EJ, Almu (+ bump) and I are in Tenerife with family. EJ has advanced massively just in the last week alone, he has learned the meaning of pedorretas/rasberries, clapping (he'll do these on command). As well as today starting to climbe stairs and in a few more teeth are poking through to boot. He seems to understand alot more and events new sounds every few days, right now he is 'pasando teti' en espana (having alot of fun).
The hardest part now is leaving my litte family here now for two weeks whilst i fly back to work. I've never been apart from them for so long and i'm gonna miss them mucho.
Sunday 11 December 2011
Thursday 1 September 2011
7 months, OMG
At 5 months we took EJ to Madrid, Guadalajara and Girona in spain, we ended up spending a couple of days driving (long story) but he was fine. The great thing was we spent the time with is spanish grandparents and he really has becone an international travaller.
Also we started him on fruits and oats instead of just milk.
At 6 months he started on three meals a day, with milk of course.
and 7 months, he has starting to sit by himself and is really thinking hard about crawling, He can kinda of crawl backwards and get anywhere he wants by a cobination of this and rolling over. Right now he puts himself on all fours and kind of rocks forward and backwards. Also on his 7 month birthday he started saying 'daddy' but since then he seems to be on strike so thats something to work on. Also he has given up on the boob and is really eating food
We've bought a bike seat for him but haven't tried it yet and also aquired a car for Almu so she has more independance when i'm out bringing the bacon in.
Oh and thanks to Mary we had our first night out together since Mr Cookie arrived (and in fact some time before).
Right now the cutest thing he does is to kind of kiss your nose if he gets close enough, this involves your entire nose becoming envolped and being licked a little, its weird but then many things about babies are weird it seems.
Also we started him on fruits and oats instead of just milk.
At 6 months he started on three meals a day, with milk of course.
and 7 months, he has starting to sit by himself and is really thinking hard about crawling, He can kinda of crawl backwards and get anywhere he wants by a cobination of this and rolling over. Right now he puts himself on all fours and kind of rocks forward and backwards. Also on his 7 month birthday he started saying 'daddy' but since then he seems to be on strike so thats something to work on. Also he has given up on the boob and is really eating food
We've bought a bike seat for him but haven't tried it yet and also aquired a car for Almu so she has more independance when i'm out bringing the bacon in.
Oh and thanks to Mary we had our first night out together since Mr Cookie arrived (and in fact some time before).
Right now the cutest thing he does is to kind of kiss your nose if he gets close enough, this involves your entire nose becoming envolped and being licked a little, its weird but then many things about babies are weird it seems.
Monday 9 May 2011
Swings and swims ... 4 months on
So EJ is now 4 months old and weighs about 7Kg i.e. doubled in weight since birth. Yesterday we went for a walk around Lighwater country park and i had him strapped to my chest the whole time, we managed to find an adult swing i took him on there with me, he enjoyed that. A small experience but a new one none the less.
Almu took EJ to his first swimming lesson today, all the other babies were 8months or more so she was just going to watch and see how it all works but after checking with the teacher she was able to join in the lesson. He loved the whole experience and i can't wait til the weekend to so i can repeat it with him at Camberley. I am very lucky that my parents made a point of taking all us kids to swimming lessons when we were young which gave me my water confidence and made me the strong swimmer i am today. I am absolutely determined that EJ will get this same confidence, probably better, and i can't wait to 'dunk him' (after the teacher has shown us how of course) and see that amazing natural reflex babies are blessed with to automatically hold their breath under water.
Almu continues to fantastically as well, she has many challenges being so far away from her own direct family, my direct family and not having a car but she does briliantly. I'm so lucky to have them both !
Almu took EJ to his first swimming lesson today, all the other babies were 8months or more so she was just going to watch and see how it all works but after checking with the teacher she was able to join in the lesson. He loved the whole experience and i can't wait til the weekend to so i can repeat it with him at Camberley. I am very lucky that my parents made a point of taking all us kids to swimming lessons when we were young which gave me my water confidence and made me the strong swimmer i am today. I am absolutely determined that EJ will get this same confidence, probably better, and i can't wait to 'dunk him' (after the teacher has shown us how of course) and see that amazing natural reflex babies are blessed with to automatically hold their breath under water.
