Sprog Blog

Toddling.

2009-09-22T19:26:00.000-07:00

Serious toddling developments in the last month. Accompanied by the death of our old hard drive so we lost all our letters to the bug! And hundreds of photos. Happily we were able to reconstruct a good percentage of those photos: do we really need five thousand photos when we have five hundred? There are more pictures of Alex's first year than exist of both his dad and me, ever.

So: serious toddling. We went from first steps, to walking, to almost running now. He can spin around, reverse, change direction. Bend over, pick things up. Get up from a prone position. He's tall, and hip-height, so we need to be careful walking past him; I have on more than one occasion knocked him over by accident.

He's talking, in his own way. He says "Woo woo" when he hears a dog; now, "woo woo" means pretty much any animal, or thing that he wants to point to outside. But it also definitely means a dog. He'll start saying it if he sees a dog, too. When the timer goes off in the kitchen he lifts a finger and says "ah"; pointing upwards means "take me outside"; he'll definitely call me by name "ah ma ma," but only really if he's upset. Da da da, can mean either his dad or me. And he will blow to indicate he wants food prepared for him. So he'll stand in the kitchen doorway, bouncing in the morning, blowing his little cheeks out so that I'll make him his favorite breakfast: oatmeal with raisins. He'll also show his assent by giving you the biggest, toothiest grin: as in--Alex, do you want oatmeal? Do you want to go outside?

He loves going outside.

He also loves playing in the water, in the front yard, where he can see the dogs walk by with their people.

He is obsessed with big kids, between the ages of 4 and 8. We went to the park to show him the duckpond, he said woo woo to the geese, and then was determined to walk around. He found some kids playing in a tent, and stood there for a good 5 minutes talking to them.

Also: teething four teeth at a time sucks.

First Tantrum

2009-08-21T20:03:00.000-07:00

I guess this goes with the walking? Yesterday we had a quick preview of one: overtired, didn't want a bath, wanted to go right to bed. Mr. Punch is working overtime and we kept him up too late (nearly 7pm). Tonight, we made the same mistake: but this time it was real. He turned hot and red and twisty and *nothing* helped. Not distraction, not the cave-man ambassador thing, not moving back and forth between his evil parents who wouldn't let him eat dirt. It lasted about 3-4 minutes but it felt like FOREVER. Eventually I opened the freezer and stood there with him. That seemed to work. Then he ate a huge pile of rice and beans and went to sleep.

**Caveman ambassador thing is "Happiest Toddler on the Block" advice: you show the kid you understand him by mirroring his emotion back to him, and then try to distract/calm him. It worked the day before, but not today.

Walking!

2009-08-16T19:15:00.000-07:00

Today, my baby is a toddler.

Who is apparently made of iron will. His first steps were not to me, but towards the objects of his desire: the stereo, and then towards his dad who had popped out for a second: step, step--lunge toward daddy, and land on the edge of the couch. And then again seconds later, moving away from me, step, step and lunging towards Daddy.

Meanwhile, I was getting the stinkeye all day long. Brow furrowed, nose crinkled. Sheer annoyance on his face. And I wasn't even saying no to him. I just wasn't Daddy. He was fixated on him all day long. Sure, I'm good enough to nurse him, but the rest of the day was D.A.D.

I guess it makes a change.

Where to begin

2009-08-13T14:13:00.001-07:00

Man! All of a sudden so many teeth! It's like overnight, he got four. Which means crunching things is fun. Potato chips, crackers, apples, his dad's finger.

Kid's got a will of iron, and knows just how far he can go before he runs into some prohibition or other. Has perfected the stink-eye, complete with wrinkled nose. Has learned that he has to keep his hat on outside as we live on the surface of the sun, but will whip it off seconds after we get inside. He loves gravity, as it makes for a perfect game with mommy at the table, at the grocery store, in the kitchen: drop the spoon, the toy, the bottle--and this morning disastrously, his cup. He's learned to drink from a straw, and is a champ at drinking from a regular cup. The key problem is the throwing.

He's still cruising, pretty confidently. And he sits cross-legged now. It's too cute. He's perfected this playful swaggering speed-crawl, and swings his head from side-to-side when he's feeling mischievous. The best new game he plays is blowing on his dad and me: you know the blow-kisses you give to babies on their bellies? He gives them back. On his dad's belly, and on me while he's nursing. He giggles when he does it.

Stirring the pot.

2009-07-16T19:16:00.001-07:00

Today, I gave Alexander a pot, wooden spoon, and a lid. I showed him how to bang the spoon on the bottom of the pot in order to amuse him. What does he do? He flips the pot over, and for the next 25 min, stirs the pot, puts the lid on it, opens it, stirs again. He occasionally stops to stir the other pot that I bring out, and spends some time comparing how the lids fit on the two pots.

I tried to show him how to pretend eat the soup he was making, and he just looked at me, utterly mystified.

Can't believe it's been a year.

2009-07-09T19:25:00.001-07:00

We made it through the birthday party, my birthday and the ensuing unwrapping and assembling of loot. We've had to put a lot of it into the archive, to be brought out later. The mighty mite is cruising around on his push-walker in the shape of a car, and seems to be seconds from running around on his own. He figured out he can fit under the bed if he tilts his head today, much to my horror. He's totally going to get stuck. I just know it.

I keep meaning to a)write him a letter for his book, b)book a portrait commemorating his first year, and also c)go through his clothes yet again and get rid of all the too short stuff.

