Before the hectic starts

My new semester at university officially starts next Monday, but I'm trying to get into my readings already so as not to fall behind when things start happening. So before the hectic times start, let me get a post in.

In 2 weeks, I'll have an 8 month old baby. I still can't believe how that is happening. I still catch myself saying I got a newborn baby... but he's not really a newborn baby anymore is he? I keep thinking back to this time last year and can't help but marvel at how far we've come. He was this tiny little thing we saw on the ultrasound machine. We had only just found out that he was indeed a he. Today, he's right before my eyes, wriggling his way around the play mat, kicking his legs and pooping up a storm all day. And it's all more wonderful than everything I could have ever imagined this time last year.

These couple of weeks have been incredibly fun. Tiring yes, but so much fun.

Xander is officially mobile. Not that he's crawling or anything yet, but he is more than capable of purposeful motion. If he wants to get from one place to another, you can bet your money that he would get there. With a combination of scooting on his bum, commando/belly crawling, rolling or just wriggling and kicking around. I can no longer reliably put him down in one place and come back a few minutes later to him in the same spot. It's exciting, but also makes me a little sad. I kinda liked the immobile lump I had before. You know, the one that stays exactly where I put him so I can go to the bathroom or hang out the laundry. But in any case, things are moving along and it's pretty exciting!

He has also started giving out kisses when requested. Although he doesn't really know how to do the lip-smacking smooch, he's got the wide open mouth kiss down pat. Sometimes I even get kisses without asking for it! He would grab my face and pull me towards him and I'd get a drool-y wet kiss on my cheeks. Sometimes even my lips. Most of the time this happens in the morning when I first go to him after he wakes up, other times it's when he's hungry and trying to get me to feed him ;) It's so incredibly heartwarming to see him learn how to show affection - whether it be through his attempts at kisses, or when he strokes our faces, or when he rests his head on his daddy's shoulders when they hang out after he gets back from work in the evening. It tells me that we're getting something right. If nothing else, he knows how to love. And that can only be through receiving it. And he's been getting oodles of it! I'm happy to get some in return... makes all the sleepless night worthwhile really.

Intro to solids is going well. So far, he's tried pear, broccoli, carrot, sweet potato and cucumber. And I think he's enjoying them all. By far, the favourite has to be pear... and to think he threw at at the mere taste of it when I pureed it for him. He spent a long while gumming the chunk of pear I cut for him and even ate a good mouthful of it. One day soon, I'd turn around and find him with nothing left in his hands when I give him food and that will be the day to celebrate. For now, I'm incredibly happy with the progress we're making because he has tasted so many different foods and it's going well. Yesterday he had broccoli. This morning there was a tiny little floret of broccoli in its entirety in his poopy diaper. Haha! At least we know he DID ingest something and not just played around with it eh? :p

I'm in the process of seeking out suitable playgroup for us to go to, so that Xander can get some external stimulation and social interaction. Not looking for childcare per se, just Mummy and baby sessions that allow us to get to meet other mums and babies and opportunity for Xander to play in a semi-structured environment. There are a few options, not too pricey, but we're on wait lists so we'll just have to wait. Trying to find something free of charge is more difficult, but I'm on the hunt and hopefully something comes up. We just need something for maybe 1 hour tops a day, 1 or 2 days a week. At his age, that should be more than sufficient.

I'm also on the lookout for more age-appropriate educational and developmental toys for Xander... things like building blocks, puzzles, etc. Preferably wooden with non-toxic materials... We're trying to become a limited plastics household, having given up on plastic bottles for stainless steel ones and plastic tupperware containers for glass ones. Trying, being the operative word. It's hard nowadays.





On a different note, here's a conversation I had with the hubs this morning via WhatsApp.

Him: He was super sneaky this morning. He kept pretending to sleep then try to get his hands out from under my hold. (to get him to sleep, we need to sit next to his crib and hold his hands down so he cannot flip around or play with his hands so that's what he was doing this morning at 5am)

Me: Hahaha! Really? So you kept getting tricked by him :p thank you for waking up early to help me with him baby...

Him: Maybe we should call him Loki instead :P you're welcome

Me: Loki? I don't get the reference... (you must know that this happens all the time. he says something in reference to a song or a movie or a tv show or just some random fact and I go... huh?!?!?)

Him: He's the Norse God of Mischief :) sorry baby

Me: Uh huh. You are like a walking Wikipedia :p

And I mean it. This man is like a walking Wikipedia or Discovery Channel commentary. And I don't believe it's an exaggeration to say that in the last 4 years that we've been married, I've learned more than I ever have in my 20 years before. About life, about relationships, about random facts about animals and celebrities, about alien discoveries and conspiracy theories, about toys and so much more. And all that is why I love being married to him and having the privilege of being his wife and life partner. It's more than I could have ever wished for in my marriage and it certainly helps that he indulges me in my cloth diaper and baby carrier obsession ;)

Thank you baby, for the most wonderful 4 years of my life so far. I hope it has been as great for you as it has been for me and I can't wait to find out what the rest of our lives have in store for us. I love you times infinity. Happy 4th Anniversary (for yesterday)!

Speaking of baby carrier obsession. Other women collect bags, shoes, coats, cosmetics, diamond jewellery. I collect cloth diapers and baby carriers. Don't ask me why but I love love love them. And that is why, we currently have all of these in our stash:

1 x Sleepy Wrap stretchy wrap carrier
1 x BabyHawk custom Mei Tai carrier
1 x Sakura Bloom linen ring sling
1 x UMC Mei Tai carrier from NuzzleMe Creations

And on top of that, we have 3 more ordered and on the way ;)

1 x Olives & Applesauce soft structured carrier
1 x ObiMama handloomed silk ring sling
1 x ObiMama hybrid Mei Tai carrier

I can't wait to receive them all and try them on! I know it seems like a lot, but they each have their own unique features and serve different purposes... I do believe I'd find the ones that I like the most and sell the others to recoup some of my expenses, but even if I don't, I'm still happy because they will last for years and years to come, and maybe even see some love from friends and family who may be interested in babywearing in future ;)



Kid's being whiny. Gotta go!