Month: May 2009

Well my vacation is over and I go back to work on Monday.  I’ll be heading into the office four days a week and working one day from home (which will really help break up the drive).  I’m actually looking forward to going back to work as I enjoy my job, however, I’m very nervous about leaving Ajax.   Not only will I be going back to work next week, but I’ll also be traveling to Las Vegas next Wednesday for a work conference (it’s the annual immigration attorney conference and I’ve been looking forward to it for a year now).   We’re pretty lucky though.  My mom and mother-in-law are going to babysit Ajax for the next two weeks (then my aunt will take up babysitting).  It will be a smoother transition easing back into work knowing that my mom and mother-in-law are at the house with Ajax.

On a sleep note, Dave and I have agreed that Ajax is in the middle of a growth spurt, hence the GREAT sleep nights (I mean GREAT sleep nights).  I’ve tried not to get to attached to them.

I hope I don’t jinx our good luck but Ajax has, for the past 2 nights, been sleeping beautifully.  Last night he only got up once at 1 am for a feeding, then went right back to sleep and slept till 6:30.  I didn’t get out of bed once last night as Mr. Dave handled the feeding.  Maybe this will be the start of some easier nights, but Ajax is still pretty young (8 weeks tomorrow!) so I’m not putting to much pressure on the little guy.  This just gives Dave and I a taste of the sleep we had just 8 weeks ago. Oh well.

Ajax is also getting better at reaching for things and this morning I do believe he’s starting to realize he has hands.  We were playing with his rattle when he all of a sudden stared, mesmorized, at his fists.  I think pretty soon he’ll start putting together that he has hands and that they are attached to his arms, and then there will be no stopping him!

Well, we have some new developments to report!  Ajax has begun swatting at dangling objects.  This means you have to be more watchful because if he hits them hard enough they can go flying out of your hand.  I’ve lost a few rattles that way, as I don’t expect him to be that coordinated.   He’s also been getting his hands to his mouth and has been chewing on his fists.   He is also the pro at smiling and has even given us a few chuckles.  He has also been squirming all over the place and kicks his little legs like he’s running in place.  This is just hilarious to watch as he seems so proud of himself.

We had a nice long weekend, we went out to my parents house on Saturday, did some garage saling, and tried to catch up on some sleep.  Ajax has finally started to revert back to his normal nighttime routine (though it appears he’s forgotten that he used to go 5 hours without waking up).  This is wonderful as he’s been quite the grump since his sleep pattern was thrown off.

Some developments with the little guy –  He’s been working hard on controlling his arms and legs, though he still hasn’t discovered that they are all attached to his body.  He’s been smiling and making more noises.  We’ve been reading to him and he seemed interested in “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” and kept smacking the pages with his little fists.  We’ve also been singing along to nursery rhymes (I actually found the CD my sister and I listened to as children and was amazed that I remembered so many of the words to the songs).  During tummy time he has also started to push himself up on his arms into a little baby push up (he’s been doing this when he’s on your chest, but just started doing it while on the floor).   He’s also sticking his tongue out more often and he’s been drooling a lot (not sure what that means).   Overall, some major accomplishments!

Last night my mom and sister came over to give Dave and I a hand, as we hadn’t really slept in a few nights.  I prepared them for his nighttime shenanigans and off to bed I went.  In the morning, however, my mom laughed- Ajax had gone back to his old routine, down at 8, up at 12:30 and 4 for a feeding, then right back to sleep with minimal fussing- perfect!  I think he knew they were over.

 

On a new mom note.  Ajax has been congested lately so I bought some baby saline solution to help him out.  I read the directions, looked at the pictures, and was ready to go.  Basically, what you do is tip your toddler back and put 2-6 drops of the solution into his upturned nose and then, while he’s screaming and flailing about, try to suction all the liquid out along with the frustrating mucus.  Well, I calmly reclined Ajax, talking to him softly, but when I came at him with the solution dispenser he kept trying to eat it and kept shaking his head back and forth as I tried to shove it into his nose.  As I tried to get the liquid into his nose it ended up in his eye and ear and down his neck onto his clothes.  He really started screaming when I picked up the suction thingie.  As I was trying to help my child, he fell asleep, just passed out.  I still think he sounds congested.

