House of Swank

Month Four

Dear Hedgehog:

As of your 4 month pediatrician's visit (which took place on the very day you turned 4 months old) you are now 26.5" tall (95th %ile) and weigh 16 pounds (75th %ile), which suggests you are turning into a long, lean boy, much like your father.

This last month had its challenges - seriously, with the naps - but I think we've finally arrived at a point where the challenges are all surmountable, and raising you is overwhelmingly fun.  At least for the time being.

You've finally, mostly figured out the naps.  There have been exceptions (the first few days Daddy was home on summer vacation stand out), but you have also napped in circumstances where I had given up any hope of there ever being a nap in the history of your life - namely, your Grandma and Grandpa Poet's house.  Seriously, you napped there.  Consistently.  Blew my mind away.  And made me very happy, indeed.

You're also starting to become mobile.  I don't know that I would call you a full-fledged roller yet.  But you have rolled.  Many times.  Both front-to-back and the more difficult back-to-front.  Stupendous stuff.  And as a result of the rolling you enjoy hanging out on your tummy now.  When you accomplished that first belly-to-back roll I insisted on putting you on your belly at every opportunity - to try to get you to repeat the trick.  And instead of repeating, you realized that if you lifted your head up while lying on your belly you had a pretty good view of the world.

The one thing that amazes me the most, and becomes more apparent as time passes, is your skill at solving problems and using logic.  Prior to your epic back-to-front rolling session on Thursday you spent a lot of time rolling from your back onto your side where your legs, arms and head would get in the way of you going any further.  The first time you rolled on Thursday you assumed that position, then got yourself in a spot where your arm was the only thing standing in your way.  You did a little bit of this and a little bit of that and next thing we knew you were on your tummy.  The next time you rolled you got into the same position and then it was as if you said "Oh yeah, I remember this, here's what I do to fix it" - no challenges whatsoever.  Your grandmother commented that you don't seem to experience frustration the way that other babies do.  You just keep plugging away at it until you figure it out, or don't bother trying until you are good and ready. 

You've really started vocalizing a lot.  It's fun to have conversations with you.  Among your babbles you will frequently give a "mamamamamamamama" but, even more impressive, you've got one gurgle that sounds astoundingly similar to "OK."  Recently you've added high-pitched squeals to the repertoire.  They are painful to listen to, but I endure because they generally are an exhibition of pure glee on your part.

It appears you may be suffering from a bit of separation anxiety.  People, especially men, who are not me or your Dad sometimes make you very upset.  Although you're also fairly quick to get over things, and while your grandfathers may make you upset when you first visit them within hours they are among your favorite people again.

I'm really looking forward to the next couple of months with you.  Your dad is home on summer vacation, which means lots of daddy-son play time (and that mama gets to sleep in every morning!).  We've also got a couple of big trips planned.  By the time you reach 7 months old you will have been to 11 states (in order:  Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Utah and Nevada).  Three of those states (Montana, Michigan and Indiana) are states I've never been to, either.

Looking forward to it all!

Love,
Mama

Mine

When two people have an infant that they have created together one of the questions that frequently comes up is how the family trees got spliced together and who does the child actually resemble.

The jury is still out on the Hedgehog.  Shortly after birth we received a photo of Sweetie as an infant, and we decided that Hedgehog was a dead ringer for him.  Which did not surprise me one bit, because Sweetie is a dead ringer for his father, and I figured that was just the way it was going to go.

Then a couple of days later Hedgehog really got around to opening his eyes for the first time, and gosh those sure looked a lot like my eyes.  So maybe he did get some of me after all.  And if I hold him up to photos of me as an infant he sure looks a lot like me.

Which is a whole lot of talk to basically say:  the jury is still out and we'll get back to you on that one.

Except for one, undeniable resemblance.

The kid has my nose.

We shall set aside the fact that if there were one part of my anatomy I would least like to pass along to my offspring that it would be my nose.  That I've been self-conscious about my nose since I went on a school trip to Washington, DC, in 9th grade and while in Colonial Williamsburg a classmate referred to my nose as "a ski jump for bugs."

That nose is mine, all mine.  And every time I look at it I fall in love with my son just a little bit more.

It's one of those weird little ways that being adopted alters your world view.

I've never, legitimately, resembled my family.  I've had people tell me they can see the family resemblance when making small talk, but they are seeing things that aren't there.  I've been told more times than I can count that I look just like someone else you know.  But I've never had that physical resemblance to show, without a doubt, that I am part of my clan. 

Well, I haven't, until now.  Like it or not, Hedgehog is now part of my clan, and he's got the nose to prove it.

Damn, being a parent is cool sometimes.

Horizontally Mobile

Dear Hedgehog,

Tonight you rolled over from your belly to your back for the very first time.  You almost did it for the very second time as well, but not quite.  I'm sure that will happen soon enough.

