Prevention Continues

It really seems that Sydney has reached the stage where our focus is squarely on prevention. Now that she is mobile, we have to prevent her from falling down the stairs, climbing up the stairs, opening the fridge, pulling out drawers, staying out of the cupboards, staying out of the animal’s food and water dish, not touching cleaners and chemicals….ahhh, so much proofing to do. Might be easier to raise her in an empty storage unit until she turns six, or simply bubble wrap her until then. But, as she gets older she’ll learn what is safe and what is not…or more than likely she will also learn what to touch when she is in a bad mood and wants to get a reaction.

Past generations have really relied on experiential learning. If you pick up a fork or knife, stick it in an electric socket, and get a good zap...well, that'll teach ya!!! I'm not saying some of that old school parenting didn't work...in fact if the electric dishcharge from the outlet didn't kill you, it was very likely you wouldn't have attempted it again. Today, it's a different story. We try to be more proactive and preventitive. I'm sure 'nurturing' and 'tough love' both have good qualities.

In Sydney news, she continues to get new teeth in, both on her upper and lower levels. It's amazing how quickly they start to trickle in. Behaviorally, Sydney has also begun to realize that she gets a more favorable reaction from the cats if she slowly tries to pet them, instead of yanking out clumps of hair (I know...picky cats!). Although, typically when she gets within a foot of them she usually screams from the excitement. This is not really a stealth approach, and usually causes them to leave the scene.

Tip #12: Baby Schedule Training

During pregnancy, ask your wife to randomly set the alarm each night. At first you will likely sit up straight in bed each night and wonder what is interrupting your beauty sleep. But with repetition, soon your body will become conditioned and will even begin to react on its own accord. After birth, screams and cries will trigger your body into action. The clear benefit here is that this conditioning will enable you to check on the needs of your child without having to reach a full waking and conscious state.

Sleep Deprivation

When I go back and look through old photos, I realize how sprite and alive Sydney’s parents look. A hot, young, attractive couple full of zest (ok, I indulged in the adjectives there…my modesty once again…haha!). But now, red eyes, shadowed eye-lids, and at times a general dazed and confused look seem to be recurring, perhaps necessary markers of parenthood. Sometimes speaking can even come out in a jumbled mess, as if we are also learning to speak for the first time, too. We may also do random strange things, like try to turn on the TV with the phone, and answer the phone with a TV remote (both of which do not accomplish the intended task).

Perhaps this period of parenting is intentional, to help us understand and empathize with what our children go through. So, if you find me off in a corner with a vacant expression and a trail of drool pooling on my shirt, just realize that it is part of my diligence of wanting to be an active and understanding parent. But, if you smell something not so attractive, please let me know that my parenting has gone beyond the intended limits.

Even with a general lack of sleep, parenting has great rewards. When you think you have no energy and can accomplish no task, Sydney will look at you, crack the biggest smile you have ever seen, and show off her (now many) pearly whites. What could be more perfect than that? It makes any of the sleeplessness and long nights fade away (at least until the next night).

As for Sydney, she has continued to practice her crawling, standing, speaking, and her new found love...reading. Ok, actually mostly she is fascinated with books. This includes opening and turning pages, looking at the pictures, and of course chewing on the pages. As for her crawling, she has certainly succeeding in becoming part of the mobile infantry...get it, mobile 'infant'ry. To all of those booing, just remember I am entitled a few bad puns a year.

Tip #11: Solid Foods

Make sure to use recommended baby foods. Even if you are tempted, please do not blend up a double-cheeseburger and fries for the baby. Just because we like it, doesn’t mean the baby will…or even that he/she will be able to digest it easily. You may pay for it later if you are changing the diaper.

Piranha!!!

There are plenty of dangerous animals on the planet. Of all the animals, there aren’t many feared above the piranha, a species that can devour its prey within minutes. I’m not sure if we’ve had Animal Planet on at home, but Sydney has felt inclined to test out her new found choppers. Ok, she’s not going to devour much at this point, but she does surprise you quite a bit when you are not expecting it and she chomps down. And Sydney is gaining one new weapon in her arsenal…as her top two teeth have just broken through. All objects…wooden, plastic, metal, or other, must be on the lookout for this prowling and curious set of teeth, who constantly search out its next victim.

