from the kitchen rather than mummy.  She's not been a super huge dive-in fan, but certainly lets me know when she wants to try more.  We've had oatmeal, avocado and sweet potato so far.  While it's super fun to watch her figure out "how" to eat, it also adds a lot more to my day:  preparing food (shopping, cooking, cooling, mashing, etc.), feeding her (and wrestling the spoon out of her slippery hands), cleaning up (highchair, hands, face, legs, feet, bib, mum, floor...), and then of course the dishes (yet again).  I am impressed how she lets me know if she wants more or not, thats pretty cool.
4. Poop.  So with the introductions of solid foods, so changes the poop.  No need to go into detail here, but as we are using cloth diapers (and got rid of our diaper service) I am cleaning up poopy diapers at least once a day.
5. Growth Spurt.  Along with reaching the 6-month mark comes the second major "growth spurt" which means more frequent cluster feeds which they do to increase the milk production.  Smart little beings that they are.  Between this and the introduction to solid foods it makes the majority of our day about feeding and food.  Oh, and squeezing my meals in when I remember too.
6. 26-week Developmental Spurt.  I read about these in the Wonder Weeks book, and so far she's been right on schedule with these milestones.  These "Developmental Spurts" are pretty cool actually, although they can bring along a whole bunch of "not-the-norm" behaviours until they work through them, including interruption of sleeping habits (see above), crankiness, neediness, etc.  Right now we are in the "World of Relationships" spurt, and the "separation anxiety" is apparently just around the corner.
7. Countless Other New Things.  In addition to the all of the above she must be experiencing so much more in her little brain, body, emotions:

• vocal chords - we are hearing all kinds of new, loud and often high-pitched sounds.
• discoveries - her little fingers are becoming so dextrous, holding and feeling tiny little things.
• digestion - her digestive system working differently with the introduction of solids
• teeth - although we still have no sign of teeth there must be a bunch of stuff happening beneath her gums.
• hair growth - yeah, not traumatic or anything but just wanted to mention that it is finally coming in, she looks like a fuzzy duckling as you can see in the photo!

And a bunch of other things we can hardly even imagine.  With all of this going on, she is doing AMAZING!  Even with the sleep regression, she is a wonderful being and she melts me.  Sometimes I wake up to feel her little fingers exploring my arm or hand during the night and it is the most wonderful sensation, even through the sleepy haze.

Drool. Never Been a Big Fan

Before I had my own, I remember meeting babies with a constant stream of drool hanging out of their mouth soaking everything in its path.  I was never a big fan of drool, having grown up with two older brothers and their friends.  I have memories of being held down while a string of spit was stretched to it's farther extension without breaking onto my face... hopefully!  When my little bundle of joy began to grow bigger I was grateful she wasn't much of a drooler.  Ha.  Times change.

She's nearing the teething stage and Let the Drooling Begin!  Reading up on the internet I've learned that a baby's saliva doesn't appear until they are a little older.  So hers arrived and that was cool.  And then the teething began, at least that what we hope all this drool is about.  To be honest she still doesn't drool quite as much as some babies I've been around, but when you aren't a fan of the drool and have childhood memories of "spit strings" then, well... you get the idea.

At least I'm no longer squeamish about it and can wipe it up with my bare hands without so much as a grimace, I've really come a long way.  And the soaking wet chin on my shoulder (plus my soaking wet clothing) is from my very own little girl, and somehow it really does make it all that much better/tolerable.  And lets be honest here, when you are this cute and can smile as in the photo above, you are bound to be given some wiggle room with your natural body functions.

Everyday I have a little swipe around her gums to see if there are any protrusions, but nothing yet.  Just the drool.  Oh, and the constant gnawing on anything and everything especially things that are hard or have firm edges.  I've found that her cloth toys (especially Mrs. Bunny and Mr. Cheetah) are great because they ABSORB the drool before it makes its way anywhere else, what a wonderful invention.  And I'm happy to wait for the teeth to come, we are breastfeeding afterall.

