Shopping Spree

My parents get some crazy ideas sometimes.

Today, they woke up and decided it was a nice day for a trip to the shops.

But not our shops; they wanted to go to some shops on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane!

So we loaded the car up with nappies and a stash of spare clothes for us all (because you just never know when I might spew on a shoulder) and hit the road!

I proved to be a great traveller. Mum assumed I was asleep because I wasn't making any noises. But for a lot of the time I was just enjoying the view outside the window...

And the taste of my toes.

I slept in the sling while we were shopping.

And I slept most of the way home.

Mum and Dad both said I'll be invited to come on the next shopping spree.

But my big brother, on the other hand, might not be!

Visitors

We've had a few visitors over the past couple of days.

Grandma and Grandad came for dinner for the first time since I was born.

We had a great time.

Ok, to be honest, I was a bit unsettled to begin with.

But I settled right down with some lovely cuddles.

And tonight I met my third set of grandparents.

Grandma Glennys and Grandpa Steve aren't technically my grandparents. But they are my grandparents in all the ways that count...because they love me and I love them.

Again, I was a bit unsettled.

But again, I settled with some lovely cuddles.

Spots

I have spots.

No, there's nothing to be alarmed about, I don't have spots on me.

But there are spots all over two walls of my bedroom.

Colourful spots.

And I've just discovered them.

If I turn to the side while I'm on the change table I can see them.

I can also crane my neck right around to see some of the spots behind my change table.

I love my spots.

I smile at them, I gurgle at them and I stare at them for ages.

Unsettled? Who me?

I don't want to boast at all.

But you might be interested to know that I had a record sleep last night.

Mum put me to bed at 8 o'clock.

And I woke up at 6:30 the next morning.

That's ten and a half hours of unbroken sleep!

Mum had been worried that I'd be a bit unsettled after my needles.

I wasn't.

But she knows very well that pride comes before a sleepless night.

So we're keeping quiet on the whole business of me being the Amazing Sleeping Wonder Baby.

Shhhh!

Ouch!

I had my two month immunisations today.

Ouch!

Noah was full of advice on the drive to Kindy before my appointment.

"It'll only hurt for a second" he promised.

Of course his advice comes not from personal experience but from the book 'Elmo Goes to the Doctor'.

I doubt he'd be so flippant if it was his little thigh being jabbed!

First, the doctor took some measurements.

I weighed in at 5.3kg and am 59cm long. That's somewhere in the 80th percentile for both measurements. My head, meanwhile, is just perfectly average.

The doctor then made himself scarce (he doesn't like we babies to associate him with pain) and the nurse did the thing with the needles.

I yelped and went very red in the face but Mum fed me throughout the whole ordeal because the nurse said that breastmilk has recently been found to have anaesthetic qualities.

Not quite enough anaesthetic qualities, if you ask me!

But I settled down very quickly and then slept for the next few hours in the hug-a-bub while Mum did some shopping.

No more needles for two whole months!

Walking with Mum

Mum is on a mission to lose some weight and since I'm apparently responsible for the extra weight (and because where she goes, I go), I get to come along for the ride.

Or rather 'the walk'.

We set off this morning, taking advantage of a brief break in the rain.

I was strapped into the hug-a-bub and Mum was certain I'd be fast asleep before we reached the end of the driveway.

But I wasn't.

No siree!

There was so much to look at and I spent most of the walk, wide-eyed and taking everything in.

Finally, after 25 minutes on the road and five minutes from home, I could keep my little eyes open no longer and fell fast asleep.

Restless

I've been a bit restless today.

You can read that as 'the baby just will not sleep'.

The day started off well, with me waking at 8am after nice long sleep.

Mum was happy about the sleep-in since she'd been up late watching the election coverage (it's quite possible I went to sleep early to avoid the election coverage).

But then we went to church, so I didn't get to have my usual morning sleep.

And after we got home, I continued to catnap and grizzle.

The good news is that grizzly days are usually followed by long sleeps at night.

Democracy

This morning Dad gave Noah and me a little lecture about democracy and voting.

