I forgot to mention two crucial recent happenings:
1. We cut his hair! We cut off the mousy brown ends of his newborn hair, that bizarre ring around his head that made him look to be wearing a ill-matched toupee. He is now obscenely blond — I feel almost guilty, to be mother to such a stereotypically gorgeous, cherubic creature. He is all blue eyes, rosy, begging-to-be-pinched cheeks, kissable, rosebud mouth and shining, golden hair. He's so yummy! He looks fatter now too, and I could totally understand why Phil mimed sticking forking into him when we were at a restaurant the other night.
2. Phil decided he is to be moved into his own room. I couldn't argue with his logic... I just cried. My baby. My little boy, who was a speck of a thing not so long ago, is moving into his own room, out of arm's reach.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
"He's just like you..."
Both Mum and Dad see so much of me in Otis. It's an amazing thing, to see a tiny replication of myself! He not only looks like me — he behaves just as I did. He's very curious, fairly demanding, increasingly entertaining, and terrible at sleeping. Last night he woke at 9, then 11 (for a feed), 2:30 (feed) and 5. At 5 I tried to ignore him, in the hope he'd drift off again, but no... He was raring to go!
Phil and I have decided to buy a king size bed! We figure we'll be sharing it with babies for the next few years, so it should be worth the extra cost. We've chosen a really cool, metal frame, and are in the process of negotiating a price.
The one big development is that Otis has finally learnt to self-settle. I was at my wit's end a few days ago — I felt as if I was spending all day, every day, patting/rocking/shushing/singing him to sleep. Mum suggested that I wrap him up, give him a kiss, pop him in his cot, close the door and jump in the shower, and go back in ten minutes or so if he screamed. I'm no advocate of controlled crying, so was very apprehensive, but, lo and behold — there was no crying involved! The little cherub moaned in a somewhat pathetic fashion for about 5 minutes, and was then silent! I've since put him to bed fully awake, and left him there to fall asleep himself, for every sleep bar those middle-of-the-night moments.
He's loving his food. Mouth opens like a baby bird, and he gets all agitated and greedy. He's had Farex, pear, apple, avocado, potato, sweet potato, carrot and pumpkin so far.
Phil and I have decided to buy a king size bed! We figure we'll be sharing it with babies for the next few years, so it should be worth the extra cost. We've chosen a really cool, metal frame, and are in the process of negotiating a price.
The one big development is that Otis has finally learnt to self-settle. I was at my wit's end a few days ago — I felt as if I was spending all day, every day, patting/rocking/shushing/singing him to sleep. Mum suggested that I wrap him up, give him a kiss, pop him in his cot, close the door and jump in the shower, and go back in ten minutes or so if he screamed. I'm no advocate of controlled crying, so was very apprehensive, but, lo and behold — there was no crying involved! The little cherub moaned in a somewhat pathetic fashion for about 5 minutes, and was then silent! I've since put him to bed fully awake, and left him there to fall asleep himself, for every sleep bar those middle-of-the-night moments.
He's loving his food. Mouth opens like a baby bird, and he gets all agitated and greedy. He's had Farex, pear, apple, avocado, potato, sweet potato, carrot and pumpkin so far.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Mothers Group
No matter how "cool" you think you are, or how widely diverse your interests may be, or how self-sufficient you consider yourself, or how little interest you think you may have in discussing your baby's bowel movements, Mothers Group IS for you. I really do think that whoever invented the concept of the Mothers Group was very clever... I find myself confiding all sorts of embarrassing secrets in a group of women I would never have otherwise had anything to do with, and looking forward to meeting up with them and not having to pretend to have a life outside of being Oti's Mama! It is so freeing to be able to sit with them, each of us with hair unwashed, each emitting a stinky, spewy whiff, each looking a little pale and puffy around the eyes, each in possession of a hear overflowing with newfound love. The women in my Mothers Group are all around 10 or so years older than me, they come from a variety of backgrounds and are in differing situations, yet we are all united by the overwhelming experience that is motherhood. Bek is in her early 40s, she is a jazz singer and a Montessori teacher and is incredibly friendly and frank. Then there's Ange, a university administrator who is so sweet and gentle, and Dijana, a Serbian software engineer who is fairly isolated and I think gets a lot out of the tentative friendships we are forming, and Kumi, who is Japanese and mother to a little doll of a girl. We had a yummy, simple lunch at Bek's today, and Bek and I were incredibly touched to witness our little ones start to explore each other and link hands for a few moments. The babies all lay and played on a mat on the floor and the mothers empathised with one another, listening with understanding ears and hearts to tales of impatient, ignorant husbands — no, I'm not referring to my own here — difficult mothers-in-law, nappy options, and the isolation-inducing breastfeeding schedules.
