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We received a sample of some of the photos we had taken of Rowan earlier this fall. I absolutely love the shot of my baby and man together. Just one good photo of the two of them was well worth the money in my mind since I can't seem to take any myself. Here they are: Daddy (36 years) and Rowan (7 weeks).
Loves of My Life
We found out last Thursday afternoon that John was wanted in Bath England for Monday morning. We were getting ready for a week long trip to Blind River which we cut short to be back in Ottawa on time to catch a night flight to England on Wednesday instead. While I was disappointed to have to make a long trek to see my folks only to turn around and go back to Ottawa a few days later, I was very excited about my second trip to Europe. A trip I would be making with my baby boy and husband nonetheless!
The last minute trip did cause us (especially me) a lot of stress. John was in Philadelphia and so I had to run around with Rowan in his stroller for 2 days to get passport pictures, the car cargo rack (so that we could lug all of his stuff and the dogs with us where ever we go), get Rowan's allergy tests done and then apply for his passport. It may not sound like a lot of things to accomplish in 48 hours but it was. Rowan was in his car seat for no less than 6 hours per day and was very cranky by the end of it all. So was I come to think of it. My anxiety was fueled by the passport office who didn't like his photos, who wanted a ticket before giving me his passport and then who, when I had my ticket, questioned why Rowan's name wasn't on the ticket. In the end all of the bumps were ironed out and on Wednesday just before heading to the airport we picked up his passport and were on our way.
And here we are--in Bath, England. John and Rowan are both fast asleep as I write. My boys are exhausted after traveling to Blind River and back and then getting on an airplane the next day. In total we have traveled 29 hours in the past 5 days. That's enough to knock anyone on their bum, especially if that anyone is a 2.5 month old or a tired daddy who barely got any sleep in the days leading up to our trip. I am exhausted too but I think that caring for Rowan has trained my body to deal with intermittent and interrupted sleep. I am looking forward to exploring the city tomorrow with my bright-eyed little man staring at me out from his Quinney. Watching him watching me is my favourite thing to do these days and I can't imagine a better place to do the watching from than the streets of a quaint old town! I wonder what we will find?
Here are a few things that our first family trip away from Canada has taught me (not in any particular order):
- Babies need a ticket no matter what the on-line booking site says.
- You can only purchase the ticket for a baby by calling the airline directly (at least this is how Air Canada works)
- Calling the airline is a good idea because the agent will give you a bulkhead seat which has a bassinet attachment.
- You need a ticket with mention of the baby in order to get the baby's expedited passport.
- Passport employees can be real jerks even if you are visibly upset and have a screaming baby on your hip.
- The world would be far more chaotic without good friends (Thanks Angelina for bringing us our ticket and sitting with Rowan!)
- Flying at night with a baby is a good idea because they sleep the whole way (if you have the bassinet which you aren't guaranteed to get even if you have a bulk head seat because they only have 2 on board at any given time).
- Car seats get checked. Strollers can go to the gate where they are put on the sky check.
- Sky check doesn't mean "No damage".
- Hiring a car is a good idea when traveling with a baby, a stroller, 4 large suit cases and a car seat.
- Ordering a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet means you eat first on the plane and it actually tastes good.
- There is such thing as lacto-ovo chocolate cake!
- Driving a stroller full of groceries and baby is risky business. Good thing the basmati rice was the only casualty.
- No matter what the photographer says, baby passport photos should be as perfect as possible if you don't want any fuss.
- Second sets of passport pictures do not need to be signed by the guarantor (we didn't need to do this but when our photos were questioned they told me I could just take Rowan downstairs for new shots and come back).
- The passport people may say they will call your guarantor but they don't.
- Flying with a teething baby is hell (this is based on the poor mom flying solo with her 8 month old boy who cried the entire flight as our angel snoozed. By the way, Rowan was the same size as the 8 month old).
- 2.5 month old's can fit into size 6-12 month clothing (I learned he fit into all of his clothes when packing for this trip).
- England has a much wider selection of healthy foods in the grocery stores and it is safer for people with allergies because everything comes with an allergy allert on the label.
