It looks like anything BUT Spring outside right now, as we are welcoming the Easter weekend in with a BLIZZARD! Yeah, can you believe it? So much for springy dresses & bonnets, tulips & daffodils. Snow boots & shovelling hardly make for much of a festive Easter weekend.
I realize by putting this post out on the internet I'm opening myself up for a world of opinion, criticism and attack but I've never been one to lot others opinions affect me too much, and this is my blog, my honest life. So when I write that breast feeding didn't work for my son & I, it is what it is. We tried for a couple of weeks, with less than adequate results. He was angry, I was frustrated, and the bottom line is that I couldn't produce what he needed. My milk, quite simply, doesn't come in well. Even with the top of the line Medela electric pump from the hospital the most I got was a few drops. I had the same problem with my daughter when she was a baby. I thought things would be different this time, but I was mistaken. Do I feel upset about it? No. My son is growing & content. My daughter, who was formula fed has never had more than a simple cold & is highly intelligent. My friend's one-year-old was formula fed and, like my daughter, has done everything early & his very smart. Heck, I was adopted as an infant, and therefore was formula fed, and I like to believe I'm rather on the clever side of things! So, no my son isn't being breastfed, but our bonding is far from lacking. He's happy, healthy & growing...that's all that matters really.
Today my son is one month old. I can't believe how fast these 4 weeks have flown by. I can't believe how each day blends into the last. I guess interrupted sleep will do that to a person. But I do know that every day I love him more & more. Each day I am more impressed with who he is and who he will become.
In my son's 3 1/2 weeks of life here on the outside I have never had more conversations, discussions, or given more praise for poop, farts or burps. Maybe it's a boy thing? But I find my self (and the hubby) praising the little guys burps ("Yeah, that was a big one"), flatulence ("Oooh, that has to feel better now") and even his excrement ("MegaPoo!") This is to say nothing of the continual fear of the "firehose" that could go off at any given diaper change...all over himself or me. I suppose considering it takes up a third of my day (the other 2/3 consumed by feedings and singing silly madeup songs...not sleep!) My husband suggested that since we do renaissance faire, we should have reconsidered naming him "Henry Tooter"! (haha!)
Our son Sebastian Raymond was born last Wednesday, 21 February 2007 at 11:02am weighing in at 7 lbs. 2 oz. and18 1/2" long. So far he's been a healthy, contented baby who doesn't cry much and loves to snuggle. I've nicknamed him my "Snuggle Bug".
chips down and uber-swollen feet & legs thanks to the anethesia. I only spent two full days in the hospital and hubby was able to stay both nights. Our friends brought Big Sis to the hospital immediately after school, who presented her new baby brother with an adorable big balloon. She cried while holding her baby brother and kept telling him how cute he is and how much she loves him. I was filled with pride and hope for the future watching her hold him and kiss him. (She likes to call him "kiwi head" since his head and hairs are so soft & fuzzy...you can see her cuddling with him here.)
So in my ever present quest to learn something new every day, today I was excited to learn that 2007, in the Chinese calendar, is not just the Year of the Pig, but rather the Year of the Golden Fire Pig. (let's have a collective "oooh, ahhh" here please) Apparently every 600 years or so this combination means that anyone born under this sign will live a life of luck & wealth. (Alright! At least one of my kids might take care of me in my old age?) Apparently this is causing all sorts of havoc at the hospitals in China & Korea as people are racing to have kids born this year. I have never put alot of faith in horoscopes, but I am always impressed when I read the traits of each of the signs on the placemats at Chinese restaurants. I just know that if my son can have luck & financial stability throughout his life, who can argue with that?
Last Friday we invited the hubby's sister and one of his oldest friends over for dinner & games. It was a lovely evening and we surprised them both by asking them to be the godparents to our forthcoming bambino. It was a decision we didn't take lightly and chose them because 1. they are both Catholic (a requirement of the church), 2. they are both people whom we feel can bring an interesting perspective of life to our son, 3. will be active participants in his life, and 4. who really have a strong sense of faith and are comfortable with expressing their religious and worldly views. It's not an easy task to select those individuals whom are supposed to take on that "Godly" role in a child's life. I realize that most "Godparents" don't really fulfill much of a role beyond the baptism, but I'd really like it to be more than that. I'd like to think that they will have a special place in his life. Of course, I believe that all of our friends bring new perspectives and experiences to us, that's why we choose them as friends, and why we want them in our children's lives. I'm proud to say that I have friends who are bright, intelligent, vibrant souls who can show him that people are all different. That's exciting.
Well, I've been trying to post this for a few days but had some issues with Blogger. But allow me to share my BIG news...
