When will the saga end?

You're nearly 4 months now. On one hand it's good you're getting more inquisitive but on the other, breast-feeding you has become a battleground in the daytime. You will sometimes only drink for 2-3 mins before delatching and either look at me with the sweetest grin to babble or start screaming. It has made me wonder a few times whether it's because my milk supply is going down. So feeding is nearly all the time now with breaks for you to play or nap. Feeding before you nap is the best coz its always the longest. But it means I have to constantly stimulate you to wake you up, until I think you have had enough, then will allow you to sleep on. I know this is a bad habit and I will pay for it later but it works for now, so will stick to it.

Thus, I actually don't mind waking up at night to feed as it's more straight forward. Wake up, feed for about 30-40 mins and then back to sleep again.

Amidst all this complaining, your antics when breastfeeding are so cute and makes feeding bearable. For example, you will thump my breasts with your hands after a while of feeding and I wonder if this is to try and increase the flow, when you delatch and smile at me, you gurgle saliva and makes the cutest noise and when very hungry, you open your mouth widely, and move about to look for the breast, reminding me of a hungry bird.

Any suggestions?

I think it is getting wider :) Does this mean he needs to have long hair in the future to cover it up?? :)

Moving on with clothes

About 2 weeks ago was when I decided to stop letting you squeeze into the too small newborn or 0-3 months clothes. Although the bodysuits look quite cute when they're so tight, the sleepsuits do not allow you to straighten your legs (thank God you're about 50th centile for height despite being 9th for weight) and your fingers poke out when I try to cover with the attached mittens, defeating their purpose. So, with mixed feelings of sadness (I don't know why) and pride (yes, you are growing), I packed away those clothes and washed a whole new set of 3-6 months ones.

A long tunnel

After that one night, you have not slept through again. So the light is still dim and the tunnel must be long one :) Oh well, it was a once off bonus, better than nothing.. After analyzing, it may be because you hardly nap the whole weekend and was probably too tired.

Funnily, last night, you woke at 3 (only 2 hrs after feed at 1) and did not cry but started cooing, which woke me up. I wonder if you are prepareing for the time difference in 2 weeks plus time :) Since you did not cry I was too tired to feed again and left you alone. I fell asleep while patting you until you cried at 5. I wonder how long you were awake for?

Light at the end of the tunnel

I am so excited that I had to post this immediately.. Isaac slept for 5 hours in a row from midnight till 5am!! Was I shock when he cried and I saw the time.. It has NEVER happened before and maybe this is the beginning of sleeping through?? Even if this was a once off and pure luck, at least I have had my first 5 hour uninterrupted sleep since he was born :)

How life has changed

The title sounds obvious.. Of course life changes with a baby. But, I just realised the extent of it now that I have adjusted to this lifestyle and taking stock of these changes. I wish I can put a table on this blog so that the before and after comparisons are more obvious :)

Lack of sleep is definitely NUMBER ONE. Apart from last night, I have never slept for more than 3 hours in a row. I have just got used to and learn to nap to catch up with lost sleep.

The house is now not as tidy.. and this is with a helper who comes and clean it once every 2 weeks. So it's no longer the Ikea showroom that it was before. Eventhough on maternity, there is no time at hand. Cooking has been restricted to about half an hour with VERY SIMPLE meals, but hopefully more nutritious than takeaways. Doing the laundry has also become a 'game' between Isaac and me so that I can spend more time with him, coz a lot of time is spent on breastfeeding and trying to put him to sleep. This sums up my day: Wake-up, feed, laundry, feed, eat, feed, play, feed, sleep, feed, cook, feed, bathe, feed, sleep, feed, sleep, feed......

I need adult conversations and thank God for the internet, Skype and MSN. I would probably only know how to babble otherwise. People I talk to are mostly all parents now and the topic is almost always about baby - habits, feeding, growth, development, etc..and best place to get baby offers of pampers, or wipes, no longer clothes or shoes.

If I do get out, rarely, preparations need to start about 2 hours ahead and handbags are out of the question. The 'pouch' has to fit Isaac's clothes, blanket, changing mat, nappies, toys, etc... I also hardly eat out and if we do, it needs to be baby friendly places with wide space to fit the buggy. The freezing weather has become a good excuse to stay at home :)

Finally, gone are dates or time alone with Richard, apart from the hour or so after putting you to sleep at night. It was funny how our most recent movie at home took us 3 days to finish because it was interrupted by tiredness and you waking up crying for a feed.

Life will NEVER be the same again, but it's all worth while when he smiles to greet me in the morning :)

Why food and play should not be mixed