Almu continues to fantastically as well, she has many challenges being so far away from her own direct family, my direct family and not having a car but she does briliantly. I'm so lucky to have them both !
Friday 25 March 2011
Like a second paternity leave
The family is currently togther in Spain partly on holiday and partly meeting the other side of the family again. EJ is now 9 weeks old and we followed several peoples advice to holiday early with a baby because its easy then when they are a 1 or 2 years old, guess what they were right. EJ is having a great time and i am loving it because its like a second paternity leave, i get to spend every day with him rather than just bath time like i do at home when working.
The experience of the journey was not so bad overall, Gatwick saw the baby and all the staff and pointed us to the fast lane through security. However the flying experience is truly archiac. Why do infants travel on your lap with a cheap seat belt extension ? This offers zero protection in the real world, it would be far better to allow us to use the car seats that we all own these days, this standard is a million miles in advance of the bare minimum the airlines offer. Its high time there was some decent international standards for airlines that start to move things forward in areas of Baby/Infant safety and passenger leg room for tall people.
Finally i was very pleased to fly with Monarch despite there baby related limitations, Monkey jet is for people who think that they get the same service but far cheaper. In reality on many routes the price is not significantly different but the service always is (worse).
The experience of the journey was not so bad overall, Gatwick saw the baby and all the staff and pointed us to the fast lane through security. However the flying experience is truly archiac. Why do infants travel on your lap with a cheap seat belt extension ? This offers zero protection in the real world, it would be far better to allow us to use the car seats that we all own these days, this standard is a million miles in advance of the bare minimum the airlines offer. Its high time there was some decent international standards for airlines that start to move things forward in areas of Baby/Infant safety and passenger leg room for tall people.
Finally i was very pleased to fly with Monarch despite there baby related limitations, Monkey jet is for people who think that they get the same service but far cheaper. In reality on many routes the price is not significantly different but the service always is (worse).
Saturday 5 March 2011
7 weeks
Today we took EJ up town to get his first passport and i have to say i was impressed. In and out of the passport office in 25 mins, its easy to knock the officialdom but those lot have a slick operation. I thought we'd be there for hours.
EJ is now 7 weeks old and one of the best things i have been able to do the last few weeks is feed my son with expressed milk. There is nothing like holding your own childs head in your hand whilst you feed him, he's vulnerable and cute, its a duty and an honour.
I'm only beginning to learn how to be a good parent and provider like my parents were and are but right now its going well, you do get used to the reduced ammount of sleep, eventually.
EJ is now 7 weeks old and one of the best things i have been able to do the last few weeks is feed my son with expressed milk. There is nothing like holding your own childs head in your hand whilst you feed him, he's vulnerable and cute, its a duty and an honour.
I'm only beginning to learn how to be a good parent and provider like my parents were and are but right now its going well, you do get used to the reduced ammount of sleep, eventually.
Thursday 10 February 2011
700 grammes
Mari and Juan returned to Spain last weekend. They were a great help to us in EJ's first 3 weeks but AGB has been coping fantastically now that she is on her own with him this week.
This week the health visitor decided to pop round after a gentle nudge via the GP (they forgot us). The health visitor should normally come from 10-14 days after birth however it got to about 18 days before they made it. Anyway he was weighed on Monday and it turns out that at three weeks old he has already added 700g to his birth weight. Considering babies loose a bit after birth this is pretty much a 25% weight gain.
EJ is doing fine, he lives an enviable life of sleep, boob, sleep boob ... its like he's won the lottery.
