Road Trip

I love a good road trip...apparently so does Christopher. We successfully went to Seattle for the weekend - two nights in a hotel, three days of driving, shopping and a very messed up routine!

Shopping therapy works wonders for the slightly bored, stay at home mom. I found it especially cathartic this time around. There is something about the whole ritual of searching for a given item, finding it and then acquiring it! I suppose some might find shopping a completely mundane, shallow past time but I say pooh! Having said that I also realized that pre-baby, I spent a lot of time shopping. Read this as acknowledgement that I spent too much time shopping. A little time every now and then is innocent, nay it's likely necessary (we all need to buy things like groceries, clothes and SHOES!) but not every day. I'll use my profession and my excuse for being tempted to shop daily!

Well other than the therapy I also spent some serious quality time with Nancy, my cousin-in-law. I am certain that Christopher is in love with her, I suppose it could be the funny German lullaby's or maybe it's that Nancy is in love with him. Whatever it is, we three got on great and I look forward to another road trip in the fall!

Feeling Productive...again

Everyone has some method for telling themselves whether or not it's been a "good day". For me I've had a good day when lots of things have 'gotten done'; we spoke about my never ending lists of things to 'get done' a few months ago, perhaps you remember my confessions on this topic. Well today was a really good day. The little guy and I got lots of things done, together and separately.

Christopher spent lots of time on his tummy today! While you and I may not truly appreciate how important this is, he really needs to this for his development. His little arms and neck need this daily workout for muscle development as well as learning the motor skills to eventually crawl and pull himself up. He also spent time learning to hold onto his favorite toy - Mr. Octopus. I'm telling you this toy is like baby crack...he sees it and the giggles, oohs and aaahs are none stop. It's really very adorable and make me laugh every time.

My list of things include mundane little things like laundry (which I now do at least 4 times a week) & making granola as well as big projects such as organizing & sorting thru multiple boxes of what is left of my mom's & uncle's belongings. It's amazing really, the whole process of tidying up the leftover's from an other's life. I spent the rest of the day looking at all of the 'stuff' that I own and am left to wonder 'why?'. Why exactly do I own all of the little knick-knacky sorts of things & who will be burdened with sorting thru it all when I pass away?

Perhaps it's a sign that I need to go through it all and free selected items to cheer others while I enjoy the calm that comes with an uncluttered space and sense of accomplishment for having completed one of my tasks!

Something to Say

Yes I know it's been almost a month since my last post but frankly, I haven't had much new to share. I think it's rather dull to post on the same things every day or even weekly. You are all already aware of the struggles regarding sleep, routine and my own personal identity crisis. BUT...

I have something new to share. Christopher is developing quite the little personality. He loves to 'talk' now and is becoming somewhat attached to certain toys. I wanted to load a video but the file is too big...! If you want to see it, email me and I'll forward the zip file to you.

Another development is that I am starting to enjoy my time with the little guy. I had a feeling that once he became a little more interactive and responsive that this would happen. It also helps that we are all getting more sleep the past few weeks...this is thanks to Michael. Daddy is now the king of getting Christopher down at night for more than 2 or 3 hours in a row. In speaking with other new moms I am quite fortunate that Michael helps out as much as he does. Some of the women that I've met are doing literally everything at home & taking care of their infants on their own. OMG, I feel for them!

Enjoy!

Sleep

As you all know I have been obsessed with sleep or rather the unpredictable nature of Christopher's sleep patterns. This has lead me to have an unpredictable sleep pattern, more like a non-existent sleep pattern as on no sleep.

I am happy to report that for now it seems that we have established a regular bedtime for the little guy! YEAH! WOOT, WOOT! Tonight marks the 3rd night in a row that we begin the bedtime routine around 7:15pm to 7:30pm and he is sound asleep by 8:00pm, maybe 8:30pm & get this - he has been sleeping for up to 6 hours in a row!...did I mention that he is also now sleeping in his very own bedroom? Yes, we made the leap two nights ago & let me tell you, it's made a world of difference for me. No more listening to his nightly grunts & snoring, wondering "is he awake, do I need to feed him?" This is important in that half the time, I did not need to feed him & only succeeded in waking him up!

So, how was this momentous feat accomplished? Routine, Routine, Routine & determination & patience. But really it's the consistency that helps set him up for sleep. We just need to stay vigilant over the next period of time to ensure that the behaviour is really set, if we mess up even one or two nights and all could be lost. Next step...daytime naps!

