1. Feeding a baby.
2. Feeding rice cereal to a baby who is blowing raspberries.
I'll leave it to your imaginations.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
On the move!! (Anna)
My last post was about how babies do things incrementally and gradually. So of course Emmy has proved me wrong. Yesterday, completely out of the blue as far as we're concerned, Emmy started to...not crawl exactly...but move rapidly with intent.
She's been doing a lot of rolling over into a lizard pose, the kind that even the best yogi would be jealous of. And from that position, a lot of leg flailing ensues, accompanied by the occasional pulling up of knees to underneath her. But we thought she was a while from being able to create motion.
And then, last night, she started to...well...it wasn't really crawling...kind of like a worm wriggle where she pulls her knees up, wriggles and then stretches out again. But enough that she can wriggle the entire length of the bed!!
The funny thing is, it's all backwards. So she sees an object, wants it and reaches for it. Before she knows it, she's 12 inches further away from it than when she began. So she reaches for it again and finds herself halfway down the bed, looking longingly at the object of her affections with a perplexed look on her face as if to say "What went wrong?"
It is extremely cute and we are very impressed that she's suddenly figured out how to voyage across her domestic terrain.
Emmy has a tendency to do something once or twice and then not again at all for several weeks, so we'll see what happens with this. In the meantime, we firmly believe that our baby is the smartest little thing in the universe.
She's been doing a lot of rolling over into a lizard pose, the kind that even the best yogi would be jealous of. And from that position, a lot of leg flailing ensues, accompanied by the occasional pulling up of knees to underneath her. But we thought she was a while from being able to create motion.
And then, last night, she started to...well...it wasn't really crawling...kind of like a worm wriggle where she pulls her knees up, wriggles and then stretches out again. But enough that she can wriggle the entire length of the bed!!
The funny thing is, it's all backwards. So she sees an object, wants it and reaches for it. Before she knows it, she's 12 inches further away from it than when she began. So she reaches for it again and finds herself halfway down the bed, looking longingly at the object of her affections with a perplexed look on her face as if to say "What went wrong?"
It is extremely cute and we are very impressed that she's suddenly figured out how to voyage across her domestic terrain.
Emmy has a tendency to do something once or twice and then not again at all for several weeks, so we'll see what happens with this. In the meantime, we firmly believe that our baby is the smartest little thing in the universe.
Friday, August 28, 2009
The first... (Anna)
In baby books, you're always asked to enter the date that babies did things for the first time. First time sitting up, first time rolling over, first time walking, first meal, first word.
But the thing about babies is that it's so gradual I'm never sure how to measure it.
For example, Emma is kind of sitting up by herself. That is, under certain circumstances, we can take away our hands or support and she doesn't fall over. Maybe it's for 5 seconds or maybe it's for a few minutes. It depends on how tired she is, what she's absorbed in doing, and what kind of surface she's on (i.e. she can do it on the flooor but not on the bed). Each day she gets a little better at it. So what date would we record? The date several weeks ago when her back muscles first seemed strong enough that she didn't slump over? The date in the future when she can sit up by herself for an extended period of time (whatever that means) no matter what the context? The date when we walk away, confident that she doesn't need our help (by which time she would have been doing it for months?)
Same with first roll over. She can now arch her back and roll over like a pro. She pushes herself up on our arms and adopts lizard pose, which she can hold for quite a long time, looking at us mischievously, as if she's tricked us. But for months she was practicing the moves and figuring out how to do it and there's wasn't one particular day when suddenly she went from lying on her back furled up as a newborn to rolling over. Again, impossible to measure. We just realised, one day, that it has become normal for her to do that.
Other milestones. She is now sleeping in her cot, instead of her co-sleeper (when she's not sleeping with us). We have been gradually transitioning her over for the last week or so because the co-sleeper was too small. We have passed the co-sleeper onto a three day old baby - a significant indication that our baby is growing up!
And today we are starting her on solids. We don't expect her to be able to swallow the food today - it takes practice. So is today her first meal? Or will that be the day that some of it ends up in her stomach? (How much?) Does a single mouthful make a meal? If not, then exactly how much does she have to eat before it counts?
And when she utters her first "word", what happens to our perception of all the "language" she is already babbling?