Well, the lecture was aimed more at Noah than me, but I was there and listening.

Democracy, apparently, is something to be excited about and grateful for.

Pfft.

For me, 'democracy in action' meant being removed from the toasty warm indoors to the cold and windy outdoors.

We had to stand in a line (outside) until we could get inside to do the voting thing.

Dad took ages with his big bit of paper.

Mum started work on her big bit of paper but gave up when I started to cry and Noah tried to make friends with the electoral workers (right after he tried to pull apart the ballot box). So she scrunched it up and got a new one.

She was done in the time it took to write the number 1, grumbled a bit about 'not getting to do it properly' and left with me and Noah.

Then we had to wait, in the wind, for Dad.

Brrr...at least this sort of thing only happens every few years.

And I suspect the next time, we little people won't be invited.

Carry me

I have a new sling.

It's called the 'Baby Breeze' for any sling spotters out there.

We bought it because, much as we all love the Hug-a-Bub, it's a bit fiddly to put on and not good for dashing to and from the car at Kindy or the shops. This new sling is even suitable for using at the pool or at the beach!

First Mum had to figure out how to use it (thanks to an instructional video online).

Then she popped me in it.

I fell asleep.

Immediately.

The Baby Breeze is a success!

Poppy's girl

My grandparents arrived today for a quick visit.

I haven't seen Poppy since I was born and I haven't seen Grandma for about a month.

So, naturally, I took full advantage of having extra sets of arms in the house.

During the afternoon when I got a bit grizzly, Poppy picked me up. I was happy as long as he kept moving. In fact, all the pacing of the floor made me sleepy and I was soon fast asleep on Poppy's shoulder.

Not wanting to disturb my slumber (but a bit tired of pacing), Poppy sat down on the couch and I remained fast asleep...for hours!

After dinner, it was Grandma's turn and I slept on her shoulder until bedtime.

Ahh, it's nice to have cuddles.

A good baby

It's official.

I 'sleep through the night'.

Mum hasn't been keen to make such a declaration, since she's well aware that little babies can easily kick the sleeping habit.

But I've been 'sleeping through' consistently for weeks now, and I'm starting to make a habit of these seven, eight and nine hour stretches.

I've even settled into the routine of having a regular three hour morning sleep.

So there you have it.

I'm officially a 'good' baby*.

*Although, truth be told, we don't believe in 'good' and 'bad' babies around here. All babies are good! They're just extra-specially good when they sleep well like I do.

More doctors

Well, what drama we had in our family today.

Noah fell out of the car onto concrete and, in his own words 'boing-ed his head'.

There was blood. He cried. I cried. Mum even cried.

Dad came home and we all went to the doctor.

I looked around the examination room with interest.

"You'll be in here next!" said the nurse to me, while the doctor examined the boing-ed-up head.

Unfortunately, she's right.

It's two-month needles next week.

Sigh.

It's tough, the business of getting bigger.

I ain't heavy

Well actually, I am a bit heavy.

I couldn't say what I weigh, except to report that I have well and truly outgrown my newborn clothes.

But apparently, I'm not so heavy that a three year old couldn't pick me up.

This afternoon, in the rush of everyone getting home and putting away groceries, I found myself sitting in my little chair in the family room, somewhat forgotten.

I cried.

Noah heard me and tried to calm me down with soothing words.

But when that didn't work, he reached down, put his arms around me and hoisted me clear out of my chair.

"Aghhhh" yelled Mum and Dad from the other side of the room.

And suddenly, I was no longer forgotten.

P.S. Here's something worthy of mention, if not its own blog post. Last night I slept for nine straight hours! From 9pm until 6am. It's my longest sleep ever. And yes, to answer a frequently asked question, I was very hungry when I finally woke up.

Meet the baby

We took the pram to church today.

Mum still grumbles about the hassle of it all, but after I slept in the pram at the conference yesterday she can see that it has its advantages.

But she was surprised when people came up to the pram and introduced themselves, as though they were meeting me for the first time.

"You've seen her before, haven't you?" she'd ask.

