WEEK THIRTEEN

I can't believe that my baby is three months old already. The time really DOES go by fast!

Feeling brave this week, I decided to go for a swim and try out the child minding program at the YMCA by my house. It's a really great program that they've got going on there. You can leave your baby while you work out, giving you some much needed down time and exercise during the day. It was really nice to have that time to let go of everything for an hour, knowing my baby was safe, and focus on having a good workout. I still enjoy our morning walks, but was finding I was putting too much pressure on myself (and Oliver) to use them as my workout. I don't like getting frustrated if Oliver decides to get fussy in his stroller one day because I'm not going to get my exercise. I'm thinking that our walks should be saved for enjoying the fresh air and sights and sounds of the day. So, I'm trying to come up with another routine to drop some of this baby weight since winter is on it's way (depressing I know...) and you all know what that means...an extra ten pounds is headed my way if I don't act now!

We had another exciting first this week. I decided that Oliver was ready to try his Jolly Jumper. I think it must have been very strange for him, because he didn't really know what to make of it! He hasn't figured out the actual jumping part yet, but enjoys being upright, moving around and kicking his legs. So cute! Every week that goes by he becomes more aware of his surroundings. He watches me move around the room, following with his eyes. Getting out and about is also becoming easier as he responds more now to the sound of my voice. If he starts to freak out in public I can usually calm him down simply by talking to him, which is a refreshing change.

I think he hit another growth spurt this week, as the crazy feeding frenzies started again. It's very difficult to explain patience to a screaming three month old while you're preparing a bottle. I couldn't get it to him fast enough!

WEEK TWELVE

We've all heard the expression "it takes a village to raise a child". What I would like to know is, when did this change from reality to a saying? When did it change from a village to a mom at home all day alone with baby? This week I didn't find a village, but I found my Mom. What a difference it makes to have somebody available to tag team with all day. I think I'll be lost when it comes time to head home again. I'm getting far to used to going to the bathroom without having to tote little Oliver along with me, or taking a nap when I need one. I really think lions have it going on. The whole pack mentality and all...
Everything really got put into perspective when one of my childhood friends came to visit. She is the same age as me and has three children under the age of three. I am blown away by this. Here I am moaning and groaning about all my little tribulations and she's running a full household full time. Whew! I tip my hat off to her and all others in the same boat as I don't think I'd have the stamina and strength to pull that off. So, as I sip my chardonnay while Oliver naps in his sling, I'm thinking one is just fine thank-you! I think Oliver may be beginning to teethe. He's chomping so hard on his Sophie I'm afraid he's going to gum those little antlers right off. We'll have to see what the weeks bring. If anyone has any tips for teething babies, please feel free to send them in! So 'Lamby' saved the day once again. Oliver has started a new game called 'let's fight our naps until we scream and fall asleep. Sounds like fun doesn't it? So after a half hour of dealing with a fussy boy with red droopy eyelids, I yank Lamby out of the playpen, turn her on and tuck her in the sling with Oliver. And wouldn't you know it...he was out like a light. This is definitely something I DON'T want to turn into a habit, but, sometimes as a mom you get desperate and as a friend has told me many a time 'you do what you got to do to survive!'

WEEK ELEVEN

Oliver is experimenting with his voice. The squeals that come out of him now crack me up. He is turning out to be a very vocal littlebaby. We have full conversations him and I. None of it makes sense to me but he sure gets a kick out of it! Not only has he discovered his voice, but his mouth as well. He wants to put everything in his mouth, especially his hands. Sometimes I can hear him sucking on them from the other room. I broke down and bought a ‘Sophie the Giraffe” and he loves it! Because she is so light, it’s easy for him to hold onto. He has also started reaching towards his toys, and exploring them with his hands.

Tired of Oliver’s constant battle with a gassy tummy, my husband and I decided to switch his formula. I don’t know if it’s too early to say this…and I hope I’m not jinxing it, but I think it’s

helping! He’s been sleeping better at night, and actually slept in his crib from four in the morning until six (whereas I usually have to sleep in the glider with him because of gas pains.) When he slept for five hours in a row, and then six and a half…I nearly died of happiness and restfulness. I’m really hoping that this isn’t a fluke thing and that maybe he’s on his way to waking only twice a night. Wishful thinking? I guess we’ll see! His sleep schedule is definitely starting to develop a rhythm.

It’s not always exactly the same every day but I have a general idea of when he likes to have his long naps.

Of course, as he grows it will change, but for now it’s nice to know what the rhythm of my day looks like. For the first time since he was born, I’m actually feeling rested and not completely sleep deprived. At the end of the day, I’m not so desperate for bed anymore and can spend some time alone with my husband.

