Posts Tagged ‘sling’

What We Did Today

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

Exciting news – Dad has joined the blog =)

Today has been pretty great. Mads and I slept until 8, instead of getting up at 7. He spent the morning in the sling, so I had the chance to eat a bowl of cereal and answer some emails. Then Kate came over, and we took a short walk, which Maddox seemed to like. The motion must have been soothing, because he slept the whole time we were on the move.

090604-nap

Contrary to yesterday’s behavior, Maddox has been sleeping for 20 minute stretches in his Pack n Play. Possibly, all that activity helped Mads sleep more soundly. We still spent a lot of time cuddling, but having a break made it easier on my arm muscles, which are soon going to be formidable.

Around lunch time, Dave, a friend from work, Skyped in and Mads and I got a chance to say hi to the people at work. Then, we tried having a quick Skype call with Dad, but were interrupted by hunger after about 3 minutes.

This afternoon, we spent some time on the balcony in a rocking chair. I think Mads likes the change in how the air feels, because he calms right down when we go outside. It could also be the light – when he’s active, he likes to stare out the window.

Now, with about an hour and a half until Dad gets home, it’s just about hungry time again and then we’ll try for another cuddle on the couch. Although I’m a bit tired, it’s been great to have a more active day, and I’m excited to try winding down tonight by giving Maddox a bath before bed – one of the baby books I’ve been reading suggests starting this early, so it’s part of the baby’s routine as he gets older. We may not make it to a bath – you never know how the day is going to end up – but it’s fun to anticipate regardless.

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Shocker: Babies Like to Cry

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

Maddox is going through a growth spurt. I read that this is common around two weeks of age, and again at six weeks. As a result, he needs to eat more frequently and he’s also started crying more. Additionally, he still gets upset when he’s not being held – we’re not sure if it’s the increased hunger, or if he is just feeling clingy.

So today was an adventure. I was too tired to take a nap – you know, when you feel really strung out, but can’t sleep? So Maddox had a nap on top of Mom while I read. The only time I wasn’t feeding, burping, changing or holding him this morning was when I took a quick shower & then later, when I gulped down the sandwich I’d made the night before (that turned out to be a good plan).

Around 1, I was ready to drop. (We got up when Dad did, around 7am.) With low expectations, I put Mads in his sling, hoping to give my arms a break. This was risky, because lately if something upsets him, it takes longer to calm him down. Miraculously, he decided that the sling was a awesome place to be and took a nap, enabling me to get some work done for a website that Jon and I are trying to finish up for a client.

Rebecca Wood, who has kindly been offering sound Mom advice via Facebook & Twitter since we brought Maddox home, mentioned that her younger daughter Esme likes to have her feet out of the sling. I tried that today, and Mads seemed a lot happier, and a lot less squooshed.

Being a Mom is rewarding – I wouldn’t trade this time with Mads for anything. I am so into him. To give you an example – I cheerfully explained to Jon yesterday how committing homicide to protect your child seems completely rational to me. That being said, I praise the people who invented baby slings, baby swings, and all seats that allow rocking motions.

While I’m at it, let me also thank whoever invented diapers with velcro, pre-wetted wipes, and the snap (I’m talking about the little metal fasteners on baby clothes). And finally, while laundry is not my favorite activity, whoever decided there would be a washer & dryer in our apartment just off the kitchen is a wonderful person who deserves a long and fruitful life.

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Why Am I Not In Your Arms?

Monday, June 1st, 2009

Maddox has this new thing where he likes to be picked up and held… all of the time. This means nights are no longer sacred, the Pack n Play is just not an interesting place right now, and Mom and Dad get a little bit less done because their arms are occupied with baby.

Here’s how it goes: he falls asleep, we put him down, he wakes up a few moments later and realizes he’s not being held anymore. So he starts to cry pathetically until someone comes to reassure him that he’s not all alone in the universe.

As a result, today Mads is strapped to Mom in his sling, and Mom is trying to use her computer around him. It’s okay, but I kind of wish my arms were longer. Possibly, it’s time to invest in a laptop stand like Jon’s.

sling

In any case, we’re going to have to move Mads to his crib at night. He constantly talks to himself in his bassinet, which is difficult to sleep through. It’s going to be tough on Mom – I have spasms of anxiety because I miss him if he’s not in the same room – but getting a few hours of uninterrupted sleep will make it easier to enjoy the new 45 minute nighttime feeding sessions. (He used to feed for about 15 minutes each time, but he’s hungrier now).

Mads is changing so much each day – new habits, new expressions and new sounds. Hopefully, he’ll acquire the useful habit of sleeping at night soon.

Jon and I have discussed how it’s impossible to be mad at him, even after being up half the night, because once you pick him up he’s just so little and adorable that you can’t be upset anymore. I suspect this is a built-in baby defense-mechanism, and find human genetic programming very clever in that respect. Well played, Mother Nature. Well played.

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