2010-09-07T07:59:14-04:00 lifetype-1.2.11-dev http://sca.salemsattic.com/lwblog/rss.php?blogId=2&profile=atom Copyright (c) harp tag:sca.salemsattic.com,2010-09-07:1692 2010-09-07T07:59:14-04:00

This morning Joseph and I went to our first PEKiP course.  PEKiP stands for Prager-Eltern-Kind Program, which means the “Prague parent-child program.”  Someone here ...

harp Children EC This morning Joseph and I went to our first PEKiP course.  PEKiP stands for Prager-Eltern-Kind Program, which means the “Prague parent-child program.”  Someone here recommended it and when I found out it’s 1 ½ hours of naked baby time and that there was a class starting up soon I signed up without too much further research.  I don’t know if that smart or not, but here we are.  There are six ladies and their babies in the class but only five were there today.  Three are second or third time mothers and have done PEKiP before.  We mostly got to know each other today so I can’t judge yet how it is.  The instructor spent quite a bit of time watching and learning about each child.  We’ll see what happens.  Of the two ulterior motives I had for taking this class, one is shot out of the water.  I wanted to get to know local Swiss mothers and have a natural setting for practicing Swiss German but at least three of the other four mothers are German!  That’s good news for my High German, I guess.  The other ulterior motive was getting 1 ½ hours of diaper free time and seeing how others dealt with elimination needs.  I mentioned this and it turns out they don’t bother watching signals.  They just clean up when a mess occurs.  I think I’m going to bring my “potty” along anyway because Joseph consistently became fussy before he peed (three times) so it shouldn’t be too hard to at least give him the opportunity to go when he becomes fussy.  Otherwise he was happy to be naked in a warm room (I was sweating like mad!) and only really cried at the end because he was ready for a nap.  Unfortunately, I didn’t learn any great ways to keep yourself from getting peed on or not worrying about when the baby will pee.  I couldn’t watch too much since I was focusing on Joseph, but mostly they just kept their babies on the towels on the floor and held the towel around them if they held their babies.  I just got peed on, but that’s starting to bother me less and less . . . So, it’s good observation time, but won’t be good for support.  I need to find a Swiss EC group.  I wonder what EC is in German. Yesterday Joseph had his 2 month appointment.  He’s still at the top of the charts for weight (6.780 kilograms, 59.5cm, 41.5cm head at 10 weeks).  (That was quite obvious at PEKiP this morning.  He was one of the bigger babies but one of the youngest!  The babies are between 2 and 4 months.)  The doctor asked if we’d cut Joseph’s hair.  I said “no” and he said “It looks funny.”  Other than that he was very encouraging and impressed with Joseph’s progress, especially with head control.  And his hair does look funny . . . tag:sca.salemsattic.com,2010-09-05:1688 2010-09-05T02:52:24-04:00

I’m not sure we fully appreciate how good Joseph is to us.  Yesterday we went to a friend’s wedding and he did a wonderful job during the hour plus drive and during the ...

harp Children EC I’m not sure we fully appreciate how good Joseph is to us.  Yesterday we went to a friend’s wedding and he did a wonderful job during the hour plus drive and during the service.  He was awake but didn’t make much noise as he smiled and played.  He’s starting to not want the breast all that often and drinks deeply when he does nurse so he can go longer between feedings.  He only just started to fuss at the end of the trip home.  He did a great job with all the noisy people at the reception.  He even fell asleep for a bit.  Maybe he’s starting to recognize noisy people as background noise. Last night he went to be around 8 and only woke up to feed at 1am and 4am.  I got two three-hour stretches of sleep!  He was up around 6 with a wet, but clean diaper and proceeded to deposit a massive amount of waste right into the potty while breastfeeding (Mommy’s figured out a thing or two about how to work it).  It’s soooooooo nice to know that there’s one more diaper explosion I don’t have to clean up after.  In general we catch at least one pooh a day but I’ve not made much progress in identifying signals of need.  I’m fine with that.  The most important thing for me is that I don’t stress about it but take it as it comes.  I hope to get better at reading him, but if you focus too hard on it you can’t see anything.  Being more relaxed about this and other various aspects of baby care help me to enjoy Joseph and the time we have together much, much more.  What blessed parents we are! tag:sca.salemsattic.com,2010-09-03:1685 2010-09-03T03:10:59-04:00

Joseph is growing quickly before our eyes.  He can entertain himself for longer periods of time, which makes Mommy’s life easier!  Yesterday morning he discovered his hand.  ...