Like my brother and my brother in law i find myself now trying to rush home to get to the nightly bath time. This and the morning nappy change is going to be main involvement with junior during the week (night time fune and games excluded of course). One thing that is true is that you do get used to the sporadic sleeping that you are able to get during the night. I'm sure the missus wouldn't agree with that right now but for me at least its true, right now anyway. Also you have a new motivation to get up in the monring before work, you look for opportunities to get one thing more done thats going to help out.
Oh and EJ is very cute, one thing i am trying to do with him is to get him to imitate me putting my tongue out and he always tries, however right now it gets to the front of his mouth only. More practise needed on this simple challenge it seems
This week the health visitor decided to pop round after a gentle nudge via the GP (they forgot us). The health visitor should normally come from 10-14 days after birth however it got to about 18 days before they made it. Anyway he was weighed on Monday and it turns out that at three weeks old he has already added 700g to his birth weight. Considering babies loose a bit after birth this is pretty much a 25% weight gain.
EJ is doing fine, he lives an enviable life of sleep, boob, sleep boob ... its like he's won the lottery.
Like my brother and my brother in law i find myself now trying to rush home to get to the nightly bath time. This and the morning nappy change is going to be main involvement with junior during the week (night time fune and games excluded of course). One thing that is true is that you do get used to the sporadic sleeping that you are able to get during the night. I'm sure the missus wouldn't agree with that right now but for me at least its true, right now anyway. Also you have a new motivation to get up in the monring before work, you look for opportunities to get one thing more done thats going to help out.
Oh and EJ is very cute, one thing i am trying to do with him is to get him to imitate me putting my tongue out and he always tries, however right now it gets to the front of his mouth only. More practise needed on this simple challenge it seems
Thursday 27 January 2011
Day 11 - Paternity leave draws to a close
So EJ has tried to wee on me 4 times so far, we've been to church with him and he pretty much slept through in my arms. We've been for a few short walks and had the family round.
I've also re-started my karate training, my new years resolution was to do some excercise every week both for my own health but also so that i can play football or whatever EJ need. I don't want to be that couch potato dad that would pacify their kids with a games console when what they really need is a good kick around in the park. Also i'd like EJ to get into some kind of sport when he's older, nothing specific just something that keeps the excerise going before, during and after school. I think unless you pickup a sport in this way then as soon as you leave school the excise drops off and the metabolism slows.
As my paternity leave draws to a close now i am just trying to finish up as much DIY and 'todo list' jobs as possible. I'm very proud of how AGB has done during the whole pregnancy and birth but even now she is doing a wonderful job.
So soon i'll go back to work and not be involved in the daily rountine so much, but of course i'll be helping with early morning nappy changes and the early evening bath. Like AGB says (a phrase which we picked up from NCT classes) 'Everything is just a phase', so this phase is over and the next one begins.
N.b. EJ looks cutest to me when in a reclined seating position, staring back at you with a 'what is going on ?' look apon his face.
I've also re-started my karate training, my new years resolution was to do some excercise every week both for my own health but also so that i can play football or whatever EJ need. I don't want to be that couch potato dad that would pacify their kids with a games console when what they really need is a good kick around in the park. Also i'd like EJ to get into some kind of sport when he's older, nothing specific just something that keeps the excerise going before, during and after school. I think unless you pickup a sport in this way then as soon as you leave school the excise drops off and the metabolism slows.
As my paternity leave draws to a close now i am just trying to finish up as much DIY and 'todo list' jobs as possible. I'm very proud of how AGB has done during the whole pregnancy and birth but even now she is doing a wonderful job.
So soon i'll go back to work and not be involved in the daily rountine so much, but of course i'll be helping with early morning nappy changes and the early evening bath. Like AGB says (a phrase which we picked up from NCT classes) 'Everything is just a phase', so this phase is over and the next one begins.
N.b. EJ looks cutest to me when in a reclined seating position, staring back at you with a 'what is going on ?' look apon his face.
