6 posts tagged “firsts”

Will sees life through smiling eyes so much of the time. Last week after nap he fished a pot lid out of the cupboard while I put some cookies in the oven. I encouraged him to bang it with some music and make noise. A little while later I heard a sort of giggling, surprised "Ooooooohhhhhh" coming from the dining room. It's usually a sound he makes if he sees something that he thinks is neat.

Cheese In the Lid

I peeked in the doorway and found him laying on the floor under the high chair with his chin resting on the lid. He was laughing or marveling at his funny reflection in the convex surface of the lid. Imagine what was going through his head seeing this funny picture for the first time and smile.

Oooohhhh!

His name was Dan and he was very calm. He told me that the only thing I should worry about was that the glycerine hand cream my son drank would taste bad to him and that there should be no ill effects. Will apparently liked the taste because he protested loudly when I took the tub of Orange Creme Camille Beckman Glycerine Hand Therapy cream out of his hands. So I didn't follow Dan's advice to give Will a drink to help with the yucky taste. Rather, I gave Will his milk and layed him down for a nap. Then I called Daddy at work to tell him how nice the Poison Control Man was.

Trainride

Friday Sean took a day off from work and we spent a family day together. We took Will on his second train ride down town to the old John Wanamaker building for the grand light show. Last time he was on the train he sat on Grandma's lap and seemed oblivious to his surrounding, just content to smile at Grandpa and be cute. This time he was very interested in all the action outside the window.

We arrived early enough to grab a spot among eager cross-legged little children on the red carpet next to the famous eagle statue. The light show must be so magical to such young eyes. Julie Andrews narrated a brief summary of traditional Christmas stories such as The Nutcracker, Frosty and Rudolph as the lights twinkled and glittered on the one wall of the 6-story courtyard, and the projection of snowflakes danced along the marble ceiling. Will was briefly mesmerized by the lights, then turned his attention chewing his cowboy toy, alternately peeking at the light action.

Sean and I both visited this light show as children and heard the grand pipe organ play. It's exciting as parents to begin our own familiy traditions with our son.

My childhood memories of Christmas are full of the comfort and warmth of family togetherness around lights and good food. My senses remember Christmas of years past in the scent of evergreen, the feeling of crisp, cold wind on my cheeks, the taste of cinamon buns on Christmas morning, the feel of shiny wrapping paper crinkling under my fingers and the dazzle of lights on the tree. I used to sit with my eyes closed and imagine the glory of the angels shattering the dark peace of the night in the fields as they brought joyful announcement of the arrival of Jesus, savior of the world to the shepherds. I used to listen to the carol "Away In A Manger" and think about that baby in the hay... was it itchy? What does myrrh smell like? Did the baby cry? There was always so much to think about, so much wonder involved in the holiday celebration, so much more than Santa and presents. I hope Will will grow to appreciate Christmas for the depth beyond the commercialism and hype.

Watchlights

You have, I assume, heard the phrase of opposites: "like night and day". I could coin my own phrase based on my life: "like Tuesday and Wednesday" or any combination of days of the week. Every day is so different in our world. Each day has presented its own challenges and provided unique joys. At 5 weeks, 6 days Will is becoming sweetly familiar to me. Yet he remains a mystery full of such great potential. At this point sleeping for longer stretches at night are becoming more common. This doesn't happen every night mind you. Last Thursday and Friday he woke every hour in a fuss. Then over the weekend through Monday he slept beautifully, even reached close to 7 hours at one point! I laughed out loud that night when I rolled over at the sound of his voice and saw 4am on the clock. I was so thrilled for my 5 hour chunk of sleep!

Naps are happening on an irregular basis. I am learning that I have to be proactive about naps. Rather than letting them happen as he drifts off, I am learning to be more sensitive to his cues and to swaddle him and rock him when I see the droop in his eyes. Last night was a difficult night. We had friends for dinner for the first time since our family expansion. I don't think I did a good job at a combined job of hostess and mommy. Will had a fussy evening after fighting naps all day long. It was challenging for us to see our baby so sad and be at a loss at how to comfort him. What worked eventually was breast and bed. He went back to his 3 hour chunks last night. Over the weekend he slept in huge chunks of time each day, all day - and that's when he slept best at night and we had delightful evenings with him. Opposite nights following totally opposite days.

A smile was among the other firsts I enjoyed recently. He was stirring waking up from a nap and I sat next to his cradle until he opened his eyes and looked at me. He greeted me with the sweetest smile that fully melted my heart. Since then I've seen a smile in his normally so serious countenance, but nothing so clearly a large, gummy smile like I saw that afternoon. I wait eagerly for the next, totally undebatable smile!

Will saw the pediatrician yesterday for his 6-week check up. He's 25th percentile in most categories except weight, where he's 25-50th percentile. Weight: 9lb 2 oz, Length: 21 inches, Head Circumference: 14 and 3/4 inches. Everything else is looking good. It seemed like less of a physical for him and more of a safety inspection of my parenting and our house - which is fine. I'm glad they ask all the questions and spend the time to educate parents.

Today has been a good day. Will slept an hour in the swing, then we had a delightful time with friends at the nursing mothers' advisory council group at the coffee shop. He slept and then ate (from the breast for the first time in public!) then looked around with his wide, deep blue eyes taking it all in and exercising his legs before he drifted back to sleep in my arms. He woke up for our Staples errand and now is back asleep in his bouncy chair. Classical music fills the background as I have a chance to catch up on email and blogging. Today has been a good day. But if my phrase regarging opposite days is true, then my theory begs the question: what will tomorrow be like?

I am learning: "Wait and see and take it as it comes. It is what it is." Life is really much easier when you subscribe to that theory. Will is helping me learn that.

Head control