harp Mommy Joseph is growing quickly before our eyes.  He can entertain himself for longer periods of time, which makes Mommy’s life easier!  Yesterday morning he discovered his hand.  He stared fascinated at it and when I put a rattle in his hand he held it for a good while “accidentally” shaking it and gazing at it all the while. He also holds his gaze on people much longer.  My favorite time is when we stare at each other and he smiles and giggles and looks so delighted just to be a live and looking at Mommy! Wednesday I had a three hour rehearsal for a gig and he did amazingly well.  He is entertained a little my music playing, but toward the end he just wanted attention.  I’m finally feeling like I might be able to play the gig this month without too much stress. I’m grateful that with all the pain behind me and with adjusting to sleep deprivation I’m finally feeling like I can bond with my baby.  The first month was sadly more like just getting through it because I had to.  I had no energy for that overwhelming love everyone talks about.  It’s wonderful to be able to enjoy Joseph and to see that he loves me despite me not being able to be too attentive in the first month.  Babies are strong! There are new pictures up. tag:sca.salemsattic.com,2010-08-23:1670 2010-08-23T06:11:54-04:00

This weekend was the best weekend yet with little Joseph.  We got to be together as a family the whole weekend and we got lots done and had lots of fun! We no longer sleep in on ...

harp Children Family Swimming This weekend was the best weekend yet with little Joseph.  We got to be together as a family the whole weekend and we got lots done and had lots of fun! We no longer sleep in on Sunday morning for obvious reasons.  Joseph is always ready for some entertainment much earlier than we would like, but it has the added benefit of leaving us with lots of time together before church.  This time we went up the hill behind our apartment and watched the Basel flight club launch and fly gliders . We didn’t have time for a ride, though . . . In the picture below you can see our apartment and the pool I swim in.  They almost fly over our place! (Click for a larger image) Here is where I get to brag about Joseph’s language ability at just shy of two months.  While feeding him before leaving for church I noticed he had to go.  I was feeling lazy and thought maybe I was imagining things (it’s still not so easy for me to tell) but after a minute I realized he really needed to go and he was going to soon.  I rushed him to the changing table saying “Wait, wait, little guy.  Don’t go yet.  Wait a minute” as I pulled off his diaper.  I sat him over the bowl and said “Okay, let ‘er rip!” and right on cue he let out a loud poop.  Stephan is my witness.  We had a good laugh and totally lost track of time and that made us late for church . . . but I think we were forgiven even though Stephan was leading the service that day. Just in case you doubt that Joseph didn’t fully understand “let ‘er rip” I’ll offer you further proof of his precocious language ability.  After the communion wine was passed around the server asked “Has anyone been missed?” and again, right on cue Joseph let out a little whimper, which of course was a sermon on what Jesus meant by “Let the little children come to me.”  The more remarkable aspect of Joseph’s ability was that he was fast asleep at the time. After church there was a picnic at the house of a family and it had a pool.  With seven or so days of bathtub swimming behind us, I was excited to see how Joseph would do in a real pool that wasn’t quite as public and chlorinated as a public pool.  On average, he did about as I thought he would, but averages are deceiving.  First of all, never take a tired baby, slather sunscreen on him, put him in a swim diaper he’s never seen before, take him outside with a crowd full of lustily conversing people and a pool full of rambunctious teenagers and test the water temperature by dipping in the baby’s feet.  He will scream uncontrollably and refuse to nurse and cause your hormones to go bonkers (at least if you are a mother) as you try to rescue your baby from the terrible shock you yourself exposed him to.  In the end, Stephan calmed Mommy down, and Mommy finally calmed Joseph down in a quite back room.  It’s so easy to forget that babies don’t understand all the noise around them, and what’s background to us is very disturbing to them.  It took time for me to realize he was tired and overwhelmed because I was worried about factors like a reaction to the new sun screen.  That reaction to the water was ‘way off the charts for how I thought he might react to the water. Happily, after a three hour nap and all the witnesses to the first fiasco (i.e. guests) had left, we got another chance to brave the cool waters.  Daddy got in the water and I passed Joseph to him.  Daddy cuddled him and slowly put his feet, then legs, then bottom into the water.  He was never really unhappy, but he clearly needed time to get used to the colder water (24 degrees Celsius).  He rested his head and arms on my shoulder (like he does on my knee in the bath) and when we was relaxed letting his lower body float then I gave him a tour of the pool, which seemed to please and excite him – that’s something new!  From then on I was very impressed with him and he far exceeded my expectations - hence the funny average.  We did everything we do in the bath, including float on his back.  I had though the cold water on his head would be too much, but he seemed to enjoy it, though not as much as in the warm bath water.  We even poured some water over his head (getting him used to going under) and he did great with it!  We didn’t stay in too long as he was starting to get cold, but we did have fun taking turns pulling him through the water and giving him the experience of a greater body of water. We came home to bunch of phone calls from people we love, so it was a lovely day! In the other news, I think last night he rolled from his back to his side.  However, I’m not sure if you can trust a groggy mother’s memory.  I though I put him on his back, dumped his poo in the toilet and came back to see him on his side, but maybe I put him down on his side . . . There are more pictures up, but not yet of the swim.  Our hostess was good enough to take a few for us and will send them our way. tag:sca.salemsattic.com,2010-08-19:1668 2010-08-19T09:49:25-04:00