- French and Italian bakery bread are generally milk and soy free but you need to consult the bakers (who are wonderful in England).
- Canada and the US are either super paranoid about terrorism or really like plexiglass. In England, the customs agents sit behind a normal desk and actually get out to look at your sleeping baby.
- The Bonkie (http://www.babybonkie.com), although it may appear to be trendy version of a straight-jacket to some, is a LIFE SAVER.
- Men with loud coughs scare the shit out of anxious parents but don't seem to affect a sleeping baby.
- Avoid the red wine on flights. There is a reason it is free.
Tomorrow Rowan and I will walk daddy to work and take in the sights. I simply can't wait.
We saw the allergist last Friday and a milk/soy allergy was ruled out by pricking Rowan's arm in 5 places. I am not sure what kind of quack-doctor invented the torture devices that are used for allergy testing, but I would be willing to bet the doctor was NOT a mother. He screamed as the doctor broke his skin in 5 places on his forearm. I wanted to cry along with him but, I stayed strong and pinned his arm down like a good (bad?) mommy. I am very glad that he doesn't seem to be allergic but he could still have a sensitivity. As such, I am still on the milk/soy free diet until the 15th of December or so when I start re-introducing them back into my diet. If he reacts poorly to the milk or soy, I will go off them again for at least another month and try again later. The diet has been good for my weight loss (I am down to 164lbs) but I am very hungry all the time. It is very time consuming and difficult to eat this way. I would kill for chocolate or a big fat piece of cheese cake right now. But, like I said in my last blog entry, the diet is worth it if he feels better and so far, he seems to be very good. Here are a few changes we have noticed since I went off the milk/soy (which by the way is in EVERYTHING):
- Only 3-4 poops per day
- Poops are less runny
- Poops do not cause him any distress. In fact, the grunting and groaning has been reduced substantially
- Less gas overall
- He has slept over 8 hours straight at night
- His demenour is a lot more cheerful
- His nose isn't as stuffy
- His skin doesn't seem as rashy
So far the Organics name brand by PC seems to be the safest bet when shopping even though I am reluctant to by anything "organic" simply out of principal. Doesn't anyone find it strange that eating "organic" is a big craze when all food is organic? I mean hell, who is eating a chunk of lead or steel anyhow? Yes, I know-- "organic" is supposed to mean chemical-free among other things. But, it DOES NOT in all cases. It means that there are no man-made pesticides/fungicides/insectices on the food. Guess what, some of the naturally occurring "ides" are worse for you than any of the synthetics and they are being sprayed all over crops these days. How else do you think you get a fresh strawberry in the middle of a Canadian winter???. I believe in buying local. I believe in buying free-range because of the cruelty to animals but I do not believe in paying a premium just because the word "organic" has been attached to the goods. Yes, some "organics" might be better for you, but some may not. I have to admit that the "Organics" name brands seems to be made of less ingredients (and appears to be closer to the "Source") than most other brands but I'd be a fool to believe that the ingredients were not grown with some form of chemical treatment. "Organic"="Ergonomic"= Potential YARN as in Wool-over-your-eyes.
Who says I am not opinionated? Oh, and of course there is the whole argument that we should want some of our foods to be sprayed with chemicals because they prevent nasty toxin-releasing-moulds from growing. Things like peanuts need chemicals otherwise you might be ingesting carcinogens such as aflotoxin. If you don't believe me, look it up. Nature is better at chemical making than man that is for sure. Now, if only we could harness the super-glue made by water dwelling creatures--that would be something I would pay a premium for!
Rowan turned 2 months old on November 6th and to celebrate, we left size 1-2 diapers behind. To mark this important date, we have taken a picture of the diaper changes he has gone through so far. See below.