"Yes" they'd reply "But she's always been hidden in that wrap, fast asleep, with only her feet poking out the bottom".

So today, finally, I got the chance to show off my cute self.

And once again, I proved to Mum that I actually quite like sitting in the pram and being part of all the action.

The Fear of Number Three

One of the greatest fears of the parent of a breastfed newborn, is the Number Three Poo...the 'power poo', as it's called in some circles.

This unhappy phenomenon occurs because breastfed newborns tend to poo infrequently, such as once a week. And when it finally does happen, it tends to be spectacular.

The anticipation of such a poo (when it's been a week without a poo, for instance) will often keep the parents of the breastfed newborn close to home and fearful of venturing out in public.

Well, it had been a week since my last poo, but Mum had no choice but to go out today.

She was helping out at an all-day women's conference at church and, because I require feeding every three hours (or whenever I get a bit peckish), I had to come along. Grandma came too, and her job was to look after me when Mum had to be on stage doing her thing.

Of course, Mum was on high alert over the poo business.

Because failure to react swiftly in the event of a Power Poo would mean she or Grandma would almost certainly end up wearing it.

No sooner had we arrived and taken our seats, when I decided I was a bit peckish.

Mum whisked me off to the parent's room and fed me.

No sooner had we returned and taken our seats once again, when Mum's friend Belinda sniffed that something wasn't quite right.

Thank goodness for Belinda's pregnancy-related heightened sense of smell because in a flash, Mum ripped me from my comfy spot in the hug-a-bub.

Just in time to see me give that look.

The look that's feared by all parents of the breastfed newborn who hasn't done a poo in a week.

Holding me aloft, Mum scrambled out of her seat and raced to the parent's room and plonked me on the change table.

There I filled not one, not two but three nappies. One after the other.

Twenty minutes later, it was safe to return to our seats. All cleaned up and neither of us wearing poo.

Such relief!

Oh, and after that everyone enjoyed the conference.

Keepsakes

I never intended to give an inventory of all the presents I've received since I was born.

That would take a while because I've received lots of beautiful presents from lots of beautiful people.

So many, in fact, that Mum is still trying to get through all the thank-you cards.

But there were two very special presents today.

Mum's friend Tonya has made me the most beautiful quilt and today was Quilt Presentation Day with Tonya and her kids coming over to give it to me.

My quilt is pink and green and has cute babushka dolls on it.

It's just the sort of quilt a little girl will love and treasure forever.

Later, Aunty Lyndall arrived and she brought me a beautiful present too.

It's a very cute little gold locket, just the right size for a little girl.

It's extra special, because it has my initials engraved on the back.

And that's special, because Aunty Lyndall and I share the same initials.

Kindy photos

It was freezing cold today.

And it was blowing a gale.

It was not the sort of weather that any sane person would expose a newborn baby to.

So you'd think I would spend the day tucked up in the warmth of my bassinet, right?

Wrong.

Rain or shine or cyclone, it was Kindy photo day today and that meant we all had to pile into the car and head to Kindy. Where we waited around for an hour. For outdoor photos.

Good grief.

It was so windy that when Mum lifted me up out of the hug-a-bub to put me in my car seat, I nearly blew out of her arms.

Later, we retreated to the relative warmth and windlessness of the shops, where I scored some new clothes!

A sad day

It was a bit of a sad day.

Sad for me because, try as Mum might, I just couldn't get to sleep.

And sad for Mum. For the same reasons.

And because she had a lot of work that just didn't get done!

She's not sure whether I'm grizzly because the reflux medicine hasn't started working yet. Or whether I'm grizzly because of the reflux medicine.

We're going to keep up for just a week and see if it helps me or not.

Reflux

As you know, I have reflux.

I've been on a drug called Zantac for almost two weeks.

It's not doing much good.

I still cough like an old man who's been smoking for fifty years.

It's not good.

When I have these big coughs, Mum knows that I'll come good within a few seconds.

But it tends to freak other people out. Especially if they happen to be holding me!

So we went back to the doctor this afternoon and he prescribed some new medicine.