And some days I think that I can’t make it.  Everyone talks about labor being hard, but somehow life after gets lost in the fuss.  Thanks to all my wonderful supporters!  I ...

harp Children Swimming And some days I think that I can’t make it.  Everyone talks about labor being hard, but somehow life after gets lost in the fuss.  Thanks to all my wonderful supporters!  I couldn’t be the mommy I am without you all! But I started this post saying some days are wonderful – and they really are!  Today was one such day so far.  It’s the little things that make life so exciting.  My daily run is starting to have a very positive effect on my energy level and emotional stability.  It’s starting to be my favorite time of day not just because I can work up some energy, but also because it means swimming time!!!  Joseph has picked up on the pattern.  He smiled big smiles when I put him in the trailer this morning and he smiled big smiles as I undressed him for bath time.  He knows what’s coming!  Grossmutti arrived just in time to see Joseph swim and she got to see how excited he was to go in the water, too.  (And Joseph doesn’t yet have stage fright.)  She also saw how Joseph is learning awareness of his bodily functions.  I always give him a chance to go on the “big potty” i.e. the toilet (I hold him over it – he’s not sitting yet . . .) and he had a little pooh and started to fuss.  I thought that meant he was done so I took him away and he screamed bloody murder.  Ask Grossmutter.  He was one mad little boy.  I put him back on and sure enough he had to pee and afterwards was perfectly content to come off the potty.  Now, if Mommy can only learn the difference between “I’m fussing because I have to go” And “I’m fussing because I’m DONE WITH THIS STUPID POTTY!” tag:sca.salemsattic.com,2010-08-19:1667 2010-08-19T04:48:08-04:00

No new pictures up yet, but here's a teaser.

harp Children No new pictures up yet, but here's a teaser. tag:sca.salemsattic.com,2010-08-17:1666 2010-08-17T14:45:18-04:00

Joseph is very good to me in that he is happy to be in his bike trailer while I go for a run.  It’s a great break for me and it’s wonderful to be running again and it feels great ...

harp Children Joseph is very good to me in that he is happy to be in his bike trailer while I go for a run.  It’s a great break for me and it’s wonderful to be running again and it feels great to be getting some exercise.  After running we take a bath together and practice swimming.  Joseph had bath time with daddy while I was recovering and learned to love playing on his back.  Whenever he’s in the water now he throws himself back so that he can lie down in the water like he does with daddy.  I can now hold just his neck and he will happily balance himself in the water, smiling and giggling.  What fun!  I’m excited to start the swim course when he’s three months.  I haven’t tried putting him under the water yet.  We’ll practice a few other games before I try that, but maybe someday I’ll get up the courage to do it. tag:sca.salemsattic.com,2010-08-15:1665 2010-08-15T02:43:26-04:00

Yesterday the family went out to celebrate Miss Diana’s birthday at a Greek restaurant in Germany.  Joseph did a great job.  He slept some of the time and was fairly happily awake ...

harp Family Yesterday the family went out to celebrate Miss Diana’s birthday at a Greek restaurant in Germany.  Joseph did a great job.  He slept some of the time and was fairly happily awake the rest of the time (during the meal, of course) though he wasn’t too happy to strangers’ arms.  I got tired toward the end and was happy to leave, but we had a great time and it’s good to know we can pull off the restaurant thing as a family!  Plus I got enough meat in to last a week or two . . . tag:sca.salemsattic.com,2010-08-10:1662 2010-08-10T08:42:45-04:00

Eastman would be proud.  Never thought I would, but I’m getting a DMA . . . a Doctorate in Mothering Arts that is (hardiharhar).  Can I get a doctorate so soon you ask?  Well, ...

