Aaron likes things to go the way he expects. If he's trying to do something and he falls or drops something, he gets very upset. He wants things to go according to his plan. And he doesn't like the unexpected.
For example, one day we were playing in his room. I was sitting on his bed. He was bringing something to me from the closet. He was running and he fell just shy of the bed. He didn't get hurt, but he was upset. But he picked himself up, and instead of giving me what he had in his hand, he returned to the closet, said "Try again" and ran back over to me, without falling. When he did this successfully, he said "No fall!"
I think this is because when he does get upset about something going wrong, we'll tell him that it's OK, that he can try again. So the message is sinking in. Sinking in so well, that when I did something "wrong" he had me try again.
We were reading bedtime stories the other night. I was reading Caps for Sale. On the first page, after reading "He carried them on top of his head" I patted Aaron's head. He wasn't expecting that and it bothered him. He pushed my hand away and said "No Aaron!", meaning "Don't touch Aaron's head." And he rubbed his head to make his point. Then he reached out, closed the book and said "Try again. No Aaron." Meaning "Try it again, Mom, but don't touch my head this time."
Thom and I cracked up. That wasn't the first time I've annoyed him by doing something he hadn't wanted me to do, but it was the first time I was given a chance to do it over.
19 October 2009
17 October 2009
No fan of Car Talk
I've never been a big fan of Car Talk. I'm sure I rolled my eyes and groaned many times when driving around with my dad on weekends growing up and he put it on the radio. And now I'm married to a Car Talk fan. And I still roll my eyes and groan when he puts it on in the car. Although I admit that Click and Clack are funny. I just prefer music.
But if there is one part of their show that I like, it's the Puzzler. Thom heard it on the radio last weekend when he was out with Aaron and relayed it to me. It was an interesting one (read it here) that involved coming up with the model of a car. So over the week, I would look at car model names when I was out driving and I finally figured it out on Wednesday when I drove down to see my folks. So I submitted my answer online, a first for me.
So for the first time ever, I actually looked forward to Car Talk this weekend so I could hear the solution on air. (You have to e-mail them if you hear your name announced as the winner, so I had to listen, I couldn't just wait to be notified if I won.) But this morning, I nearly forgot. We were driving down to the farmer's market around 10:20 when I suddenly remembered. I turned off the Ingrid Michaelson CD that was playing and tuned into KPBS. Sure enough, Car Talk was on air.
Aaron, who loves music, whined from the back "Ingrid Michaelson." (Which was funny since when we first got in the car, he wanted to listen to a kid's CD we have, but I insisted on Ingrid Michaelson. But I guess he figured Ingrid is still better than talk radio.) But he quickly adapted and quieted down for the remainder of the drive to the market.
Unfortunately, it is a pledge weekend, and the show was interrupted by requests for donations. So we sat in the car after parking, hoping to hear the Puzzler solution. Aaron quiped from the back "Music off", indicating that we should turn off the music (and get out of the car). I said it wasn't music, it was Car Talk. I said "Can you say 'car talk'?" And he said "Car Talk off". Funny boy.
Eventually we gave up and went to the farmer's market without hearing the solution (and winner). But when we got home, I looked online for today's show. I found it and clicked to play the segment with the Puzzler answer. Aaron was playing on the floor. A few minutes into it (after I heard that I did indeed have the correct solution, but wasn't chosen as the winner), Aaron turns around, looks at me and says "Car Talk off". I guess he recognized the voices of Click and Clack. Smart boy. And so far his taste follows mine - not a fan of Car Talk. But given his genes (having a father and a grandfather who like Car Talk), I'm sure he will come around. Especially given that he was playing with cars at the time.
But if there is one part of their show that I like, it's the Puzzler. Thom heard it on the radio last weekend when he was out with Aaron and relayed it to me. It was an interesting one (read it here) that involved coming up with the model of a car. So over the week, I would look at car model names when I was out driving and I finally figured it out on Wednesday when I drove down to see my folks. So I submitted my answer online, a first for me.
