the largest percentage of insecure infants are found in cultures that require the earliest self reliance ..., Sharon Heller
(found on baby sling website www.hugabub.com)
Tuesday, 22 February 2005
Friday, 11 February 2005
Today was a very happy day. Frunty and I went to Medicis (the medical building) for our fifth month ultrasound of Tiny Baby. We told the doctor that we did not want any results. Boy or girl, perfect or imperfect...we only came because our Dr. de V wanted us too and we want him to know the whole story. Well...the ultrasound doctor (Dr. Cos) told us we were "irresponsible" for not wanting to know and went on and on and on about how we should find out if something were wrong so we could prepare in more ways than one.
So I started to seriously think that something was actually wrong, what with the way she was going on and on about it. And finally she said, "but your baby is fine. Perfect. No problem." (all of this was in French.) By the way, I told her we were not irresponsible but she can think what she wants. I was almost sure she was going to tell us if it was a boy or girl but she didn't. Anyway, as far as she can tell, everything is just fine. She also asked Frunty's birth weight and thinks that Tiny Baby will probably be bigger. We shall see. And two ultrasounds now predict the 14th of June as the likely due date. We were on cloud nine after the appointment.
During the appointment, Frunty played with his plastercine on the ground and a little truck and a chop stick and had fun. I told him to look at the tv screen to see our Tiny Baby and he said, "cool". After he asked me, "feeling better now? Tiny Baby fine?" It really seems like Frunty is aware of what is going on and is a real sweetheart. Sometimes he asks me when Tiny Baby is coming out. He says "I want him". But when I ask Frunty if it is a boy or girl he always says, "guller".
What a great day!
So I started to seriously think that something was actually wrong, what with the way she was going on and on about it. And finally she said, "but your baby is fine. Perfect. No problem." (all of this was in French.) By the way, I told her we were not irresponsible but she can think what she wants. I was almost sure she was going to tell us if it was a boy or girl but she didn't. Anyway, as far as she can tell, everything is just fine. She also asked Frunty's birth weight and thinks that Tiny Baby will probably be bigger. We shall see. And two ultrasounds now predict the 14th of June as the likely due date. We were on cloud nine after the appointment.
During the appointment, Frunty played with his plastercine on the ground and a little truck and a chop stick and had fun. I told him to look at the tv screen to see our Tiny Baby and he said, "cool". After he asked me, "feeling better now? Tiny Baby fine?" It really seems like Frunty is aware of what is going on and is a real sweetheart. Sometimes he asks me when Tiny Baby is coming out. He says "I want him". But when I ask Frunty if it is a boy or girl he always says, "guller".
What a great day!
Wednesday, 9 February 2005
Today I have to record some very sad news. Our dear friend and neighbour, A, passed away a few days ago. A beautiful, young mother of 4 was overwhelmed by a rare cancer and the chemo that went with it.
Before we moved to Belgium, we saw her almost everyday, walking her kids to and from school and the patience she had with them gave me so much inspiration. When I was pregnant with Frunty, A cheered me up so many times and helped me see the humour not the fear in giving birth. Her stories made me laugh so hard. When we brought our newborn home, A sat on our porch holding him and gave me more pep talks. She was a very giving woman. She was kind and funny. We went to the Paddy's pub a few times, just women, and had some great laughs there too.
Today is A's Memorial Service. At least her pain is over. She told me once that she couldn't understand why she had gotten sick because she thought she had done everything right. She had had her 4 kids before the age of 35. She seemed active and very healthy. The way I saw her carrying around her children, I often thought that she was as strong as an ox both physically and mentally. So mixed with a deep regret are also disbelief and an inability to understand why this happened.
Before we moved to Belgium, we saw her almost everyday, walking her kids to and from school and the patience she had with them gave me so much inspiration. When I was pregnant with Frunty, A cheered me up so many times and helped me see the humour not the fear in giving birth. Her stories made me laugh so hard. When we brought our newborn home, A sat on our porch holding him and gave me more pep talks. She was a very giving woman. She was kind and funny. We went to the Paddy's pub a few times, just women, and had some great laughs there too.
Today is A's Memorial Service. At least her pain is over. She told me once that she couldn't understand why she had gotten sick because she thought she had done everything right. She had had her 4 kids before the age of 35. She seemed active and very healthy. The way I saw her carrying around her children, I often thought that she was as strong as an ox both physically and mentally. So mixed with a deep regret are also disbelief and an inability to understand why this happened.
Tuesday, 8 February 2005
Happy Pancake Tuesday!
I put Frunty into the jogger and met K at Cinq. Park for a one hour run. It was hard because I had gone running the day before and was tired but K was very kind to push the stroller the entire run for me.
Then Frunty and I visited the Airplane museum at Cinq. park which was really fun. We especially enjoyed the helicopters and the model airplanes in their little settings. After that we went to Sel and Sucre, a creperie.