harp Mommy Eastman would be proud.  Never thought I would, but I’m getting a DMA . . . a Doctorate in Mothering Arts that is (hardiharhar).  Can I get a doctorate so soon you ask?  Well, I am already a Master in One-Handed Arts, so it’s time for the next level.  I’m in a pretty intensive program, so it stands to reason I’m whipping through the degrees so quickly. Yesterday I passed the “I’m covered with fluids but I don’t really mind” test.  This test was invented by someone who wasn’t quite thinking.  You have to hold the baby on the potty while sitting on the bed and nursing at the same time.  I had the foresight to be sitting on a water-proof pad so the bed was spared everything but the spit-up.  I had decided his fussiness was because he didn’t want to be on the potty and had just taken the bowl away when he let out the real reason why he’d been fussy.  Targets: the cloth diaper I was holding under him, my hand, the water-proof pad and my pants.  Somehow the bed survived.  While recovering from the shock of the explosion and kicking myself for taking the bowl away, little one baptized everything listed about plus my shirt with a shower.  I decided things were as messy as they could get and brought naked Joseph up to my shoulder to burp and calm him.  Soon after I wasn’t sure if he was peeing or I was just leaking . . .  And lastly came the spit-up on the bed.  Hurrah!  I passed that test in record time – less than 30 minutes. Today was the “run a bunch of errands with baby in tow” test.  The tests are cumulative, so I had to first demonstrate my proficiency at the above test before embarking on this one.  I did this by getting pee on my pants and poop on my shirt shortly before departure time and deciding the pee would dry and the poop would be covered up by the Moby wrap so I didn’t have to change. After that Joseph was such a good little boy to me.  (Speaking of good little boys, he gave me two consecutive stretches of three hours of sleep last night.  I was positively bouncing around with the energy it gave me.)  Joseph was sleeping when we took off for the doctor’s office and stayed sleeping as I put him in the Moby wrap.  [Some grandmas might want to know that he was having a routine ultra sound to check the development of his hip sockets.  I assumed it would be fine so didn’t bother looking into it much.  He’s almost fine.  The right side is 58 degrees and not 60 or more (whatever that means) so doctor’s orders were to keep wearing him with the wrap and come back in a month.  It will be fine then, I’m sure, but prayers don’t hurt.]  Back to the test: I decided to define “bunch” as “three” and planned two stops after the doctor’s visit.  The doctor took an hour and Joseph was only fussy while scheduling an appointment with the receptionist.  If you can have a tradition after two times, he’s made a tradition of being an angel for the doctors and fussy for the secretaries - is he a “somebodies and nobodies” snob already?  Anyway, awake for the tram and bus rides, Joseph fell asleep just as I arrived at the bank.  I closed my student account without trouble – only the grocery store left to go.  Amazingly he stayed a sleep even through checkout and only started fussing once we were outside in the sun and heat face-to-face with the bus we had just missed.  Eight minutes of standing in the sun at the end of a trip with a sweaty squirmy boy strapped to my chest is not my idea of fun so I walked to the next stop hoping he’d fall asleep again.  No such luck but he was happier and we arrived just in time to catch the next bus home.  Miraculously he was asleep again by the time I need to haul the rolling shopping bag full of groceries up the four flights of steps.  This enabled me to hoist the bag and go up the steps without fear he would through his head back because when he is awake he will not stand to have his head tucked in the wrap – it must be out and he must look up! I arrived home thrilled at my accomplishments and was convinced I had “tooled” the test.  I was just starting to wonder if I might achieve “Super Mom” status after all when I . . . well, let’s just say I should quit blogging and do some Kegels. tag:sca.salemsattic.com,2010-08-09:1661 2010-08-09T09:48:36-04:00

This was a big occasion for all three of us.  The other weekend Stephan went and bought a bike trailer with all the help we got from generous gift-givers (thank you!) and yesterday he hooked ...

harp Family Biking This was a big occasion for all three of us.  The other weekend Stephan went and bought a bike trailer with all the help we got from generous gift-givers (thank you!) and yesterday he hooked it up to his bike and little Joseph took it like a champ!  There’s a special baby insert that holds him well and then it comes out and there’s room for two (or leave the baby insert in and it’s a tight fit for the other, but possible).  We’re so excited!  Saturday I spent a few hours cleaning my long-neglected bike.  I had stopped biking early in the 3rd trimester –or was it already the 2nd?  Anyway, it’s been a while and after the birth I thought it would take me months and months before I could sit on a bike seat, but I tried it out and it was no problem!  The capacity of the human body to heal is amazing.  The trip there and back was uneventful and it feels so good to be back on a bike.  It feels so good to be feeling well enough to be back on a bike!