Whenever I complain about Emily, in the back of my mind I know I should count my blessings - she has all her appendages, she's growing well, and doesn't have any physical impairments.
When I read tales like the one about Brooke Greenberg, the 16 year old girl who is the size of an infant with the mental capacity of a toddler, I really feel thankful for Emily.
When you have a child you naturally have the highest expectations for them - they'll cure cancer; they'll colonise Mars; they'll marry the other best person the earth has ever created they'll grow larger than an infant. More times than not, you'll be disappointed in some regard, but to expect your child to grow and mature shouldn't be one of those disappointing "didn't happens".
Apart from Brooke being mentally and physically 14 years younger than she actually is, I can't help feel for her parents. They're not going to be "parent age" for ever, and what will happen when they're in need of old age care and their child is still a two year-old?
I love Emily and her toddler ways, but the knowledge that development and growth is constantly happening is one of those anticipations that parents look forward to. WHEN will she walk? WHAT will her first word be? With Brooke, these expectations will probably never come to fruition and that's sad.
Showing posts with label growth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label growth. Show all posts
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Friday, 6 March 2009
Growings up to do.
Emily and I went to visit the Feakins twins yesterday, as their dad Paul is also off on Thursday. It was a nice dads / babies afternoon. However, whenever you're with other children of a similar age to your own, you always end up comparing "feats".
For instance, when it comes to eating, Emily will attempt to cram everything in her hand into her mouth. She hasn't grasped the concept of ripping toast, etc. with her teeth and having a second bite. The twins however, were sitting quite nicely with a WHOLE rice cracker in one hand a sippy cup in t'other. Emily will drink from the sippy cup if you hold it to her mouth. Although, today was the first time (I've seen) that she took the cup, held it herself and drank while I just sat and watched.
Paul was also telling me - and I got to see - the twins feed themselves WITH SPOONS! Emily's able to self-wean to a degree, but again she crams in her mouth, etc. and if we give her a spoon ... well, we don't anymore. Put it that way.
Having reported these marvels to Sue, I was told we need to train Emily better. The self-weaning is coming along, as is the teethbrushing (we do it, but at least she lets us). We just have to be as vigilant with drinking, and biting off food, and holding spoons as we are with trying to get her to stand, crawl and wave buh-bye.
For instance, when it comes to eating, Emily will attempt to cram everything in her hand into her mouth. She hasn't grasped the concept of ripping toast, etc. with her teeth and having a second bite. The twins however, were sitting quite nicely with a WHOLE rice cracker in one hand a sippy cup in t'other. Emily will drink from the sippy cup if you hold it to her mouth. Although, today was the first time (I've seen) that she took the cup, held it herself and drank while I just sat and watched.
Paul was also telling me - and I got to see - the twins feed themselves WITH SPOONS! Emily's able to self-wean to a degree, but again she crams in her mouth, etc. and if we give her a spoon ... well, we don't anymore. Put it that way.
Having reported these marvels to Sue, I was told we need to train Emily better. The self-weaning is coming along, as is the teethbrushing (we do it, but at least she lets us). We just have to be as vigilant with drinking, and biting off food, and holding spoons as we are with trying to get her to stand, crawl and wave buh-bye.
Saturday, 24 May 2008
Big bubby!
10 weeks ago today, Sue gave birth to Emily. At that time, she was an amazingly large child for her age and we looked at her in wonderment.
Today she's 10 weeks old and comparatively, she's monsterous! There's outfits she doesn't fit into, and her baby bath is ALMOST too small. Sue feels that the Moses basket that has been her nightly slumber home since birth is almost at the end of its useful life. We will be getting a cot mattress very soon.
I guess children go through many phases, passing many milestones along the way. You tend to remember the big ones - first word, first step, first child, etc. You don't remember the first time she didn't fit into her birth outfit or the first time she sleeps in her own room... or maybe you do, as I'm pretty sure Sue and I will.
I'm sure as sure can be that there'll be loads more firsts that'll come and go and be lost to the mists of time.
Today she's 10 weeks old and comparatively, she's monsterous! There's outfits she doesn't fit into, and her baby bath is ALMOST too small. Sue feels that the Moses basket that has been her nightly slumber home since birth is almost at the end of its useful life. We will be getting a cot mattress very soon.
I guess children go through many phases, passing many milestones along the way. You tend to remember the big ones - first word, first step, first child, etc. You don't remember the first time she didn't fit into her birth outfit or the first time she sleeps in her own room... or maybe you do, as I'm pretty sure Sue and I will.
