So off we go buying him one. Buying the right one is a task by itself! There are so many out there and you just don't know which is he right one.
We decided to choose one that is BPA free from a more reputable manufacturer. We saw some real cute ones but safety is more important here.
So yes, we gave in to the inevitable pacifier/soother/blinkie whatever it's called.
After 17 years, I cried again. And this time, it's my parents leaving me to go home. I left the great emotional rush when my parents bid their farewell after visiting me this Christmas. I didn't realise I miss them so much until that day when they had to go.
I guess having my own child made me a softie. It kinda made me miss my own parents even more. I wish they could stay longer and enjoy their moments with their grandson.
I tried some tummy time with him on my chest and he seems alright about it. But he can't lift his own head for very long just yet, maybe for a couple of seconds. And for this I refused to let him sleep on his tummy.
Lately he has improved on his neck strength so I tried letting him sleep on his tummy. He seems alright with it and during his first time sleeping on his tummy, he slept for slightly more than 3 hours! But all on one side of the neck which I am not too happy about worrying that he might get a neck pain after he woke up!
Today again I let him sleep on his tummy, to see if he will enjoy it and if he can turn his head which he did!!! I am very pleased that he turned his head by himself in the bed while sleeping on his tummy.
So far he slept on his tummy during he day when I can watch over him. I'm not sure just yet if I want to let him do it overnight when I'm sleeping too. I will have to continue to "test water" and see how it goes.
All we planned for me was caesarian and the date - we were dwelling between 11/11 or 20/11. I thought 11/11 was too soon because he needs to stay in there as long as he can so he is more ready for the world. In the end we decided 20/11. My estimated due date isn't until end of the month or early next month anyway.
Well, if I had a plan- it failed big time!! Because our little Andrew decided to come out earlier than 20/11! Well, I tried to put it off but my body told me that it's time already.
Then there is this parenting plan. Well, I did have a few things in mind for after birth and some of them will never work but others worked. I believe you can plan for certain things to happen your way but it will never be all dream come true. For example, I planned very much for breastfeeding but it just never happen. Then I vowed never to give little Andrew a pacifier/soother, but I went ahead and bought one yesterday and gave in to his crankiness to give it a try.
I believe it's not possible to have all thugs your way because the little one will have his/her own personality, his/her own needs. It varies between babies as well. So, I will not be rigid with what I have in mind planned but be more adaptive to Andrew's personality and needs.
Last night after milk, he was so cranky- he refused to be put back to his crib or he would cry so very often for milk. Normally if he cries, I would just cuddle him and let him sleep in my arm. But not last night, even in our arms he would cry (during every waking and half conscious moment) - which is very unlikely of him.
The other time Andrew was this cranky was when his BCG was flaring up. But now that his BCG jab site is drying up, it can't be the reason he is up all night cranky!
My thought - he was playing or rather being kept awake earlier in the evening. And that kind off throw him off his mood I believe. I will never keep him awake just to take photographs with him. I would only do it whenever he is awake and will not say "open your eyes Andrew" or "look here." All my pictures with him are all natural circumstances or when he is awake (for open eyes pix) or asleep (shut eyes pix).
I was so pissed and angry when Andrew was kicking up a storm. I was wrong to be angry with him. It wasn't his fault. I should have known better not to allow this happen! There shall be no more next time.
I'm sorry that I had to limit visitors after 5pm. Even if there is, I will tell that person off from keeping my baby awake for taking pictures!!!!
He was especially hard to please and would refuse to sleep in his own crib after he woke up for his night feeds. This is very unusual of him. He had been very good in sleeping by himself in his own crib!
I kept thinking to myself this will pass, hubby and I just had to endure this phase and take extra care for him. Thank goodness that his pus did not "burst" and is drying up already. I hope he will be back to his normal self soon!
No wonder as I picked him from his crib, I felt his head was a bit warm and I thought he was just feeling warm. He is having slight fever as a side-effect of the vaccination.
For the first time since little Andrew's birth, it was a thunderstorm 2 days ago (12/12). When Andrew was still in my tummy, he didn't enjoy raining, let alone the thunder! And for the first time, his first thunder was really really really loud! I was having my dinner and it struck. I waited for a few seconds to see if he cried, oh yes he did and very loud too. So I threw everything and came to coo him. Poor baby was so frighten by the thunder.
I'm not sure what has gotten into Andrew since then that he has been acting up. I am no longer sure if it's just poo problem or scared by the thunder or it's the BCG scar on his arm. I hope he will pass the cranky phase and be a happy baby soon.
