life with a new baby
Archive for October, 2009
He Likes What?
Oct 4th
Nathan is quite an interesting fellow. All babies are unique, of course, but there is still this stereotypical mold of babydom that I’ve heard parents talk incessantly about. You know, where they say things like “Oh babies don’t like such-and-such” or “Do this-or-that and your baby will sleep through the night.” Well, Nathan does not fit in that mold. He is unlike any other baby I have ever known. Of all the comments about babydom that I’ve encountered, I’ve never heard anyone say that babies will like to have their boogers sucked out of their noses with a giant bulb syringe.
That’s right. Nathan likes to have his boogers sucked out of his nose. Really likes it. He likes it so much that when he sees me approach with the giant bulb syringe, his eyes widen and he starts cooing, arms flapping in the air and legs thunking on his seat. Once booger extraction commences, his eyes close halfway and he tilts his head back, as if he’s enjoying a warm sunbath on the beach. All movement temporarily ceases as he appears to really enjoy the moment.
After said booger has been removed, Nathan will usually cry momentarily when he realizes it’s over, as if he’s thinking hey, bring back that booger stealer! You weren’t done! Sometimes I’ll even remove the invisible boogers, just so I can see the look of pure contentedness on Nathan’s face.
Nathan is quite an interesting fellow indeed.
The Results of Applesauce Consumption
Oct 3rd
Gross.
Applesauce Poop is seriously, egregiously, incomprehensibly gross.
It is worse than Breastmilk Poop. It is worse than Soy Formula Poop. It is worse than Nuclear Fallout Radiation Poop.
Applesauce Poop is the most horrendous poop of all.
I thought Nathan had the King of All Poops (the poop that rivaled all other poops in the galaxy… unaware that the Poop of the UNIVERSE would soon follow) when we started supplementing with soy formula…. I had no idea. Smelling the results of applesauce consumption was the furthest thing from my mind when we were feeding Nathan his first solid food, but now that I have experienced the results of said applesauce consumption, I have decided that solid foods make stinky babies.
Really, really stinky babies.
Like a troll smell. I’ve never smelled a troll, but I would imagine their stench to somewhat of a mixture of rotten garbage, soggy potato chips, and decomposing carcasses with a hint of a sulfuric gasses. That’s what baby Applesauce Poop smelled like.
It totally outdid the pond scum smell.
I can only imagine how bad the Sweet Pea Poop will smell…
It Seems Like Yesterday…
Oct 2nd
While I was pregnant with Nathan, people used to always tell me about how fast babies grow. They weren’t kidding. It seems like only yesterday that I was pregnant and praying for Nathan to speed up his arrival. Then, like a little whirlwind, he was here. He was so tiny and helpless and screamy. Next thing I know, here is this plump baby with edible toes and kissable cheeks squirming happily in my arms, smiling and giving me baby kisses. Little by little, he’s gaining independence and growing up quickly.
Today, I packed up yet another wardrobe that he has outgrown, putting new sizes up in their places. I remember looking at some of those clothes when he was a newborn, wondering if he would ever be big enough to fit into a size 9-months. He just seemed so small and little, like he would never grow. He would be a permanent newborn all the way through adulthood.
In those chaotic and hormone-filled days, it seemed entirely possible.
Now, he’s started solid foods, gone through entire wardrobes, and is trying quite dilligently to be mobile. He inches around on his belly like a determined, eternally drooling inchworm. He likes to stand. Even though he can’t hold his own balance yet, he loves to simply stand up and look around the room, eyes soaking in every inch around him, his free hand held palm-open beside his face as if he’s about to wave hello. He’s no longer the small, fragile-looking newborn. It seems impossible that this much time has gone by so quickly, but here he is… growing quicker than I ever imagined.
I have to be careful not to blink or he just might pass me up…
Oh, Delicious Applesauce!
Oct 1st
Paul and I decided Nathan’s first solid food would be applesauce. We had to delay giving him solids until his little intestinal tract and tummy had healed from the allergic reaction he had to the cow’s milk protein in the formula he was on. All is well now, and so we gave Nathan his first taste of “people food.”
He wasn’t sure what to think of it at first. He curiously watched a purple spoon coming towards him with a heap of something creamy. I opened my mouth wide in the hopes that he would mimic me. He did, so I zoomed the applesauce-laden spoon into his awaiting mouth. His initial reaction was shock, like what did she just feed me? Then his expression looked pained, like I don’t think I like this idea one bit. Why must I eat this? WHY?
He spit most of his first few mouthfuls back out. It mostly dribbled down his chin, falling nicely onto the bib. Yeah, I know… enjoy this while I can because sooner or later, food won’t be dribbling nicely down his chin. It’s going to be in his hair, on the walls, in my hair… Believe me, I am savoring this time while I can before all the mayhem ensues. So then, after a few more bites, he decided this new non-milk substance wasn’t so bad after all.
He heartily scarfed some more down, looking pensive and more like a taster at a wine gallery than a baby eating applesauce. His brows furrowed and his eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed into the distance, thinking about something clever I’m sure, while slowly turning the applesauce in his mouth. It was almost as if he was deconstructing it… Ok, so this isn’t my milk, but it tastes like something I know. What is this taste? Then he started opening his mouth wide while flapping his hands in the air, making bleating sounds to let me know he definitely liked this new non-milk substance. He heartily consumed more of his applesauce.
When he was done, he gave us a huge smile while a content look poured from his eyes. He sighed dreamily and appeared to contemplate this new experience. We’re hoping he will have a diverse pallet and will enjoy the many new foods coming his way.
Recent Comments
Aww thanks, Tina, it was good to see you too! I wish I could have talked to you more... I ...
I'm sorry you all had a rough go yesterday, but it was good to see you both :) I have ...
Thank you, I appreciate that. It's so cool to hear people say that we look alike... I've been told there ...
Awww... what really nice photos! You two look so alike, especially with the way you smile.