Life on the express train! - Week 8 / 2 months

Emerson is growing up so fast! I am finding myself missing the “little Em”, and really, she is still very little! Days are blurred and weeks are passing by. I am trying to make more conscious effort to sit back and enjoy our moments instead of stressing over little tasks…like washing the bottles!

Grandma Dauk and Aunty Nikki came to visit for a weekend. We went for a walk around downtown along with Patty and Selma and enjoyed home cooked meals by Aunty Nikki. Alas, the visit was too short! Their trip did allow Chuck and I our first date night as parents. We went to have dinner at Bar Taco, and watched a movie (Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy). We enjoyed having some time to ourselves, but we were also very happy to come home to our little girl. Chuck’s steps got faster and faster as we approached our building – usually, I find it a bit annoying when he walks too fast, but on this night, I found it very sweet for I knew he was anxious to return to his light and joy.

Her BM is slowly, but surely, returning to normal; however, we are facing another nuisance! Eczema! Dr. Katy believes she has developed a food allergy. So, we have been off dairy, bovine, nuts, shellfish, wheat, anything spicy, etc. Of course, I mean “me” when I say “we”. Well…anything for my little girl!

We are starting to venture out of the house more often. We started Mommy & Me yoga class, joined a New Mother’s group sponsored by the Greenwich Hospital, and I’m looking at a few mommy groups on Meetup.com. I’m finding that she gets thrown off her eating schedule on the days we are out for more than a couple of hours, which results in her binge feeding at night and difficulty falling asleep. It’s not easy, but hoping practice makes perfect and we will prevail!

At home, I’m finding that I now have to turn off the TV when she is awake. She LOVES it! (Like father, like daughter!) I can’t even get her to eat when she’s transfixed on the screen. For now, there is no tantrum when I turn off the TV. I am hoping this will persist…although, I am certain that TV vs. Mommy will be a battle I will have to fight for many years ahead. 

Em with the Dauk family members!

Farewell 2011! Welcome 2012! - Week 7

This week, Ellie and William came to visit and we went for a long walk.  I'm looking forward to the day when Em would interact with William on our “dates”.  We also had our first visitors of 2012 - Auntie Jenny and Uncle Jun!  They brought so many goodies for Em, and I have to say, mommy's favorite washcloths and burpies to date. :)

I'm surprised that Em's already drooling quite a bit.  According to Dr. Katy, this is very normal for babies her age.  I always thought babies didn't start drooling until teething!  Em also sticks her tongue out and does a “taste test” before feeding.  I’m hoping we don’t have a picky eater in future.  

On the New Year’s Eve, we dined out again with Em.  This time, she stayed in her stroller the entire time and let us enjoy our meal.  She gets engrossed by light fixtures and entertains herself well.  We welcomed 2012 watching the countdown on TV.  I guess no more wild, extravagant NYE for us!  (Chuck and I are perfectly OK with this!!)  Here’s to great new adventures in 2012~~

Christmas & Em's first designer shoes! - Week 6

Em’s starting to grasp things and able to hold on with a little bit of help, although she needs no help in grabbing my hair and not letting go. :) 

We gave Em a little bit of prune juice this week per a nurse’s advice…a BIG MISTAKE!  We should have waited it out or tried other methods first.  She has been going none stop since.  She doesn’t seem to be bothered by it, but … we are definitely suffering.  Not only from having to change her constantly, but also emotionally – constantly worrying and obsessing over her poop.  I am reminiscing the glee from Week 1! 

Em enjoyed her first Christmas.  We decided it is still too early for Em to face a crowd, i.e., church, so we spent the day quietly at home.  We opened gifts in the morning, and went out for a walk and dinner.  It was Em's first time dining out.  She initially fussed a little when her stroller came to a stop, but as soon as we picked her up, she was perfect.  We took turns holding her and enjoyed our family meal!

Em's shoes (from her daddy) are her first Stuart Weitzman. Alas, still too big!

Looking forward to the day we can go shoe shopping together.

Mommy time - Week 5

Time accumulated at home started to get under my skin, then morphed into short temper and snarky comments.  Chuck graciously (and somewhat forcefully) kicked me out of the house for a few hours on a Saturday afternoon.  I opted to head to the mall for pedicure and seriously pondered whether I should buy one of those massage chairs for home…

Em enjoys play time, although tummy time seems to get her frustrated a little.  She has pretty strong neck and back to hold herself up, but still weak in her arms.  She loves to watch her mobile go round and round, stares at the rattles with wide eyes, and even kicks around quite a bit.  

This week, we attempted to start a nighttime routine of getting Em to bed, and tested putting her in her crib overnight (vs. bassinet in our room).  Well, it didn’t work out so well, mainly because she is so much more active during late evening (see Week 4).  Dim light and soft music did not help when the baby is wide-awake and incessantly wanting to feed (not to mention the TV noise from the living room seeping in to the nursery, but more on this later).  We will revisit this in another few weeks when her sleep bouts are a little more consolidated.

Mrs. Independence - Week 4

Grandma K has left and I’m learning each day to be more and more independent.  Chuck’s very hands-on, but the fact of matter is he has to be at work.  This week, Em and I started venturing out all on our own – by car and on foot!  When we got to our first destination, might I say on time, it felt like such a feat! 

Em bursts out into laughter nowadays – some in response to our silly faces, some spontaneously in her sleep.  We are also noticing that she seems to be more demanding in the late evening.  The hours between 9PM to 2AM have been hit or miss, particularly if I’m getting a break and Chuck or Grandma K is on watch.  Both of them seem to think the cause is her showing preference for the “boob” over the bottle.  Hmm…

...Could you even believe that this sweet face can throw a tantrum?  I think not.  :)

Em also had her first visitors this week!  The Panaros came to visit with lots of goodies from the Korean market (thank you!).  Their son is 3 years old and the daughter is 10 months old.  Em really had no clue that she had her first play date, but we are all looking forward to more to come!