My little baby boy is 4 months old and I can't believe where the time has gone. His dad and I have been sorting through photos and videos and can't believe how he has grown and changed and how it seems so long ago that he was this tiny little squirmy thing we brought home from the hospital.
He is so cute and fun now. He is such a sweet, smiley, happy baby and there is no sound in the world cuter than your baby's giggle. He is so curious all the time, looking around with his big wide eyes. He laughs and giggles all the time. He's getting really good at grabbing things and it's so cute to watch him really concentrate on something while he grabs it and tries to get it in his mouth. And yes, everything goes in his mouth now. Today I watched him staring at his own feet all the time and grabbing them. I guess that's his new thing. They didn't quite make it into his mouth but I'm sure it won't be long!
He also babbles a lot. He's been doing it for a while now. Daddy says it's because Mummy talks to him so much and doesn't shut up so he does it to get a word in edgeways! It is adorable though. He seems to "get" conversation and responds to us talking to him. He peaks in the evening and loves his quality time with Daddy, it's like he's telling him about his day! In the last week or so he has started to sound a little different. He squeals and shouts more than babbles, and also makes very distinct complaining sounds and "singing".
The one thing he's not so good at is rolling. All of his friends seem to have rolled over at least once and he just doesn't seem interested in doing it. He's been rolling onto his side for a while and I guess that's the sign it could happen suddenly soon, but he's made no moves that way at all. I don't know if that's because I don't give him enough tummy time or what. I guess he'll just do it when he's ready. When he does tummy time he makes crawling movements, and he's always been very strong at holding his head up, but rolling? Nah!
He can also sit up pretty well, propped up. He likes his Bumbo but not for too long. I can tell when he's had enough of it because he starts to protest and arches his back to get out of it. He can sit up on the sofa and looks so comfortable doing it that I want to offer him a drink and the TV remote, but he tips over after a little while if not propped up well enough. Which is funnier than it should be to watch!
He loves songs. We go to a music and rhyme session every week and he loves the nursery rhymes sung with actions. I do them with him at home all the time and he loves it, he definitely has his favourites and they make him laugh and giggle. He especially likes anything that involves his nose!
We have also been swimming and he's doing great at that. He now knows to close his eyes and mouth when he hears "Ready.... Go!" and has been going underwater a lot of times each class. We have a trip to California planned for the end of May and I can't wait to go swimming with him. It means Dad can come too. I know he would like to swim with him, and it means we'll also be able to take some pictures and videos. Dad bought a waterproof video camera before Baby was born, knowing that one of the things I really wanted to do with him was swimming.
I know I keep saying it, but I love motherhood! It's probably a weird thing to say but I just didn't expect to like it this much and it's been without doubt the best surprise of my life.
Sunday 25 April 2010
More nursery visits
I forgot to update y'all when it happened but I went to see two more nursery (daycare) facilities a couple of weeks ago. After the scary visit to the first one, I now feel much better having seen others.
The second one was miles better than the first and I felt such a sense of relief knowing that there was at least one place I could happily leave my child. It was very different to the first. The baby room was bright and friendly, the children seemed happy and stimulated, and most importantly they seemed to have a good relationship with the staff. The babies I saw seemed to like their carers, and it seemed mutual. The staff also seemed happy there and bantered with each other, suggesting they had good relationships with each other and were happy at work. The facilities were nice too, they had really nice gardens and a nice looking and seemingly well managed baby room.
The third and so far last place I saw was great and definitely my first choice. Amazing facilities, an emphasis on learning but through play, very professional and well run. Of course this is reflected by the price and it is the most expensive of all the places I have looked at. It is £1500+ a month for full time care, which is a scary amount of money. We're back to the debate on whether it is worth going back to work. I'll do a more detailed and competent post on that later, after I've got my head around it.
The second one was miles better than the first and I felt such a sense of relief knowing that there was at least one place I could happily leave my child. It was very different to the first. The baby room was bright and friendly, the children seemed happy and stimulated, and most importantly they seemed to have a good relationship with the staff. The babies I saw seemed to like their carers, and it seemed mutual. The staff also seemed happy there and bantered with each other, suggesting they had good relationships with each other and were happy at work. The facilities were nice too, they had really nice gardens and a nice looking and seemingly well managed baby room.
The third and so far last place I saw was great and definitely my first choice. Amazing facilities, an emphasis on learning but through play, very professional and well run. Of course this is reflected by the price and it is the most expensive of all the places I have looked at. It is £1500+ a month for full time care, which is a scary amount of money. We're back to the debate on whether it is worth going back to work. I'll do a more detailed and competent post on that later, after I've got my head around it.
Wednesday 21 April 2010
Where do mums exercise?
