Miffy

When I was pregnant with you, we decorated your room and bought clothes and toys. It's not that we had a theme or anything, but as time went by, there seemed to be more and more Miffy's in our house.

Dad bought you some Miffy toys, I bought you some Miffy clothes, your grandparents bought you a Miffy carrousel and you also got some Miffy stuff for Christmas and as a birthpresent. I never liked Miffy very much, but nowadays I associate Miffy with you, so I grow accustomed to him (is it a he?).

The sweetness of you

Today has been a cozy day. You were relaxed most of the time, and we cuddled a lot! When we had visitors, they held you for a while, then you safely returned to my arms. And boy, did I love it! You curled your toes from sheer pleasure when you were laying against my shoulder. Everywhere I go I smell the sweet scent of baby Flyn, it's all in the imagination, I guess. I gave you countless kisses, layed my cheeck against yours when you were sleeping, and consider myself fortunate to have you in my life.

What's up there?

Ever since you were born, you have been fascinated by two things: light and everything above you. Even plain ceilings take your breath away.

Do all mums get confused?

Today I can't seem to understand you as I use to. First of all the feeding times are all messed up, since you came early each time yesterday. That's why we had to feed you twice last night (although technically half past five might be considered the morning). Today's schedule became a mess. I fed you at nine, twelve and three, which makes it one feed to many (the half past five one should have been at seven). But halfway through the morning I didn't care about that anymore, 'cause you were awake and not happy. To pass time I layed you on the bed and took some pictures of you. Then I rubbed your little legs and feet with bodylotion.

Nothing seemed to work. Everytime I layed you in your bed, you cried. When I picked you up en held you, you stopped crying and were wide awake. Very unusual right after feeds. After your three o'clock bottle I decided that enough was enough. I picked you up once to calm you down and rock you almost asleep. Then I layed you down. I heard you protest somewhat, but since I know that keeping you from sleep would be the worst thing after all these waking hours, I went downstairs and waited for you to calm down. Which you did. You have been asleep for almost an hour now, and I hope you keep that up for at least another one.

That look

makes me wonder which wise words are on your mind. It's so obvious that you hold a treasure of thoughts and feelings inside that tiny body.

That look is also very convenient, because it makes people want to hold you (and hug and kiss you) So even without words, you know how to get your message accross!

Family traditions

I used to think that little babies didn't have concious intentions. Reading about three week old babies on the internet, you learn that it is not possible to spoil them and that they cannot be expected to have a rythm in the things they want and do. Since they are only a few weeks out of the womb, they live on primal instincts only.

So our little man has a primal need to be in a kingsize bed after dinner. Not just yesterday and today, but everyday. He cries when we put him to bed after his bottle, and when we gently lay him in the big bed, he sighs and relaxes. We surrender by laying next to him, which makes him groan with pleasure. He sleeps comfortly between mum and dad, not even minding the Sunday soccer playing on the television. In the old days the two of us (now your mum and dad) lay here after dinner to relax after a days work. I even got some sleep most evenings. Now we just stare at you sleeping and catch the pacifier when it drops from your mouth. Not only have you become the center of our world - once daily you are the center of our bed.

You can't be fooled

although I tried to today.

When you woke up late this afternoon, we decided to bath you, and then give you the bottle. You really enjoyed dad washing you (the picture just shows you closing your eyes because there's water running over your face).

Finally, at 15.30 you got your bottle. I hoped you'd skip a feed, and would wake up at 19.30. But no way, at 18.00 you were more than ready to be fed again! Well, I still sensed an opportunity: what if you skipped the 20.00 bottle and slept till the early night? No! You stuck to your schedule of laying in our big bed, as you do every night around dinnertime. So we had to cuddle you and yes, feed you again at nine.

Back to the old schedule it is ... Even if you stretch the hours between feeds, you always return to your usual routine. Which is a routine, in fact.

Start you up

It seems funny that you're wearing this shirt today. After me complaining about keeping you busy between feeds, you slept away the entire morning, just having a break for a bottle at 10:30. When some family came round to visit you, we had to wake you up at almost 15:00, 'cause you were sleeping again. This is what you looked like - and yes, if I fool myself, you are smiling.

To our "relief", you got back to your own active self after your bottle at 15.00, so now it's back to the lap, the pacifier and an early bottle I suspect.

Almost three weeks

We started the new year as a brandnew family; just before midnight on January 1st, at 23.45, you were born. Tomorrow you'll be three weeks old, and boy, did you change a lot in this short time!
During these three weeks:
* your hair got lighter (it's getting more "gold")
* your eyes went from dark blue to blue-grey
* you're eyes don't wonder around seeing nothing, they focus on people and things - and light!
* you immediately start to drink as soon as the bottle touches your lips (no longer searching for the nipple)
* you drink lots (7 times apr. 100 cc of formula) and don't stop at 60 cc anymore
* you incorporate "playtime" in your day, which usually means mummy taking pictures of you

I could say that it's like you've always been here, but that wouldn't be true. I remember too well what it felt like to live without a baby schedule (which isn't a schedule at all!), and I get confused when I wake up, until I realise it's your voice that's calling me. So me, daddy, and your big bro are still in the process of getting used to a newborn in the house, while you seem to have settled perfectly - especially in our big grown-up-bed. As we noticed, these past weeks have gone by quickly, so it will only be a matter of time until we are an ordinary family of four, living day-to-day life as usual!