A Facial Expression is worth a Thousand Words

We went on our very first hike a few weeks back, just a 90-minute walk through pristine BC forest complete with a waterfall, mossy trees, standing in the icy cool river, and a little rest on a grassy knoll.  It was a perfect day, and the extra 15lbs I had to carry was an added bonus for my cardio-experience (especially uphill).  I suspect the up-coming crawling sessions will also add to my cardio needs, but lets leave that for now.  So far, she hasn't managed to coordinate the whole thing, just pieces of it.

This picture begins to show the personality that is emerging and I suspect she's going to be quite a character!  Can't tell you how much joy that brings me, getting to know her more and more each day.  Right now, she's on her belly having rolled-over for the 100th time this morning and while she can pull her knees under her, she has no concept of what to do with her arms yet.  And she doesn't know how to roll back over onto her back when she needs to relax, that's mum or dad's job at the moment.  Only a matter of time until it all comes together, and I'm willing to wait because I know what comes after that!!

She recently went through a rough sleeping period, I suspect because of all the physical development that's going on.  Up almost every two hours for a few minutes each time, I was definitely feeling it.  However, I was very pleasantly surprised last night when she did a 5-hour sleep, followed by a 10-minute feed at 2:30am, and then a 4-hour sleep after that.  Honestly, I feel like the bionic woman today... I haven't had that much sleep at once in over 4 months now.  I am reminded yet again that everything comes in cycles, like the seasons, except a baby doesn't come with a calendar... I never know when the winds will change direction.  So, bend like the willow trees, flow like the rivers, and try my best to take each day, and night, as it comes.  That way I won't miss the small stuff.

There is SO much I think about writing here during my busy days with baby girl... but never seem to find the time to sit down and write.  Can you imagine?

Last week was a week of firsts:

1. She rolled over on her own!  I had her on her play-mat and was in the kitchen preparing dinner.  I listen to her noises and keep track of those sounds that make me peek around the corner.  Suddenly, I realized the grunting of her efforts to roll-over had ceased and it was very, very quiet.  In a small moment of panic, I threw my head around the corner to find her peacefully languishing on her belly... observing the world from this new angle!!!  Amazing.  She practices all the time now, although she still has some difficulty remembering how to get her arm out from underneath her.
2. She LOL'd for the first time!  Her first LOL (Laugh Out Loud, just in case you aren't in living in 2010) was one of the most incredible sounds I've ever heard!  It was so exquisite and beautiful, it was a giggle really and I repeated what I'd been doing to make her do it three times in a row.  Then I had to squeeze her tight to me in a "oh-my-gosh-I-love-you-so-much" kind of mummy hug.  I just melted when I heard it.  She'd been giving me big silent, toothless grins up until then when she finds something amusing and I've been waiting for sound to accompany those but it was silent up until this moment on Friday, May 7, 2010.  And I have to admit, I haven't heard it since that afternoon despite my ridiculous efforts at trying.  I know I need to give it up now and let it come when it comes, but it was just SO adorable!  I wish I had caught that moment on video, but it was just for the two of us that one.  I know there will be many more to come.

Oh my, days go by so fast and she's calling me now... gotta go!!

I never knew...

I never knew I was capable of such language skills.  Spending my day with a 3-month old baby (beautiful, incredible, inspiring and lovely baby) has increased (or decreased, depending on how you view it) the availability of sounds that I am capable of making...

It's absolutely true that babies respond to funny faces, funny sounds, high pitched noises and low pitched drones... and I am now not only capable of making ALL of these, but can do so without any conscious thought.  Sometimes it's just happening when I suddenly become aware that these odd sounds and expressions are actually coming from me.  The beautiful part is that it results in one of three things:

1. a big toothless grin (melts me to the core)
2. an initial attempt at laughter (makes me LOL), or
3. averts a potential fussy baby (makes for a happy mummy & daddy).

