Today I got to spend some serious 1x1 time with Alex. Dana was feeling especially tired, since Alex has been waking up about once per hour during the night for a snack. So after he finished a big meal and got his diaper changed, I took Alex out to the kitchen for some bonding time. We had fun checking email and trying to figure out how to do newspaper birth announcements. He sat right next to me in his car seat, attached to its stroller, so that he could see me the whole time, and I could reach right over and squeeze his hands or brush his hair.
He did really well for the most part. He doesn't really focus on anything right now, just kind of looks all over and waves his arms around and occasionally smacks his lips when he's hungry. I wonder how soon I should worry about providing more substantial visual stimulation for him, but I figure that for now he's just happy to be breathing air and eating milk, so all's well. Anyway, most of the time his eyes are closed. Close to noon, the UPS guy came and dropped off some packages. Then I remembered that I had to cycle some laundry through. So I picked up Alex's car seat & carried it to the laundry room. I set him on top of the dryer.
Remembering something that one of the nurses said, I decided to turn on the dryer underneath him. He fell right asleep! It was magic. The low pulsating white noise and the gentle vibrations of the dryer were like a long, comfy car ride for him. Sitting there in his car seat he was perfectly safe and happy. I didn't leave him there, but after a couple of minutes carried him back to the kitchen. I have to remember this little trick for later!
After he started to stir again, I got out my guitar and played a few songs for Alex. I played "Blackbird" by Paul McCartney, and "Country Road" by James Taylor, and "April Come She Will" by Paul Simon. He seemed to really dig it. During the last few months of Dana's pregnancy I made a point of playing guitar close to her tummy once in a while. I can only assume he heard some of that. Who knows?
February Happy Birthdays
4 years ago
3 comments:
You are doing great! You and Alison LOVED music from an early age! Don't forget to talk to him - no baby talk - real sentences! Also, be very careful about putting the carseat on top of things. Alexander will very soon surprise you with how mobile he's becoming. Remember my story about Alison kicking herself off the kitchen table while in her carseat? Oh dear, I'm dishing out the advice already aren't I?
Love,
Grandmom
P.S. Google "baby's first year". You'll find a couple of websites that tell you what to expect week by week.
Love,
Grandmom
Carla, that's ok -- advice to new parents are what Moms are for! And you are the best Mom ever! Dan, your blog is so sweet, I love to read it every day. Count your blessings, kid, you have a lot to be happy for!
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