One month into the New Year

Time used to travel slower. I remember the time when I was in primary school and willing the class clock to move along faster. But the second hand was stubbornly languid. Minutes seemed an eternity then. Not anymore! It's one month into 2008 already! Zoe turned five months old two days ago, and I spent the last two weeks agonizing over whether to go back to work or not. I suppose it is not a matter of going back to work, but the timing of going back to work. I might still have been toying with the idea were it not that the company I worked at asked if I would go back to work on a part time basis. They need somebody soon, like "can you start next week?" Even though I have been thinking about it, the minute Shelly (my boss, the owner of Spearhall) emailed me about it, the theoretical issues became real fears - what if the caretaker neglects Zoe? Would the care be loving? Would the nanny stimulate her sufficiently? I wrung my hands over the milestones I would miss - her first words, her first steps... I felt pangs of jealousy of the would be caretaker. In short, it is not just about whether Zoe would be ready to accept care, it is whether I am ready to challenge myself and let go.

During this time, I realize what Dennis must go through every day when he leaves for work. Just thinking about leaving Zoe made me all anxious, which is nonsense. Plenty of children and babies are taken care of by people outside of the family.

Anyhow, not sure how this will pan out yet as I agreed to working only 15 hours a week (3 days of five hours) and mentioned too that I would be pumping at work. In short, I might be too much trouble for a small business.

Let's see where this takes us.

Food!

ALL OVER MY FACE!

Stats

This little one was last week (on 1/9/08) 13 lbs 15 ounce, 25 inches long. According to our pediatrician, Dr. Martinez, she is in the 50th percentile in terms of weight, 75th percentile in terms of length and 90th percentile in terms of head size (it was previously 75, 75 and 80 respectively). Her weight gain has fallen off quite a bit. In short, our baby is demonstrating her genetic heritage alright: BIG HEAD, LITTLE BODY. Incidentally, I think that Zoe pinches her lips together like her grandmother does when thinking.

Exersaucer me!

Oh what joy!!

I put Zoe into her Exersaucer today. She was a little hesitant at first, but soon warmed up to it. I think she concluded that it's quite alright. In fact, I think she loved it.

Loving Father

Our friend Christina took this picture back in December, after the Komen Walk. We love this picture.

Green Eggs and Ham?

I Could Eat Them With A Fork

If only I could just learn how not to jab myself in they eye with this first!

Caught in the Act!

Just this morning, Dennis was commenting on how he can't wait till Zoe gets to the stage where she tries to put everything in her mouth. Well, what do you know, I guess our little one got the memo for, this very afternoon, she started gnawing at the tray table on her high chair. She has never done that before. She looks like she feels guilty about doing it too!

Another Video of Baby's First Solid

Zoe's First Solid

This past Saturday (Jan 5), our little one had her first "solid" feeding. We decided we would offer it to her even though I had planned to introduce solids only when she reaches six months of age, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatricians. Too early an introduction can cause or increase the propensity for allergies. We changed our minds because, for the past week, Zoe would look at us very intently when we ate. She would stare at our mouths and our food and then look rather forlorn, as if she wished she was getting what we were eating.

Dennis and I had a lot of fun feeding Zoe. It was no more than a few spoonfuls of pureed rice mixed in with breast milk, but we were thrilled that she was receptive to it and that she did not thrust the food right out with her tongue, as we were told most babies do. In fact, she seemed to have the chewing motion the very first time.