I actually offered to host them all back here in a fortnight! Ack! I swore I wouldn't entertain for another few months, but I have no fear of these women tsking at my messy place. They are understanding and unpretentious and I appreciate that. My friends, I adore, and I can't wait 'til I can share in their pregnancies and child-rearing, but, for now, I need to, on occasion, spend time with others in the same boat.
I actually offered to host them all back here in a fortnight! Ack! I swore I wouldn't entertain for another few months, but I have no fear of these women tsking at my messy place. They are understanding and unpretentious and I appreciate that. My friends, I adore, and I can't wait 'til I can share in their pregnancies and child-rearing, but, for now, I need to, on occasion, spend time with others in the same boat.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
I love my boy!
Today I am just about bursting with love for him...
I love the way he coughs for our attention. It is so inventive and adorable.
I love the way he nibbles on a hi-lighter... Perhaps he will be researcher like his Mama!
I love that a piece of scrunched up magazine paper holds his attention for many minutes.
He's at Mum's and I'm missing him!!
I love the way he coughs for our attention. It is so inventive and adorable.
I love the way he nibbles on a hi-lighter... Perhaps he will be researcher like his Mama!
I love that a piece of scrunched up magazine paper holds his attention for many minutes.
He's at Mum's and I'm missing him!!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Modern Cloth Nappies
It's been a typically topsy-turvy week in the Hurst/Hammond residence. My boy is eating well — his diet consists of pears and apples, stewed by yours truly, sweet potato, Farex, and, of course, boob juice — and sleeping a bit better at night. Last night, for instance, he went down at 6:30, woke at 11:30, then at 2:30 and then at 6. Last week was another story, however. He was waking in pain, legs scrunched and kicking, red in the face, every couple of hours, on top of waking for feeds. It was frustrating and exhausting. Dr Hsu recommended Yakult to introduce the germs needed to break down the solids properly. It appears to have helped substantially.
He's been such a happy little thing, always talking, always smiling. He's getting rounder and fairer by the day, and his gorgeous navy eyes are constantly being complimented when we're up at Ashfield Mall, or having "coffee" with other mummies and babies at Summer Hill. He's sitting well, for a minute or so at a time, and loving to scrunch paper and chew on fluro hi-lighters. He's pooing only once every 4 or 5 days — kinder on the nappies, but a bit scarier for Phil and I! They are pastey and gigantic and really smelly.
OK, so I thought I'd talk a bit about Modern Cloth Nappies (MCN), as I am forever fielding questions about them. We use Green Kids, Baby Kangas and Blueberry nappies — brands of pocket nappies, which consist of a PUL waterproof outer shell and an insert made of either bamboo, hemp or microfibre. Bamboo is the most absorbent of these materials, hemp inserts are the trimmest, and microfibre inserts are cheap. The nappies are fastened with either velcro or snaps, and all of the nappies we own are adjustable so that they fit most babies from birth right through to toilet training.
They are simple to wash — I dry pail, which means throwing wet/soiled nappies in a nappy bucket sans any nappy cleaning solution. MCN simply don't need harsh chemicals in order to be properly cleaned. Every second or third day I throw them all in the machine, and put a rinse cycle on. I then do a long wash, with only half the recommended amount of liquid detergent. Any residual staining comes out in sunlight, so if there are any stains I make sure to hang the nappies on the line. I don't find the nappies stained too often, so the dryer is fine on wet days.