So my baby book says that there will occasionally be times in which a baby’s development seems to go backwards.  For example, the book states- the baby may be sleeping through the night for several weeks and then suddenly starts waking up every 3 hours again.  The book says that it’s probably a sign that he’s about to take a major developmental leap forward.

Overall I have not found these baby books to be the least bit useful.   They simply state generalities; yes, some babies spit up a lot but some do not- how is that helpful?  Well, for the last week Ajax has regressed in his sleep patterns, waking every 2-3 hours and wanting to be fed or just to fuss.   Going from sleeping 5-6 hours at a stretch, this is quite traumatic for Dave and I.   I am clinging to this development theory and hoping that he starts talking or walking soon.  I’ll keep you posted.

Yesterday Ajax and I went for a walk.  Now, when we left he had both socks.  Not just any socks, but his favorite socks.  Well, my favorite socks as they actually stay pulled up on his little ankles.  Ajax was in a carseat, under a blanket, secured in his travel stroller.  By the time we got home, however, one of his socks was gone!  How did he do this?  This is our first lost sock in what I am told will be an endless game of lost articles of clothing.

Last night was one of the hardest nights since we brought Ajax home.  Dave and I finally moved upstairs to our room for the night and put Ajax to bed in his own room.   Our backs couldn’t take sleeping on the couch and floor in the living room any longer.  We had our monitor set up and I just starred at it all night (though it isn’t even a video monitor).  I got up and checked on him a few times, even before he started crying and fussing.  It was very difficult, not being able to see him or be physically close to him.  Max was on patrol, however, and I could hear him on the baby monitor going into the nursery, circling, checking things out and then heading back to the living room to take up his favorite sleep location near the front door.

Well Dave and I are still working on the nighttime routine.  It’s difficult, but we’re sticking to it.  It is also interesting as Ajax has started to piece together that if he cries and throws a fit Dave or I will come running.  We played that game for an hour last night.  I’m going to have to stick to my guns and try this crying thing, which is a very difficult thing to do.

On Thursday my mom stayed the night (which she does every week) and let Dave and I get some rest, which is wonderful.  On Friday my mom and I went shopping and visiting.   Ajax was just enthralled with his cousin and couldn’t stop smiling at her.  It was interesting as he was just amazed by another child.  Before now he hasn’t really paid much attention to other children.

For a while now Ajax has been giving us spontaneous grins, however, these have been either gassy grins or not a real connected grin.  Today, however, it seems Ajax has finally put together the smile.  From the moment he woke up this morning and I picked him up he’s been grinning at me and “talking.”  He’s been telling me all about it today.

Dave and I have also been working very hard at sticking to a nighttime routine.  I would like to report that we’re doing very well.  We start with a bath between 6:45 and 7:15 pm, then a bottle and in bed by 8:00.  Right now Ajax doesn’t seem to appreciate a book in that equation as he’s too interested in his bottle.  We have also transitioned him to his own room and crib.  I am surprised at how much better Ajax is sleeping in his own room.   Dave and I are also sleeping better, though we’ve been camped out in the living room next to his room as I don’t want to be to far away from him and our bedroom is upstairs.

Ajax has officially grown out of all his newborn outfits and I was forced to pack them all away.  He is now into 0/3 or just plain 3 month clothing… even some 3/6.   Although Ajax is getting to be a big boy, he’s actually quite skinny so that the larger clothes fit him length wise but balloon out from him since he’s such a stick.  It’s now a game to see what fits him.

Dave and I have also begun implementing a nighttime routine and honestly we’re feeling overwhelmed.  We need a routine because Ajax easily confuses day and night, and if he’s anything like his parents he’ll love a routine.