Thursday, June 15, 2006
What Week Is This?? (month 2 reflections)
* I don't have any pictures in here yet, but I'll try to add them later when I sort through the memory cards.
I didn't think that doing a weekly update would be too demanding...I was wrong :(
As you can see, I haven't updated for a while. I've got a secret for you all. Babies keep you busy. I tried to keep up with the baby, work, and blogs, but that is just not meant to be.
I have been updating the "Gallery" pretty regularly, though. So check that out if you get the chance (see link on the left). We've still got quite a few pictures hanging around on memory cards. I'll have to get to those soon :)
BUT...this is supposed to be Sammy's Blog, not Daddy's blog, so here it goes.
The little bugger is growing by leaps and bounds. He's now (as of Monday) 23 inches tall and nearly 11 pounds of pure muscle. We are continuously surprised by his development. Moon was worried that he wasn't getting enough to eat, but he's been gaining about 1 oz per day, which ain't bad.
He has been able to stand with help for at least the last few weeks. Recently, though, that help has been reduced to holding his hands. He's got some strong legs and it seems like letting him stand up is the only way to make him happy.
Well, let's take a look at this last month.
Mommy Works, Daddy Stays at Home
We both knew that it was coming, but neither of us liked it. Those first 6 weeks went by quickly, which meant that Moon's time off from work did as well. That meant that Moon needed to go back to work and Daddy stayed at home. Not that physically staying home is anything new to me, but being the only caregiver during that time was quite a shock.
Moon is/was depressed that she had to leave Sammy all day. I think that this has become a little more bearable for her, but it is still a concern. She probably gets enough of him after work and ALL NIGHT LONG. He still doesn't sleep much at night, which means that Moon doesn't sleep much either. She hasn't mastered that "nap when he naps" thing. She, like me, uses that time to do the 100 other things that need to be done at home.
Daddy had this naive notion that since babies are supposed to sleep about 14 hours a day, that he would have more than enough time to take care of Sammy and do all his work. Silly, silly daddy. You are such a fool! What I didn't think about is: (1) about 6 of those hours correspond to your sleep time; (2) at least 2 of those hours correspond to your feeding time (try eating when he's awake!!); (3) He eats every 2 hours. Prep takes about 15 minutes before feeding. Feeding takes about 15 minutes. After feeding activities take at least 30 minutes; and (4) the more he sleeps during the day, the less he sleeps at night.
Take all of this into account and I have about 2 hours a day, if I'm lucky, to work. I'm getting better at it, but luckily, I won't have to do that much longer. Moon will be taking over in a couple weeks. I'll miss our time together, but I won't miss deadlines :)
Mother's Day
We all made a quick trip to Northbrook for Mother's Day. We had three mothers in the house at the same time, which made for a festive celebration.
Sammy gave some very thoughful cards to both his Mommy and Grandma. He writes surprisingly well for a 2-month-old :)
Great-Grandma's Funeral
Sammy's Great-Grandma Craig passed and we went to Forest, Illinois for the funeral. This makes a baby think about the cycle of life and our place in it. Sammy considered what his legacy will be as he looked around the room and listened to his family speak about the woman that was and what she left behind. He didn't need speakers for that, though. One glance around the room told the story of that legacy. Aunts, uncles, and cousins (first- and second-) surrounded him. Her legacy was a tight knit family that existed and thrived against great odds. He was just the most recent addition to this legacy. Too bad he didn't meet her in person.
This was also an opportunity for this family to welcome him in for the first time. They all saw it too. Everyone there pondered the great cycle of life that day and saw, in him, yet another complete rotation. The sadness was temptered with the renewed life and optimism that accompanies all new lives. The sight of him forced everyone to reflect both on a life that was and one that will be.
A Recital and a Graduation
Last weekend we went to Northbrook for a dual celebration.
On Sunday, Anika had her dance recital. This yearly event is fun to go to. You might think that 2 hours dancing kids would drive you a little crazy, but they are so darn cute. Even Sammy liked it somewhat. Eventually it got to him and he went poopy in his pants. Good excuse for a bathroom break.
Mindy officially graduated with her masters on Sunday as well. The recital took precedence over the actual graduation ceremony unfortunately. We celebrated with a party in true Craig form though. It was nice to so many friends and family that we haven't seen in a while. It was amazing to see how the number of kids in the crowd had gone from minority to majority of the party goers. At our last big party (the triple graduation/moving out party of 2001) saw only a couple kids in the crowd. We were obvious on the cusp of a population boom judging from this group.
I think Sammy had a good time with young and old alike. It definately wore both him and his Mommy out. That made for a quiet ride home :)
Doctors and Shots
Last week he went in for multiple vaccinations. He got four shots and I think that his mother cried more than he did :) His shouts rang out as the needles went in, but he was back to his happy self just a few minutes later. He's such a trooper!
This last visit to the doctor was probably his last in the US. I hate to leave such a good doctor. We've been really happy with Dr. Asdell. Nice guy. Alas, 7,500 miles is a long way to go for a check up :) We're prepping for our move to Korea (July 10), which means that we have to get his records in order. All i's dotted and t's crossed.
We are hoping that our proximity to the Seoul National University Medical School (I'm working there as well) will make it easier to find an English-speaking pediatrician. While Moon doesn't care, I do. I don't want to have to rely on her for doctor's visits.