On the less dramatic side of things, Sydney’s actually put her new equipment to use to tackle some new solid foods, including baby Gogurts (a dried form of yogurt), baby-crackers, cheese, and also Cheerios. And let’s face it, they’re unsinkable!...if that’s how that commercial goes. This has actually been a fun phase to begin. Not only is the idea of eating solids a sign of her growth, but it’s also fun to watch her eat finger foods. This, in addition to the nourishment she receives, actually helps her with coordination and finger dexterity…so she is really developing new skills while she is meeting her dietary needs.

Although they say you might not know it for a few years, I believe I have seen some early signs that she may be right-handed…at least from watching her with her toys and finger foods. Maybe it’s too premature to know, or I’m just projecting…but that’s ok…I have a 50-50 chance of being right, and those are good odds any day!

Other quick news...Sydney has made progress in her standing. She's made it as long as 10 seconds on her own. She is also crawling with lighting speed on all fours. Good job baby Sydney!!! We also thought it would be fun to share a picture of when Sydney was little, and very young (since obviously she is sooo old now!). The picture of her crying just seemed entertaining to me, so I thought I'd share.

Tip #10: Friendships

Try to become friends with other couples that have colicky children. Out in public, by comparison, this will make you look less tired, more considerate, and give others the general perception that you are a high-functioning parent…and able to control your child. In private, you may not wish to associate with them, as their child will likely irritate you.

On Your Marks...Get Set....

GOOOOOO! Sydney competed in her first official race. It was the Fairhaven 15K. True, she did the race last year (in utero), but this time she experienced it in the larger world.

Sydney had great support from her dad, who was behind her every step of the way. And I mean that quite literally! But, without breaking a sweat, she strolled across the finish line in style, ready for the after-race festivities. And Sydney's last impressive dash at the end allow her to edge out her dad at the finish line...by a buggy wheel! Dad was very proud of her :)

Fortunately, or unfortunately (depending on how you look at it), the course for the race went through Boulevard Park. This might not mean much to most people...a nice view at best. But, to Sydney's dad, this meant a direct path to Woods Coffee. Being highly tempted, he asked her if it was ok to make a stop...(not even go inside, just a minute at the outside pickup window). To him, this seemed to be a wasted opportunity, especially since the running stroller had not just one, but two, cupholders. To her credit, Sydney had the discipline to maintain her pace and ambition to finish the race and convinced her dad to keep going. What a trooper!!!

Although I haven't seen the official results yet, I have concluded that Sydney may have taken first in two categories...the Under 9 Month category, and the Mobile Baby Unit category. My assumption of her ranking is due to the fact that neither Karen nor I saw any other babies or strollers, whatsoever. I guess Sydney was the lone representative of youthful vigor and determination.

After the race, and a brief interaction with her toys, she finally passed out from exhaustion. She later rehydrated to make sure her muscles were not stiff the next day.

Besides the race, Sydney got to visit with her friends Maggie, David, and Lili Friday night. She had a great time, and looks forward to the next time she can chew on their furniture and play Mario Kart.

Tip #9: Eating Out
When eating out, be sure to sit next to other people that have a baby. When your baby makes a loud annoying noise, you can look at the other table and act appalled. Be convincing and play it off as if ‘there kid’ is the source of the disruption. This will draw attention away from you and make for a more pleasurable dining experience for you and your family.

Have a nice week everyone!!!

Circles...and Friends!!!

Lately, Sydney has had a very busy social calendar. She was able to meet up with a few of her baby BFF's at Cornwall park where she had a great time catching up on the latest gossip with Kate, Maggie, Olivia, & Logan...all while sporting a new hairdo (thanks to her stylist Danielle). Sydney was also able to spend some time with her friend Kate over this past weekend.

In other news, Sydney has developed an interest in a particular toy. Just like clockwork, most days when Sydney is picked up from daycare, she is holding an orange ring in one of her iron-fisted hands. A multitude of toys to choose from, but she gravitates to this orange ring. Because of her fondness of it, we searched for a similar one that she could have at home. We really do not know where this strange fascination came from, but she is loving it. Perhaps it is symbolic of some larger picture that she has yet to share with us. Whatever the reason, she has decided it is a great item to bite, lick, drool on, crawl with, and smack against other objects (like her dad's head).

Next week, I we'll give you an update on a new task that Sydney has begun to appreciate.

Tip #8: Pets

I’m an animal lover, and maybe directly because of that I offer this ironic tip on pets. Try to torment your pets during pregnancy. I know this may seem cruel, but this will prepare them for the road ahead. This will reduce the trauma when your child is born and decides it is necessary to yank tails, pull out clumps of hair, scream at, and otherwise cause emotional distress to your beloved furry family members. Trust me, you’re doing them a favor in the long run.