I have six weeks left to hang out with him before classes start. It's both eternally long and scarily short.

T minus two days

2009-06-26T21:58:00.000-07:00

First birthday party on Sunday! Endless trips to the dollar store, the grocery store, the party supply stores. Laura's making a caterpillar cake, and our theme is bugs. Because he's a little bug. We've chosen a theme that has absolutely zero merchandizing. So, I guess that's good (?) I'm making bug antennae, a "spot the ladybug" game, and a bunch of kid's food, and also rice and beans. Mom's making green chile.We're planning kid activities: spot the ladybug, squash that bug (pop balloons with gummy worms inside), cocoon your mom/dad, plant a bughouse (a flower) a pinata and of course, cake. There will probably be about fifty people here, and it will be about a hundred degrees.

I bought a slip and slide.

ALL AT ONCE

2009-06-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

Once he started crawling, all the switches got thrown to GO! He's started waving hello and goodbye, and clapping. He's still taking off his socks and shoes the minute he has access to them. Today, his grandma showed him how his socks became puppets, which he immediately tried doing and succeeded, much to his shrieking delight. Yes, shrieks of joy are new, and accompanied by tensing up his entire little body and balling up his fists.

He started what is known as "cruising" today, which is walking while holding on to furniture, or me, or a combination of the two. I started singing "Cruising, it's not Sunday afternoon..."

He's a noble little guy. Shares his food without fail and knows the rules, like don't go in the kitchen, don't play with the stereo, don't crawl off the edge of the bed. When faced with any of those temptations, he'll do a little dance on his belly, pumping his fists and his legs, then shake his head. Do the dance, then shake his head. I generally intervene and praise his virtue at that point. And then there's his looking out for the little guy. In this case, his eight week old cousin, JJ, whom we visited today. His feet were chilly so we put socks on him. Alexander immediately zoomed forth to liberate his cousin from the oppression of socks. Twice.

Meanwhile we started sleep training yesterday, and his dad has sent me out of the house both evenings, for which I'm ever greatful. So far, so good. After protesting for about 45 min last night, he slept most of the night without waking up--from 8.30 to 3.45! Of course at that point I was DYING to nurse him, and he happily obliged. Tonight, he only protested for 20 min. Let's hope tomorrow's easier too. He was so ready for this. We all were so ready for this, in spite of my inital resistance to any approach that involved crying. But, I guess after hearing him cry in the car all the way to Pasadena, I found I could survive the crying. Still, I feel a kind of loss at not cuddling my baby to sleep anymore.

Quick!

2009-06-06T14:45:00.000-07:00

This kid is doomed to wear pants that are always either too long or too short. He's growing so fast I can't keep up with what fits. We have two plastic bins: one filled with things that are too small, and one filled with things that are too big. Inevitably, I keep missing the window on the upcoming clothes. Also: he's between shoe sizes: medium pinches his chubby feet and large looks like clown shoes that flop right off.

He's just learned to wave. It's bye bye and its also random. His English grandparents are visiting, Nain and Taid (Welsh for Grandma and Grandpa) and he's having a grand time playing with them and being taken out on very long walks where he gets to see flowers and the world.

I've just put together invitations for his first birthday party at the end of this month, and I cannot believe it's already been so long. This time last year I was very pregnant, and wrecked from not sleeping and anxiety. Against all expectation, I'm more relaxed than I've been in a long, long, time. This time two years ago I was reeling from jetlag in India and being a corporate wife for the summer, and the year before that we had just bought our house and moved in.

It was Baby Day at the hospital where he was born; we got an invitation to come take a group photo, so we went. They had invited all babies and their families born from 2006-2009, and took a group photo for each year. It made me feel almost giddy, happy to be there. As we left I teared up. It snuck up on me, the momentousness of the occasion. This was Alexander's generation, his cohort. And also, this was a thing that was only us, not our families of origin, but something else, new and exciting. The future seems full of the thrill of the unknown for the first time in a long time. Funny, that. I mean going to India was exciting, but in a very different way. I'll have to think more about how.

If you're happy and you know it

2009-05-29T20:38:00.000-07:00

Clap your hands!

Alexander figured out how to clap today, and was very pleased indeed. In fact, he's so taken with it, he was trying to clap as he was falling asleep tonight.

Also new today: zooming away on the bed whenever he's undressed, giggling hysterically. Maybe the giggling has something to do with our playing along, "Oh no! Naked baby escape! Get him! Get him!"

Watch out.

2009-05-26T11:44:00.001-07:00

He's growing faster than I can see. One minute he's a baby in my arms, the next he's trying out being a kid.

We just got back from a four day trip to Boston, one of my conferences. Flying was better than expected on the way out, and as bad as I thought it might be coming back.

Baby Benadryl, by the way, is a lie.

It wasn't that bad. He cried and fussed for three hours, and slept for three hours. In my arms. Even with a sling, it still hurt.

Boston was funny; apparently, the bug has powers of zapping random people on the street with his cuteness. This never happens here. Either the kids there are not so cute, or there aren't any kids there.
And then there's this picture below: What?

We just ditched this table. Not to prevent delinquency, which from the looks of this photo, seems like a good idea, but because the top is glass and it's all super sharp corners in a very small space. Also it was spacky and had to go.

He understands "no" and won't come into the kitchen (one of the rules). He'll stop if you call his name: here he was reaching for something dangerous, and I called him. Hence the look.

Thanks to Tia Pita for the fabulous attitude appropriate T-shirt. Y que, indeed.

