FEBRUARY 2004
February may be the shortest month, but it's definitely not felt that way. So much seems to have happened in those 4 weeks. I feel more exhausted now than ever before!
Much of February was taken up putting together the plans for Callum's Naming Ceremony... writing the Ceremony Script, meeting with the Registrar, typing up booklets, sending invites, collating replies etc. etc. So much effort, but worth it!!
The highlight of this month was that Shaun's sister (Lynn) and brother-in-law (Brian) came up with most of their tribe from Milton Keynes... cousins Kirsty, Xanthe and Ayesha, and Kirsty's boyfriend, Scott.
Whilst it wasn't the first time they had seen Callum, as we had taken him down to see them before Christmas, it was the first time that his Auntie Lynn had been able to have a cuddle as she had been quite ill with flu when we went down. She couldn't wait to get hold of him!
Callum has had the last of his vaccinations (for now). Again, the injections/drops just seemed to make him tired for a few days, no real adverse reaction. So, he is now vaccinated against Hepatitis C, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough, Hib (Haemophilus Influenzae type b) and Polio. Although it wasn't until afterwards that it was noticed that I hadn't had my Polio vaccination... apparently they should check that I am immune before giving it to him. If they had asked, I could have told them that I didn't think that I'd been vaccinated against it.
So, I've been exposed to the risk of catching Polio as it is a 'live' vaccination and could be passed on for up to six weeks after his vaccination!! The main risk of catching it is from dirty nappies... oh dear, what a shame, when Daddy is around he has to do them! I know he has been vaccinated, and my Mum has too. Apparently, the risk of me getting it is very very low, even so, we've been told to exercise caution. I start my course of 3 vaccinations on 16th March.
The teething is still going on, although no more have come right to the surface, and the two that broke through haven't come up any higher. Callum continues to cover everyone in drool and slobber!!!
As for sleeping, the 8 hour nights are a distant memory. We don't have much of a problem getting him to bed, but he is waking up during the night... often several times. Perhaps it's partly due to the teething, but I think it is mainly due to the fact that he is ready for solid food. So, we have started weaning him (see Photo Gallery)
Callum has taken to solid food really well (what a surprise!). We started off with the usual 'baby rice' but soon progressed to 'mashed potato & rosemary' then the various types of 'goo' available, both sweet and savoury. He particularly enjoyed the 'green goo' (spinach, potato and cheese), but he won't be having that again, it stains everything it comes near... I had to wash his clothes three times, the bib still has stains on it! Slowly his sleep does seem to be improving, but he is still not going right through.
Drinks are another matter. Whilst we were very fortunate that he wasn't fussy about his milk... quite happy to breastfeed and/or bottle feed (expressed & formula), it seems that's as far as his flexibility goes. He still dislikes boiled water, and he doesn't like baby fruit juice drinks or the fennel tea. So, still sticking to milk with his solid meals.
I am still continuing with the breastfeeding for all his milk feeds. We've not really had any problems in that department this month.
The weaning also seems to be helping with his weight gain. He had a better increase towards the end of the month. When he visited the baby clinic on 3rd March, he weighed in at 14lbs 4ozs. We also had his length measured, it was 63½cm - an increase of 2½cm (1 inch) since we had him measured at the end of January.
We've had some good laughs with Callum recently, his little chuckle is coming on a treat.
One evening towards the end of the month Callum fell asleep in his chair before we'd had chance to get him ready for bed. As he hadn't been sleeping too well, we were a little worried about disturbing him as we thought that we may have trouble getting him back to sleep.
Shaun managed to get Callum's jeans off, but doubted being able to get his top off and his pyjamas on. (Usually he can do it without disturbing him). So, I had a great idea... his sleeping bag (grobag). If you are not familiar with these, they are like a sleeping bag, with a zip which goes around the bottom and up one side, with a button at the top of the zip. Then there are two shoulder straps which come over and fasten with buttons (just like dungarees). Ours is made of a fleece material.
So we went with my plan. I went upstairs and took his top sheet and blanket out of his crib and replaced it with his sleeping bag. I unfastened the three buttons and the zip and laid it open so that Callum could just be put down and then fastened in.
Shaun carried him upstairs and put him into the crib, as I took hold of the sleeping bag to fold it over him he raised his legs in the air, stopping me in my tracks. He was still snoring. I let go and stood back up, at this point he put his legs back down again. So, I made my move again, but he beat me to it, raising his legs in the air once more. Shaun and I tried not to laugh as this went on several more times. Eventually we managed to get it folded over him.
The next step was to fasten the zip... but Callum, still sleeping, had other ideas. He kept sticking his left leg out of the side. Again, it took several attempts to complete the task. We were laughing so hard, but trying to remain as quiet as possible for fear of disturbing him. We could hardly breathe and it felt like all the blood vessels in our heads would burst!
Fastening the button at the top of the zip was relatively easy and Callum did not put up much of a fight.
The final stage was fastening the shoulder straps. Two buttons, two parents... how hard can that be? Well, he started tossing his head from one side to the next, blocking our access. He also kept raising his arms. It ended up being a real battle of wills.
Eventually, with a lot of skill and patience, it was done. We stood back to admire our handy-work... Callum opened his eyes and gave us both a loving smile!!
So much for my great plan. Callum made it quite clear that he was not going to settle without a feed. So we got him out of the crib, fed him and put his pyjama's on!
Well, the fun continues.
'Til next time. Amanda.
