Tara and Alex both laugh!
March really wasn't that bad! I guess it's true that it gets easier and better. Alex still isn't one for conversation, but he does let mommy get some sleep, and that counts for a lot.
| March 1. Grandma Barbara was visiting, and after a long day, we headed up to my mom's house. Alex, exhausted, has crashed in Grumpa's arms. (Weekday pictures of my mom and Mikey generally occur on Wednesdays, which is the day of the week that they don't have other activities planned.) It may be coincidental timing, but Mikey seems to have better luck getting a happy (or sleepy) baby than my mom. The hair around Alex's ears is much thicker than the sparsity on top - earning him the nickname of "Uncle Fester". This gets as much enthusiasm from Travis as "Fluffy" did. Note: After Travis advised that "Fluffy" was not an appropriate nickname, Alex was called "Fff... Not Fluffy" for a few weeks, until the nickname of "Dumpling" stuck. Grandma Barbara went with me for Alex's 2 month check-up, at which the pediatrician said we needed to supplement his feed with formula. (He was a mere 13 lbs, 24 inches.) I suspect this is because his weight percentile switched from 75th to 50th, as the nurse technician read the growth chart. Of course, it happened that the nurse couldn't follow the line on the growth chart, or she would've seen that he was still at the 75th mark. Whether the pediatrician actually looked at the baby or not, I'm not sure. I wasn't pleased that she suggested he needed the better nutrition from formula though, and I'm in the process of finding another doctor for Alex. (The pediatrician, by the way, says her baby was 8 months old, and had just fallen below the 3rd percentile for weight. I'm not sure she's the person to be giving feeding advice.) |
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| March 5. At the above-mentioned pediatrician's advice, we attempt to give Alex 'tummy time'. He hates it. Even being on the Boppy, he is miserable. The doctor said to start at 5 minutes a session and work up to 20 or so, a couple times per day. Since he cries as soon as he realises he's not been accidentally put on his stomach, we still haven't managed to succeed at 5. (I compromise and put him standing on my lap, facing outwards, stomach against my thighs. He lifts his head and looks around from this view, so I hope all isn't lost.) If he doesn't crawl by the time he's two years old, I'll realize that this was a catastrophic mistake. |
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March 7. Here's the under-weight baby, enjoying his nekid [sic] time. Grandma Barbara calls the bathroom his 'happy room', as he seems very content and pleased to be there. He does get 20 or more minutes of this a few times each day. Here he gurgles, babbles, smiles, and even laughs! Alex's first laugh occurred during this week, at Joanie's house. Mike, a friend of the family, had just had his head shaved in anticipation of joining the Navy. For warmth, he wore a big straw hat. Alex was entranced, and when Mike took the top of his head off, it was too much for him, and he burst out loud in delight. It took mommy over a week of working at Alex in his happy room for her to get the same delighted laugh as he gave the person he had just met. Then again, Mommy can't take off the top of her head. (Brains will fall out.) |
March 11. Alex in his pajamas. If you notice, he's much more expressive now. He also talks nearly incessantly if you give him the chance. Unfortunately, he's become very attention intensive. Most days, he is either playing or being carried around in his sling. At first, I was skeptical of the sling as being a little too earth-goddessy for me, but it really makes him happy - and gives me a chance to accomplish basic household activities. |
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 March 14. Sometimes, Alex's hair looks a little reddish, and in this outfit, he reminds me of Sean Astin. I'm not sure what it is, and couldn't find a web shot of Astin that exactly matched Alex. |
 I had learned that Alex inevitably spits up when he's placed in the
carseat after being fed, and often, he gets an outfit-matching bib
applied as soon as he is strapped in. (Thus his presentation is saved
for when we arrive at our destination. Somehow arriving with a clean
baby makes all the difference.) The picture to the left was taken at a stoplight, and shows how he watches me (in the mirror) while I drive. |
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March 19. Alex doesn't suffer from carcolepsy like he did as a wee bairn, and occassionally screams like a banshee (especially if we come to a halt). The solution out of the car is to stick a finger in his mouth. Well, it works in the car, too. Only from the driver's side though. I weigh the handicap of driving with one hand twisted across the car against how my brain shuts out any information not related to the baby while he's screaming. I guess it's another aspect of mommy brain. Needless to say, I don't have a lot of confidence in my driving right now. I even let Travis drive sometimes. |
| March 21. Here's our Packers fan, smiling and happy. He may even have been laughing at this point. Having only recently discovered that his fingers can go in his mouth, the week was mostly spent gouging out his eyes or his nose in his attempt to find the right opening. Hence the big nose scratch. Dsspite his discovery, he still prefers others' fingers to be in his mouth. I think size has something to do with it. And who wants a pacifier when there's a perfectly good hand around? (It's not that someone holding him would have anything better to do with that hand, right?) Travis suggested a finger from a rubber hand stuck onto a pacifier ring. If only they made them from a material we could consider acceptable to put in a baby's mouth! The pictures below are also from March 21. Below, Alex is in his happy room, being tickled by mommy's hair. About a week later, he learned that he could grab the hair, and keep mommy very close until he let go. Below and to the right is a picture of mommy and baby. Travis says we look alike, but other than the tiredness, I don't see it. I do see Uncle Fester, though. |
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| March 25. Sometimes Alex will watch TV. I'm relieved that he's not particular about what he watches - he even seemed to enjoy an episode of Galactica 1980. (It was MST3000 fodder.) He has with him (besides Papa) his security spit rag. My baby doesn't like holding rattles, but has a security blanket already. Fantastic. |
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