Zoom!

2009-05-10T22:08:00.001-07:00

Once he figured out crawling, it's been full-speed ahead. Last weekend he was rocking back and forth on his knees and apparently sat up by accident. During the week, he started sitting up on his knees pretty deliberately, and pulling up on furniture, his crib, and me to his knees. This weekend he's been pulling up to standing, unassisted, pretty consistently. Today, he was able to pull himself up on the edge of his play-yard and started taking little steps towards the wall he was leaning on, and according to his Tio Johnny, took a couple of steps sideways, while holding on to the top of the wee plastic wall.

He is minutes from walking.

Before I know it, he's going to be running away from me, shouting nononononono. He already shakes his head and squeezes his face shut when he doens't like something.

Apropos the picture: isn't he a sly bunny?

I know, right?

2009-04-20T21:21:00.000-07:00

Dinner!

2009-04-05T22:18:00.000-07:00

The great thing about watching the wee one eat is his crazy exuberance. He will mix things all together and attack with great aplomb. Tonight's menu: noodles, tofu, and pear.

I have to figure out how to put up digital footage of him attacking that pear at the end of the meal. Nose wrinkled, eyes squeezed shut, growls emanating from his tiny throat.

What's that in your mouth?

2009-04-03T09:34:00.000-07:00

My constant refrain: what are you eating? what is that? Yes, indeed. The buglet is creeping around the house picking up lint and whatever else he can find and popping it into his mouth. Its gross, alarming, and hilarious all at once.

Also: he's discovered how much fun it is to hit his tray and see how far the food on it can go. Or at least, make a clear spot in the middle after smearing everything around it first.

Had me contemplating putting his lunch on the carpet, so then he'd be interested in eating it.

Curses scooped!

2009-03-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

Well I guess the Mrs beat me to it :)

Yup the little one is learning traction and forward motion. He really wanted a hair band and by gum a little thing like never having crawled before was not going to stop him.

It's a compelling mix of belly crawling and pulling himself forward by grabbing the carpet and tugging.

Crawling!

2009-03-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

I spoke too soon of course. Not only does he roll, but our little bug rocks! Alex is navy-seal crawling around the living room pretty fast right now. I'll bet he'd go faster if he wasn't hampered by his footie pajamas and could get some traction instead of sliding around in the bagginess of them.

Time to tie up all those loose electrical cords and lock the cabinets!

I wonder if he'll amuse himself for longer now?

rolling rolling rolling

2009-03-20T08:12:00.000-07:00

I seriously think the bug is going to skip crawling and just roll everywhere until he can walk. He's pretty fast and pretty directed about his pivot, wiggle, roll maneuvers he's got going to get around.

Teething suxxors

2009-03-16T23:23:00.000-07:00

As if you didn't know. But seriously, for three years??!!

I can haz teeth?

2009-03-06T21:03:00.000-08:00

Or something to that effect. We felt two razor sharp little teeth the other day. Also, on the same day, Alex discovered his junk in the bathtub. Two milestones, same day. Life is grand.

Temper, temper

2009-03-02T21:06:00.000-08:00

So, the bug's got a temper. I knew that. What I didn't know was that he can hold a baby grudge. I made him mad this evening, just before his dad got home. I'm not sure if it was my getting up after he fell asleep next to me on the bed, or that when he woke up upset, and I came back to comfort nurse him, I then startled him by answering Mr. Punch's "I'm Home!" with a perhaps too loud "yay!"

In any case, Alex decides he doesnt't want to nurse anymore, and is twisting toward his dad to be picked up, which he is. They play. I come in for smiles and smooches, which he's giving his dad. I get nothing: he turns his head, silently. Hmmmmph. So, I go into the kitchen to start dinner, while his dad folds laundry with the bug on the bed. I come back in to play/help. And I get more of the same: he turns away from me, stony faced (inasmuch as a baby can be stonyfaced) and gives his dad a big smile. Hmmmmmph! So, I kiss him, and smile, chuck him under the chin and go back to the kitchen. I say: maybe I need to go away for a bit--then he's be happy to see me! (It's happened). After another five minutes, Mr. Punch brings him into the kitchen saying "he's following you with his eyes; I think he wants to make up." So I kiss and try to cuddle him, he's turning away, but not as much. I offer him a strawberry, which he takes and squishes up high. I play squish it with him, and TADA: a big smile. YAY.

Food and play as the peace offering. A little bit passive agressive. Just like Mama.

He's 8 months old.

I'm cooked.

Puns come true

2009-02-17T11:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Mr. Punch pointed out that Alexander had literally ripped the F out of my keyboard. Put his nimble baby fingers to good use, reached in there, and removed the F key from my laptop. No lie. Its funny and annoying all at the same time. Ah, parenthood.

Songs

2009-02-09T15:22:00.000-08:00

I make up songs, not as well as Mr. Punch, but randomly, to amuse the buglet while I'm trying to get him to do something he's resisting (sleeping, holding still for a diaper/pajama change, wait a minute until I can pick him up...). And when he's grumpy, like today (realizing how sucky it is to be sick), I make up extra. In the tradition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Bat":

Grumpy grumpy little bug
Shiny face just like a slug
Grump all day and grump all night
You won't sleep without a fight
Grumpy grumpy little bug
shiny face just like a slug.

Snot, Snot, Snot.

