Welcome!

Every night I go to bed, I have thoughts swirling in my head. Things to do. Scrapbook pages I want to create. Gifts I want to make. Skills I want to learn. And, of course, daily happenings that I don't want to forget, but invariably will by tomorrow morning, only to pop up in a random thought weeks down the road. So, here I am. I may use this blog daily to empty my head and heart before cuddling up in my duvet, or as it may be, I may write in it once a month. Who knows. It is for me, but perhaps something I write or learn may spark a fire in someone else. Perhaps it may quiet a mind or make you feel like you are not alone out there. It is for me. But perhaps it is for you.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Kai: The Beginning

Okay, Kai is 8 1/2 and I am pretty sure I have written about his first days somewhere, but I just came across my notes from his birth and want to make sure it is written down.  My memory after all is not my strong suit.


  • 36 hours of contractions; couldn't sit for more of it because his head was so low
  • Marc, Mom and Dad in the labour and delivery with me.  I vividly remember giggling hysterically because the gas they gave me to use made my teeth numb and made me feel drunk. My midwife told us to stop sounding like we were having so much fun or we would never get out of admitting and into a room.  (Note: it was not fun, drugs are good)
  • Mom stepped out of the delivery room for 5 minutes to update Carrie, Kelly and Jason, so  missed the actual moment of birth!
  • Marc and my first thoughts:  
    • Wow, we made him!
    • surreal
    • how did he fit inside me?
    • there was instant amazement
Hospital Time:
  • I stayed in the hospital 3 nights because I had trouble breastfeeding and Kai had some jaundice.  They had to do the heel prick test again and he hated it.
  • Kai's appetite was voracious.  As feeding wasn't going so well for me, Marc fed him with a syringe while I slept and by the time he was finished a feeding, Kai had already digested it and was ready for more.
  • Kai and daddy batt'ed it out one night as Kai wouldn't stop eating.  Daddy said Kai was crazy but it looked like Daddy was to me.
First 2 weeks:
  • Kai burrito - swaddled so tightly the first week so he could sleep
  • pterodactyl cry...so cute but only lasted the first week :(
  • loved to chew all of his fingers at once, not just his thumb; often used them to wrestle away the bottle during a feeding
  • loved away time.  Looked around everywhere, especially fixated on lights
  • trouble with bottle - cried and squirmed with gas
Weeks 3/4
  • loves blow dryer on his bum - made him pee, which made Marc use it even more
  • starting to like vibrating chair
  • lifts head and turns side to side while on my chest
  • smiling lots
  • likes being naked after diaper change
Week 5
  • loves to look into my eyes - eyes more focussed, less cross-eyed
  • sleeps in vibrating chair 
  • eating 'on schedule' almost every 3 hours, with the occasional 4 hour
  • gone back to swaddling
  • sound of bathroom fan very soothing...to Kai (irritating to me)
  • neck much stronger
  • kicks legs alot - left more than right
  • woke up one night to his grunting - he had fought his way out of his swaddle and pushed himself to end of bassinette
  • sleeps longer when held
Week 6
  • cooing and gurgling, experimenting with sound
  • had two nights with 2 four-hour cycles!
  • 3 days of crying and needing consoling most of the day
  • he is getting easier at night, getting more stable
  • likes to hold my finger (or the receiving blanket) while he feeds
  • enjoys kicking the end of the change table while naked
  • went in swing for 1/2 hour 3 times...deep breath of relief for me 
Week 7
  • calmer during awake time, lasts longer
  • BIG week
    • we have had 'conversations'.  He is experimenting more with different sounds and he likes it.  He is always so happy when he makes a sound and when you made one back.  Big smiles
  • 3 nights in a row I didnt have to get up at 5:30 and sleep with him on the couch...he slept right through!
  • still only sleeping about 10 hours a day
  • feel asleep without rocking on his own a few times
  • went to Movies for Mommies with Kel and he was great
  • more hand/arm control - can get his fist to his mouth, just doesn't know how to suck it yet
