TODO list

Being a list junkie, I have lists for everything. For what it's worth, here's a list of blogs I'd like to finish in the next week, to commemorate Rian's first birthday:

1. 5 things I love about being a mom (Tag by Richa)
2. The gory details about giving birth to Rian
3. All the things I'm thankful for, since Rian came into our lives

Well, good luck to me :-) And let me know if I should "add" to this list.

Somewhat of an "expert"

Being a mom has made me a store of knowledge. I've learned a LOT from Rian as a baby, and am still learning from Rian as a toddler. I'm somewhat of a research junkie, and have done a lot of research in my pregnancy and early baby days, to add to the pool. Lots of notes from classes, fav internet links, I have a store of them physically and mentally and electronically.

Lots of new mommies (work colleagues, friends) have been asking me questions and suggestions - formula, sleep problems, newborn questions. I also learn new things in the process of discussion. Its so nice to be able to share everything I've learn from Rian. I always thought I could document all these little tidbits on the blog, but life had its own agenda I guess, and I can't kept up with the blog as often as I'd like to.

Newborns are so tender and vulnerable. They want you to hold them, coz that's what they're used to, the feeling of being inside mommy's womb. The first week is pure bliss, and the second week is frustrating, with baby unable to sleep, nursing problems, jaundice and blah. Swaddling baby was my solution to make baby feel cozy. We swaddled Rian for a month and a half for all sleep and naps. Later, mom gave up the swaddle for his naps, and we kept it for his night sleep till he was almost 4 months old. In retrospect, I should have given up the swaddle ~3 months. I kept it for a month more for personal sanity and more sleep ;-) as it took some time to get Rian used to sleeping without swaddling.

I'd highly recommend getting the DVD "Happiest baby on the block" from your nearest public library and watching it. The 5 S principles are good tools to have in your toolbelt. "Loving Hands: The Traditional Art of Baby Massage" was the book I turned to for Indian massage with full page pictures, written by a western author. It was very helpful as my mom too had no idea how to massage the baby. The "swaddle me" products from Kiddopotamus were helpful for us when Rian fought the manual swaddle I'd make with receiving blankets. Swaddling helped Rian sleep better with his reflux too.

I still remember our run to the ER on day 12. I thought Rian wasn't breathing well, and the nurse on the phone counted more than 60 breaths. Textbook and "procedure" had her directing us to the nearest ER. Stanford ER was probably overstaffed :D and they just would not let us go. We ended up spending 3am to 7am in the ER, terrified. Now I look back and laugh at the incident. Had I know newborns try to adjust their breathing patterns in the second week, I may have reacted differently.

If/when we have the second baby, it'll be so easy :-) no more long "lists" to prepare for baby, I'll know what we need like the back of my hand.

Rian's first steps

Rian started walking! Unassisted! He took 5 steps today without holding on :-) It just happened out of the blue. Rian was playing in the family room and me, hubby and FIL were looking on. He cruises from the sofa to the center table to his bouncer, holding on. This time around, he went from the center table to the bouncer, NO HANDS! 3 separate, very confident steps!

We could not believe what we saw, none of us spoke for a few seconds. It seems I broke the silence and said "Did Rian just walk on his own?" :-) And that was that... celebrations galore. Daddy was "walkie walkie" all the time, and he'd hold Rian with one hand, then let go as Rian came closer to mommy. Rian walked to mommy - 5 steps - on his own - at least three separate times...

We're calling it :-) Rian's officially started walking. He surprised his Aaji with this gift on her birthday (29 June '09).

Get up, stand up

Rian has been pulling up to a stand since a week after he learnt how to crawl. That was right around 8.5-9 months timeframe. Since then Rian has gotten more and more mobile and creative: cruises around the family room, goes up the stairs, brings down all our DVDs :-) etc

Lately Rian has taken to walking with support. If you want a grin from this little fellow, just give him one finger in each hand, and he literally walks all over the house, tirelessly, from dawn till dusk, leading you. Now he even wants to climb up stairs like mommy and daddy, one foot on a stair and push up! Now Aaji is experimenting giving him just one finger instead of two!

Today was a sort of a milestone, and experienced by Dad. Rian was playing with Dad and was sitting. Out of nowhere, he got on his fours and magically managed to stand up without support! He was standing for 30-40 seconds at least. I think it's safe to say now that "Rian can stand on his own" :-)

Nails Be Gone

When we first brought Rian home, I was terrified of one task that I was entrusted with: cutting his nails. I mostly kept Rian in mittens to avoid dealing with cutting his nails. Because of his reflux, we had many doctor appointments in the first month, not all with the same doctor. Every doctor we met, I would ask: any tips for cutting his nails? I'm sure all of them thought I was so dumb!