That about sums it up. In retrospect it seems like a busy month :)
I didn't think that doing a weekly update would be too demanding...I was wrong :(
As you can see, I haven't updated for a while. I've got a secret for you all. Babies keep you busy. I tried to keep up with the baby, work, and blogs, but that is just not meant to be.
I have been updating the "Gallery" pretty regularly, though. So check that out if you get the chance (see link on the left). We've still got quite a few pictures hanging around on memory cards. I'll have to get to those soon :)
BUT...this is supposed to be Sammy's Blog, not Daddy's blog, so here it goes.
The little bugger is growing by leaps and bounds. He's now (as of Monday) 23 inches tall and nearly 11 pounds of pure muscle. We are continuously surprised by his development. Moon was worried that he wasn't getting enough to eat, but he's been gaining about 1 oz per day, which ain't bad.
He has been able to stand with help for at least the last few weeks. Recently, though, that help has been reduced to holding his hands. He's got some strong legs and it seems like letting him stand up is the only way to make him happy.
Well, let's take a look at this last month.
Mommy Works, Daddy Stays at Home
We both knew that it was coming, but neither of us liked it. Those first 6 weeks went by quickly, which meant that Moon's time off from work did as well. That meant that Moon needed to go back to work and Daddy stayed at home. Not that physically staying home is anything new to me, but being the only caregiver during that time was quite a shock.
Moon is/was depressed that she had to leave Sammy all day. I think that this has become a little more bearable for her, but it is still a concern. She probably gets enough of him after work and ALL NIGHT LONG. He still doesn't sleep much at night, which means that Moon doesn't sleep much either. She hasn't mastered that "nap when he naps" thing. She, like me, uses that time to do the 100 other things that need to be done at home.
Daddy had this naive notion that since babies are supposed to sleep about 14 hours a day, that he would have more than enough time to take care of Sammy and do all his work. Silly, silly daddy. You are such a fool! What I didn't think about is: (1) about 6 of those hours correspond to your sleep time; (2) at least 2 of those hours correspond to your feeding time (try eating when he's awake!!); (3) He eats every 2 hours. Prep takes about 15 minutes before feeding. Feeding takes about 15 minutes. After feeding activities take at least 30 minutes; and (4) the more he sleeps during the day, the less he sleeps at night.
Take all of this into account and I have about 2 hours a day, if I'm lucky, to work. I'm getting better at it, but luckily, I won't have to do that much longer. Moon will be taking over in a couple weeks. I'll miss our time together, but I won't miss deadlines :)
Mother's Day
We all made a quick trip to Northbrook for Mother's Day. We had three mothers in the house at the same time, which made for a festive celebration.
Sammy gave some very thoughful cards to both his Mommy and Grandma. He writes surprisingly well for a 2-month-old :)
Great-Grandma's Funeral
Sammy's Great-Grandma Craig passed and we went to Forest, Illinois for the funeral. This makes a baby think about the cycle of life and our place in it. Sammy considered what his legacy will be as he looked around the room and listened to his family speak about the woman that was and what she left behind. He didn't need speakers for that, though. One glance around the room told the story of that legacy. Aunts, uncles, and cousins (first- and second-) surrounded him. Her legacy was a tight knit family that existed and thrived against great odds. He was just the most recent addition to this legacy. Too bad he didn't meet her in person.
This was also an opportunity for this family to welcome him in for the first time. They all saw it too. Everyone there pondered the great cycle of life that day and saw, in him, yet another complete rotation. The sadness was temptered with the renewed life and optimism that accompanies all new lives. The sight of him forced everyone to reflect both on a life that was and one that will be.
A Recital and a Graduation
Last weekend we went to Northbrook for a dual celebration.
On Sunday, Anika had her dance recital. This yearly event is fun to go to. You might think that 2 hours dancing kids would drive you a little crazy, but they are so darn cute. Even Sammy liked it somewhat. Eventually it got to him and he went poopy in his pants. Good excuse for a bathroom break.
Mindy officially graduated with her masters on Sunday as well. The recital took precedence over the actual graduation ceremony unfortunately. We celebrated with a party in true Craig form though. It was nice to so many friends and family that we haven't seen in a while. It was amazing to see how the number of kids in the crowd had gone from minority to majority of the party goers. At our last big party (the triple graduation/moving out party of 2001) saw only a couple kids in the crowd. We were obvious on the cusp of a population boom judging from this group.
I think Sammy had a good time with young and old alike. It definately wore both him and his Mommy out. That made for a quiet ride home :)
Doctors and Shots
Last week he went in for multiple vaccinations. He got four shots and I think that his mother cried more than he did :) His shouts rang out as the needles went in, but he was back to his happy self just a few minutes later. He's such a trooper!
This last visit to the doctor was probably his last in the US. I hate to leave such a good doctor. We've been really happy with Dr. Asdell. Nice guy. Alas, 7,500 miles is a long way to go for a check up :) We're prepping for our move to Korea (July 10), which means that we have to get his records in order. All i's dotted and t's crossed.
We are hoping that our proximity to the Seoul National University Medical School (I'm working there as well) will make it easier to find an English-speaking pediatrician. While Moon doesn't care, I do. I don't want to have to rely on her for doctor's visits.
That about sums it up. In retrospect it seems like a busy month :)
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sorry this is so late, but I just caught up on Sammy's blog. I wanted to let you know, I'm sorry about your loss.
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# posted by 
: Tuesday, August 22, 2006 5:03:00 PM
: Tuesday, August 22, 2006 5:03:00 PM Links to this post:
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