Strange Machines

This whole day Wolf has been looking at his own hand, as if amazed this contraption gripping his shirt is attached to him. He also likes Vanessa Paradis.

From Babycenter:

“… you may notice that he’s started to drool. He’s also putting everything in his mouth and producing more saliva than he can swallow.”

Just a little drool but more from sucking my arm or his fist. He does blow bubbles though. I noticed this since 2 weeks ago.

“The good news is that your baby’s drool coats toys and other objects with disease-preventing proteins.”

That is good news!

“If your baby’s sleeping through the night (five or six hours at a stretch), you’re one of the lucky few.”

I am fortunate. But I do believe practicing good sleep hygiene plays a big part too.

He does get fussy from 10pm though. I realise it is because he wants to be placed in his crib. So many nights already he abruptly changed from fussy baby to cheery cooing baby the moment he was put in his crib.

“Your baby is learning how to rock and roll — well, maybe just roll. At this age, he’ll probably be able to move from his side to his back and his back to his side.”

Yes he does.

He’s also just started fitting into M size diapers. I’m so proud!

Sleep: 5 + 3 (2) + 1.5

In other news, a nice story on Niki Taylor picking motherhood over modelling.

After fussing for half an hour last night (eat, spit nipple out, cry, carry upright and is okay, eat… repeat) Wolf suddenly fell asleep in my arms. I’d been worried about colic because it seemed so unprecedented. But there he was, sleeping like an angel with his mouth wide open.

That’s how Grandma found us when she dashed over to the rescue. She reckoned the poor boy was sleepy. We’d only taken him to dinner at La Petite at Serene Centre. He was awake toward the end of the meal, wide-eyed at the lamp behind his Dad.

Mom tried putting him to bed but he woke soonafter to feed for almost a half-hour. She burped him most skillfully and put him to bed again, this time with a full tum. He was asleep by 1130pm and me by midnight.

His mutterings woke me at 5am and I called out “Mommy’s here… give me a minute” as I always do, ran to the loo, and went to the crib to find a beaming baby grinning from ear to ear at me. He cooed and smiled as I picked him up to nurse.

I wondered what lovely dream he might have woken up from so happy and unhurried to nurse. I can only imagine him swimming in a pool of Mommy’s milk with nipples everywhere and warm Mommy arms holding him afloat.

In fact he was in such a good mood that he didn’t want to sleep till 7am. In between, he had four feedings, three diaper changes, a couple of burps, and a zillion smiles, coos, and laughs. He talked to himself even after I turned out the light and after about five minutes, fell asleep.

At 10am he woke up again crying a little. He was hungry again. I fed him and changed him after a giant spew. After a diaper and day clothes change (his cute white onesie), he was his happy self again. I couldn’t help but lie next to him as he cooed and oohed at me. He didn’t quite say “cow cow” again as he did yesterday but I heard a half “hi” somewhere in the flurry.

He was absolutely content sitting in his stroller for a record time. I managed to do and hang out laundry, and make and finish breakfast AND wash the dishes before he cried for a diaper change. Now he’s on my map lying on MBF dozing off while nursing.

Sleep: 5.5 + 5 (3)

2.47pm: Aunty Nancy told of how he squealed in delight and laughter as Grandma bathed him and laughed with him. She commented on how vocal and happy he is and he’s only two months old! I am such a happy and proud Mommy.

Yesterday was a busy but remarkable day for Wolf and I. We went to the office to talk to my boss about returning to work, went home for Grandma to bathe Wolf (she does a better bath experience for him really), and then off to his favourite uncle’s place for dinner.

His Granddad happily cooed at Wolf while he looked on amusedly and then made squeals of delight, some of which I’ve never heard. I tried to get him to say “ack ack” (Wolf Wolf) as he did some days again but he didn’t bite. He’s been making an effort to talk more. He said “Hi” (okay, maybe more of a sigh but it was very pronounced) at 6-7 weeks, and has said “Hey” twice since, once in response to my “Hey”.

He happily watched his uncle’s fish while we all ate dinner. After that, my brother grabbed his Wolf Wolf (from The Incredibles) piggy bank and waved it at Wolf who stared back wide-eyed and curious. “That’s you, Wolf Wolf!” he exclaimed. Wolf giggled in response.

I discovered HBO and the whole family sat and watched The Forgotten (guaranteed to make any Mom clench their sons closer to them in horror) and then, Stepford Wives (strangely appropriate during this time of my life). The Hub collected us at 1030pm and Wolf was asleep by midnight as usual.

Perhaps it had been a long and tiring day, but Wolf slept till 6am this morning. He nursed for a while and was asleep again by 630am. He muttered to himself around 9am but didn’t wake till 10am. After another feed he was asleep again. I left him to nap while I made breakfast and read beside him. He had his arms up above his head. It was so cute.

Finally I declared it morning when he fussed at 11am, turned on the main light, opened the windows, and played Mozart for him. He smiled and cooed as I changed his diaper and put on his Doggone Cute t-shirt. I sat him up on my lap and we talked and laughed till noon.

