Day 285 - 9 months, 11 days - Rolly Polly

I've started using a full face mask CPAP machine. I must admit that I have more energy. I don't get tired driving to and from work. The little screamer still wakes up during the night. I've got this routine down, but when a distraction happens, the crying just seems forever.

After J-Chub's 9-month appointment, we were told we could feed him regular food, minus peanuts and light on the omega-3s, We bought him chicken noodle. We mashed up the carrots, chicken and noodles, but he just was not taking it. We also started him on Gerber green beans, which he ate up the day before. We believe that his Hep-B and flu shot might've given him a bug. So, for maybe 7-8 days, he was literally peeing out his butt. We tried giving him as much water as he could take. We fed him normally for those days, but the only food he'd open his mouth for was Cheerios. I didn't enjoy it, but I would scoop some green bean and place a Cheerio on top. It worked for a while, but he knew he was being tricked. I really didn't like holding a Cheerio up to his mouth and putting a spoon full of green beans in. Each time, I gave him that Cheerio. The best part of this whole experience is that he didn't seem out of it. He did sleep a lot more, due to the fact that he was using all his energy to poop. The worst parts were each morning finding out that he pooped so much, it just got everywhere...his pajamas, blankets, toys, etc. You just need to be patient, and realize that your child is the one who is going through it. As a parent, you will support him, clean him, and tell him every day that he's going to be better.

Experiences help us get through it the next time it happens.

When I get home from work, he gives me a huge smile when he sees me. Coming home to my wife and son is a great feeling. Knowing you have a family to go home to. A little different when you were the child growing up and getting to hear the front door open when Dad and/or Mom came home from work. Now I'm the one that comes home and gets to relax with my loved ones.

I cherish every day that my wife stays home caring, raising, loving my son to pieces. It's not easy to do this, I could only imagine. Appreciate every day I get to teach my boy something new or old. I wish he'd let me hold him, instead of wanting to roll over and climb up my body, or play with my face.

:)

Day 225 - 7 months 14 days - Losing the routine

Nothing beats waking up with my baby boy screaming for his morning fix. Last night, we got the bed while Mommy slept on the couch. He's been taking short naps which seem to regenerate this energy that completely wipes me...us, out.

A lot of milestones keep popping out of nowhere. Crawling, sitting up, falling, and standing. He is standing before he gets the crawling down. First things first, get the crawling down, range of motion, multi-tasking with the arms and legs. Right now, he attempts to crawl, successful at times, but likely face plants. He's sitting up on his knees, popping up and down like he's going to shoot up or across the room.

Feeding him is quite a challenge. For a couple weeks now, the spoon goes in, and the spoon goes out, along with his sweet potato, or banana, or apple sauce. I seem some improvement, but the facial expressions are priceless. Don't give up, I tell myself.

Seven days ago, my birthday was very different. I didn't get to sleep in. I didn't take off work. I woke up normally as if it wasn't my birthday to change his diaper, feed him his milk. The routine wasn't going to change since it was my birthday, it was the fact that I was not only a husband, but a daddy that made me appreciate this birthday. I love my wife for giving me this gift. I think back to the movie Hook. The vision of my wife holding my son would give me that joyous feeling to make me fly.

Hopefully next time I could talk about the poopy diapers. :o]

Fast forward to Day 200

200 days ago I became a father. It's what I've wanted. To idolize my own father because growing up, I didn't have any grandpas or lolos to raise me. I had uncles, but nothing beats my one and only Dad. Will my son look up to me like I did to mine? I hope so. My wife and I made this little person. He's cute, bouncy, playful, full of smiles, but not in public. I could go on and on about my son, but I won't.

First time dad. 200 days of fatherhood and in 4 days, it'll be my first Father's Day. I've always just waited for my brothers to come up with a plan for this day. It was always fishing, a nice restaurant, or just hangout with our dad. Now I'm part of the center of attention. In my mind, I could just lock myself up in my house and spend the whole day with my wife and son. I wouldn't mind a 6 hour nap, but that's not going to happen. I honestly don't know what I'd like to do. It's like my birthday, I don't know what I want to do. I'm old enough to not care too much about my birthday, but it won't go away, so something's going to happen. I'll be x7 years old. Yeah. Not a spectacular age...

To the first-time Dads, by now you probably changed over 1,000 diapers, at a total of 5-6 hours of sleep (not at one time), and many more exhausting tasks that for some reason, you always have energy to do. I've attended all my son's doctor's appointment, even when I was just going in for a weight check. My son is a small butterball of a boy, but he'll grow...I did.

More later, time for lunch.