Since my last entry was so long, I'll keep this short.
Oliver now weighs 16.25 lbs, and measures at 26.5 inches tall. He is losing some of his baby hair, so it's kind of funny looking, we're thinking about giving him a haircut.
He got his second set of vaccines this week. He was very well behaved at the doctor's office. And after getting shots and one oral medication, which he didn't like the taste but took it anyway, he only cried a few seconds and quiet down to drink his milk. The nurse commented on how well behaved he was.
He has mastered rolling over from back to stomach. He's so fast that when I try to video tape him, by the time I am ready to shoot, he has already turned over. And now while on his stomach, he pushes his chest up and feet up, it looks like he is sky diving!
His favorite thing to do now is laying on his back and grabbing his toes. On many occasions he likes to talk while he is doing that. I think it's very relaxing for him. When he talks, he makes a lot of different sounds. It always feels like he is talking in sentences telling us about his day.
Oliver can also support himself while sitting up. He can hold that for a few seconds before he falls over, but he knows to put his arms out for support. It seems like any day now he'll be able to sit up on his own.
And the most amazing skill he has is that he can hold his own bottle! even adjust his hand for more support. He started doing that maybe at 2 months, but we usual use a glass bottle so it's too heavy for him to hold. Then one day, we had a plastic bottle, he had no problem feeding himself!
Oliver is also sleeping really well. He started to sleep longer on his own, then we would go comfort him if he wakes up but not feed him in the middle of the night. It didn't take long before he started to sleep 10, 11 hours straight. And this week we are focusing on taking naps. It's a little harder since it's so bright and his room is full of fun colors. I got some books and talked to our pediatrician, and just by paying close attention of signs of sleepiness, I've had 2 days of successful nap time with very few tears (from both of us).
It seems that with every new skill, routine, it takes less than a week for Oliver to learn. He sure makes us feel proud!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
New adjustments
There's been so many changes in the last month, with Oliver, and with myself.
My strength is and energy level are at their highest since the birth. I now can walk Oliver in his stroller for longer distance, which means I can run more errands along the way. Oliver has been sleeping longer at night. Some times as long as 11 hours. I think it's a shock to my body because I actually feel more tired when I get that much sleep.
On the large scale change. Barack Obama is our new President in the coming year. On Election night, the power on our street went out just after CNN announced Ohio goes to Obama. The focus of the evening switched quickly from the election to "how are we going to put Oliver to bed?" Our water heater needs power so no bath time, the bottle warmer needs power also. We improvised with a quick wipe down, then breast fed. Oliver was probably happy about that. Then the focus turned to all the frozen milk we've been storing. It would be awful if they had to go to waste. Luckily we had a cooler large enough to hold everything, and the power came back on about 2 hours later-after Chris and I heard them declare Senator Obama as the President Elect through a small am/fm radio while laying in bed in the dark.
That same night, Oliver got his first cold. It could have been the social weekend he had at the beach, which it rained just a few minutes after we got there. It could have been the next day playing with other babies in his class. It could have been not dressing him warm enough when we left the front door open for a little bit of breeze. However he got the cold, it was his positive spirit that kept us from worrying too much. Other than the congestion, and frustration when we try to suction his nose, he was still his happy self.
Around the same time, we decided to try out some sleep training to wean him from the night feedings. Maybe the cold made him more sleepy at night, but it didn't take many days before he got used to not eating in the middle of the night. Chris became the designated soother since he can't offer him any milk, I had read that babies can smell it from 20 feet away! Sounds exaggerated, but it did seem like he'll relax quicker when Chris went to comfort him.
What's been heavy on my mind has been when I need to return to work. I remember days in the past months when I thought "of course I'm going back"...but as time went on, that seem less attractive. It is especially hard figuring out the schedule and who will take care of him. I cry almost every time. Chris and I couldn't even really talk about it. It made us sad to be away from him, and unsure about the care set up we had between my parents and our housekeeper. Then once we started discussing the possibility of taking him to a daycare, or hire a nanny. For some reason that felt more right to us. We were concerned that in case of an emergency, my parents and the housekeeper might have trouble with transportation or language barriers. The thought of having someone who does this for a living felt like a safer option. And the fact that we can keep Oliver at home instead of transporting him back and forth, and wasting most of our free time in the car instead of time for bonding.
It seems like everything with Oliver comes just when we need it, when we are ready for it. It felt that way with the doula, our doctor, his pediatrician, and now with the nanny, it happens effortlessly. Just when I felt despair from not able to find a daycare without a 2 year waiting list, we got a referral from a friend of a nanny. She has been with a family for 6 years and now the kids are going to school, they don't need her help as much. Michelle, a 30 something year old fashion student, came highly recommended. Everything including her hours seems to match what we need since we still would like my parents to spend time with Oliver, and she needs time for her school. After a phone and in person interview, both Chris and I felt good about hiring one of the most calm person I've ever seen. From her references, it seems that I will be able to learn from her about parenting. And this is from someone without her own children, but has 13 years of taking care of other people's pride and joy. I cried, of course, while interviewing her. We talked about the connection between the baby and the caretaker, I wish I could be home for those special first times. There's just a part in me that says, work 2 more years, save the money, have another baby, then you can stay home with them. Especially with the failing economy, this seems like the right thing to do. It doesn't make it any easier though.