All of the above are necessary and for the most part pretty heart-warming.  So, all-in-all I am pretty pleased with my new-found skills.

However, when my dear husband comes home from work is when I really notice how innately embedded these skills have become.  I sometimes have to work at the "adult" conversation that we try to have (yes, I do mean try).  It's often interrupted by sweet baby girl and upon her signal my brain immediately, in nano-second speed, switches over to "mummy-brain"... a completely different temporal lobe I suspect.  And one which my husband is not at all familiar with!

I enjoy and look forward to our political discussions, talk of the days activities (both his and mine), and discussion of current events we managed to catch on the news.  Sometimes, during the day, I long for those talks but I know better than to expect full coherent thoughts to string together from my brain and all the way through my vocal chords and into the real-time discussion.  Sometimes it does happen, but I've learned it's better to drop the expectation and enjoy the brief glimpses that I do get.

I know these days are numbered, time with a little one seem to just fly on by and before you know it she'll be the one teaching us new and current lingo, I suspect with a lot less vowel usage.  So until then I plan to enjoy and enhance my new found skills and see what each new day brings.  I wouldn't be too surprised if they come in handy when I one day return to work (hehehe!)

Breaking All the Rules

Okay, all you new mums out there will recognize the rule-breaking going on in this picture... in the big bed, on her side, with mummy's duvet and feather pillow so close!  But how can a mum resist an afternoon nap, curled up with the most precious gift in the whole world?

I absolutely adore our naps together... she often falls asleep on my chest and I just  roll over so she sleeps curled up in fetal position with my arms, belly and legs wrapped around her.  I've never felt anything so sweet in my whole life.  I don't actually sleep much at this time, although I do rest I also spend time just staring at her.  She is so beautiful.  She's my baby.  My husband and I "made" her, she's our love child.  How incredible is that?

And Time Becomes a Mystery...

So I haven't posted in a while, mostly because time has become a mysterious thing to me... baby-world has it's own rhythms and rhymes and somehow the days and nights just go on by.  I do get some things done (dishes, occasional cooking, and necessary showers) but other things, such as writing on my blog and organizing the hundreds of baby pictures, just don't seem to happen... no matter what intentions I set for myself in the morning.  Baby-world runs on Baby-time!  It's a magical time....

We recently had the grandparents here for their first visit and introduction, and it all went really well.  I came to realize how keeping to our little girl's rhythms was very important and had to work at putting aside my need to be the good hostess in order to get her to bed on time, so there was learning all around.  And it's wonderful to have the different generations together, and to hear the stories of what new Mummy & Daddy were like as babies, and to be told that "what comes around goes around" (yikes, I wasn't much of a sleeping baby!!).

And, now that we've reached 9-weeks things are beginning to settle:

1. Her digestive system seems to be maturing and settling, she doesn't struggle with that as much and I'm very grateful for that.  We did give her a regular dose of infant probiotics (Udo's) and I do feel that helped. 
2. Sleeping longer sessions in the night.  She can go longer without needing milk, AND I have started swaddling again... I realized that she woke up so frequently because her wee little arms were flailing about or she was smacking herself in the face if she became startled and swaddling takes all that away.  And, she loves it!  We've been getting 5-hour sleeps for the first part of the night and then with a feeding and diaper change and re-swaddle, she's back to sleep within 30 minutes for another 3-hours!  It's wonderful!!!
3. Smiles, ah there's nothing in the world like your baby smiling at you, gazing into your eyes.  And this morning she tried to laugh, so precious!  No sound came out but her grin was enormous and her eyes sparkling as I raised her up and down on my knee with some silly mummy vocals that went along with the game.  She loved it!
4. Pooping.  She generally goes once a day, or every two days now which is really much nicer than several times a day.  And I know when she's trying by the look on her face.  This gives me hope that I can hold her over a toilet sometime soon and see how that works... early potty-training??
5. Opening to the world.  She is now keeping her eyes open more and more when we go for walks, rather than conking out immediately.  We stopped at a tree the other day and checked that out and today I took her to the Farmers Market and she was pretty wide-eyed the whole time!  And did that ever earn her a lot of attention and complements from the vendors!