2009-02-08T20:45:00.000-08:00

All the time. For the past four days. Him and me both. We have a cold. I cannot describe the painintheassness of being sick with a sick baby. Correction, being sick, home alone, with a sick babyNever, never, never could I have imagined it. But this weekend, his dad did all the wrangling and I made guest appearances, to which responded with the biggest smiles ever. So, almost worth it.

It's not serious, in case you're worried. No fever. Smiling and responsive and playful when he's not tired/about to nap. Just buckets of snot and drool, and the most pissed-off response to having his nose cleaned.

He's zooming towards eight months. Still the same habits of cuteness: biting fingers, trying to crawl. Now he can sit up, unassisted for minutes. He's working on grabbing anything that is within reach and stuffing it in his mouth.

We're so cooked once he works out crawling.

Gurgling and Growling

2009-01-19T22:04:00.000-08:00

And stalagtites of drool! Almost seven months old. Sitting up for seconds at a time! Growling at things, especially those things he's about to eat. Gargling when he's happy. Practicing his new shoutlike cry that says "hey, pay attention." Still finger biting, smiling, and in the habit of wrinkling his nose when he takes a particularly enthusiastic bite.

But still, no teeth. Lucky me.

He laughs the hardest when he's the most tired, so laughter is very close to crying. He's ticklish, and laughs lots when he can grab your hair on the top of your head and try to bite it.

Like this:

Here he is biting one of our poor unsuspecting chums while his dad giggles hysterically, and I take a picture.

Naughty or Nice?

2008-12-22T19:05:00.001-08:00

The wee one has visited two Santas this year.

The regular old man Santa --

And the other one --

Baby Push-ups

2008-12-02T10:55:00.000-08:00

It looks like someone is getting ready to crawl ....

From November Madness 11/16/08 3:16 PM

Family time

2008-11-29T08:44:00.000-08:00

This is the start of the marathon of family gatherings, starting with Thanksgiving. This weekend, he's being baptised, so we're having a family gathering, and then of course we have his grandma's saint's day, his Tio's birthday, and the big Kahuna of all family deals: Christmas.

First: Tia Becky's lap, with Tia Sandy looking on.

Then: with his Tia Pita, tired, and overstimulated (so many new people!) but still super cute.

And finally, knocking on his Tio Sito.

Drinking Buddy

2008-11-25T21:18:00.001-08:00

Our Lord and Master has just become interested in glasses and their contents. Luckily it was just water but pretty soon we're talking whiskey!

From November Madness 11/16/08 3:16 PM

Story without a picture

2008-11-18T00:05:00.000-08:00

Often while the young master is feeding he will catch sight of me puttering around the place. Whenever he is in a good mood he will break off feeding, roll onto his back and then grin up at me as if to say "C'mon on, Dad, this is delicious! You should try some."

Obviously I refuse but it shows he has a generous heart even this young.

Mighty Baby Hands

2008-11-16T15:11:00.000-08:00

Our little one is getting mightier and mightier.

Right now he is trying to skip developmental stages and wants to go straight from lazing around to standing up (note to self we need to get some pictures of this) since he loves being held upright in a standing position my mum or dad. he might even like it more than flying but the ability to fly is not a standard milestone (outside of Krypton).

What is he on target for is developing manipulation skills and grab, grab, grabbing at anything he can -- hair, noses, glasses, rags, wandering hobos.

From Alexander's October Japes

Here is he ready to make a mighty lunge.

Four months old!

2008-10-30T00:06:00.000-07:00

Still smiley. Now drooly. Maybe teethy. Definitely finger eatey.

And the shirt says "Mummy loves me"

Only because his dad's English.

in the woods

2008-10-21T22:38:00.001-07:00

The cuteness of chilly picnics. Also: that's a racoon hat.

Laff it up pumpkin

2008-10-13T23:57:00.000-07:00

Guess what made him laugh for the first time ever? Me burping. He thought it was hilarious. So I kept doing it, just to make him laugh. Next thing you know I'll learn how to to the abc's while belching, just to get a laugh out of him. I'd heard motherhood changes you, but really now, burping for laughs?

A tired baby is a lot like a drunk: who knew?

2008-10-10T19:06:00.000-07:00

They drool. They shout. They alternate between I love you and I hate you. Obviously they pee their pants. Eventually they tire themselves out and fall asleep.

Here's where they're different: babies get rocked to sleep and all is well.

Watching The Debates

2008-10-08T00:45:00.000-07:00

Really. This isn't staged. And yes, that is a peace sign on his t-shirt--a hippie baby shower gift.

Three months old!

2008-09-30T14:38:00.000-07:00

Ok, this is a little embarrassing; no posts for a month. In my defense it's been a house-guesty month, what with Mr. Punch's folks staying with us for the month. Not all at once, mind you, but a week here, then two weeks driving through the desert (mad dogs and Englishmen, you know) and then another week here, before going home to their new house in Liverpool to resume unpacking.

I did get around to finally writing to the wee one, the first of hopefully many monthly letters he'll read once he goes off to college. As predicted mine's all soppy, mixed in with a here's what you've been doing so far sort of updatey thing.

So far: he's holding his head up lots, has discovered his hands and tries to stuff both in his mouth at once. He's far more social than he was, not only will he smile if you smile at him, but today my brother Johnny made him cry by giving him the stink eye. It was a play stink eye; his defense was "he did it first, I didn't know it was going to make him cry." His wife is pregnant, so we got even by threatening their baby with the stink eye.