We use flushable liners, which make things a little less gross — liner and any poo it has managed to catch are simply flushed down the toilet.
PROS:
- Otis has only ever had nappy rash after wearing disposables (which he does at Mum's, and did when we holidayed in Noosa).
— The nappies are gorgeous! We have a selection of lovely block colours and prints, including faux cow and leopard skin! Much, much cuter than disposables, which is fantastic in the warmer months, as he can just wear a nappy and a singlet and look quite the stunner.
— MCN are much more cost effective. You have the initial outlay of a few hundred, and a slightly higher water bill. Fantastic when you're living in Sydney on one wage!
— There are environmental benefits galore...
CONS:
— Washing — I do more than most, I guess.
— They take up a hell of a lot more room in the nappy bag!
He's been such a happy little thing, always talking, always smiling. He's getting rounder and fairer by the day, and his gorgeous navy eyes are constantly being complimented when we're up at Ashfield Mall, or having "coffee" with other mummies and babies at Summer Hill. He's sitting well, for a minute or so at a time, and loving to scrunch paper and chew on fluro hi-lighters. He's pooing only once every 4 or 5 days — kinder on the nappies, but a bit scarier for Phil and I! They are pastey and gigantic and really smelly.
OK, so I thought I'd talk a bit about Modern Cloth Nappies (MCN), as I am forever fielding questions about them. We use Green Kids, Baby Kangas and Blueberry nappies — brands of pocket nappies, which consist of a PUL waterproof outer shell and an insert made of either bamboo, hemp or microfibre. Bamboo is the most absorbent of these materials, hemp inserts are the trimmest, and microfibre inserts are cheap. The nappies are fastened with either velcro or snaps, and all of the nappies we own are adjustable so that they fit most babies from birth right through to toilet training.
They are simple to wash — I dry pail, which means throwing wet/soiled nappies in a nappy bucket sans any nappy cleaning solution. MCN simply don't need harsh chemicals in order to be properly cleaned. Every second or third day I throw them all in the machine, and put a rinse cycle on. I then do a long wash, with only half the recommended amount of liquid detergent. Any residual staining comes out in sunlight, so if there are any stains I make sure to hang the nappies on the line. I don't find the nappies stained too often, so the dryer is fine on wet days.
We use flushable liners, which make things a little less gross — liner and any poo it has managed to catch are simply flushed down the toilet.
PROS:
- Otis has only ever had nappy rash after wearing disposables (which he does at Mum's, and did when we holidayed in Noosa).
— The nappies are gorgeous! We have a selection of lovely block colours and prints, including faux cow and leopard skin! Much, much cuter than disposables, which is fantastic in the warmer months, as he can just wear a nappy and a singlet and look quite the stunner.
— MCN are much more cost effective. You have the initial outlay of a few hundred, and a slightly higher water bill. Fantastic when you're living in Sydney on one wage!
— There are environmental benefits galore...
CONS:
— Washing — I do more than most, I guess.
— They take up a hell of a lot more room in the nappy bag!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Baptised!
I really wish I had finished my thesis draft before Otis was born! But the whole cholestasis scare put paid to that plan... I just have to accept that things are the way they are, and work at finishing it. I feel a little guilty, I suppose, at having time away from him that doesn't equate with more money. I mean, I guess it will generate money, in an indirect fashion, at some point, but...
OK, enough. Otis was baptised on Sunday, Bart's 19th birthday. It was a rainy day, and quite cool, but the wonderful company warmed my heart, as did my baby's beauty! He looked so damn cool, if I, his stylist, do say so myself. He wore a tuxedo t-shirt from Rock Your Baby, white cords, a white Pure Baby cardigan, and custom made leather shoes, black with a white letter O on one foot, and a J on the other.
He behaved quite well during the ceremony, other than a few restless whimpers that Phil explained signalled the devil being exorcised! Well, they did start a few moments after the exorcism prayer... He sucked fairly furiously on his dummy, which annoyed Mum and many other snap-happy photographers, but all I cared about was keeping him calm.
