Thursday, September 20, 2007

Chinese Jumping Bean and a Crazy Mum

I think I’m growing a Chinese jumping Bean! Bean’s movements have gotten strong enough now to be somewhat startling, actually. It feels like Bean’s jumping in there! It’s going to take a bit of getting used to. Rob’s been able to feel them from the outside a few times. These periods of activity don’t last too long – maybe 15 minutes - and they seem to have some regularity to them. I usually can feel them just after breakfast, again at around 11 – 12 or so, sometime in the afternoon or just before dinner, then again in the evening, 9 – 10 pm. Roughly, I think that’s the timeline. I had a bit of trouble sleeping the other night and noticed that I could also feel Bean moving around 1:30 am and 5:30 am.

Otherwise, I’m starting to feel a bit more ‘pregnant’ again. I’ve needed more sleep this week and catch myself out of breath these days with less exertion than is normal for me. It’s all very slight, very subtle stuff, but I notice.

I also notice that I’ve been obsessing over the stupidest things. However, this is quite normal for me and likely not a result of the pregnancy at all. Hugo gave me a massage and accupuncture treatment last weekend and I realized the dramatic contrast of the ‘before’ and ‘after’. I thought I was relaxed before – but clearly I wasn’t. I was extremely relaxed afterward. And, sad to say, I’ve just been ramping up over the course of the week despite my best efforts. Work has been busy, I reacted quite badly to some disappointing casting at PushPull last weekend and I’ve been nearly making myself crazy over trying to pick a bloody stroller. I don’t know why I can’t just be normal about this stuff. At least with the stroller, I can understand where it comes from – my inability to make a decision and yet prolong the torture of trying to make the right decision. I think I might have even found the specific flaw in my decision-making process which I need to try to correct. Awareness is the first step, though, right? All I can say about the rest of it is that at the least, I’m better this year than last and hope the trend continues.

I’ve also been reading this book: The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp. At one point he describes the innate ability of a baby to ‘calm himself’. According to the book, the easiest babies are the ones who, despite the enormous shock of moving from womb to world, are the best at calming themselves. He refers to that internal switch 'on/off' switch and the ability to control it for times of activity vs. inactivity, stimulation vs. calm. Apparently, by about 6 months of age all babies have developed the control to enough of an extent that they should be sufficient at calming themselves. So – as I’m reading this, I’m thinking, wouldn’t it be nice if I had better control of that switch? Don’t plenty of adults still have trouble controlling that switch? And does Bean even have a chance with a crazy mum like me? Could be trouble!

Last night Tiffany and I (mostly Tiffany) worked on my website and I think I’m going to really really love it! Also, we made Buttercream together. Fun, fun, fun!!

Oops! I just realized that I forgot to post the menu for this week! Here we go:

Monday -- Leftover pasta bake
Tuesday – Slow-cooker BBQ Pork Ribs, Spicy Tomato Parmesan Polenta and Squash
Wednesday -- Chinese mixed vegetable noodle soup
Thursday -- Trout with shitake mushrooms, tomatoes and ginger, rice, snap peas
Friday -- Eating out for date night
Saturday (Mum and Ron are in town) -- Homemade pizza and salad
Sunday -- Roast chicken, potatoes, carrots and steamed broccoli

Talk to you soon,

B.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

That baby that Dr. Karp describes is FICTIONAL! They don't shut off. They demand an entire litre of hot milky, and at least half an hour of James Taylor's "Sweet Baby James" on continuous play before they will even consider not screaming.

Or is that just my little angels?

Not bitter...

xoxo Sue

Karen Lew said...

Leave the shopping to the last minute. Then you can't spend more time on it than is warranted.

Karen Lew said...

Each time you "get used to" the fetal movements, they go up a notch. I.e., there is no getting used to them, which is actually pretty cool.

Anonymous said...

As your mother sits and smiles they only comment that can be made
is "payback is a b ". May Bean keep growing nice long skinny toes and heels that find comfort under a rib cage. Nana sits and smiles!!
PS stop reading baby books - each child is unique and can not be judge/raised through a book.
Mum/Nana