I was already a very emotionally sensitive person. I cried easily and worry too much. Since Oliver has been in our lives, I have cried over how adorable he looks when he is sleeping, then cried when he is not sleeping and crying. I have heard of the guilt that comes along with being a mother, but it's crazy how a little cry makes you question your every action. And whenever I can, I am online, flipping through books, emailing friends, trying to find an answer. It's amazing how all your brain and your heart wants to do is make him happy. You worry, lose sleep, cry, get frustrated, work your hardest just to see him smile.
As with any baby related issues, there's always two extremely opposing opinions on how to take care of a baby. Even from the pregnancy, natural or c-section, medicated or not, breast or bottle, cry or pick up. You instinct and hormones tell you one thing, then the logical side of the brain tells you another. Finding the balance between the two is difficult but necessary, both for the baby, and your own sanity. I feel very lucky that Oliver seems to have a very easy temperament. He communicates well and never fusses for no reason. I'm learning to pay attention to what he is telling me, so I can give him what he needs.
The latest adjustment is taking naps during the day. And obviously he is doing it, otherwise I wouldn't be able to update my blog! What a good boy he is. I'm so proud!
My strength is and energy level are at their highest since the birth. I now can walk Oliver in his stroller for longer distance, which means I can run more errands along the way. Oliver has been sleeping longer at night. Some times as long as 11 hours. I think it's a shock to my body because I actually feel more tired when I get that much sleep.
On the large scale change. Barack Obama is our new President in the coming year. On Election night, the power on our street went out just after CNN announced Ohio goes to Obama. The focus of the evening switched quickly from the election to "how are we going to put Oliver to bed?" Our water heater needs power so no bath time, the bottle warmer needs power also. We improvised with a quick wipe down, then breast fed. Oliver was probably happy about that. Then the focus turned to all the frozen milk we've been storing. It would be awful if they had to go to waste. Luckily we had a cooler large enough to hold everything, and the power came back on about 2 hours later-after Chris and I heard them declare Senator Obama as the President Elect through a small am/fm radio while laying in bed in the dark.
That same night, Oliver got his first cold. It could have been the social weekend he had at the beach, which it rained just a few minutes after we got there. It could have been the next day playing with other babies in his class. It could have been not dressing him warm enough when we left the front door open for a little bit of breeze. However he got the cold, it was his positive spirit that kept us from worrying too much. Other than the congestion, and frustration when we try to suction his nose, he was still his happy self.
Around the same time, we decided to try out some sleep training to wean him from the night feedings. Maybe the cold made him more sleepy at night, but it didn't take many days before he got used to not eating in the middle of the night. Chris became the designated soother since he can't offer him any milk, I had read that babies can smell it from 20 feet away! Sounds exaggerated, but it did seem like he'll relax quicker when Chris went to comfort him.
What's been heavy on my mind has been when I need to return to work. I remember days in the past months when I thought "of course I'm going back"...but as time went on, that seem less attractive. It is especially hard figuring out the schedule and who will take care of him. I cry almost every time. Chris and I couldn't even really talk about it. It made us sad to be away from him, and unsure about the care set up we had between my parents and our housekeeper. Then once we started discussing the possibility of taking him to a daycare, or hire a nanny. For some reason that felt more right to us. We were concerned that in case of an emergency, my parents and the housekeeper might have trouble with transportation or language barriers. The thought of having someone who does this for a living felt like a safer option. And the fact that we can keep Oliver at home instead of transporting him back and forth, and wasting most of our free time in the car instead of time for bonding.
It seems like everything with Oliver comes just when we need it, when we are ready for it. It felt that way with the doula, our doctor, his pediatrician, and now with the nanny, it happens effortlessly. Just when I felt despair from not able to find a daycare without a 2 year waiting list, we got a referral from a friend of a nanny. She has been with a family for 6 years and now the kids are going to school, they don't need her help as much. Michelle, a 30 something year old fashion student, came highly recommended. Everything including her hours seems to match what we need since we still would like my parents to spend time with Oliver, and she needs time for her school. After a phone and in person interview, both Chris and I felt good about hiring one of the most calm person I've ever seen. From her references, it seems that I will be able to learn from her about parenting. And this is from someone without her own children, but has 13 years of taking care of other people's pride and joy. I cried, of course, while interviewing her. We talked about the connection between the baby and the caretaker, I wish I could be home for those special first times. There's just a part in me that says, work 2 more years, save the money, have another baby, then you can stay home with them. Especially with the failing economy, this seems like the right thing to do. It doesn't make it any easier though.
I was already a very emotionally sensitive person. I cried easily and worry too much. Since Oliver has been in our lives, I have cried over how adorable he looks when he is sleeping, then cried when he is not sleeping and crying. I have heard of the guilt that comes along with being a mother, but it's crazy how a little cry makes you question your every action. And whenever I can, I am online, flipping through books, emailing friends, trying to find an answer. It's amazing how all your brain and your heart wants to do is make him happy. You worry, lose sleep, cry, get frustrated, work your hardest just to see him smile.
As with any baby related issues, there's always two extremely opposing opinions on how to take care of a baby. Even from the pregnancy, natural or c-section, medicated or not, breast or bottle, cry or pick up. You instinct and hormones tell you one thing, then the logical side of the brain tells you another. Finding the balance between the two is difficult but necessary, both for the baby, and your own sanity. I feel very lucky that Oliver seems to have a very easy temperament. He communicates well and never fusses for no reason. I'm learning to pay attention to what he is telling me, so I can give him what he needs.
The latest adjustment is taking naps during the day. And obviously he is doing it, otherwise I wouldn't be able to update my blog! What a good boy he is. I'm so proud!