I had forgotten that day that it was Pancake Tuesday but when we went in there, an Irish woman asked us if we were there because it was P.T. That was why she came. I said, "oh that's right!" Good timing. I just chose that place because it is close to the park and we like it. Frunty started with an orange icecream and cone and shared my mushroom crepe with me afterwards. Then we had a crepe au sucre for dessert and I enjoyed a cappucino.
Then we did some shopping and went to a new physiotherapist for pre-natal care. That didn't work out too well. She wanted to teach exercises to me but because she had a room full of balls/sticks, Frunty got too excited. I had brought him a train and his dvd player with Barney from Nonna. Normally that would have kept him quiet in the corner. (I know that here in Belgium, children should be seen but not heard...at least that is the impression we are getting over and over again...)
But how can you compete with balls of different sizes and sticks. We had to leave early because the physiotherapist was getting frustrated and made it quite clear. She said some things to Frunty and then to me that I did not appreciate. She clearly equates being good with being silent and being bad with being excited and happy. Even though her exercises seemed good, I think I will find another physiotherapist. She also said...
"you Americans, all you ever talk about are doing Kegels." First of all, I am not American and making sweeping generalizations like that is so ignorant. Furthermore, we are recommended to do Kegels during and after pregnancy and that is what I learned in Canada and it makes sense to me.
Finally, in my attempt to vent, she did not support my running. My doctor here does and that is one reason I appreciate his support. He says I am doing an excellent job and should continue as long as I am pain-free. I am 5.5 months pregnant and generally running very strong despite the odd run where I feel sluggish. Running slow is fine as long as I am not in pain.
So anyway...although this blog is about having fun with my Babies, it is also a diary for me to remember what goes on and not everything that happens here or anywhere else is always wonderful. But everyone knows that...including those reading my blog! I just say it to myself to keep it in mind.
I put Frunty into the jogger and met K at Cinq. Park for a one hour run. It was hard because I had gone running the day before and was tired but K was very kind to push the stroller the entire run for me.
Then Frunty and I visited the Airplane museum at Cinq. park which was really fun. We especially enjoyed the helicopters and the model airplanes in their little settings. After that we went to Sel and Sucre, a creperie.
I had forgotten that day that it was Pancake Tuesday but when we went in there, an Irish woman asked us if we were there because it was P.T. That was why she came. I said, "oh that's right!" Good timing. I just chose that place because it is close to the park and we like it. Frunty started with an orange icecream and cone and shared my mushroom crepe with me afterwards. Then we had a crepe au sucre for dessert and I enjoyed a cappucino.
Then we did some shopping and went to a new physiotherapist for pre-natal care. That didn't work out too well. She wanted to teach exercises to me but because she had a room full of balls/sticks, Frunty got too excited. I had brought him a train and his dvd player with Barney from Nonna. Normally that would have kept him quiet in the corner. (I know that here in Belgium, children should be seen but not heard...at least that is the impression we are getting over and over again...)
But how can you compete with balls of different sizes and sticks. We had to leave early because the physiotherapist was getting frustrated and made it quite clear. She said some things to Frunty and then to me that I did not appreciate. She clearly equates being good with being silent and being bad with being excited and happy. Even though her exercises seemed good, I think I will find another physiotherapist. She also said...
"you Americans, all you ever talk about are doing Kegels." First of all, I am not American and making sweeping generalizations like that is so ignorant. Furthermore, we are recommended to do Kegels during and after pregnancy and that is what I learned in Canada and it makes sense to me.
Finally, in my attempt to vent, she did not support my running. My doctor here does and that is one reason I appreciate his support. He says I am doing an excellent job and should continue as long as I am pain-free. I am 5.5 months pregnant and generally running very strong despite the odd run where I feel sluggish. Running slow is fine as long as I am not in pain.
So anyway...although this blog is about having fun with my Babies, it is also a diary for me to remember what goes on and not everything that happens here or anywhere else is always wonderful. But everyone knows that...including those reading my blog! I just say it to myself to keep it in mind.
Wednesday, 2 February 2005
In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but how many can get through to you.-Mortimer J. Adler
Sunday, 30 January 2005
Yesterday we went shopping after the Little Gym. Normally Daddy and Frunty go off on Sat. mornings for the L.G but the last two, I have come as well to do some filming and so that afterwards we can do some things. We were looking for a microwave as we think with a new baby in the house, it may be a lot easier and quicker to heat up stuff from the freezer for last-minute meals. We came home with underwear for Frunty!
Frunty wants to wear underwear, he says. It's Sunday and his first day ever of wearing underwear. I think that J got on the phone and told him he should wear underwear but I am not sure. He doesn't like a wet diaper and or wearing anything for that matter. But today he is happy wearing his new underwear (with dogs on them, paw prints and "woof woof") and we will see how it goes. Lately Frunty wants to use the toilet as well, not his potty. We have tried never to pressure him about any of this, just gently encouraging instead, and he sees what J is doing who is six months older and he tries to copy her.