The benefit of this newly developed sleep pattern? Michael & I get to spend time doing something other than taking care of Christopher. Some may find that a callous statement but the truth is that one cannot be happy and balanced if all one does is tend to baby's needs. We need time for ourselves & time together, even if all that is is sitting quietly on the sofa in the same room together. Tonight however, I am off to bed early...I want to enjoy my potential sleep of 6 hours back to back!

Family

Christopher and I have just returned from a visit to Toronto. We were there to visit with Michael's family...his sisters and their fabulous spouses and kid's as well as his parents.

Let me just say this, Michael has a really great family. I think that I am one of the few people who will openly and enthusiastically say that I love my in-laws.

Hilde, now known as "Oma" deserves saint status - She has taught me more about being patient with the little guy than I ever thought possible. Oma has the "magic" touch when it comes to babies. Like my father (grandpa), no matter what was going on with Christopher she simply cuddled, coo'd and rocked him until the gas pain passed or he decided that he'd said his piece and was done for the time being.

Michael has twin sisters - Mary & Susie. They both have 2 children, much older than Christopher. They are both wonderful with children; patient, supportive, understanding and I think most importantly, non-judgmental...just very even keeled or least this is the energy that I see when I'm with them.

I can only hope that I grow into this role in a similar fashion. I want to be patient and even keeled and supportive and non-judgemental and loving in a way that allows my son to become a whole person.

Time Passes Quickly

It's been a number of days since I lasted posted and what can I say? Time moves in two dimensions when you have a 7 week old to care for.

The first dimension is the "oh my god will this day never end?" dimension. It's generally filled with frustration and confusion for both you and your newborn. Often times this type of day is organized around bouts of inconsolable crying (both you & your child), gas...especially the little guy but potentially you too and praying for snippets of peace and sleep.

The second dimension is the " geez, where did the day go?" dimension. This is my favorite. It's got all sorts of great stuff to distract both you and the babe. Quiet moments of smiles, even a giggle, getting ready to go out, going out...coming home, taking baths (the dude that is not me! the day does not have enough hours for that!) and lastly, enjoying a meal with the hubby. Maybe if you're really lucky, you get a few minutes all to yourself!

If I discover a third time dimension I'll be sure to let you know about it!

Routine Returns to Parker Street

Ahh...I love routines.

They make me feel as though something is being accomplished. Predictability is very reassuring for many of us. No wonder I ended up in a career that relies on repeated operational routines!

Christopher has finally fallen into some semblance of a daily routine. Here it is...

~ 4:30am or so it's a big feed! He loves his boobie at this time of morning, sadly this is the time of morning when mommy is crankiest! He falls back asleep by about 5:00am or maybe 5:15am.
~ 7:00am it's time to get up! more boobie and now Christopher is AWAKE until at least 10:00am...often until 11:00am. He is a morning person just like his mommie!
~ Most days he now naps from between 10:00am and 11:00am until 1:00pm or sometimes even 2:00pm. If he is in the stroller and we're out and about, he sleeps soundly and I can get a few things done - think laundry, lunch, general tiding up or quick errands out and about.
~ 2:00pm at the latest and it's time for more boobie! This feed is often quite big! And now he is generally awake until 6:00pm. He does catch a few little cat-naps of 20 mins or so but frankly, he doesn't like to take this nap & if he does, wow is he ever CRANKY when he wakes up...just in time for daddy to come home and think that his son never does anything other than cry!
~ Between 6:00pm and 7:00pm Christopher begins his "night-time" routine. A little more boobie and then he sleeps until 9:30pm or even 10:00pm if we're lucky.
~ The next waking is at about 11:30pm or 12:00am and it's usually pretty short, more like a little snack on the boob & usually right back to sleep!
~ and before you know it, it's 4:30am and we start it all over again!

So there it is. We're still eagerly awaiting the "sleep through the night" bit where Christopher will sleep for a whole 5 or 6 hours straight. If we're lucky, this will happen over the next 2 or 3 weeks. Keep in mind, he is now between 5 and 6 weeks old! Six weeks is the magic age where his biological systems will become more like ours...this means that he'll stop confusing day with night and will be physiologically capable of sleeping longer without feeding.

Did I mention that my son is BIG! He is already weighing at 12lbs, this is 90th percentile! More on that in my next post!