In the meantime, look at her go!
But the thing about babies is that it's so gradual I'm never sure how to measure it.
For example, Emma is kind of sitting up by herself. That is, under certain circumstances, we can take away our hands or support and she doesn't fall over. Maybe it's for 5 seconds or maybe it's for a few minutes. It depends on how tired she is, what she's absorbed in doing, and what kind of surface she's on (i.e. she can do it on the flooor but not on the bed). Each day she gets a little better at it. So what date would we record? The date several weeks ago when her back muscles first seemed strong enough that she didn't slump over? The date in the future when she can sit up by herself for an extended period of time (whatever that means) no matter what the context? The date when we walk away, confident that she doesn't need our help (by which time she would have been doing it for months?)
Same with first roll over. She can now arch her back and roll over like a pro. She pushes herself up on our arms and adopts lizard pose, which she can hold for quite a long time, looking at us mischievously, as if she's tricked us. But for months she was practicing the moves and figuring out how to do it and there's wasn't one particular day when suddenly she went from lying on her back furled up as a newborn to rolling over. Again, impossible to measure. We just realised, one day, that it has become normal for her to do that.
Other milestones. She is now sleeping in her cot, instead of her co-sleeper (when she's not sleeping with us). We have been gradually transitioning her over for the last week or so because the co-sleeper was too small. We have passed the co-sleeper onto a three day old baby - a significant indication that our baby is growing up!
And today we are starting her on solids. We don't expect her to be able to swallow the food today - it takes practice. So is today her first meal? Or will that be the day that some of it ends up in her stomach? (How much?) Does a single mouthful make a meal? If not, then exactly how much does she have to eat before it counts?
And when she utters her first "word", what happens to our perception of all the "language" she is already babbling?
In the meantime, look at her go!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
An entire movie sans Emma (Anna)
When Emma's asleep, she wakes up frequently to look at us from under her sleepy, heavy eyelids to check that we are there. When we are, she goes back to sleep. When we're not, she cries.
This means that for several months, it has been impossible for us to have more than half an hour to ourselves when we're not in the bedroom. We have watched numerous movies with her curled up on our laps, because she won't stay asleep in the bedroom by herself.
But last night, we got through an entire episode of Criminal Minds - that's almost an hour of TV - without her interrupting us. And tonight, we watched an ENTIRE MOVIE, with her crying only once and quickly going back to sleep. Wow! I had forgotten what a luxury it is to watch a movie with Caroline without having a baby literally and figuratively between us.
I'm not going to be so bold as to suggest that this a new trend - any new parent knows better than to make generalizations from isolated behaviours, especially desirable ones - but, wow, what a treat!
This means that for several months, it has been impossible for us to have more than half an hour to ourselves when we're not in the bedroom. We have watched numerous movies with her curled up on our laps, because she won't stay asleep in the bedroom by herself.
But last night, we got through an entire episode of Criminal Minds - that's almost an hour of TV - without her interrupting us. And tonight, we watched an ENTIRE MOVIE, with her crying only once and quickly going back to sleep. Wow! I had forgotten what a luxury it is to watch a movie with Caroline without having a baby literally and figuratively between us.
I'm not going to be so bold as to suggest that this a new trend - any new parent knows better than to make generalizations from isolated behaviours, especially desirable ones - but, wow, what a treat!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Moments in Time 2 (Anna)
We are possibly the funniest we will ever be. All we have to do is put Emma's hand in our mouth and make a chomping noise and she giggles with glee. Throwing her in the air and rocking her above our head sends her into hysterics and if we sing hickory dickory dock at the same time, well, we could compete against the best acts from the Montreal Comedy Festival. Blowing raspberries on her belly gets more chuckles than a laughing hyena on laughing gas.
And the biggest joke of all? When we tell her it's time to go to sleep. You can hear her peals of laughter all the way down the street.
And the biggest joke of all? When we tell her it's time to go to sleep. You can hear her peals of laughter all the way down the street.
Friday, August 14, 2009
bvgybo,uin7gdcz (Emma)
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999lk;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;k....................k,.i,...,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,l.i......., lmkn k nvmdec ujhrrr664,zxm hm jht sx n 7Mhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhgnjmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmljjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjhj
Moments in time (Anna)
I've heard rumours that Emma won't be a baby forever and that I'll forget what she is like now. Both of those allegations are hard to believe, but enough people have said it for me to take it seriously.