It totally made it worth being beckoned home early from knitting with friends because you were inconsolably fussy. 

I guess many babies don't start this whole rolling thing until they are 4 months old, and you are doing it at the ripe old age of 3 months and 10 days.  Your pediatrician suspected this might happen given your size and strength at your 2 month appointment.

I wonder if this means you'll start crawling and walking early as well. 

Guess it's time to start looking into baby gates.

Love,
Mama

The Great Diplomat

Today the Hedgehog and I attended our weekly breastfeeding support group.  It's not so much that we need support (and sometimes I feel a bit guilty that things go so swimmingly for us), but I like some of the other Mamas that go, and it gives me a chance to weigh the boy and see how quickly he is packing on the pounds.

Last week we did not attend the group, so it has been two weeks since the last weigh-in, when Hedgehog was a healthy 13 pounds 14 ounces.  Last night Sweetie was commenting that he was sure that Hedgehog had topped 15 pounds.  I was thinking his weight was lower than that.  Well, hoping is more like it.  Feeding and lugging around a child who is growing at breakneck speed is exhausting!  Sweetie set the over/under at 14 pounds 9 ounces.

This morning Hedgehog weighed in at 14 pounds 9 ounces on the nose - on a scale that goes to the 10th of an ounce.  Obviously, he knew of the wager and didn't want to cause chaos in the home.

But, for the record, I am the world champion of the game "Poop or Toot."

Month Three

Dear Hedgehog,

You are now three months old and we have finally gotten to the good part of this whole parenting thing.  You are much more human than newborn now, and you become humaner and humaner every darn day.

The best part of it all has got to be the smiles.  You've got this great, gummy grin that spreads from ear to ear with dimples on either side, and when it breaks out your eyes sparkle and your whole body just exudes joy.  Every morning when it is time to get you out of your bassinet you break one out for me.  The best are when you are fussing and crying, impatient to get the day started.  Once you realize I am standing there you break into your grin for just a second or two, then go back to the complaining.  When you react to me like that it makes it very easy to be your mama.

You're becoming very aware of all of your surroundings and love to interact with the world as you are able.  One of your most favorite things to do is to sit on your daddy's or my lap and just watch whatever is going on around you.  If someone else is holding you and you catch a glimpse of me you frequently get this look in your eyes as if to say "Hey, lady, what are you doing all the way over there?"  You've also really started to play with some of your toys.  Your favorites are a small rattle that is easy for you to hold onto and a super-soft stuffed bear your Daddy bought for you.  One morning you had the bear on one side of you and the rattle in your opposite hand and you were happy as a clam.  If you dropped the rattle or inadvertently pushed the bear away from you then you would fuss, but once the item was returned to its proper place all was good with the world again.

The only sort of play you don't care for too much is the dreaded tummy time.  We've come up with some tricks to make it easier on you, and it seems to be not so torturous the last few days, but you really don't care for it one bit. 

You continue to grow like a champ, and last time we checked you were just under 14 pounds and 25" long. 

The biggest issue this month has been that of sleep.  We've got night times figured out, and you sleep like a champ then.  Your Daddy does most of the bedtime routine, which consists of the "5 Bs" - Bottle, Book, Bath, Boob, Bed.  By the time you get to the boob you're generally ready to calm down for the night, and if it doesn't work a little dancing with your Daddy puts you into the mood.  Once you're down you usually sleep for around 6-7 hours, wake for a changing and a feeding, and then sleep for another 1-3 hours.  Some mornings you even sleep in after I'm awake!

Naptimes, however, are a very different story.  The mantra around our house right now is "Naps are for suckers."  When it's just you and me we've got a pretty nice routine going most days.  We go for an adventure in the morning which allows you some time to sleep in the car seat and/or the Moby.  Come afternoon, once you start showing signs of tired (usually between 1-3 pm) I change you, swaddle you up, and nurse you to sleep.  Sometimes there's a false start or two, but generally you'll get a pretty decent nap in there.  The problem comes when there are other people in the house, or if we are not at home.  You are so interested in meeting (and flirting with) these new people, checking out the new ceilings, seeeing all the world has to see, that you WILL NOT SLEEP if there is anyone else around.  For a while it was REALLY bad because you could not nap when your Dad was home AT ALL and you could sense if someone new had come into the house and awake instantaneously.  Now you've got a 50/50 shot of sleeping if your Dad is here, and if you are asleep you'll stay asleep if someone comes over.  However, if we dare do something like take you to your Grandma and Grandpa's for the weekend?  Oh dear God are you a cranky baby when you haven't napped for two days.

Ironically enough, you have slept through large chunks of several baseball games.  Which bodes well for our family's summer travel plans.