It’s pretty confirmed Wolf’s on a 5+3 night schedule now. In fact, he’s almost like clockwork. He fussed from 10pm till midnight, drinking like a parched nomad in the desert, and finally fell asleep on his own. He woke at 5am almost sharp, drank 4 sessions, had a diaper change, and wanted to play a little before finally sleeping at 7am (which was when I managed to sleep too). True to form, he woke again at 10am and we called it a night.

I’ve put away the milk towels for feeding, using them only to protect MBF or the bed. The plastic-backed bibs seem to be better, very much more absorbent and less messy, and also seem to give Wolf a better feeding experience (as a usability tester, it is important for virtually everything to have a good experience – hmm… maybe I should go into sales).

Did a bit of surfing today and found lots of cool parent sites. I like Parent Hacks and Rookie Mom for their cool ideas on managing baby. More links on the left under the category Mom Zones.

Our aircon is being serviced as I type this. Amazingly, Wolf is sleeping through the loud whirring. The past 5 nights, it had been dripping like a leaky faucet, sometimes like a river. My Dad said it was clogged. I hope to find out why soon.

Last night Wolf was fussy from 11pm-midnight. It is almost as if he knows his bedtime is midnight, so don’t try to con me, Mommy. After 2 failed attempts to put him to bed, third time was a charm after feeding extensively on both boobs.

He woke at 5am, fed extensively from both again and fell asleep quickly after a diaper change, burp, and a hug from Mom. I couldn’t sleep. Mind buzzing about work stuff. Finally I fell asleep close to 8 and had a strange but telling dream.

Wolf cried to be fed again at 8.30am and he ate and dozed till 9.30am. His Dad put him to bed then and us parents got up to have breakfast. I worked on my site while he studied a little.

Meanwhile, I decided bibs are better than milk towels for better absorption per square centimeter. They smell less bad too. This comes from someone who washes them daily, even soaking them in Dynamo and boiling water the night before. It just makes them smell like boiled milk.

He cried again at 10.30am, suckled a little but preferred to be entertained by an adoring Mom and Dad who sang and danced to him along to Allan Sherman’s comedy ditties. He laughed so much – we were so delighted. I brought him to his gym (he burped spontaneously en route) and he played a bit before getting fussy. His Dad carried him and he dozed almost immediately.

Kaku came to visit me in the loo! I petted her happily and told her I missed her. How was she, I asked. She meowed in return. Her tail section looked like it’d grown back some. Sam took his turn too and then scurried off. Back at my computer, Boy is dozing contentedly on his new fave spot – the coloured mat that I use to cover the wires. I am so happy things are getting back to normal.

Wolf just fed and is napping on my lap now. We best get dressed soon for lunch.

The end of the 5 hour sleeps is nigh. Or rather, they’ve moved to day time and in Mommy’s arms. Heaven knows it is wonderful holding him to sleep and smelling his hair and cheeks, but at some point I need to eat, drink, or pee. Thankfully, my Mom has great foresight and bought me MBF, which Wolf is sitting on while he naps on me. At least that frees up both my hands to type.

Last night he slept 4 or 4.5 hours till 4am, woke at 7am, 8.30 for a burp, woke at 10am. I was so exhausted that we slept (or rather I did while he gurgled next to me) for another session to finally wake at 11am for good. Too tired to get out of bed, I carried him on MBF while he slept, and took the opportunity to trim his nails, and then my own.

By 1215pm, it was time to get up. Wolf howled shortly after I put in the laundry and fed the cats. I returned to pick him up twice. He didn’t seem to hungry although he happily sucked till he slept and didn’t want the other breast. He wasn’t happy being put into his stroller so settled for nestling against me to sleep.

A cuppa green tea and hot pasta in my tummy later, I feel better although some disappointing news put a bit of a damper on my day. Nevertheless, cuddling little Wolf and looking at his sweet face brightens it right back up. I never figured myself for the nurturing sort (all 5 cats are fiercely independent, but not fierce). Nature is a strange animal, and we, its strange machines.

My Dad popped by this morning to play with Wolf. It was an early morning for us. He’d slept at midnight as usual and woke at 5am, and then again at 9am. We were both quite refreshed and he was very happy playing with his mobiles for about an hour and a half. I’d set up a baby gym in the study and he’s been playing happily there.

Dad was quite impressed as I lugged the gym pair on mattress and lay Wolf down. The happy boy played by himself while Dad and I read the papers. Dad went to play with him a couple of times and Wolf beamed and cooed while his grandpa made baby noises at him and waved his hands. It’s wonderful to watch my Dad become a big softy when it comes to Wolf.

Evening came and Wolf became a little fussy. He didn’t want to be put down on his gym or stroller. Finally, starving and tired, I put him in the Bjorn and carried him while I made dinner. He dozed immediately. When he finally was in deep sleep, I placed him gently in the stroller and managed to eat and watch Ultraviolet (stylish movie but weak story).

During bedtime, he fussed so much and had to be burped several times. I was truly exhausted by this point and recited the Mommy Mantra: It is not his fault. That usually buoys me and I feel all maternal again. I patiently carried him to burp and actually dozed off at some point. He ate a bit, slept a bit, cried a bit, and finally was calm enough to go to bed.

I stood over his bed and patted him a bit as he fell asleep, his face peaceful and so very dear.