He's really so much fun to play with. He's aware of the camera, but this doens't mean he smiles for it; he's aware of the indicator light, so he'll get very serious and stare at it. You have to suprise him to catch a smile. The best thing is that he gets happy with his whole body: arms and legs kicking, the whole thing.

It really is amazing to watch him waking up more and more to the world. Lucky us.

Two Months Old!

2008-08-29T17:29:00.000-07:00

A month ago, when Alex turned one month old, we decided that we should start writing little letters to him every month. Separately, because mine would be all corny, and his dad's would be more along the lines of "Dear Alex, By the time you read this, we might have sold you to the gypsies. The good kind that have adventures, not the bad ones who throw babies at you in Rome" (an actual quote, btw). Except of course that neither of us did, and now it's another month and we've still written nothing, and I really should dig out that super cute baby book that my sister in law made for me while I was pregnant. I should have been filling it out this whole time, but during the pregnancy the whole thing was too overwhelming and I just could not deal. Now of course, its all I think about and can't find the book.

Yesterday Alex got his first immunizations; three shots in his little legs. I nearly cried with him, and for the rest of the day I was all soppy about him. I'm *so* dead the first time he actually hurts himself, which he will very likely at some point. But I'm not thinking about it.

In the meantime, he's a super long string bean baby. Eating all the time. Me too. Poor thing has had crumbs dropped him many times. The worst was when I dropped sweet and sour sauce in his ear. Don't worry. My food is always cold.

Also, in exciting news: He's smiling and making eye contact now! And pooping makes him very happy. Very. Happy. So does being changed. And of course, eating. He's almost laughing, but for now, he really only giggles in his sleep.

Water Baby?

2008-08-23T13:55:00.001-07:00

It's Alex versus the Pacific Ocean and right now he is not too happy about it. Hugs, kisses and little booties to warm his toes made it all better.

More pics over at

Alex versus the Pacific Ocean

Secret Admirer Clause

2008-08-09T17:22:00.000-07:00

Apparently FTD has one. Someone sent us a cute musical music box type Beatrix Potter keepsake (except it's not a box) via the floral delivery service. And the card wasn't signed. So, I called them to find out who sent it. Curiosity, and also so we could send a thank you. (Six weeks after the sprog's arrival and we are just remembering our manners). Apparently, they have to get the consent of the sender before they could disclose who sent it. This was 10 days ago. So, either the sender wants to remain anonymous, or FTD is yanking my chain. Funny, right?

If you sent us the cute little bunny statue, thanks--whoever you are.

It's the wild, wild west

2008-08-06T21:08:00.000-07:00

For mum and dad's anniversary we all went to the wild west town up the mountains (dad loved it, mum was unimpressed, li'l Alex was sleepy).

Mosie over for the complete set:
http://picasaweb.google.com/SionRyG/WildWestAlex8608905PM?authkey=ocJeNxbOWBI

I no longer mock baby hairbrushes.

2008-07-30T17:21:00.000-07:00

So, when we first started looking at stuff for baby (all the crazy accoutrements for grooming, bathing, etc) I made fun of baby hairbrushes, and shampoo, and the idea that babies need shampoo, lotion, etc. I figured: he's a baby. Keep the general diaper area clean yes, but really, shampoo?

And now, I realize: it's for the scalp, not the hair. If you don't wash and exfoliate the scalp, guess what? Duh. Flake city. So today, he's had two shampoos and most of the flakes are gone. Along with his hair! No, they're not related. He was losing that for the past week or so. Apparently lots of babies lose their hair soon after birth, then grow it back later. Right now the Young Master has a hairline very like his maternal grandfather--that is to say: none at the top or front, and thin along the sides and back

As for the baby hairbrush: I wish we had one so that Icould brush away the flakes from the little hair he's got. And also, to brush it in the right direction, you know, so he doesn't look like a little chicken. Poor baby. Has to settle for what I can do with a wash cloth. I spend way too much time looking at the top of his head while I feed him, and so this is what occupies my time today. I used to think about things other than baby scalp, honest.

"I for one welcome our new baby overlord"

2008-07-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

Today I realized that I hadn't flossed in nearly a week. Yikes, I know. I'm pretty sure that the insomnia that plagued me during the pregancy was like strength training for the first few weeks of the feeding every other hour and sometimes every hour that is life with a newborn.

Still, I can't believe how not jangly, and mostly fuzzy and happy, with only occasional crying jags I am. Can't wait til we have eye contact, and a waking, directed smile. Right now he smiles after he eats, in his sleep. So, it's related to being happy and content and comfortable. But I want one for me. I told Sandy, and she said "Right, so you're like: just smile at me and we can be friends: that whole 30 hours of labor ending with a C-section--forgotten." And I said, "Yeah. Pretty much."

Bear o'Clock

2008-07-09T19:18:00.000-07:00

Yes it's bear o'clock.

However little Alex seems unimpressed by the mohair Euro bear and turns his back on it.

Is it too early for bears? Or is this bear just not fabulous enough?

Power Drinks

2008-07-08T23:02:00.000-07:00

As our sleep dwindles he seems to swell with appetite. He's getting bigger and cuter every day as he gradually develops the missing baby fat. Since he had to come see us a wee bit early he has some bulking up to do, so he loves his drink like an ad-man loves his martini lunch.

Good times. That reminds me, is it possible to lay down a case of bourbon for the little one? I shall have to go investigate. :)

Baby Bach

2008-07-05T11:12:00.001-07:00

Yup, we are home and have our little bundle of joy.

Isn't he sweet?

He's here!

