MARCH 2004
In many ways, March has seemed to be a very long month, probably because there has been so much going on.
The first week was mainly spent making last minute arrangements for Callum’s Naming Ceremony, then there was the Ceremony itself, then we were on a high for a few days as it had gone so well. The next few weeks were spent catching up on some of the things we could not find time to do whilst we had been arranging the Ceremony… housework for example!
I will get around to doing the page on the Naming Ceremony; it’s just a matter of finding the time. Plus, a lot of the photo’s need scanning in to the PC (e.g. the one’s from the disposable cameras), but at present I am having a huge argument with our scanner – and that seems to be winning! Sorry to keep you all waiting.
Callum is still progressing really well. By the end of the month he weighed 15lbs 9½ ozs, and measured 65½cms… so, in the space of 4 weeks he has gained 1lb 5½ozs, and increased in length by 2cms.
Callum’s good weight gain was to be expected given his instant liking for solid food. Weaning really hasn’t been a problem and he has been on 3 meals a day now for some time. He has a baby fromage frais for breakfast, and then a two course lunch and tea. Occasionally we have to let him have another fromage frais for supper if he’s really hungry… it won’t harm him eating those late at night because they are made with formula milk, so they are easier for him to digest than his other solid foods.
I am still continuing to breastfeed in between the solid meals and during the night. I still enjoy this special time. When I’m feeding him it feels like there is only me and him in the whole world. It’s such a wonderful experience and I love how he gazes into my eyes during a feed.
Callum’s ‘babble speak’ is coming on really well – his vocal range has increased dramatically and he ‘talks’ for hours. I’d love to know what he is trying to say. However, along with this increase in dialogue has come an increase in saliva… he can spit for Britain!!
He is now bendier than ever. He has mastered the art of grabbing his feet, which makes nappy changes a lot more interesting! I love how he curls himself up to grab them, it’s like watching a hedgehog.
The novelty of finally having a baby still hasn’t worn off – I suppose it never will. I regularly just sit staring at him thinking/saying “he’s stunning”, “he’s beautiful” and “can we really keep him?”. I don’t think he will ever be able to understand just how much we love and cherish him. I dare say most parents have felt like that.
I still enjoy watching him with his Dad. They say breastfeeding can, in some cases, hamper the father/baby relationship as the bond with the Mother is so strong – it certainly hasn’t harmed their relationship. Shaun loves him so much and he is a fantastic Dad. Callum obviously loves his Dad too and loves to sit on his knee and play. Recently, Callum made it quite clear that he wanted his Daddy to feed him his lunch, he just whinged when I tried, but smiled and wolfed it down for Dad! – I didn’t feel rejected, it was lovely that he felt like that.
Callum’s sleeping hasn’t improved much despite the weaning. He seems to have got himself into a habit of settling down really late, waking up a few times for feeds, then spending the morning/early afternoon having small naps. He then has a rather large nap around 7pm… but it’s no use putting him to bed this early as he won’t settle back once he has woken up. We tried to keep him awake a few times so that he would miss this nap and go to bed early, but he wasn’t having any of it!!! Perhaps all this food he is eating is just giving him loads of energy that he isn’t quite ready to use yet… maybe when he’s crawling he will burn it off better, although he never stays still now and is always throwing his arms and legs about!
I’m not too concerned about his routine at present (although I do worry because Shaun has to be up at 4.30 every morning). We are spending Easter with my Mum & Dad at their Static Caravan in Bridlington – the change of scenery will do him good but no doubt will also disturb his routine, so no point getting him in a new one just yet. Of course, there is the chance that with all the fresh air and new stuff to see, he may get tired and fall into a whole better routine himself… but we won’t build our hopes up. We will be getting there a day before my Mum & Dad so that Shaun can spend his birthday there.
Of course this month finally saw me having my first Mother’s Day! We spent the afternoon at the Caravan as we went over to surprise my Mum. It was a lovely day. Callum may have only been there for a few hours, but he still managed to sample the lovely comfy bed in the main bedroom! I think his Grandma and Grandad loved having him there, and they can’t wait until Easter when he will be there for a few days.
Shaun got me a beautiful diamond eternity ring for Mother’s Day – although he had had to order it and it didn’t arrive in time, so I had to wait a few days… it still makes the ring more special though knowing when it was bought for.
Well, I think that’s about it for now, although I will say that I am making slow progress with the new website. It’s hard to find time to work on it, but once it is up and running it will be much better than this one. I’m not sure when it will be up, although the host I am currently using states that the contract is for a minimum 12 months, so if I switch before then, I will be paying twice. So, I may wait ‘til November – but the new site will be so much better… so many decisions, so much tiredness… I will think about it another day!
‘Til next time, Amanda