So, day by day in this mysterious Baby-time things are growing, changing, progressing, moving along like the flow of a gentle stream and I am so thrilled to be floating along with her.  Sometimes there's a little white-water to navigate, sometimes we rest in the eddy's catching our breath, and other times we are floating along taking in the sights, smells, sounds and enjoying each others company.

Yogi Feet

Okay, I`m a little picture-happy at the moment... but check out these yogi feet!!!!  I can`t stop kissing these toes.

Emily Allium... The Great Thinker.  I love this pose, she's considering something deep I suspect, like when her next feeding will be... or how she can get her diaper changed quickly, or what it`s like to be an astronaut??

So, we've been dealing with gas issues and it's kinda hard for me to bear witness to.  Sometimes she passing wind like the best of 'em, but other times there is such struggle and agony on her beautiful little face that I'm brought to tears with a desire to make it stop.  Thankfully she doesn't cry like I've read about for "colicky" babies, but she's definitely not enjoying herself when she has an ``episode``.  I bought a bottle of organic gripe water the other day and feel somewhat comforted to have it in the house, but haven't been able to bring myself to give it to her yet.  I'm hesitant to put anything other than breast-milk in her... she's only 4 weeks old!  And although it`s all natural, it does contain a bit of baking soda which will affect her pH balance somewhat (more alkaline).  I don`t want to mess with that, although a bit of gripe water now and then will not likely make much of a difference.

My husband and I put a call out to our midwives to get their opinion on giving her a teeny-bit of yoghurt, or perhaps a few drops of whey, to see if that introduces the good intestinal flora she needs to assist with the digestion process.  Will post when we get a response on that.  I know we don't introduce foods until 6 months, but I suspect a few little drops of yoghurt/whey might not hurt and may even help.  I know, I know... this is a process that babies go through as they develop their digestive system, but it's so hard to watch her struggle.  At least the episodes are not long and drawn out, and she does eventually get out a whole lot of gas (how can one tiny belly contain that many farts!).

Apart from that, she's incredibly super.  Not too fussy, and even enjoys a little alert time on her own.  The past few nights have been good as well, with pretty quick feeds and back to sleep for two hours.  She still falls deep asleep when we go for our afternoon walks (in the awesome vancouver early-spring sunshine... I've been in t-shirts and sandals all week!).  I suspect the stimulus of the outside world is still just too much for her to handle, so she sleeps through it all and processes it when we get back.

Babies:  no manual, but a lot of intuition and instinct required.

Babymoon

We are on our "Babymoon"... I love that term, and it is so appropriate!  We are cocooned in our own little world, learning about each other and our rhythms.  I can't believe that the 2010 winter olympics are currently going on in our town right now as we speak, not that I care but just that something so major is happening while we are in our blessed little bubble unaware of worldly happenings.  Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!

She is learning about passing gas lately, and the grunts and groans, punching arms and scrunched-up faces are both hilarious and painful for me to watch.  I want to help her with it, but can't.  We do little leg crunches to press against her tummy, the "sleeping tiger" hold, and tummy massages but ultimately she needs to work out her digestive system on her own.  Wonder how long that will take??

Hmmmmm, she's finally gone back to sleep and I know I'm supposed to do the same when she does that so I'll continue this later.  Wish me luck, it's morning time and I have a hard time going back to sleep once the sun is up!!!

It doesn't get more perfect than this.

Such purity, she often brings me to tears (some happy some sad).  How perfect and pure we are when we first enter the world.  Our little tree frog is so incredibly beautiful and I don't mind admitting that I'm biased, but really...!!

The first two weeks have been a huge learning curve, with postpartum blues rearing their head at the oddest things and times.  Not to mention the complete lack of sleep.  I'm dreaming of a full 8-hour sleep... just a few years away I'm sure.