2008-07-03T19:18:00.000-07:00

He's five days old today and thriving. Me and him and his dad are well, and sleeping in tiny jigsaw pieces, but happy and home.
YAY.
pictures to follow.

Gravity

2008-06-25T13:59:00.000-07:00

It's my nemesis these days. I happily floated around in a swimming pool last week, forgetting all about it and the first heat wave of the summer, and after two and a half blissful hours, as I climbed out, suddenly realized: it's not the sprogling that's the issue: it's gravity. It makes me slow, tired, and even the slightest kinds of motion on my part look like a great ship listing along.

One more week, if he's on time. Or more. Or less.

Week 38: Organ function continues to improve

2008-06-22T14:56:00.001-07:00

Your baby weighs nearly 7 pounds. His or her brain and nervous system are working better every day. This developmental process will continue through childhood and adolescence.

Drowning in teh cute

2008-06-17T14:59:00.000-07:00

We've been sorting through baby clothes, boppies, stuff from kiddopotamus, things that make noise, things that don't make noise. The flood of bright and pastel colours is threatening to overwhelm our house.

:)

It feels good.

Week 37: Baby is full-term

2008-06-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

By the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. As fat continues to accumulate, your baby's body will slowly become rounder.

Ready, set...

2008-06-10T22:26:00.000-07:00

According to the OB, he's in position. Head down, descended. As of Friday he's officially "full-term." Of course, I've also been told by my other doctor that he's just as likely to come two weeks late. So anytime between Friday and mid-July. Ha.

re: Last Post

2008-06-08T16:52:00.000-07:00

Week 36 has to have the most unfortunate title for a post (copied directly from a medical site obviously).

How dare they say such a thing about our little treasure. He, most assuredly, does not suck.

Week 36: Baby can suck

2008-06-08T16:49:00.000-07:00

Your baby is between 16 and 19 inches long and weighs about 6 to 6 1/2 pounds. Recent fat deposits have rounded out your baby's face, and your baby's powerful sucking muscles are ready for action. To prepare for birth, your baby may descend into the head-down position.

You know I love you ...

2008-06-01T22:33:00.000-07:00

Yes it is true, The Beatles songs were sung to me so I will sing them to my son. I'm going through their Number One hits as well as Sergeant Pepper's. I may throw some Kinks into the mix for variety.

Perhaps some show tunes?

Weeks 34 & 35

2008-06-01T22:32:00.001-07:00

Week 34: Protective coating gets thicker

The pasty white coating that protects your baby's skin — called vernix — gets thicker this week. When your baby is born, you may see traces of vernix firsthand, especially under the arms, behind the ears and in the groin area. The soft, downy hair that covered your baby under the vernix for the past few months is now almost completely gone.

Week 35: Rapid growth continues

Your baby continues to pack on the pounds and store fat all over his or her body. The crowded conditions inside your uterus may make it harder for your baby to give you a punch, but you'll probably feel lots of stretches, rolls and wiggles.

35 weeks!

2008-05-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

Beatles songs

2008-05-27T21:33:00.000-07:00

I should let Mr Punch tell you all about this, but it's really cute. Ok, I'll just tell the cuteness; he can cover the backstory. He's taken to singing them (for the first time ever), why? because they are lullabies.

hot hands

2008-05-27T21:32:00.001-07:00

Hot hot hands and feet. Another weird little side effect. That is all.

Really really pregnant

2008-05-26T23:35:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, we were in San Francisco for a conference, where among other things, I ran around feeling responsible for several sessions (only sort of, I put them together, but others did all the actual work). It was exhausting and rewarding, and the big deal reading/panel session went off perfectly. Being 8 months pregnant, however, definitely puts a damper on one's ability to run around normally (ie: out all the time, drinking, etc) but that didn't stop me from trying to the first two days (except for the drinking part, of course). I got my first random question from a stranger about the baby, in of all places, the Virgin Megastore on Market (just south of Union Square). And I realized that I am really really eggshaped these days. Its amusing, when it's not exhausting. No, actually it's both simultaneously.

Week 33: Baby detects light

2008-05-20T17:23:00.001-07:00

Your baby's pupils now constrict, dilate and detect light.

Your baby continues to gain about 1/2 pound a week, and his or her lungs are more completely developed.

Babies born this week need extra attention, but almost all will be healthy.

Week 32: Downy hair falls off

2008-05-10T14:12:00.000-07:00

Your baby is between 15 and 17 inches long and weighs about 4 to 4 1/2 pounds. Nearly all babies born at this age survive the challenges of premature birth.

The layer of soft, downy hair that has covered your baby's skin for the past few months — known as lanugo — starts to fall off this week.

As space in your uterus becomes more cramped, your baby's kicks and other movements may seem less forceful. You may want to check on your baby's movements from time to time — especially if you think you've noticed decreased activity. If you count fewer than 10 movements in two hours, contact your health care provider.

Week 31: Reproductive development continues

2008-05-08T22:51:00.001-07:00

Since your baby is a boy, his testicles are moving from their location near the kidneys through the groin on their way into the scrotum.

Your baby's lungs are more developed, but they're not fully mature. If your baby is born this week, he or she will probably need a ventilator to assist breathing. Complications such as bleeding in the brain are less likely than they were even a few weeks ago.