Thursday 20 January 2011
A different approach for our generation
I've often thought that there is something a bit wrong with our generation. What i mean is that we tend to automatically shun experstise and experience in many areas for some reason, think about it, when you last booked a holiday, wanted to buy a TV, need to make/earn something where did you go ? My experience is that people (and i include myself as a major culprit here) tend to prefer look online or keep failing in the hope they'll 'figure it out' rather than just asking someone who knows. Of course this can be a good thing, if you spend enough time online reading lots of different sources of knowledge you'll sometimes come out with the best possible answer, but many times you won't as well.
Today we went to a SureStart centre where our Midwife, a mother and grand mother herself, gave guidance on all kind of things starting with breastfeeding. This kind of one-on-one with an experienced expert is invaluable and we're very lucky to have it. Today (Day 4) also marks the first day out of the house for our little family and Los Padres, not a big challenge but another step on the road.
Yesterday my mum, dad and middle sister came to visit us and i, tried, to cook roast beef. Its not exactly related to EJs start in life but another memory to record in the log. My family have alot of experience now with small children and so their help and support is great. Finally i took a phone call from my elder sister and her children. its fascinating to hear the hopes of young cousins (RS and CS) wanting to see their younger comrad and what they think he'll be like. When i tried to tease RS by telling him that EJ would be calling him a monkey when he first met him he responded 'no he won't because babies just say 'blah, blah, blah', (in reference to AGC who is just stating to speak)'. Cute but true.
Today we went to a SureStart centre where our Midwife, a mother and grand mother herself, gave guidance on all kind of things starting with breastfeeding. This kind of one-on-one with an experienced expert is invaluable and we're very lucky to have it. Today (Day 4) also marks the first day out of the house for our little family and Los Padres, not a big challenge but another step on the road.
Yesterday my mum, dad and middle sister came to visit us and i, tried, to cook roast beef. Its not exactly related to EJs start in life but another memory to record in the log. My family have alot of experience now with small children and so their help and support is great. Finally i took a phone call from my elder sister and her children. its fascinating to hear the hopes of young cousins (RS and CS) wanting to see their younger comrad and what they think he'll be like. When i tried to tease RS by telling him that EJ would be calling him a monkey when he first met him he responded 'no he won't because babies just say 'blah, blah, blah', (in reference to AGC who is just stating to speak)'. Cute but true.
Wednesday 19 January 2011
Inspired by my brother
I've never really kept a diary so this is a first which was largely inspired by my brother's own version. Its often a bit unfashionable to clearly be copying someone else but this is just a good idea.
Three days ago i became a father for the first time, EJ (as he'll be known in this blog, another idea stolen) was born in the local hospital at 8.30am. The whole process started at about 10/11am the previous day as far as we can tell. I always thought that labour took a long time but because of this there were some kind of gaps in the middle where one could get some shut eye, no chance. AGB (my wife) did fantastically and even before the pain relief didn't do all that screaming business that you see on TV, i am so proud.
Must of all we are relieved that EJ is healthy and here with us now. Right now he likes sleep and boobs and not much else, maybe the odd bit of gentle bouncing.
Oh yeah one more thing my family have done for us is to give us a high quality but mini camcorder for my birthday after having lent us theirs' for the birth. Again a brilliant idea since its difficult to either take notes or remember important details when you've been up for a couple of days.
Three days ago i became a father for the first time, EJ (as he'll be known in this blog, another idea stolen) was born in the local hospital at 8.30am. The whole process started at about 10/11am the previous day as far as we can tell. I always thought that labour took a long time but because of this there were some kind of gaps in the middle where one could get some shut eye, no chance. AGB (my wife) did fantastically and even before the pain relief didn't do all that screaming business that you see on TV, i am so proud.
Must of all we are relieved that EJ is healthy and here with us now. Right now he likes sleep and boobs and not much else, maybe the odd bit of gentle bouncing.
Oh yeah one more thing my family have done for us is to give us a high quality but mini camcorder for my birthday after having lent us theirs' for the birth. Again a brilliant idea since its difficult to either take notes or remember important details when you've been up for a couple of days.
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