He visited his pediatrician yesterday for his shots. We were also told that he is in the 95th percentile for weight, 90th for height and 75th for head size. I believe the exact words out of the doctor's mouth were "You can't ask for any better than that". He is perfect and growing very well. However, after some discussions around the mini-diet experiment we have been conducting to determine whether or not he might be allergic to milk protein, the doctor decided that we might be on to something and we are now going to see an allergist on Friday. I have been put on a no milk/soy diet until we are sure which means I have to say goodbye to my beloved ice cream...at least for a little while anyway. To be fair, giving up ice cream is a small price to pay to have a happy baby who doesn't have tummy troubles. Reducing milk seemed to make a big difference and so I suspect complete elimination of milk/soy will work wonders.
PICTURES TO COME
He is like his mom in more ways than one but today we discovered his true love of sleeping on his tummy (just like me). He has been lying on me or on the couch for hours it seems and he hasn't budged. He is perfect in every way and when I look over at him, I can't help but wonder what Angel lost him here with us. My sleepy baby...
Rowan has discovered his hands and tongue this week. He sucks and sucks his hand when he can remember to get it to his mouth. When he isn't sucking he is sticking his tongue out in the funniest ways. His tongue is very long, it reaches below his tiny little dimpled chin! Watching him and his million faces is one of my favourite pastimes these days but, it is the playing we get in before his morning nap that I love most. He laughs on his change table as daddy and I tickle his chin or kiss him all over. Speaking of kissing...I swear he understands what a kiss is. His tongue discovery has made my kissing game a little wet though. He actually drooled in my mouth the other day. I never thought I would think baby drool was a good thing but I'll take the drool if it means getting a humongous smile and giggle out of my little man.
Rowan's "gas" problem seems to be under control now thanks to Infacol which he gets when I have too much milk. I am glad that I can have cow's milk in my coffee now. I am nervous to attempt icecream even though I dream of having a big old soft serve cone from the "Chips and Dairy" down the street. Now look who is drooling. Damn!
On Thanksgiving weekend John, my Dad, his Dad and Brent started installing our fence. We agreed to do all of the work so that Geeta and Beatrice would not have to pay anyone for labour. While we knew that the soil around the house was bound to be full of garbage, no one was prepared for the amount of rock that was hidden beneath the ground. The men tried digging a hole or two by hand but gave up and rented a monster auger. It worked even though our neighbour who installed his fence entirely on his own (and who dug each hole by hand) said the auger didn't work for him. Even with the hydraulic power of a machine, the holes took the men 1.5 days to complete. Unfortunately we had an enourmous amount of rain and snow since that weekend and our post holes filled with water which has now created even more work for John and the gang. There is something to be said about paying a contractor for work of this nature.
The posts are now being put into the ground as I type. A construction grade pump and shop vac later, the holes have been semi-evacuated of water and it looks like John and his dad (with touque on his head) are figuring things out quite nicely. My husband is not known for his handiness. That's Dave's domain in this family. But, no one can say that John doesn't try his damnedest around the house. He is always ready to take on new projects and learn new skills. I am proud of him and his muddy jeans and boots.
We had Barb and Sue over for dinner last night. Because John was outside all day Hanan, Lila and Pauline came over to help me with Rowan so that I could cook and clean. It was very thoughtful of them and I appreciated having free hands. The little man is hard to work around sometimes and he slows me down considerably. I am not sure how I would have washed the floors on my hands and knees with him strapped in the ergo-baby. I think that the dinner was good and that Barb and Sue appreciated their official "Thank-you Dinner" and gifts. I am embarrassed that it took us this long to thank them properly for Puff, but we've been a little busy to say the least. I still wouldn't have pulled it off without the help I received. I wonder how long it will be before I am able to juggle baby, house work, entertaining, errands, my hair and make-up all at the same time?
Today Rowan and I are heading to SmithFalls for Shelly's bridal shower. He is dressed in his sushi outfit that I bought for him long before he was here with us. It was his first official outfit and I am glad it fits now. Actually, I am glad I tried it on today because it won't fit much longer. It is size 3-6 months and Ithought it looked big but apparently I have a large baby boy. John stepped on the scale with him this morning and he is roughly 14lbs at 8 weeks old. I have already forgotten how small he was at birth. Oh...my little squishy.
Stay tuned for pictures that go along with this blog...
