Random thoughts

Good news, Calvin is now 7lbs! Worrying news is that Calvin does not seem to produce any waste... This seems like a dream come true since poo is gross and the doctors aren't worried but I don't know, I can't help but worry.

The days blur into each other when you can't sleep or don't sleep well. My family came to visit Calvin and I had forgotten we were getting a new fridge, it was nice to have the extra pairs of hands while dealing with that. Other things I'm forgetting is what we named the baby. We called him Cat the other day. Calvin is starting to make faces that look almost like smiles. The other day we thought about giving Calvin a bath and so we looked it up online. Turns out 3 baths a week is recommended?! How about one bath every three weeks? And after the bath, will we wash away all that new baby smell? Every question I have feels so trivial. This period has been so rough and there is no exact science I can refer to, no time if there were... everything is by feel or instinct and it's really hard. I am in awe at all of you who have gone through this. I recall and appreciate all the conversations I've had over the years with you all both recounting the joy and the not joy which is having kids and going through postpartum period. I think it's my understanding now that it doesn't get easier, just different? Thank you for the emails and for the meals! We look forward to them arriving and the variety that it brings to our day! Here's a picture of Calvin in a new tux onesie he now fits! Amazing how they grow and you can't see it!

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Two and Change and Humbling

Parents talk all the time about how different their kids are from each other. After reading my gratitude post about Calvin peacefully going to bed and being independent, I thought it appropriate to describe tonight and the past few months. Tonight, I was in bed working on my computer and Thomas is laying next to me and doing somersaults into me. I walk out and he's upset so John and I talk to him about trying to close his eyes to sleep. He agrees but then after a bit leaves the room. He comes back with a box of toys and starts playing with them. Then he leaves again noting that he pooped his diaper and had to go get Daddy. I wasn't going to argue with that logic. Then after a while he had not returned to bed, and I hear the tiny feet sound, then the sound of moving furniture, and the quiet that can only indicate mischief. I call out, Thomas what are you doing? There is a lightening of the steps that makes me panic. I call out to John to runs over as I run over to...

How to Slow Down Time?

Calvin who is now two and half has been telling elaborate stories with more details than ever before. But he's also gotten to the point where his ability to describe his world is slightly below the complexity of the ideas he wants to share, which can lead to some frustrating moments. One of these moments was a couple weeks ago, I was changing Thomas and I exclaimed, "Wow, that's a big poo!" Calvin started saying something rapidly, and ran to the next room while talking. Then I hear him crying. I quickly wrap up the diaper to make sure he's okay, I find him in the bathroom trying to drag his giant heavy sink stool to the changing area because he wanted to "see the big poop" He was very upset that it was already wrapped up and only calmed down after I unwrapped it for a quick peek. I love hearing him reason to himself, repeat what happens in the day: "No Ho jie cheet ah, mommy cheet yah" (If Calvin cuts the fruit with the knife, it is dangerous,...

Never Wake a Sleeping Baby

I should be sleeping, but I'm up late lesson planning for the week and my head is spinning. I love watching baby while he's sleeping, he looks so calm, and wise. Sometimes he even does a little smile like he's dreaming. Sometimes he furrows his little brows like he is deep in thought. Sometimes he pouts his little mouth. I never knew how much there was to know about babies and sleep until after we had a newborn in our arms and he was both always sleeping and somehow never sleeping at the same time. At around 2 months, in a casual middle of the night complaining to a parent friend with a child slightly older than Cal she told me that babies had wake windows and should be put down when we notice sleepy cues. She sent me a little chart from instagram and I tried it. Baby started rubbing his eyes, and his eyebrows turned red. I put him down and like magic, he fell asleep. After that, I read about sleep hygiene, and wake windows, and eat/play/sleep, ...

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