Counting down

2008-04-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

I've just seen the count down Mr Punch put up. Crazy to see it at 62 days until the "official" due date. Of course, I'm not counting on being on time. I figure it's probably just as random as my sleep these days: some days I wake up at 6am, and then other days I can sleep until 10 or 11. It doesn't matter what time I fall asleep: anywhere between midnight and 3 am. Likewise, I figure I'll be either early or late, but probably not "right on time." Probably early, if I had to guess.

Last night after we came back from our third childbirth class I realized that I'm *always* drained physically and emotionally after these things. It doesn't help that they go from 6:45 to 9:15, on school nights. Last night was the heavy duty learn all about medical interventions and procedures class. I kept wincing and squirming as they showed us animated versions of various procedures (I'll spare y'all the gory details). Meanwhile, Mr. Punch is giggling--I thought at my reactions (and those of all the women in the room)but later he said that it was because he knew I was thinking "Oh, no! Poor baby!" and he was thinking "that's a bloody stupid way to do x or y"

As for updates on my end: I'm now hungry every two hours and while I'm eating a wider range of things now (I can tolerate more than just Cheerios, thank god) I still have to try extra hard to eat my five veg a day. Or more than one or two, really. Luckily tomatoes count. But other than that, all is exactly as it should be. I have a new OB, and I think I trust him, not like the first guy who was characterized in my mind by a)his torn lab coat and b)an apparent inability to read the file in front of him and c)complete spaciness about what prescriptions were OK or not. We heard the sprog's strong little heartbeat on Monday, and he's exactly the right size according to the tape measure.

I'm convinced the little imp is shifting positions a lot: I swear sometimes he's sideways, sometimes not. I change shape! They told us in class last night that you can get the kid to turn head down sometimes by shining a flashlight at your belly (near the top as his/her head's up there) and slowly moving it down to the bottom. The sprog might actually follow the light. How crazy is that?

Week 30: Baby packs on pounds

2008-04-27T11:42:00.001-07:00

Your baby weighs about 3 pounds — but not for long. He or she will gain about 1/2 pound a week until week 37.

Your baby may practice breathing by moving his or her diaphragm in a repeating rhythm. If your baby gets the hiccups, you may feel slight twitches or spasms in your uterus.

Apropos of Week 29

2008-04-20T15:21:00.002-07:00

Why yes it does.

Liza can be toddling along quite happily and then stop and burst out giggling. It's because Eponymous Kid has just decided that he wants to try some kicking/stretching/gymnastics and just has to poke his mummy in the bladder.

Lying down we can see Liza's belly jump from the force.

Week 29: Movement is more forceful

2008-04-20T15:21:00.001-07:00

Your baby's bones are fully developed, but they're still soft and pliable. This week, your baby begins storing iron, calcium and phosphorus.

As your baby continues to grow, his or her movements will become more frequent and vigorous. Some of your baby's jabs and punches may even take your breath away.

Week 28: Baby's eyes open

2008-04-20T15:20:00.001-07:00

Your baby is about 15 inches long and weighs about 2 to 3 pounds.

Your baby's eyes are beginning to open and close. The color has been established, but the story's not over yet. Eye color may change within the first six months after birth — especially if your baby's eyes are blue or gray-blue at birth.

Your baby is now sleeping for about 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Fetal movement will be most obvious when you're sitting or lying down.

Future Soccer Star?

2008-04-08T15:06:00.000-07:00

It's now part of our regular routine to feel our son's kicks. Whenever Liza is relaxed he will generally have a few minutes of kicking (sometimes more) before settling down. So we have a play date several times a day with our kid. Often it seems like he is playing peek-a-boo; Liza will call me over "he's kicking!", but when I get there nothing. As soon as I get up - WHAM! - another kick.

Some of the kicks are pretty strong so my dad is hopeful he will be a soccer star and play for England.

I'm just glad to have the chance to play with my son already.

Weeks 26 & 27

2008-04-08T15:04:00.000-07:00

Week 26: Eyes remain closed

Your baby weighs between 1 1/2 and 2 pounds. The eyebrows and eyelashes are well formed, and the hair on your baby's head is longer and more plentiful. Although your baby's eyes are fully developed, they may not open for another two weeks.

Week 27: Second trimester ends

This week marks the end of the second trimester. Your baby's lungs, liver and immune system are continuing to mature — and he or she has been growing like a weed. At 27 weeks, your baby's length will have tripled or even quadrupled from the 12-week mark.

Catching Up

2008-03-26T09:51:00.000-07:00

Since the the date has been advanced it's exciting double post time.

Week 24: Sense of balance develops

By now, your baby weighs about 1 1/2 pounds. Footprints and fingerprints are forming.

Thanks to a fully developed inner ear, which controls balance, your baby may have a sense of whether he or she is upside-down or right side up in the womb. You may notice a regular sleeping and waking cycle.

With intensive medical care, babies born at 24 weeks have more than a 50 percent chance of survival. Complications are frequent and serious, however, such as bleeding in the brain and impaired vision.

Week 25: Exploration continues

Your baby's hands are now fully developed, although the nerve connections to the hands have a long way to go. Exploring the structures inside your uterus may become baby's prime entertainment.

Sooner, not later

2008-03-18T19:33:00.000-07:00

Apparently, those ultrasound images are useful for diagnostic purposes too, not just for peeking. And what did the doctor say? All is well, and we're moving up the due date by 10 days--from July 13 to July 3. So, it turns out I'm further along by almost two weeks than we thought. I'll let you all ponder the implications of that.

So, as of today, I'm at 24 weeks and 5 days.

We may well end up sharing a birthday (July 2).