We had a simple morning tea of sandwiches, dips and slices, and a few champagnes with which to celebrate. Phil and I cut the cake after I made a short, impromptu, tear-inducing speech — unusual for me, a non-crier for the most part, but mothering tends to turn on the waterworks.
Other than that, things have been as they usually are... A combination of ecstatic joy, cuddles and laughs, and tension induced by broken sleep and my baby's seeming constipation. It all got moving again last week, he pooed once a day, and I was happy, but it's now been about 5 days, and he slept fitfully, waking almost hourly, squirming in pain until he managed a fart. He's in with me most of the night, once again, but I am aiming to have him sleeping in his cot all night long before the end of winter, which is when he'll be moving into his own room. Am I dreaming? Maybe.
He's doing a few new things... Blowing raspberries at the most inopportune moments — when he's supposed to be sleeping, or mid-cry. He's a happy little thing, smiling and babbling away, and shoving everything, no matter how awkwardly shaped or massive, into his mouth. He's now enjoying a diet of Farex, stewed pears, and stewed apples. I am trying to give him only home-cooked food (when it's convenient — sometimes it's just not feasible), which he does seem to enjoy much more than the jars from Coles. He's still rolling only sporadically — his favourite game is to lie on my tummy and roll off into my waiting arm, he does either side and looks so proud when he lands next to me. His new favourite story is Dr. Seuss's If I Ran The Zoo — it's quite a fun read for me as well! Godmother Eise gave him an Seuss anthology. Great gift!
He's definitely trying to crawl... He gets up into a sort of plank position, legs straight, weight resting on elbows and toes. His face goes bright red and he groans in frustration. He clearly longs to move. He'll get there!
OK, enough. Otis was baptised on Sunday, Bart's 19th birthday. It was a rainy day, and quite cool, but the wonderful company warmed my heart, as did my baby's beauty! He looked so damn cool, if I, his stylist, do say so myself. He wore a tuxedo t-shirt from Rock Your Baby, white cords, a white Pure Baby cardigan, and custom made leather shoes, black with a white letter O on one foot, and a J on the other.
He behaved quite well during the ceremony, other than a few restless whimpers that Phil explained signalled the devil being exorcised! Well, they did start a few moments after the exorcism prayer... He sucked fairly furiously on his dummy, which annoyed Mum and many other snap-happy photographers, but all I cared about was keeping him calm.
We had a simple morning tea of sandwiches, dips and slices, and a few champagnes with which to celebrate. Phil and I cut the cake after I made a short, impromptu, tear-inducing speech — unusual for me, a non-crier for the most part, but mothering tends to turn on the waterworks.
Other than that, things have been as they usually are... A combination of ecstatic joy, cuddles and laughs, and tension induced by broken sleep and my baby's seeming constipation. It all got moving again last week, he pooed once a day, and I was happy, but it's now been about 5 days, and he slept fitfully, waking almost hourly, squirming in pain until he managed a fart. He's in with me most of the night, once again, but I am aiming to have him sleeping in his cot all night long before the end of winter, which is when he'll be moving into his own room. Am I dreaming? Maybe.
He's doing a few new things... Blowing raspberries at the most inopportune moments — when he's supposed to be sleeping, or mid-cry. He's a happy little thing, smiling and babbling away, and shoving everything, no matter how awkwardly shaped or massive, into his mouth. He's now enjoying a diet of Farex, stewed pears, and stewed apples. I am trying to give him only home-cooked food (when it's convenient — sometimes it's just not feasible), which he does seem to enjoy much more than the jars from Coles. He's still rolling only sporadically — his favourite game is to lie on my tummy and roll off into my waiting arm, he does either side and looks so proud when he lands next to me. His new favourite story is Dr. Seuss's If I Ran The Zoo — it's quite a fun read for me as well! Godmother Eise gave him an Seuss anthology. Great gift!
He's definitely trying to crawl... He gets up into a sort of plank position, legs straight, weight resting on elbows and toes. His face goes bright red and he groans in frustration. He clearly longs to move. He'll get there!
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