Containment

We acknowledge and enjoy all of the milestones Sydney achieves. Each new accomplishment marks her progress in developing...sometimes physically, sometimes mentally, and sometimes socially. What I have come to understand is that her progression to a new phase also means that we, as parents, also enter a new phase. There are often new challenges to parenting, which also means issuing new goals to tackle that particular period of her life. Learing to talk, walk, eat, speak...those are all of the big goals for parents. In this particular phase, though, the primary goal of parenthood is containment!

This current goal of containment naturally parallels Sydney's goal of increasing her proficiency in crawling, and in turn her overall mobility. She really has become much quicker, and her new abilities have finally drawn a line in the sand...baby gates must go up!!! The challenge for this task is made exponetially difficult by living in a two story split-level home. They do not make gates that fit this particular situation with our rails. This has led me to a couple of fallback ideas that I entertained early on. Tethering (I'm thinking through an ankle cuff) could have great potential in minimizing surface area that could be covered by Sydney. This could easily keep her far away from problem areas, such as the stairs). This could be kept on all of the time, and made to look stylish. This would also come in handy when participating in outdoor functions, such as BBQ's and family gatherings when she could be staked outside in the yard.

The other thought was to simply use existing products to help her. All sorts of helmets and pads have been around for centuries. Mabye babywear should just be made to include these items in a fashionable manner, but with all of the appropriate safety-oriented measures. If the market would not support that, then perhaps her outfits could have velcro place on her rump area, and also mounted to the top of stairs. This would prevent the ability to reach the top stair that leads to the long treacherous drop. Although...I have seen flies stuck to tape....so maybe that's not the best idea. If there are any pearls of wisdom out there surrounding this topic of stairs, and overall baby containment, please let me know of any success stories. Please note, I am aware that bungee cord and duct tape are already at my disposal.

In other news, Sydney has had brief flashes of standing without assistance from a nearby object or parent. These have been very short in duration, but another sign that her balance is getting better.

Sydney was also able to visit with some old friends this week. They go back...way back...in fact all of the way back to the womb. She's known for Kate, Logan, Olivia, and Maggie since birthing class, when they were negative years old. She had a great time playing and visiting with all of them!

Tip #7: Diaper Frequency

Remember to change your baby’s diaper regularly…which should mean every two to three hours. I know there are great new products on the market, but using a ShamWow (not intended for diaper use) does not mean you can put it off for 36 hours. I’m sure it’s super absorbency nature could hold about 10lbs of various liquids, but that doesn’t mean you should try it. So, do your baby a favor and change them regularly. :)

The Oregon Trail!

It would be erroneous to say she was the first to pave the way, as early explorers clearly preceeded her. But none may have done it was such passion, ferver, curiousity, and drool. She was intent on completing her own version of the Oregon Trail...one that would make Lewis & Clark proud. She took care to sample the natural resources (sand), and take in the sites of the ocean and nearby dunes.

Sydney participated in her very first out of state experience, and travelled with more experienced travel guides (aka mom and dad) to Florence, OR. While in Florence, she got to spend time with her Uncle Nathan and cousins Nicholas, Destani, and Alexandria (aka Pickle). Sydney had a great time with them all, and hopes they did, too. They got to share in her first experience of feeling the Pacific Ocean with her toes.

Unfortunately, her lack of sleep at the hotel might have created less desireable memories of Oregon for other weary travellers.

Crawling update: since the last update, Sydney has started crawling at lightning pace. We have tried to slow down her progress by fitting her with materials that provide signficant air resistance and drag, but her speed is merely too much to impede with current technology.

Tip #6: Baby Weight Etiquette

By the term ‘baby weight’ I am not referring to the weight of your baby, but more importantly to additional weight new mothers typically have following birth. Understand that your wife/girlfriend/fiancé has given birth to a large object, and that has required gaining a little extra weight. And if she is still breast feeding, understand that it also means maintaining a certain calorie level to produce milk. So, support them and reassure them that they are beautiful and attractive.
Don’t: Never ever, ever, make a negative comment about her size or weight. Do not make any moo’ing sounds, or any general reference to a cow…or basically any farm animal for that matter. At a minimum, this tip can prevent many nights spent on a couch, but at best…it could possibly just even save your life.