And look at you now, how you've grown my little one. You're almost one, and the kiddie nail cutter is now refusing to cut your nails :-)

When you were little, you'd nod off to sleep while having milk in mommy's arms. I'd cut the nails of your left hand if you were on the right side of me. Now you have to be completely asleep and on the bed. I have to use a flashlight and be as quiet as possible. I dare not cut any skin, dare not tickle your feet... And mom's weekly assignment becomes a success!

The first Daddy's Day

Amit was a total jerk on Mother's Day, making fun of the "days" to be celebrated throughout the year. So I was pretty mad at him and had almost decided not to do anything special for Daddy's Day. But I remembered: this is from Rian to Daddy, I'm just Rian's proxy for now :-)

Amit has been a wonderful Dad from Day 1, he's been the best Dad possible for Rian. Here are all the things Rian is very thankful for, and he remembers these on Daddy's Day.

1. For giving mommy awesome foot massages while I was in her tummy. Daddy you made me tickle every time!
2. For taking very good care of mommy and pampering her all throughout her pregnancy. I'd sometimes make her very edgy but you took very good care of her and loved her in all her moods, and I'd immediately feel the calm inside her :-)
3. After I came home, Daddy did all my diaper changes for the first whole week, being home from work. Not only that, Daddy did all diaper changes whenever he was home, for a while. Special thanks for all those cheesy stories and lovely butt massages that you provided while doing diaper changes. Special thanks for never shying away from the lovely poo poo that I make.
4. For supporting mommy everytime she had to pump. It was very taxing for her, all the pumping, but thanks to your support and encouragement, mommy could feed me her milk till I was 8 months old.
5. For the lovely massages you gave to me before bath time. You tickled me and teased me and massaged me and I was a "glowing baby" thanks to you.
6. For the innovative pose for feeding me milk and rocking me - on your legs. There was no other way I'd have milk. Also for all the times when Aaji, Mom had given up and I was being a "baa baby" not having my milk, you rocked me on your feet and I was easy peasy and had my milk.
7. For all the mid-night wakings that I cause you since my sixth month, ever since you started supporting mommy at night: first to stop my mid-night feedings, then to save mommy's sanity and field me for half the night.
8. For all the hard work you do on all my gear: assembling my crib, my stroller, my bouncer, my swing, my exersaucer, my playyard, and last but not the least - keeping me safe in the car seats.
   
9. For keeping all my electronics functioning at all times by charging and changing batteries promptly when they run out.
10. For providing me constant entertainment, and now sitting through dinner time with me, reading me books and singing nursery rhymes to me.
    
11. For doing my last diaper change of the day - that's Daddy's diaper change, and I give him hell :-) for this one.
12. For helping mom with the research, and jumping in when she needs your help deciding on whether to buy A or B. Must say my carrier (Ergo) is the best.

Anyways, so that was Rian, now passing the mic (erm, keyboard) back to me. I prepared for Daddy's Day a month in advance, so I wouldn't be caught empty handed. I gave Amit a custom frame with Rian's name on it, with some lovely words on it.

MY DADDY'S HAND

Daddy, Take my hand in yours and you will plainly see,
How very much I need you now to love and care for me.
As my little hand grows, I will need you even more,
Everything I do in life, I have never done before.
Teach me to be kind and loving, sharing and forgiving,
Show me through your acts of love the pure joy of living.
The years will pass by quickly and one day I will be grown,
I will pass what you have taught me onto children of my own.
Hold me always in your thoughts and remember when we are apart,
The special love between a child and a daddy's heart.

Love, Rian

Thanks to Mausami's research, I also booked Amit for a 3hr spa package, Oasis. Amit was very very reluctant at first, and refused to go for it. After a lot of convincing and passing some messages back and forth between Rian and Daddy (you see, I am Rian's voice right now :D), Amit was finally convinced to go. When he got back, he had the widest grin on his face, and was smelling wonderful the whole day thanks to the aromatherapy oils. He relaxed in the afternoon with a nap when Rian was napping.

We went to Las Palmas park in the evening with Daddy, Aaji and Ajoba and of course Mommy too. Had fun loooking at the parrots, tried to make Rian walk in the cold water, took some awesome photos. It was only fitting that we order Daddy's favorite for dinner: desi chinese. He totally loved it! All in all, I was very satisfied with the way I planned the day, and thankful as Amit enjoyed it every bit.

Rian adds: I think Daddy is such a hard working Daddy, he deserves a day like this once in a while!

(Written on 6/29/09)