Also, he's getting wigglier by the day.

Week 23: Lungs prepare for life outside the womb

2008-03-16T22:32:00.000-07:00

Your baby's lungs are beginning to produce surfactant, the substance that allows the air sacs in the lungs to inflate — and keeps them from collapsing and sticking together when they deflate. "Practice" breathing moves amniotic fluid in and out of your baby's lungs.

Your baby will begin to look more like a newborn as the skin becomes less transparent and fat production kicks into high gear.

Felt him kick!

2008-03-10T19:21:00.000-07:00

For the first time ever, I felt the sprog moving around this morning before I got out of bed. First some fluttery business, and then when I rolled over onto my back, two pretty solid taps against my abdomen. Kicks, punches, headbutts? I was getting a little worried, since the books seem to suggest that by week 23 you should be worried if you haven't felt anything, and this is the start of week 23 (and apparently, some people feel theirs moving around since week 19...)

Other than the occasional faint flutteriness and those two solid taps, mostly it feels like I've got a watermelon in my body, solid and sort of heavy. And getting heavier by the day. When I'm laying down, and when I turn over, I can feel it shift independently of me. Crazy.

Week 22: Taste buds develop

2008-03-09T23:58:00.000-07:00

This week, your baby weighs in at about 1 pound.

Taste buds are starting to form on your baby's tongue, and your baby's brain and nerve endings can process the sensation of touch. Your baby may experiment by feeling his or anything else within reach.

For boys, the testes begin to descend from the abdomen this week.

Pictures!

2008-03-08T14:51:00.000-08:00

At long last, ultrasound images for your squinting pleasure.

Click on any of the images to make it bigger.

What, you may ask, are we looking at?

The first one is the cute little profile.

The second is the spine!

The last one looks like the sprog is sitting on a photocopier. That's a shot of the butt, upper thighs, and to use Johnny's phrase, his "baby junk." That's right folks, it's a boy.

Coming soon...

2008-03-04T18:04:00.000-08:00

Ultrasound stills. Really.

Week 21: Nourishment evolves

2008-03-03T00:13:00.001-08:00

Although the placenta provides nearly all of your baby's nourishment, your baby will begin to absorb small amounts of sugar from swallowed amniotic fluid. This week, your baby's bone marrow starts making blood cells — a job done by the liver and spleen until this point.

Week 20: The halfway point

2008-02-25T07:32:00.001-08:00

Halfway into your pregnancy, your baby is about 6 inches long and weighs about 9 ounces — a little over half a pound. You've probably begun to feel your baby's movements.

Under the protection of the vernix, your baby's skin is thickening and developing layers. Your baby now has thin eyebrows, hair on the scalp and well-developed limbs.

Commenting

2008-02-24T20:27:00.000-08:00

Because some of you can't figure it out, I'll say it here. We want you to comment. Just hit the button that says 0 comments or however many comments after the entry, and then you can add whatever you like here. Remember, the kid's gonna eventually read it, so be funny. Or not.

The wierdness of being pregnant

2008-02-22T20:19:00.000-08:00

Nobody ever tells you about the wierdness of showing/not quite showing, (depending on what you're wearing) of feeling pregnant some days, and then some days it all seems theoretical, even after you've heard the heartbeat, and seen the fuzzy ultrasound. Theoretical because you haven't felt any movement yet, and you're not really sure if you look actually pregnant, or just thick around the middle.

It's a lot of waiting, this first half of the pregnancy--and I know that the waiting will just become more prolonged, and pronounced as time goes on.

All I can do is wonder, and wait, and try to pretend like I'm not obsessed with my body.

The baby, the sprog, the kid-to-be still seems a very very long way away.

Week 19: Lanugo covers baby's skin

2008-02-17T00:43:00.000-08:00

Your baby's delicate skin is now protected with a pasty white coating called vernix. Under the vernix, a fine, down-like hair called lanugo covers your baby's body.

Your baby's kidneys are already producing urine. The urine is excreted into the amniotic sac, which surrounds and protects your baby.

As your baby's hearing continues to improve, he or she may pick up your voice in conversations — although it's probably hard to hear clearly through the amniotic fluid and protective paste covering your baby's ears.

Thanks to the millions of motor neurons developing in the brain, your baby can make reflexive muscle movements. If you haven't felt movement yet, you will soon.

Week 18: Baby begins to hear

2008-02-10T09:17:00.001-08:00

As the nerve endings from your baby's brain "hook up" to the ears, your baby may hear your heart beating, your stomach rumbling or blood moving through the umbilical cord. He or she may even be startled by loud noises. Your baby can swallow this week, too.

In the beginning ...

2008-02-10T08:45:00.001-08:00

It's a new blog. So where did it come from?

Well, the two of us are going to be parents and we've decided to start writing about what this means, how feel, what is going on in our lives right now.

Where did it come from? Well if you're a fellow human being I think I can assume that you know where babies come from. If not, ask your mother. I can assure that it was a perfectly excellent experience and fully planned for.

So why write about it? Because this is really important. We mark our lives with rituals with specific moments and this is one of the grand transitional moments. Normally it is a private moment, a hidden one. Instead this is to be public -- we want to share the turning of our lives with everyone, family, friends, and well-wishers equally.

This is an indefinably important transitional moment for me. We have few rituals left in our culture, nothing to count the ages of life, but having a child changes everything. In the past I could think selfishly, now I no longer have that luxury.

So it's going to be a while until our baby can read this, but this week it will start be able to hear.