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So much has happened these past three months.
August 2000 - Curren is no longer breastfeeding. He’s been on formula since about the second month, and yes, this decision has helped greatly in getting Curren on a feeding schedule. Also, Dan has been able to bond with the baby becuase he takes a couple of feedings a day. Karo Syrup has greatly improved Curren’s problems with constipation. Now he’s poopin’ like a champ.
Dan was laid off from his job on August 8th, but he was then hired by Alltell and began his new job in September. He had about a month
to stay home with me and the baby.
That was a really good time for Curren. He had total attention. I think it having Dan home that month did more for his bonding with the baby than just the feedings.
Curren swats at pbjects with his hands, this month. He actually succeeded at grabbing his dragonfly toy a couple of times.
And it freaked him out!
He talks ALL the time - much like his mother.
Curren's still experimenting with the whole "laugh" thing. He stares at you,
watches you, slyly turns his head to the side, starts to break a smile,then does this little "A-Heh!" thing that you think is a cough until you realize... he's learning to LAUGH! It's funny!
Curren has developed a kind of tilt to his neck.
He likes to hold it down and to the left. We’ll talk to the pediatrician about it if he keeps it up.
September 2000 - Curren has developed one heck of a laugh. Also, he rolls freely onto his stomach. He’s really starting to grab at things. He likes to “sit” up, in our laps, on the couch, etc. He’s getting a little moody when he’s tired. He sleeps in the crib, now. I kind of miss being able to just roll over, in bed, and reach out to him in the bassinett. But Curren’s just to darn big for that thing.
Curren spits up a lot.
We told the pediatrician about this and he asked about Curren’s feeding schedule. When we revealed that we had the baby on 40 ounces of formula a day, Dr. Berger almost choked. He told us that was one of the reasons Curren was spitting up so much. We were feeding him too much! He discussed a feeding schedule with us and suggested that we begin to include stage one foods and rice to Curren’s diet. We also discussed that “neck” thing. Dr. Berger suggested that we continue to find ways to discourage Curren from holding his neck at that angle and if there was still a problem by October, that they might suggest a Physical Therapist to fix the problem.
Dan and I began using a “neck doughnut” (I don’t know what else to call it) when Curren’s in the car seat, to discourage the neck thing.
We also started Curren on Apples, then Pears, and some apple juice. Curren is a VERY messy eater, but he’s eating from a spoon! It’s kind of cool.
I must say this.
Dan and I like Dr. Berger. Our usual pediatrician, although a nice guy, was the guy who told us to give Curren 40 ounces of formula in the first place. Although our usual pediatrician (name with-held because we really do like the guy) although he’s a nice guy, we don’t seem to click. Dr. Berger is a lot more open and up front with us. We all interact well. We’re considering making him Curren’s primary.
October 2000 - Curren grabs at EVERYTHNG. He has truly discovered his feet! He laughs ALL the time! He’s one happy baby! Curren loves to roll over on his stomach and push up on his arms. I actually caught Curren doing the oddest thing, the other day. I had Curren in the crib while I was washing my face and brushing my teeth. the crib is on the far side of the master bedroom, oposite the bathroom. The crib has a blue bumper in it that kind of keeps me from seeing the baby if he’s laying down. To keep Curren calm, I’ll check on him, then leave the bathroom door open while I’m washing up. On this particular day, I’m brushing my teeth, and realize Curren’s gone VERY quiet. I look towards the crib and THERE’S CURREN, looking at me OVER the bumper! He’s rolled over onto his tummy and, with his right hand, he’s pulled himself up enough, and the bumper down enough, that he can watch me brush me teeth! He’s just smiling and watching Mommie! It was too cute,... and too strange! Now, sometimes in the morning, he’ll wake up before I do ( this is after Dan’s gone to work already) and I’ll look and there he is, watching me sleep. I wake up because I hear him chattering to himself as he watches me. What a cute and strange child.
Now the part that I don’t like so much. Curren really hasn’t figured out how to turn himself from his tummy to his back, quite yet.
He’s done it a couple of times, and then it seems as if he’s forgotten the trick. What scares me is that a couple of times, Curren has turned onto his stomach and been unable to turn back and fallen asleep on his tummy, with his face into the mattress. Also, Curren really likes to sleep on his side. Sometimes in his sleep, he’ll turn onto his tummy. Dan and I have constantly had to check on him to make sure he’s sleeping on his back.
We bought Curren an exersaucer that he jumps around in, spins around in and plays with. Curren’s got strong legs and he LOVES to stand
in that thing. When we play with him on the floor he’s just a nut!
He laughs so much! He’s such a happy child! And so social! He just shows off for EVERYone! We were at the mall buying him new shoes and he reached out for the sales lady, let her hold him, played with her hair and face, just flirted all evening long.
Curren is just a sweet child - until you try to get him to take a nap.
That’s when he FIGHTS and FIGHTS. Curren does NOT like to be put down for a nap. He loves to stay awake, as if he’ll miss something if he goes to sleep. I am TIRED all the time, now. Dan is, too. We were just starting to establish a schedule when Curren decided he wasn’t going to according to the schedule he had originally set.
We’ll figure it out.
November 15, 2000 - Curren will soon be 6 months old. He does things that are just amazing! Curren has been able to roll over on his stomach, and then roll over to his back for a while now. He just prefers his stomach, it seems. Curren grabs both feet in such a manner that is simply hilarious! And... He STANDS! We’ve put him up against the coffee table and he’ll support his own weight while holding on to the table! He takes a few steps -- BACKWARDS! And if you’re holding him, he’ll walk right up your torso! He’s so crazy! He sits up on his own, which is cool. He feeds himself -- pictures forthcoming! He does still have a few rather nasty habits,... like that SCREAM THING he does! Oh dear GAWD, that kid can just SCREAM when he wants to! Things aren’t going his way? He doesn’t cry. He SCREAMS! He learned THAT at a Healthy Families Meeting. Once he heard how other babies cry, he decided his cry wasn’t effective enough!
Our home looks like a war zone. We’re Broke
I mean POOR broke. -- o.k. There are still people in this world worse off than we are, but man... I may have to get a job nights.There’s NO Way we’re putting the baby in day care. The reason Curren is thriving so well is because of the personal attention he gets from me and Dan. So I may take something part time at night to help with the finances. We’ll get this money thing figured out.
In the mean time, I still have to figure out how to organize my time to update this space, clean this disgusting apartment and raise that
child. Dan and I don’t know how other people do it. We just know our kid is really well adusted and happy and fat, so we must be doing an o.k. job!
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