Week 8
  • no routine for feeding, he's all over the place
  • one day of really good day naps - 2x2 hour naps and a few other small ones
  • after feeds he has at least 1/2 hour of play time and smiles
  • given up on trying to get him sleeping in the day - taking road trips for errands as he often sleeps in the car...doing whatever it takes
  • a few cranky feeding days - needed to rock him while feeding
  • got cradle cap
Week 9
  • crying less
  • Monday night had a 5h, 4hour, then 3 1/2 hour feeding cycle starting at 8:30 pm. Yay!
  • I cooked a few meals!
  • woke up and was happy before feeding and didn't wake up crying
  • 3 x 2 hour afternoon naps, 3 days in a row
  • focused on sucking his hands - brings tongue to hands instead of hands to mouth
  • sticks out his tongue while concentrating hard to do something
  • saying 'agoo'
Week 10
  • talking much more
  • got shots - cranky, drowsy, right leg swollen
Week 11
  • spend most of time kicking, lifting legs up toward roof to do bicycle kick
  • rolled onto side 3 ties, but never since
  • smiling all the time
Week 12
  • working on supporting his head and strengthening his neck.  Likes to sit leaning in corner of couch and try to sit up unsupported.  Neck bobbles around a bit but getting much stronger.
  • tries to lift head from laying down on back too, but no success
  • feeding ever 3-4 hours
  • starting to nap after every feeding - needs soother and sometimes rocking to start, needs to rock back to sleep eery 20 minutes but sleeps about 1 1/2 hours
Week 13
  • continuing more frequent daytime naps
  • had one night with only 1 night feeding!!! 8 pm - 1:30 a.m. - 6:30 pm
  • can lift his head up from tummy time for longer periods of time
  • can suck his fingers and thumb
  • doing one 5 hour cycle, usually from 5:30-10:30, then 3-4 hours the rest of the  night
  • eating more at night - up to 240 m
  • rolled onto side 3 times, not consistently yet
Weeks 14-16
  • holding his own hands lots
  • likes to suck his fingers
  • rolls onto his side consistently, sometimes sleeping like that
  • week 16 - rolled onto tummy twice, and from tummy to back twice
  • likes to practice sitting and standing most of the time
  • started sleep training
  • enjoys looking at books
  • first cold
  • Daddy loves putting Kai's hair into a mohawk
Weeks 17-18
  • goes to bed easily at 7:15 pm, sleeps until 11:45ish then wakes up again at 5:30ish
  • loves to stand everywhere, including in the bath
  • loves the jolly jumper
  • starting to 'get' the exersaucer toys and turning around in it
  • reaching out to grab things, including my lips and hair
  • has giggling fits
  • takes 2 long naps consistently but doesn't like to nap between 2:30 and bedtime
  • grabbing his feet
  • 'talking' in loud screams
  • throwing toys to the ground
  • some momentary independent sitting
  • sucking his toes
Five Months
  • started solid food at 5 1/2 months - loves it
  • turning over consistently
  • on tummy, turns around in circles
  • pulled himself up in bathtub
  • talking a lot, especially in the morning; working on 'ba' sound
  • blows raspberries
  • waking up at midnight and betwen 3-5 am somewhere
  • once slept midnight to 7 am
  • first plane flight to Quebec.  Great on way there, tough ride back
  • no tummy he is pulling knees and bum up
  • discovered bath faucets, loves to stand and hold them
  • hugs!!
  • full push up
  • learning cause and effect by dropping and picking up toys
  • teething but no teeth yet
Six Months
  • got 2 teeth (bottom middle)
  • sitting independently
  • eating solids 3 times a day - likes most but not green veggies or peas
  • consistently waking up only once per night
  • rocks back and forth on knees
Seven Months
  • pushing self forwards and backwards on knees
  • does downward dog and plank
  • doing swimming lessons
Eight Months
  • 4 top teeth
  • crawling
  • standing and holding on to things
  • pushes himself to sitting
  • likes to open and close things - doors, drawers
Nine Months
  • mostly sleeps through the night, awaking between 5 and 6 for the day
  • likes to play follow the leader while crawling
  • HATES diaper changes - fights it every time
  • pulls himself to standing
Ten Months
  • cruising around furniture
  • walks unsteadily holding my hand