So for the first time ever, I actually looked forward to Car Talk this weekend so I could hear the solution on air. (You have to e-mail them if you hear your name announced as the winner, so I had to listen, I couldn't just wait to be notified if I won.) But this morning, I nearly forgot. We were driving down to the farmer's market around 10:20 when I suddenly remembered. I turned off the Ingrid Michaelson CD that was playing and tuned into KPBS. Sure enough, Car Talk was on air.
Aaron, who loves music, whined from the back "Ingrid Michaelson." (Which was funny since when we first got in the car, he wanted to listen to a kid's CD we have, but I insisted on Ingrid Michaelson. But I guess he figured Ingrid is still better than talk radio.) But he quickly adapted and quieted down for the remainder of the drive to the market.
Unfortunately, it is a pledge weekend, and the show was interrupted by requests for donations. So we sat in the car after parking, hoping to hear the Puzzler solution. Aaron quiped from the back "Music off", indicating that we should turn off the music (and get out of the car). I said it wasn't music, it was Car Talk. I said "Can you say 'car talk'?" And he said "Car Talk off". Funny boy.
Eventually we gave up and went to the farmer's market without hearing the solution (and winner). But when we got home, I looked online for today's show. I found it and clicked to play the segment with the Puzzler answer. Aaron was playing on the floor. A few minutes into it (after I heard that I did indeed have the correct solution, but wasn't chosen as the winner), Aaron turns around, looks at me and says "Car Talk off". I guess he recognized the voices of Click and Clack. Smart boy. And so far his taste follows mine - not a fan of Car Talk. But given his genes (having a father and a grandfather who like Car Talk), I'm sure he will come around. Especially given that he was playing with cars at the time.
15 October 2009
Random photos from Audrey's first weeks
After a feeding
Chilling in the bouncy seat
Will not keep her hands in a swaddle
Fun with Aaron during Thom's time off
We were lucky that Thom was able to take 4 weeks off from work (mostly). Aaron enjoyed the extra attention. He spent a lot of time in his role as doctor.
Octopus is a frequent patient.
Aaron enjoying some stickers from Aunt Lily and Uncle Jerry. He was hamming it up for the camera.
Octopus is a frequent patient.
Aaron enjoying some stickers from Aunt Lily and Uncle Jerry. He was hamming it up for the camera.
Photo Shoot for Birth Announcements
For some reason, when we first came home from the hospital, I had a burst of energy. I decided to create birth announcements for Audrey, something we didn't do for Aaron. I had photo paper from Costco and just made them myself using Picasa to edit the picture and add text. Below are some of the photos we took that day. We took them in her crib on a blanket my mom knit. She is wearing a preemie outfit that my sister Theresa gave her. The last picture was taken just after the photo shoot.
5 Week Update
I've been too tired and busy to do any updates, but I'll try to give a quick overview of the last 5 weeks, followed by some posts with pictures (which is all most of you come here for anyway).
At her 1 week checkup, Audrey was down to 5 lbs 2 oz, so we were a little concerned. But she was nursing well and had lots of wet and dirty diapers, so we knew she was eating well. But at her 2 week checkup, she was up to 5 lbs 12 oz, so a gain of 10 oz in a week! That was great news. The pediatrician said an ounce a day is on the high end, so we did great. We go back at 2 months for her next checkup and first shots.
Sleep has been difficult. Thom is now sleeping in Audrey's room while Audrey and I sleep down in our bedroom which is where we set up a bassinet with changing table (it's a Pack N Play). Some nights I've spent on the couch, just trying to get any sleep I can. Thom will stay up late with her some nights when I'm really tired and need the extra sleep. But since I have to be up with her every 3 hours, I try to let him get better sleep and get up with Aaron in the morning, hence the separate sleeping arrangements.