So I want to record small details about my daughter, in the hope that words will be able to conjure up feelings that I never want to forget. So, for today - fingertips.
My daughter has the softest, sweetest pads on the tops of her fingers. She wraps them around our fingers and hands, runs them down our palms when she is feeding or needing cuddles. It's her way of checking in, to see if we're still there. They are soft and tiny, pink and plump, and so, so gentle, unblemished by age or wear. They make my heart melt every time our fingers connect. I want to remember them forever.
In other news, this sweet child grabbed clumps of my hair today with a death-grip and viciously whacked my head several times with her rattle. I felt like a bear being accosted by a caveman. I imagine that this, too, will pass. Otherwise she's going to be very unpopular with her school friends.
So I want to record small details about my daughter, in the hope that words will be able to conjure up feelings that I never want to forget. So, for today - fingertips.
My daughter has the softest, sweetest pads on the tops of her fingers. She wraps them around our fingers and hands, runs them down our palms when she is feeding or needing cuddles. It's her way of checking in, to see if we're still there. They are soft and tiny, pink and plump, and so, so gentle, unblemished by age or wear. They make my heart melt every time our fingers connect. I want to remember them forever.
In other news, this sweet child grabbed clumps of my hair today with a death-grip and viciously whacked my head several times with her rattle. I felt like a bear being accosted by a caveman. I imagine that this, too, will pass. Otherwise she's going to be very unpopular with her school friends.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Happy Five Months, Kiddo! (Anna & Caroline)
Caroline is back at home and recovering. It's been a crazy week. Thanks for everyone's emails and support.
In the meantime, in the middle of all this craziness, Emma casually turned five months old today!
She can now roll over, grab hold of things and babbles away in baby language (we babble back). She can pull herself up to a sitting position and is getting quite strong. She still likes to pull at our noses to see if they come off (they haven't so far but she seems convinced it's only a matter of time). When she needs comforting, she reaches out and pulls an arm towards her, inspects the hand, chooses a finger that looks particularly succulent, turns it over and places it in her mouth to suck on it. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage the human pacifier (I'd prefer to say "dummy, but that word isn't recognized here and it comes across as a little self-deprecating). She puts everything in her mouth (yeugh - not nice to think about) and chews on whatever she can get her hands on. She has had bouts of teething, giving us a clue what we're in for (do babies really need so many teeth? Couldn't they make do with just one or two? And why, after they've grown every organ in their body, is growing teeth so stressful??...) And she's growing out of clothes quicker than we can try them on her. She is, without any bias at all, the cutest, smartest, most wonderful baby in the entire universe :)
What with moving house, new jobs, visits from the grandparents and hospital stays, there are a lot of photos that haven't made it to here over the past few months. So here's a brief voyage through our family collection.
Granny Heath and Grandad (Anna'a parents, Heather and John) came to visit. We were at the barrier at the airport waiting for them and before we knew it, Emma had been swooped away and cuddled in her Grandad's arms. How did he manage that? It was the first of many cuddles, snuggles, play times and general adoration. Very sappy grandparents!
We held a small welcoming ceremony for Emma in early July, on Caroline's birthday. We dressed Emma in the gown Anna wore at her Christening - which was adapted from Heather's hand-sown wedding dress. We had a brief ceremony under "our" tree near English Bay - where we officially got engaged a few years ago - and poured water on her head from the Pacific Ocean, to symbolize all the people in her life who live in different countries.
While Heather and John were here, we moved house - from our small one bedroom apartment to our very own townhouse. We planned it so that John and Heather could "tuck us up" in our new place and it was great to have them here. This is our new house. It's a bit like Dr. Who's tardis - it's bigger inside than it looks from the outside.
We've been spending a lot of time outside as well, especially during the heatwave - going for walks, lounging on the grass and swimming. One day, Emma decided to explore the grass and ended up with dirt all over her sleeper. She was a very grubby, and very happy, baby. A sign of things to come. We were very proud of her.
And here are some other random photos from the last little while.