I'm sure as sure can be that there'll be loads more firsts that'll come and go and be lost to the mists of time.
Friday, 25 April 2008
Growing Babies and Bottling a feeling
This week Sue went to get Emily weighed. In the last fortnight, the little remorseless eating machine has put on almost a pound. She is very quickly growing out of the "our little girl" moniker. Her weight is now hovering around a back breaking 13 pounds.
This morning around 5am, Emily was letting out noises like someone was punching her in the face or trying to cut her legs off... just a blood curdling scream. This was happening while Sue was trying to change her. I waded in with dummy in hand to try and soothe her screams, or at the very least shut her up. I guess I did the trick, because no sooner had dummy gone in then she cacked herself and peed all over Sue. Ah, the trials of being a new parent.
We eventually passed out around 5.45am, but I found a strange elation being rudely awoken so early in the morning. After the initial shock, it's like your body goes into some weird "Ok, so that was just a 5 hour nap, not a night sleep" mode. You feel awake, relaxed and refreshed.
It's only when your body realises what's happens that you begin to fade out, get a flushed feeling and wish you were dead.
If I could bottle that elated feeling, I'd be a millionaire!
This morning around 5am, Emily was letting out noises like someone was punching her in the face or trying to cut her legs off... just a blood curdling scream. This was happening while Sue was trying to change her. I waded in with dummy in hand to try and soothe her screams, or at the very least shut her up. I guess I did the trick, because no sooner had dummy gone in then she cacked herself and peed all over Sue. Ah, the trials of being a new parent.
We eventually passed out around 5.45am, but I found a strange elation being rudely awoken so early in the morning. After the initial shock, it's like your body goes into some weird "Ok, so that was just a 5 hour nap, not a night sleep" mode. You feel awake, relaxed and refreshed.
It's only when your body realises what's happens that you begin to fade out, get a flushed feeling and wish you were dead.
If I could bottle that elated feeling, I'd be a millionaire!
Saturday, 22 March 2008
Inconsolable you
Having thought we'd come to grips with Emily, today's thrown us a complete curve ball.
She's been grouchy and inconsolable almost all day. Having read up in the books and on the net, it looks like she's going through a growth spurt already! So no colic, which is a Godsend! The first growth spurt is apparently around day seven and can last sometimes a week!
She's been perpetually hungry, eating all the time and falling asleep during feed. When we move her, she wakes up, grizzles and needs a feed again. If this were to continue for any length of time, I can imagine it would try our patience to no end. Please, please, please, just be a growth spurt!
Emily is a week old today. At 11.38 she achieved 168 hours alive, around 100 of those awake... as the bags under mummy and daddy's eyes are beginning to attest.
We went to our new favourite eatery today for a coffee and a getting out of the flat expedition. Just like Thursday it was a HORRID day out, weather-wise. Grey, cold and windy. Still not sure why we didn't go out yesterday, at least there was sun!
We only had one visitor today. I think yesterday when Paul, Sally and Ben were here that dear little Em got a touch over stimulated. Having said that, I've been playing my guitar while mummy and daddy sang to her today. If that's not crazy stimulation, I'll eat my shoe.
Tomorrow is Easter and we have a nice roast meal to be getting on with. Times like this I'm glad MY mum's here.
She's been grouchy and inconsolable almost all day. Having read up in the books and on the net, it looks like she's going through a growth spurt already! So no colic, which is a Godsend! The first growth spurt is apparently around day seven and can last sometimes a week!
She's been perpetually hungry, eating all the time and falling asleep during feed. When we move her, she wakes up, grizzles and needs a feed again. If this were to continue for any length of time, I can imagine it would try our patience to no end. Please, please, please, just be a growth spurt!
Emily is a week old today. At 11.38 she achieved 168 hours alive, around 100 of those awake... as the bags under mummy and daddy's eyes are beginning to attest.
We went to our new favourite eatery today for a coffee and a getting out of the flat expedition. Just like Thursday it was a HORRID day out, weather-wise. Grey, cold and windy. Still not sure why we didn't go out yesterday, at least there was sun!
We only had one visitor today. I think yesterday when Paul, Sally and Ben were here that dear little Em got a touch over stimulated. Having said that, I've been playing my guitar while mummy and daddy sang to her today. If that's not crazy stimulation, I'll eat my shoe.
Tomorrow is Easter and we have a nice roast meal to be getting on with. Times like this I'm glad MY mum's here.
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