Love,
Mama

Month Two

Dear Hedgehog,

Yes, I know we are more than halfway to your 3 month mark, and I'm just getting around to writing this now.  The thing is, I do most of my internetting while I am nursing you.  And you nurse A LOT.  So, when I'm not nursing you there are other things I want to be doing.  I can do most of my internetting while I am nursing you.  Mouse-heavy tasks get done when you're on the left side.  Typing tasks get done while you're on the right side.  But my patience and ability to type one-handed is constrained to fairly short things, so blog posts never make the cut.

Your second month was all about the nursing and all about the growing.  You gained nearly 5-1/2 pounds from the time you were born until your 2 month appointment.  If you account for the weight you lost post-birth you put on nearly 6 pounds.

Needless to say, you like to eat.

A lot.

So much so that I think you may be the only baby ever in the history of babies to not be utterly traumatized by your first shot.

At your 2 month doctor's appointment you received two vaccines - one oral and one injection.  You were hungry before the doctor came in to see you, but you were willing to wait for your next meal, so I held off until the appointment was over.  When it came time for the vaccines the nurse gave the oral one first.  I was holding you and your face was right next to my breast while she was giving you the vaccine.  Every time she'd give you a little bit into your mouth you'd look out of the corner of your eye at me and get this look in your eyes that said "Look, lady, this isn't doing the trick.  You've got the goods right there, what are you waiting for?"  It took a very long time to give you that vaccine.

For the shot they stabbed you, you screamed, I nursed you and within a minute you were asleep.  I got you dressed.  You fussed almost as much as when you got the shot.  I nursed you and then you were asleep again.  Just give you a boob and you're a happy guy indeed.

You're starting to interact much more with the world around you, and when you aren't eating you love to just sit on my lap and observe the world around you.  We took you to your first baseball game on April 22 and you spent a good 2 innings of the game just sitting, observing what was going on around you.

In return, napping is still a challenge for you.  There's just too much in the world for you to observe and do, you don't want to waste your time with napping.  That's the biggest challenge at the moment.

Finally, you and the cat have started to become friends with each other.  I knew there was hope during your 6 week growth spurt.  You and I spent the day in bed with you either eating or fussing throughout the day.  Samson, who normally likes to run and hide when there is a commotion going on, spent all day at the foot of the bed.  Every time you fussed he would give you a look like "Would you just shut up please?!?" but, he never left the bed.  That's true love from the cat if ever I saw it.  So now I give you opportunity to pet the kitty several times a eek.  You seem to enjoy it, even if you don't quite know what's going on yet.  The cat is already starting to train you, and when you are petting him he will move around so you get the spots he wants petted the most, just like he does with your Daddy and me.

I look back at the photos of when you were first born and it's difficult to believe you are that same person.  You've become so big and so human in the last two months.  And I'm looking forward to watching you as you continue to grow and develop.

Love,
Mama

A Matter of Perspective

The glass is half empty:  The boy appears to be incapable of taking a nap if anyone outside of him and I are in the house.  This could be problematic come summer, when his father is not working and home every day.

The glass if half full:  With a bit of Moby action, a fair amount of the junior high slow dance, and an occasional boob the boy is capable of being quite charming and well-behaved for an exhausted infant that did not take an afternoon nap.

 

Baby's First Baseball Team

The fantasy baseball league I've been in for the last several years, the PPFL, died this year, but one of the members resurrected the league with some minor changes in both rules and teams.  So, now instead of the PPFL it's the FAFBFL, but the basics remain the same, except we didn't get any keepers this year.

Hedgehog is co-owner with me this year, because when you're mother to a breastfeeding 6-week old the infant WILL influence your choices during the draft, and the sleep deprivation will influence your choices all season.  Thus, the inspiration for the team name.  Not many children can say they were managing fantasy football teams from before their birth and baseball teams from 6-weeks old.  Hedgehog may, in fact, be the only child ever to be able to say that.

So, without further ado, here is the roster of Baby's First Baseball Team:

Catchers:
Victor Martinez (Cleveland Indians)
AJ Pierzynski (Chicago White Sox) - For an "in case of emergency break glass" player I'm pretty pleased with Pierzynski.  Given the early run on catchers and his position in both my spreadsheet and the default rankings I'm a bit surprised he lasted as long as he did, but I'm not afraid to have bullies on my team.

Middle Infielders:
Jimmy Rollins (Philadelphia Phillies) - One of three former House of Swankers I was afraid to lose this season, as he has been on my team since the beginning.  I may have picked him up a bit earlier than warranted, but he's worth it.
Miguel Tejada (Houston Astros)
Yuniesky Betancourt (Seattle Mariners) - My token Mariner is also my favorite Mariner and was, in the second to last round of the draft, the best middle infielder available when I took him, so wins all the way around!  And he's doing well so far this season.  Well enough to be active this week.