In the meantime, in the middle of all this craziness, Emma casually turned five months old today!
She can now roll over, grab hold of things and babbles away in baby language (we babble back). She can pull herself up to a sitting position and is getting quite strong. She still likes to pull at our noses to see if they come off (they haven't so far but she seems convinced it's only a matter of time). When she needs comforting, she reaches out and pulls an arm towards her, inspects the hand, chooses a finger that looks particularly succulent, turns it over and places it in her mouth to suck on it. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage the human pacifier (I'd prefer to say "dummy, but that word isn't recognized here and it comes across as a little self-deprecating). She puts everything in her mouth (yeugh - not nice to think about) and chews on whatever she can get her hands on. She has had bouts of teething, giving us a clue what we're in for (do babies really need so many teeth? Couldn't they make do with just one or two? And why, after they've grown every organ in their body, is growing teeth so stressful??...) And she's growing out of clothes quicker than we can try them on her. She is, without any bias at all, the cutest, smartest, most wonderful baby in the entire universe :)
What with moving house, new jobs, visits from the grandparents and hospital stays, there are a lot of photos that haven't made it to here over the past few months. So here's a brief voyage through our family collection.
Granny Heath and Grandad (Anna'a parents, Heather and John) came to visit. We were at the barrier at the airport waiting for them and before we knew it, Emma had been swooped away and cuddled in her Grandad's arms. How did he manage that? It was the first of many cuddles, snuggles, play times and general adoration. Very sappy grandparents!
We held a small welcoming ceremony for Emma in early July, on Caroline's birthday. We dressed Emma in the gown Anna wore at her Christening - which was adapted from Heather's hand-sown wedding dress. We had a brief ceremony under "our" tree near English Bay - where we officially got engaged a few years ago - and poured water on her head from the Pacific Ocean, to symbolize all the people in her life who live in different countries.
While Heather and John were here, we moved house - from our small one bedroom apartment to our very own townhouse. We planned it so that John and Heather could "tuck us up" in our new place and it was great to have them here. This is our new house. It's a bit like Dr. Who's tardis - it's bigger inside than it looks from the outside.
We've been spending a lot of time outside as well, especially during the heatwave - going for walks, lounging on the grass and swimming. One day, Emma decided to explore the grass and ended up with dirt all over her sleeper. She was a very grubby, and very happy, baby. A sign of things to come. We were very proud of her.
And here are some other random photos from the last little while.
Emma. We love you kiddo.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Catharsis (Anna)
Emma and I spent last night at the hospital bunked down in Caroline's hospital room, so we were both pretty exhausted when we got home. After four days of absolutely angelic behaviour in very difficult cirumstances, Emma's response to being back at home? Complete meltdown - the end-of-the-world-is-nigh kind where NOTHING worked. Two hours of high-pitched screaming had us both in tears, while my beautiful daughter stared at me reproachfully for suddenly transforming into a rotten mother who didn't have a clue what she needed (my well-used toolkit of tactics and options apparently being completely misguided). So I cuddled her and told her I had no idea what was wrong but that I was there and would keep cuddling here while I tried to figure it out and repeated to myself that even, or especially, young babies need to break down after stressful events and she was really just doing what I felt like doing (but couldn't, ironically, since I had a baby to look after).
Then, without me doing anything differerent than what I had already tried over and over again, she suddenly turned off the waterworks, curled up in my arms, pulled my finger into her mouth for a good suck and gave me an heart-melting "I-love-you-Mumma" smile before going to sleep.
Then, without me doing anything differerent than what I had already tried over and over again, she suddenly turned off the waterworks, curled up in my arms, pulled my finger into her mouth for a good suck and gave me an heart-melting "I-love-you-Mumma" smile before going to sleep.
Live from the hospital (Anna)
After three days of waiting, C finally had her surgery and is now recovering.
Emma is a huge hit in a hospital where babies are a rarity. All the nurses are making up excuses to come into our room to see her. We are being well-looked after :)
Thanks for everyone's kind thoughts and offers of help. Much appreciated.
Emma is a huge hit in a hospital where babies are a rarity. All the nurses are making up excuses to come into our room to see her. We are being well-looked after :)
Thanks for everyone's kind thoughts and offers of help. Much appreciated.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
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