He also assured Mum that my lungs were perfectly fine and that my cough was just caused by my reflux.

He was also pleased to see me putting on lots of weight and looking very healthy.

Mum thinks it's about time she got me down to the weigh-station to see just how healthy I am!

Dancing with dad

Tonight mum put Noah to bed, and dad was enlisted to look after me.

I was sitting underneath my blinds but got bored quickly. I cried.

Dad had a song playing on the computer, and came out to me and did a little jig before he picked me up. But before he reached down I stopped crying. I stared at him and his dance moves. So he kept 'dancing' and I kept quiet. I did one of my pre-smile content looks, and even pushed my arms out right in front of me. Dad thought it was great, and he kept moving about waving his arms in front of me, and I kept quiet and intrigued. Well, for a few minutes until my tummy, which doesn't care for dancing, decided it was time for a feed!

Pearls

Mum doesn't have a string of pearls...but now I do!


I got a very special present today.

A tiny string of pearls with a little silver butterfly.


It was from my friends Ben and Madeleine and Gabe and Claire.


Mum and Dad think it's beautiful.


I think it would feel pretty good in my mouth, but I'm not allowed to touch it yet.


But we all can't wait until I get to show off my cute little pearls on my cute little wrist.

Friends

I met some new friends today.

Mum's good friend Shelley and her kids Harvey and Olive came up to visit her and Noah and to meet me.

We were meant to visit them last weekend but Noah was sick (you remember that, right? There was lots of spewing going on) so we couldn't go.

I like meeting new people, especially when they arrive with nice presents and tell me that I'm beautiful.

It was a good day.

Babysitter

I was babysat for the very first time today.

Mum has left me with Dad for half an hour here or half an hour there, but no one else has ever looked after me.

However, Mum had her 6 week check-up with her obstetrician today and didn't fancy bringing me along...so Grandma came by to look after Noah and I.

"She's just been fed so if she cries it's probably not from hunger", Mum said as she walked out the door.

Well, that was true. But babies can always find something to cry about. And I did.

When Mum arrived home about an hour later, she was pleased to be greeted by the sounds of silence as she walked in the house and found me fast asleep in Grandma's arms.

But Noah betrayed me by telling the truth.

"Lucy's been fwying!" he said.

Sleep

Everyone loves a baby who sleeps through the night.

And I am such a baby!

By definition, sleeping through the night is a five hour stretch.

Pfft. That's easy. I've done that before.

But last night was the first time Mum didn't have to get up to me in the night.

I slept from 11pm until 5:30am.

What an effort!

Hug the baby

My brother likes to give me hugs.

And he likes to make sure everyone else gets their turn today.

He's been a bit concerned because Sarah, one of his 'Kindy ladies' hadn't had a hold of me yet (he's made sure all the rest have).

Sarah was on duty when we arrived at Kindy, so Noah immediately made the offer of cuddles.

"You hug baby Lucy!" he said.

And when Sarah wasn't quick to respond to the offer, he insisted.

So Sarah got to hold me and Noah was very pleased.

He loves me.

And he likes to share.

Riding high

I like to be carried around over Dad's shoulder.

But only if I can be right up high.

He has to hold me up so my shoulders are a bit higher than his shoulder.

It only works because I have such great neck control.

Dad says holding me like gives him a sore back.

But it's better than the sound of me whinging when he puts me down.

First smile

I've been working up to my first smile for about a week now.

There have been a few 'unofficial' smiles that were close but just not quite there.

Mum says I've been doing plenty of smiling with my eyes.

I save my happiest looks for when I'm on the change table.

And today I did it!

I officially smiled at Mum.

Dad's hoping he scores the second official smile, and not the venetian blinds.

Cute

I'm starting to look cute.

That's what Mum and Dad have been saying.

Apparently I wasn't all that cute when I was first born.

Oh, everyone said how beautiful I was.

But, truth be told, my face was a bit puffy and I had some spots.

Now, I'm losing the squishy newborn look and starting to develop a cute baby look.

And my first proper, intentional smile is just around the corner.