Corner Infielders:
Carlos Pena (Tampa Bay Rays)
Joey Votto (Cincinnati Reds)
Carlos Guillen (Detroit Tigers)

Outfielders:
Bobby Abreu (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Orange County of California of the United States of America)
Ryan Braun (Milwaukee Brewers)
Vernon Wells (Toronto Blue Jays)
Jermaine Dye (Chicago White Sox)

Utility:
Mark DeRosa (Cleveland Indians) - Player #2 of the guys I'm pleased as punch to have back on my team.  He was never a keeper, but is the best player out there who is eligible at corner, middle and outfield, which can serve a person well if you get beat up by injuries and suckiness.

Starting Pitching:
John Danks (Chicago White Sox)
Roy Halladay (Toronto Blue Jays) - I think I would have cried if I didn't get Roy Halladay on my team, as not only was he a House of Swanker from the beginning, but he has never NOT been on my fantasy team, as he was a keeper every season in the PPFL.  I'm glad to have him back.
Ted Lilly (Chicago Cubs)
Ricky Nolasco (Florida Marlins)
James Shields (Tampa Bay Rays)
Hiroki Kuroda (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Gil Meche (Kansas City Royals)
Manny Parra (Milwaukee Brewers)

Relief Pitching:
Joe Nathan (Minnesota Twins) - Quite frankly, I'm surprised I've got Nathan.  There are three teams in our league based out of Minnesota, and one of them has six Twinkies on his roster.  Our league has eleven teams, three relief pitchers active in a week, and rewards saves.  There are only 30 closers in the league at a given point in time.  So getting a complete relief staff can be a challenge.  Yet I ended up with the Twinkies closer.  Go me!
Jose Valverde (Houston Astros)
Kerry Wood (Cleveland Indians)
Chris Ray (Baltimore Orioles) - The reliever I wanted for my backup slot was taken with the pick immediately before mine.  I knew I needed to pick up my fourth reliever with that pick, or I was doomed.  The child was hungry and fussing.  I just picked the guy highest on the list with the highest number of saves with a few seconds left on the clock.  He MAY become the closer for Baltimore later this season.  A girl can hope.

Week Four / Month One

Dear Hedgehog,

First off, you're not so good at the math yet, but someday you will be (hopefully) and I don't want you getting up in my grill about how this was written when you were five weeks and two days old.  YOU try simultaneously forming a coherent thought AND typing (quite likely one-handed) while an infant is either eating off of you or asleep on you (as that's the only time you're really at the computer).  Not so simple.  But, I took notes on what happened in week four, so even though the update is late it is still accurate.

This week you became beholden for life to two people.  Dr. Harvey Karp and the student teacher who mentored under your father a few years ago.

Dr. Harvey Karp for teaching us the magic swaddle (as it's come to be known in this house), which has given you the gift of sleep.  Because as much as you dislike being confined by a swaddle, it's the only way you've been able to get any sleep while not being held by someone.  You've been a big fan of your arms from day one, and you like to flail yourself awake with them as much as possible.  And although you generally work your way out of the swaddle - sometimes more quickly than others - it calms you just enough that you can sleep in your bassinet.  Sweet, sweet sleep.

Your father's former student teacher was an important part of this whole process as well.  Because we first decided to try the magic swaddle in the middle of one night, when nothing was working to get you to sleep in your bassinet and your mama REALLY. NEEDED. SLEEP.  The student teacher is a mama herself, and when she learned you were on your way into the world she gifted us with swaddling blankets.  When she gifted us with the blankets I believe she said something to the effect of "receiving blankets don't work at all for swaddling, you're going to need these."  AND SHE WAS RIGHT.

So now you can sleep with at least some regularity during the nighttime hours, and that is the most exciting thing ever.

Love,
Mama

Major Milestone

We hit one of the major milestones of new parenthood last night - the first unsolicited advice from a complete and utter stranger!

We're in Tacoma for the weekend, for the state debate championships.  Hedgehog and I came in advance of everyone else because it allowed us to travel at an easier time of day for the wee one.  I opted to do Outback for dinner, since I could get them to bring the order to my car (no need to removed the kid from his seat!) and eat in my room (no need to negotiate a sit-down meal solo with the wee one!).  I was on the way to my car to go pick up dinner:

Random stranger in the hotel parking lot:  How old is the baby?
Me:  3-1/2 weeks.
Her:  YOU NEED TO GET A HAT ON HIS HEAD!

OK, lady, first of all it's like 60 degrees right now.  And the walk from the hotel to the car takes about a minute.  And earlier in the day the kid was sweating in his carseat.  And have you tried to keep a non-wool hat on his head?  And, and, and, and.....

Me:  He's a hothead.

All in all I found it amusing, but I'm sure there will come a point where it's not so amusing anymore.