This week Oliver had his first big road trip as we drove up to Sudbury to visit both sets of grandparents. He was a very good

traveller, sleeping most of the way. We stopped half way for a diaper change and a good stretch. The poor little guy did have some tummy trouble that day from being in the car seat for so long, but overall the whole experience went a lot smoother then expected. Oliver and I are looking forward (well maybe mostly me...) to spending the week at my parents. I'm excited for them to spend some time with this busy little guy, and maybe catch up on some zzz's!

WEEK TEN

There is something very primal about a mother/baby relationship. It’s amazing how a mother’s touch can soothe when nobody else’s can. My poor husband found this out when he volunteered to watch Oliver so that I could go see a movie (so nice to get away for awhile, highly recommended if you can do it!). It was the longest I had been away from him and the longest my husband had been alone with him without having me in the vicinity. He did an AMAZING job. But unfortunately because Oliver is so accustomed to having his naps snuggled up to mommy in his sling I was setting things up for disaster. Let’s just say that if I want to go see a movie again it has to be a night show! It really is amazing how quickly and simply my holding him can calm Oliver. I’m not trained specially in this. I’m not doing anything particularly different from other people, but somehow deep down inside there is a bond there between Oliver and me that is unique and precious and I am beginning to love this special relationship that only the two of us share. This week as Oliver had his first round of booster shots. I was very nervous going to the doctor because I had read and heard from other people how painful this is for them and how painful it is as a mother to watch. My little man was very brave and strong and only cried when the needle was going in. He spent the rest of the day in his sling or my arms and was actually smiling and cooing by the end of it. All I can suggest to parents taking a baby in for boosters is to take a deep breath and be strong for your little munchkin as they are going to look to you for comfort. At his appointment we found out Oliver is in the 75th percentile for length, weight and head circumference. He’s a big guy! Because he’s getting so big I’m starting to find it harder on my back to carry him. I discovered its imperative I wash my sling every night as it has some stretch to it and by the end of the day it sags too low. This has helped keep him higher up on my body making for less backache at night. I would recommend doing this to anyone who using a sling or wrap with a bit of give to it.

WEEK NINE

As I found out this week you can't call in sick when you're a mom. When a cold (or throat infection as the case may be) strikes there will be no sleeping it off or curling up on the couch in pj's with a cup of tea watching a movie. Nope, when you get sick you have to pull out your supermom super human strength and keep on going. And that's just what I did. Of course I had a few weak 'pity me' moments but I was surprised just how far you can push yourself if you have to. I just hope that the little guy doesn't get sick. I keep checking his temperature obsessively for fear that he may get a fever. Luckily, he seems healthy as always (knock on wood).

It's amazing as the weeks chug on how I find myself more in tune with Oliver's cues and quirks. I can now sense the difference between hunger and when he wants to cozy up in the sling a lot quicker then I used to. I can see a fussy spell inch up slowly and hopefully alleviate any discomfort before it turns into full blown hysteria. This whole new level of observance has relieved some of the stress in my day and his. It has also brought on new confidence. Now if he freaks out in a store I no longer break out in a sweat and rush for the nearest exit. Instead I have no problem calmly taking him out of his stroller and plopping him in the sling. This week I even tried on jeans with him in the sling. Have I mentioned how much I love that sling??? I find myself not feeling sooo self-conscience as a new mother and therefore, am able to get out and do a bit more with him.

It's very sweet how this week he's really discovered his hands. He now clasps them together purposefully and puts them in his mouth. He also spends a lot of time just looking at them. I can't image what this must be like... to suddenly realize that you have control over these limbs that have been flaying about in front of your face for your whole life. No wonder he looks at them so intently. It must blow his mind!

I have a new favorite product this week. My ottoman. I love my glider, but I find after a certain point my knees become sore and I become so fidgety. No matter how tired I am I can't seem to dose off in it; which would have some in handy some of those long sleepless nights. Up until this week I've actually been using a diaper box as an ottoman (chic I know...) but it just wasn't cutting it. So when I got one this week that actually glided, it was the difference between night and day. Literally. Now instead of getting up with the birds (which start chirping at 3:30am by the way) I'm getting up with the sun. When Oliver started fussing because of gas at four in the morning, instead of bringing him down stairs and starting our day I've been rocking him in the glider and we both manage to get an extra hour of sleep or so. I love it!! Because of this, we are both much more pleasant when its actually time to get up. I always thought that the ottoman was kinda silly to get, but no longer! For all the time I've spent and am going to spend in that chair, it's defiantly worth it to have something comfortable to put your feet up on and catch some extra zzz's.