When Audrey started to have painful gas, I went to a breastfeeding support group on Monday. Someone suggested it could be a dairy sensitivity - that her daughter had that problem starting around 3-4 weeks. So I'm trying to cut dairy out of my diet to see if it helps. So far it does seem to make a difference. She was waking up about 2 hours after a feeding, first grunting, but then crying and sometimes little screams of pain as she passed gas. That seems a lot better now, although she still seems very fussy late at night. There's a chance she could be sensitive to something else in my diet, but I'll see how she does with dairy eliminated and then talk to the pediatrician at our next appointment.
Thom started back to work on Monday. It's been a little challenging without him, but fortunately I have Kim to help out 3 mornings a week. I even manged to have dinner ready when Thom came home Tuesday night, despite a very challenging diaper change that resulted in a bath for Audrey while trying to keep Aaron occupied and keep track of dinner in the oven.
So far Kim just helps out with Aaron, taking him out of the house most days to burn off some energy. I've had her watch Audrey briefly so I can grab a shower, but don't plan to have her watch Audrey more often until she's a few months old. (Although I've just signed a contract for some work to be done mid-January, so I might have to get help sooner depending on how well Audrey sleeps during the day.)
Aaron is adjusting well to having a baby sister. He does get frustrated sometimes and doesn't want me to feed her when he wants to play with me. And he really seems to be testing the limits lately, but overall, it could be much worse.
Oh, when I went to the breastfeeding support group, I weighed Audrey in a clean diaper - 7lbs 9.8oz. So she is continuing to grow quickly. She is starting to outgrow her newborn size clothes and I can see her face and thighs filling out.
At her 1 week checkup, Audrey was down to 5 lbs 2 oz, so we were a little concerned. But she was nursing well and had lots of wet and dirty diapers, so we knew she was eating well. But at her 2 week checkup, she was up to 5 lbs 12 oz, so a gain of 10 oz in a week! That was great news. The pediatrician said an ounce a day is on the high end, so we did great. We go back at 2 months for her next checkup and first shots.
Sleep has been difficult. Thom is now sleeping in Audrey's room while Audrey and I sleep down in our bedroom which is where we set up a bassinet with changing table (it's a Pack N Play). Some nights I've spent on the couch, just trying to get any sleep I can. Thom will stay up late with her some nights when I'm really tired and need the extra sleep. But since I have to be up with her every 3 hours, I try to let him get better sleep and get up with Aaron in the morning, hence the separate sleeping arrangements.
When Audrey started to have painful gas, I went to a breastfeeding support group on Monday. Someone suggested it could be a dairy sensitivity - that her daughter had that problem starting around 3-4 weeks. So I'm trying to cut dairy out of my diet to see if it helps. So far it does seem to make a difference. She was waking up about 2 hours after a feeding, first grunting, but then crying and sometimes little screams of pain as she passed gas. That seems a lot better now, although she still seems very fussy late at night. There's a chance she could be sensitive to something else in my diet, but I'll see how she does with dairy eliminated and then talk to the pediatrician at our next appointment.
Thom started back to work on Monday. It's been a little challenging without him, but fortunately I have Kim to help out 3 mornings a week. I even manged to have dinner ready when Thom came home Tuesday night, despite a very challenging diaper change that resulted in a bath for Audrey while trying to keep Aaron occupied and keep track of dinner in the oven.
So far Kim just helps out with Aaron, taking him out of the house most days to burn off some energy. I've had her watch Audrey briefly so I can grab a shower, but don't plan to have her watch Audrey more often until she's a few months old. (Although I've just signed a contract for some work to be done mid-January, so I might have to get help sooner depending on how well Audrey sleeps during the day.)
Aaron is adjusting well to having a baby sister. He does get frustrated sometimes and doesn't want me to feed her when he wants to play with me. And he really seems to be testing the limits lately, but overall, it could be much worse.
Oh, when I went to the breastfeeding support group, I weighed Audrey in a clean diaper - 7lbs 9.8oz. So she is continuing to grow quickly. She is starting to outgrow her newborn size clothes and I can see her face and thighs filling out.
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