We are learning each others rhythms (well, us accepting hers!); keeping a clear distinction between night and day; how to change diapers in the middle of the night with bleary eyes and not miss a snap (we are using happynappy.ca diaper service); how to multitask like crazy (hold baby, turn on lamps, drink water, make sure her head doesn't bob about, remember to eat, and sleep with one eye open); how to type with just my left hand and a few fingers when necessary; and many other things my sleepy brain can't bring to the surface at the moment.  I think it's time for a nap, baby girl is sleeping and I know I should join her!

I can't thank my girlfriends enough for the visits, for the encouragement, for the food dropped by (that is SO incredible helpful!), for phone calls just to check-in and see if we need any groceries, and for all the other mum's who tell me everything I'm experiencing is normal, most new mum's go through these same things... it helps with my sanity.  I also recognized that I have now "joined the club" so to speak, when I walk down the street with babe in arms... all the other mum's of newborns, babies and toddlers smile and nod with that knowing gleam in their eye, we are all on the motherhood journey together.

She's Here... January 21st, 2010!

Our beautiful baby girl arrived on Thursday, January 21st, 2010 at 8lbs.  It has been an incredible experience and she is now over one-week old.

We have stories and photo's but sleep beckons us all.  Will post again when the land of daylight returns, for now we are cocooned in our "fourth trimester"... resting, sleeping, dreaming, learning about each other, snuggling, feeding, pooping & peeing, learning to use our new eyes, finding new sounds and discovering the rhythms of night and day.  It's both magical and tiring, and it feels good to stay inward for this precious time.

Stay tuned for more details...

Sunshine for Babes

Being winter-time I realized that baby doesn't get much direct sunshine in utero, so I took advantage of one of our few sunny days here in Vancouver to bathe my little one in sun-rays.  It was through the glass window, but I know that they see light and I did feel baby swivel around a bit while basking in the glow.  Not sure if that was to check-out the golden glow or to move away from it, but it felt so good to feel the warmth on my belly.

We soak it up whenever we can here on the west coast.

Another Milestone

Reached another milestone this week... I am now officially at "full-term". We are 37 weeks+1day pregnant. That means that we are able to birth at home from hereon in, and baby's lungs are developed enough to breath on their own. The law in BC says that if the baby is before 37 weeks you are required to go to the hospital, but we've crossed the threshold and are thrilled!

Everything is going well, baby is still head-down (clever baby!) and I suspect it might be a bit too big to be turning around at this point. I'm still carrying full front and centre, like there's a basketball in my belly (and a pump that won't stop making it grow!). Everything measured perfectly at the midwife appointment last week and we are in the final stretch now.

I've been aware of some different sensations that feel like things are getting ready for the next stage, but it doesn't feel like it's time just yet.  Braxton-hicks are increasing, baby still gets hiccups frequently, and I feel the need to pee almost all of the time!

We have most things that we need now for both the birth and our new bundle of joy, although we are still looking at sleeping options... haven't quite nailed down how we want to work that in our one-bedroom apartment. We would like to co-sleep for the first while for sure, but we only have a double-bed (not a lot of wiggle room), so tonight we are going to sleep with the "Close & Secure sleeper" in our bed and put my teddy bear inside to see how that goes! Hopefully teddy wakes up fully plumped and not squished.

In closing, for other pregnant ladies reading this, one of the best things about my prenatal yoga class isn't the yoga... it's being in a room full of other pregnant ladies and sharing stories!  We are all in different stages, but there are a few of us who are in the final stretch and we always wonder who will deliver first, whether they'll be in class next week or not!  Even though we don't know each other well we can share deeply about the experiences we are having with the pregnancy, and that is a great thing.  I highly recommend it.

A very exciting time this last month, and I need to not focus on the EDD as the "deadline". I know these things have their own schedule. We are hoping for a full-moon baby though, and that happens to coincide with our EDD at the end of January (10:17pm PST, January 29th) So, fingers-crossed for that!!