Getting better at tummy time!

WEEK EIGHT

My little Oliver is growing so quickly it’s incredible. I have literally watched his eyebows grow in with every feeding. This week has been amazing for developments. He is so much more aware this week I feel that he is taking in everything that I say and do. He studies all the features of my face intently as I read and talk to him. For the first time I feel like he is really listening to me so I talk to him constantly through the day, not feeling so silly anymore. I tell him about everything that I’m doing. “mommy’s just making your bottles I’ll be done in a minute,” “Mommy’s just shaving her legs so she doesn’t look like a hairy monkey, do you know what noise a monkey makes?” He reacts to my voice with different coos and awws. He has suddenly gone from a little ball of flesh to my newest companion. He looks at the pictures in his book as I read to him kicking his legs with excitement. He loves looking at the pictures. And best of all are the smiles. Oh the smiles. They give me butterflies.

One after noon I was feeding him on the couch watching a bit of tv. After a minute or two, I glanced down at him and the bottle was out of his mouth and he was looking up at me his eyes big and bright, a huge toothless grin on his face. I did what any mother would do in that scenario; I started crying of course! I am so in love with this little creature, and for all the fussiness, crying and lack of sleep (which is still an on going battle) this moment made everything so far worth it.

This week also saw the swing become my new best friend and loathed enemy all in one day. I was so pleased when I put Oliver in his swing after it had been folded up for weeks and he actually liked it! Not only did he like it he fell asleep in it. A miracle! Thank goodness it wasn’t going to go to waste. I think he likes it better now because he can actually see the little mobile more clearly as he became mesmerized by the spinning sea creatures. I even managed a little cat nap while he was in it…amazing.

So when he woke up at 4:30 one morning and wouldn’t go back to sleep, I scooped him up and brought him downstairs and buckled him in for a ride back to la-la land.

This is where my feelings towards the swing took a drastic turn for the worst. As I’ve mentioned my baby is not one for gentle motion. Remember the vigorous bouncing and rocking? Well, then of course it should come as no surprise that he will only sit in the swing if it’s on level 6. Now, my question to you and the swing makers out there is why does it take the thing so bloody long to kick into level 6?!? So here I am holding the soother in Olivers mouth, shushing in his ear watching the arm of the swing sloooowly warm up and slooowing start ticking as he starts squirming and kicking impatiently. I am loosing time fast. I know it’s all over when his face turns a lovely shade of red and he starts wailing. This baby will wait for no man…or swing as the case may be. Biting down hard on the back of his soother I pick up my screaming baby cursing the blasted thing and give it a good kick. I know it didn’t help matters but it sure made me feel better.

**END NOTE**

I would like to make a formal apology to all the swings and ‘swing makers’ out there. As it turns out the batteries were nearly dead. I have now added ‘put batteries in the charger’ to my nightly list of chores to avoid further abuse to my swing and my foot.

WEEK SEVEN

Babies are so unpredictable. Just when you think you’ve got it goin’ on, they throw you a curve ball. I had been really getting into the groove of going for these really long walks when one day Oliver decided he’d had enough. We were strolling through a quiet neighborhood early (6:30am) one morning when he started fussing. So I stopped and put his soother in his mouth. Fine, kept going. Then he starts crying. Maybe he’s hungry? So I pull out the bottle and try to feed him. No good. That’s when he starts wailing. Not just crying, but the red faced sweaty screaming. Looking around me, and trying to remain calm as an elderly couple walk pass giving me the ‘ahhh what a pity look’ I scoop him out of the stroller and start bouncing him. When this doesn’t work I put him in the sling (which I always take everywhere with me, for just such an occasion) and start making my way home. He falls asleep immediately. Now you might be thinking ‘big deal, maybe he was just having a bad moment, or day? What if I told you that this continued to be the pattern for the next three days. He’s shattered my stroller confidence! So now instead of hitting the trail, I do smaller laps around the neighborhood, never straying to far in case I have to carry him home.

Because of all of Oliver's gassy issues, I was very pleased that this week's massage lessons where geared toward the stomach. It was also the first week they recommended removing his diaper for the massage. Of course I was apprehensive about this, considering the amount of times that I have been peed on over the past weeks.. So when it came time for the massage I made sure I had a big receiving blanket to clamp down over that thing if it decided to spring a leak. I was pleasantly surprised that he only peeded once this week during his massage time, and I was ready for it! He’s very content while I rub his tummy, and I can only hope that it is going to help relieve some of those gas pains we’ve been battling with.

Oliver in his new high chair!