Only eight months

It looks like my breastfeeding career is over. Evan has been on a nursing strike for more than a week now. It started because he caught the dreadful cold that swept through our household. He became congested and was not able to nurse. I think he couldn't breathe and it was such a horrible experience that he has since been agitated the minute I try to nurse him. I pumped for a week, and even went to rent a hospital pump yesterday. I figured I can ride this one out too. Then, today, this afternoon, after yet another dismal output, I decided to throw in the towel. Eight months (or seven months and three weeks some) is all the nursing Evan is going to get. Funnily enough, the last day he nursed was the Monday morning after Mother's Day. Zoe's last nurse was on Mother's Day morning. I'm going to have to work hard to get him the nutrition he needs. The boy's diapers have been awfully dry. He refuses to take any liquids from sippy cups. I'm forced to get liquid into him by mixing it with rice cereal or by feeding him sip by sip.

Like a Zoo

"Zoe, please clean up your toys before company arrives for dinner. We don't want this place to look like a zoo." I could tell immediately from her expression that she couldn't figure out why that was a bad thing. Next time I'll choose a different expression.

Allergies

It looks like Evan has allergies. Before we started him on solids, his skin was clear or just slightly blemished by eczema on most days. They flared up only when I ingest dairy or some derivative of cow's milk protein. Since he started on solids, the cheeks has been red and rashy. I haven't identified the exact culprit or culprits (allergic children tend to be allergic to many food), but we have very good reasons to think that Evan is allergic to wheat. So we have avoided wheat. But still the eczema persists. I have to start the sort of regiment I kept when Zoe had her eczema. i.e. I have to keep tract of everything that enters Evan and my mouth. Sigh. I was hoping it won't come to this. It was hard work with Zoe the last time. I'm glad it paid off. Zoe has mostly outgrown her food allergies. She is now only mildly allergic to walnuts and hazelnuts.

Evan's First Recognizable Word: PA!!

This morning, Evan uttered his first recognizable word. He looked at Dennis and called him "Pa!" It was an emphatic "Pa," said so while Dennis was changing his diaper. He made Dennis soooo proud and happy.

Crawling!

Evan and Solids

This is a video of Evan enjoying this thing called "solids." It is really more mush than solids.

Teeth!!

Evan's first tooth has broken through his gums. I felt it for the first time a couple of days ago (Saturday, March 19). It was right after his first morning feed. Evan grabbed my finger and shoved it into his mouth. He was gnawing at my finger when I felt the sharp edge of a tooth. It was very exciting. Dennis missed it as he was so tired he slept through my "Yobo, Yobo, I just felt Evan's teeth!"

Makes My Heart Happy

Dennis and Zoe were outside in the garden today. Dennis said, "Doesn't the flowers smell nice?" Zoe replies, "Yes, it makes my heart happy."

The exchange, our little girl, make our hearts so happy.

Solids

We started Evan on solids this past Sunday (March 13). So far, the boy is delighted with the upgrade. He giggles and smiles whenever he is presented with the rice porridge. There was some hesitancy at first, but he embraced this new experience pretty quickly.

 A mix of curiosity and anxiety.

 After a few spoonfuls, Evan decided he liked it.

Zoe sayings

A few days ago:
"I'm working really hard to become four!"

This morning at breakfast table:
Zoe was prattling on about one thing or other, reciting a list of animals, when she suddenly stopped and said, "I'll explain that one later."

Roll Over

Evan has mastered rolling over. He managed rolling over once in a while before, but started doing it in earnest last week. He is quite an expert with it by now. Since Evan can't speak yet, I can only speculate that he is very anxious to get moving. He would roll himself onto his belly and start shaking all four as if trying to move. Then he would grunt and then whine - I believe - in frustration for not achieving his goal. Or, I should say, for not achieving his goal consistently. He moves. Mostly, he rotates in place. A few days ago, I suspect he even managed to crawl. I say I suspect because he was not where I placed him down on when I walked away. And his new location tells me that he didn't get there by rolling over many times.

I think he is on the cusp of some major development. Evan has been sleeping very badly - at night and in the day. He keeps turning himself over and looks like he is trying to crawl. We'll see, we'll see. I sense a lot of frustration. The boy is keen to be like his sister!

Schools, schools, schools

I'm still mulling over whether to send Zoe to Anneliese. I'm hoping to find a school that is like it here in San Diego or Encinitas. I should have done this earlier as this is a bit late in the day. Most schools are accepting applications now and evidently one is supposed to do tours before February. Anyhow, I discovered that there is a cooperative preschool nearby in Solana Beach. A cooperative school is one where parents are expected and obligated to help at the school. While perusing its website, I came across a section with helpful advise for parents while they are "helping out" at the school. I thought it made a lot of sense and it gave me a fresh perspective on how I should interact with Zoe and Evan when it comes to certain types of play and when they are say drawing or painting.

A common mistake made by parents as they interact with children is to ask a busy child, “What are you making...What is that?”. Young children many times are not making anything when they are drawing, painting, etc. What they are doing is learning to grip a crayon or paintbrush and learning different strokes or movements with their fingers and hands. They are experimenting with colors and textures, and just having fun along the way. When we suggest to a child that there is a desired end result, we are taking away from the above process of learning. The process is much more important than the product. We want children to feel comfortable in their own creative expression, no matter how it turns out in the end. We like to provide children with many open-ended activities, which may not be aesthetically pleasing to a parent who is a product-orientated person. Some better types of questions are “Tell me about this...Tell me about the colors you used...Wow...look at this pattern over here...” etc. When you are at the playdoh or clay table, or drawing with the children, please let the children create their own things. If you start drawing a field of flowers how you see it, this may intimidate a child to draw their own pictures. Soon, you will hear, “You do it for me ... I can’t draw a field of flowers like you can!” Please stick with simple drawings of patterns and designs; with playdoh or clay, use simple movements like rolling balls, smashing pancakes, etc. 

 (Sandy Hill Nursery School http://www.sandyhillnurseryschool.com/helperguidelines.html)