The dark greenish blackish poo is called meconium, poo that had been building up in his intestines during pregnancy. When Dr K came for rounding in my ward, I asked him how long it will be in that colour. He said every baby varies, some 3 days, some up to a week. After all the meconium is passed out, the poo will turn yellowish.
I remember our first diaper change. I was prepared for the worst! The moment I opened the diaper, TADA! Poo in yellow! Thank goodness! And he yellow is not as stinky as I thought, though others (hubby, sis & mom) will say otherwise.
And now Andrew's poo has been quite a nuisance (in a way) for him and me. He only poo once a day and he has such tough time trying to poo that I had to coach him to poo. This happens in the afternoon most of the time (well, that is so far the trend).
He will either not go back to sleep after his morning bath and feed, or he will have cat naps throughout the day. Cat naps because he will make noises and become cranky (cry his lungs out) after 30 minutes into his nap. And it will take quite a feat to sooth him when he wakes.
I know for sure it's the poo problem because after all is released, he will be such an angel and sleep through at least 2-3 hours.
He had been acting up, not very himself to stay awake for such long hours, and cried whenever I put him back to bed after his feed during the day. After 2 days of same behavior, I realised it was due to the fact that he had been trying to poop and just couldn't get it out.
The whole drama trying to poop will start right after his morning Daddy Bath Time (Oh yes! His daddy get to bath him every morning). He sometimes stayed awake until the next feed or would doze off after his breakfast. If he is awake, he should be sleeping again after the next feed. But as the poo was still stuck, he wouldn't sleep. The whole no sleeping thing will last until he poo!! After which he will be back to his angelic self again.
Poor baby having such tough time trying to poo. I tried to give him water after his feed so it helps to soften the poo. Unfortunately, my little Andrew is such a smarty pants that he knows how not to drink water after milk >.< I would very much prefers he drink a bit to help soften his poo so he won't need to suffer for the whole day trying to push them out.
Now that I know what makes him sleepless and cranky, I just need to figure out how to give him more water to drink.
I was so slow in reacting in a way that I didn't just drop everything on risk scaring Andrew, I actually went "Ouch!" then slowly put down the Termos and the milk bottle.
With my limited First Aid knowledge, I could only think of running my pinky through the tap water. But it was just excruciating painful!!!! Then I put on some toothpaste - did so with limited First Aid knowledge as well. After while removing the toothpaste, there was no easing of the pain from the scalding.
The little pinky needed half a day to ease the pain and felt better now after a whole day. I was certainly difficult to take care of the little pinky with Andrew around needed to be fed and changed. But I embraced the pain with gusto and life goes on.
First Aid note to self: Run scald skin to running tap water. It should reduce the soreness temporarily. No blistering is good sign! And always be careful when handling hot water especially now that Andrew is around!
His milk intake is scary. How is it possible that such a small little person can drink so much milk in a day! I even had to increase his milk consumption like almost all the time- well maybe not. But having said that seriously every 2 hours or so he will be whaling for his milk. I don't even have time to check his diaper first!
Last night Andrew refused to go back to sleep at his 4am feed. There is no soothing him back to sleep. I still got long way to learn in soothing the cranky Andrew to sleep. Though he really likes sleeping in my arms but it didn't work all the time.
My take in that he slept so little - 2 hours each time is probably due to the fact that he didn't get a good burp. It's not that easy anymore compare to when he was smaller (though he is not a lot bigger now). I believe a good burp allows him to sleep more peacefully and calmly.
I shall work on being the expert "burper."
In fact last night (2nd time so far), Andrew would not go to sleep at all after his 3.30am feed. He was sleeping in my arms after the feed but woke up and started crying the moment I put him back to his crib. It was like that the whole night until the next feed. I hope he will be back to his angelic self tonight.
I probably tire him and I was hoping he will go back to bed immediately. But I was wrong it didn't tire him instead he is now so wide awake!!! I hope he goes to sleep soon or give me a tinkle that it's time to feed.
I miss the routine stroking if my bump. I miss the gentle kicks and punches from within. I also miss not caring how huge I look like. I love wearing maternity dress. I enjoyed sitting on the bench in the mall.
The 9 months had truly been an amazing journey for me. And now a new journey sets out for me. Baby Andrew will be the love of my life and the most important person to me now. Everything I do, I say, will be making an impact on this little life that Hubby and I created and brought to life. I shall enjoy this journey with an anticipating heart.
But what is the term to use when I'm the one who needs the daddy to be around?
Last night I broke down in front of hubby, maybe scaring him just a bit. I told him I needed him to be around for a bit longer- for me. He has been with me the whole journey, so I felt kinda lost at times without him around.
This morning hubby stays back at home to accompany me. And I'm happy that he did. It is such a relief to have him around.