We aren't in a rush about toilet training but if he does want to go to playschool he has to be just about toilet trained. We aren't sure about preschool for the moment. We are busy with the L.G and are starting back up with Mandarin lessons as of this Monday. We have been trying to get him to bed early. Currently Frunty goes to bed at about 8pm and sleeps through til 9 am or 9:30am. So we would have to revamp that too.
On the one hand, it is such a great opportunity for Frunty to be learning French and he definitely picks up a lot at the L.G. He would no doubt be pretty fluent in a few months if not weeks. And since we might not stay here, it would be a shame to miss that opportunity. Experts say that the capacity to learn will never be so great again. Well...we'll see how this underwear experiment goes.
Just now, Daddy said he was going to walk Mowgli so I quickly dressed Frunty because he wanted to go too after he grabbed 50 cents. When I put on his pants I reminded him that because he was wearing underwear, he would have to tell Daddy if he had to go pee pee. And Frunty said, in the most adorable way ever, "I know. It's okay, Mommy." There are moments that just could not be any cuter. And perhaps he'll forget as he is throwing one glass bottle into the huge recycling box after another, or bending down to pick up a little daisy that is growing into the sidewalk or trying to close someone's gate or climb up somebody else's steps. But who cares? He is trying on his own terms to do a very big boy thing and I am impressed!
Please remember that this blog is partly my own diary of events so that I may never forget all the treasured times we are having with our little guy while "Tiny baby" is kicking away too. This morning the guys said "hello" and other fun stuff to Tiny Baby who kicked in response. Once I have digested my oatmeal/bulghur concoction (yes, I eat this because it is good for pregnant women) piled high with raspberries to help it all go down easier, I will take Tiny Baby out for a run.
Have a great Sunday everyone.
Frunty wants to wear underwear, he says. It's Sunday and his first day ever of wearing underwear. I think that J got on the phone and told him he should wear underwear but I am not sure. He doesn't like a wet diaper and or wearing anything for that matter. But today he is happy wearing his new underwear (with dogs on them, paw prints and "woof woof") and we will see how it goes. Lately Frunty wants to use the toilet as well, not his potty. We have tried never to pressure him about any of this, just gently encouraging instead, and he sees what J is doing who is six months older and he tries to copy her.
We aren't in a rush about toilet training but if he does want to go to playschool he has to be just about toilet trained. We aren't sure about preschool for the moment. We are busy with the L.G and are starting back up with Mandarin lessons as of this Monday. We have been trying to get him to bed early. Currently Frunty goes to bed at about 8pm and sleeps through til 9 am or 9:30am. So we would have to revamp that too.
On the one hand, it is such a great opportunity for Frunty to be learning French and he definitely picks up a lot at the L.G. He would no doubt be pretty fluent in a few months if not weeks. And since we might not stay here, it would be a shame to miss that opportunity. Experts say that the capacity to learn will never be so great again. Well...we'll see how this underwear experiment goes.
Just now, Daddy said he was going to walk Mowgli so I quickly dressed Frunty because he wanted to go too after he grabbed 50 cents. When I put on his pants I reminded him that because he was wearing underwear, he would have to tell Daddy if he had to go pee pee. And Frunty said, in the most adorable way ever, "I know. It's okay, Mommy." There are moments that just could not be any cuter. And perhaps he'll forget as he is throwing one glass bottle into the huge recycling box after another, or bending down to pick up a little daisy that is growing into the sidewalk or trying to close someone's gate or climb up somebody else's steps. But who cares? He is trying on his own terms to do a very big boy thing and I am impressed!
Please remember that this blog is partly my own diary of events so that I may never forget all the treasured times we are having with our little guy while "Tiny baby" is kicking away too. This morning the guys said "hello" and other fun stuff to Tiny Baby who kicked in response. Once I have digested my oatmeal/bulghur concoction (yes, I eat this because it is good for pregnant women) piled high with raspberries to help it all go down easier, I will take Tiny Baby out for a run.
Have a great Sunday everyone.
Friday, 28 January 2005
Today Frunty and Daddy played trains while I went for a run. The light dusting of snow was gone when we woke up and it seemed mild enough to get out there. I decided to run to the Cinquantenaire Park to see how long it would take. It took about 10 minutes. I hope to meet K there for a run sometime soon. During the run, Tiny Baby started leaning on something which made it uncomfortable for me to run. After a gentle nudge, this Tiny Baby moved over graciously thus allowing me to continue running. I ended up running for an hour! I am so grateful that I can still run. The last few runs were uncomfortable and I almost thought my running days were dwindling down. But today's run has filled me with confidence and I plan to keep going!