I am still struggling with a lot of baby weight and tummy flab to shift and feeling like a sloth because even though I was overweight before I got pregnant I felt and looked ok, or at least I thought so. I was pretty fit - I went to the gym 3-5 times a week, I was definitely more active than most people I knew. Now I am reminded daily how unfit I am compared to then and I have it in my mind how hard it is and how long it can take to get that strength and stamina back and it worries me.
But where does one go to exercise with a baby? Weeks ago I looked into returning to the gym but realised I wasn't yet ready to put Baby in the crèche. Now I figure by the time I do feel comfortable with it I won't be able to afford the gym, or at least be able to justify the cost when I am no longer receiving a salary.
I just began a postnatal pilates class which is good for my back but only gentle as far as exercise goes. I did try buggy workout but as I'm hypermobile and have dodgy knees, back and ankles as a result I'm not supposed to pound the concrete in that way. Plus, the class near me doesn't really work for me.
My main exercise is walking, I try to walk everywhere with the stroller and am pleased with how much further I can go and how much easier it gets all the time. And as the weather brightens up it can only get better. I plan to schedule a daily walk in the park during the summer.
Baby has a swimming class every week and the company who runs them are planning to start parent and baby aqua fitness classes. I definitely plan to go to those.
I'm out of ideas now. I wish there were more postnatal offerings around here. Maybe I need to look at my finances and see if I can afford the gym membership or appeal to generous family and friends for donations!
But where does one go to exercise with a baby? Weeks ago I looked into returning to the gym but realised I wasn't yet ready to put Baby in the crèche. Now I figure by the time I do feel comfortable with it I won't be able to afford the gym, or at least be able to justify the cost when I am no longer receiving a salary.
I just began a postnatal pilates class which is good for my back but only gentle as far as exercise goes. I did try buggy workout but as I'm hypermobile and have dodgy knees, back and ankles as a result I'm not supposed to pound the concrete in that way. Plus, the class near me doesn't really work for me.
My main exercise is walking, I try to walk everywhere with the stroller and am pleased with how much further I can go and how much easier it gets all the time. And as the weather brightens up it can only get better. I plan to schedule a daily walk in the park during the summer.
Baby has a swimming class every week and the company who runs them are planning to start parent and baby aqua fitness classes. I definitely plan to go to those.
I'm out of ideas now. I wish there were more postnatal offerings around here. Maybe I need to look at my finances and see if I can afford the gym membership or appeal to generous family and friends for donations!
Friday 9 April 2010
Under the weather
My poor little baby has a cold, again. I of course can't help feeling like a terrible mother as this is already his second cold in his very short life. I hope it's true about helping them build immunity.
He is Jekyll and Hyde baby at the moment. One minute he is his usual happy self, smiling and babbling, the very next moment he is screaming at the top of his voice. He is very congested and coughing and sneezing but otherwise ok.
What with this and my bad back we are quite the pair at the moment!
He is Jekyll and Hyde baby at the moment. One minute he is his usual happy self, smiling and babbling, the very next moment he is screaming at the top of his voice. He is very congested and coughing and sneezing but otherwise ok.
What with this and my bad back we are quite the pair at the moment!
Bad back
I'm not sure how, or what I did to it, but I seem to have strained my back. It got worse throughout the day and by the late afternoon I couldn't bend down to pick things up. This makes things very difficult when you have a three month old baby to look after.
Poor kid, hasn't been on his activity mat all day today. I was scared to put him on it in case I couldn't pick him up later. I'm glad it's the weekend and Daddy is around to help out. I really hope I can rest and heal my back within that time.
Scary stuff!
Poor kid, hasn't been on his activity mat all day today. I was scared to put him on it in case I couldn't pick him up later. I'm glad it's the weekend and Daddy is around to help out. I really hope I can rest and heal my back within that time.
Scary stuff!
Sunday 4 April 2010
One step forward, two steps back
So did anyone else know that babies regress at 3-4 months? That seems to be a fabulously well kept secret. I think it's unfair of the world not to have warned me!
After finally enjoying full nights of sleep again with Baby sleeping through the night, he has now gone back to the same patterns from over a month ago. This means no longer having evenings back, as well as having to wake up for night feeds once again. I thought sleep would be a linear progression and got lulled into a false sense of security when our little angel started sleeping through the night so soon. Foiled again!!
After finally enjoying full nights of sleep again with Baby sleeping through the night, he has now gone back to the same patterns from over a month ago. This means no longer having evenings back, as well as having to wake up for night feeds once again. I thought sleep would be a linear progression and got lulled into a false sense of security when our little angel started sleeping through the night so soon. Foiled again!!
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