Monday night Sean had a fever, so tuesday we went to see the pediatrician since we were planning to fly out to DC on wednesday. Turns out Sean has a viral throat infection and the doc expected it to last about five days. So we cancelled our trip since Sean was feverish and cranky and there was no way we'd get to do anything in DC. Wednesday evening Sean's appetite returned and by thursday morning his fever broke. Thursday night Sean had a few reddish pink bumps on his abdomen and left cheek. We thought these might be due to the heat since we went to the Cockrell Butterfly Center. However, friday morning the rash had spread to his back and his right cheek. Within a few hours, they multiplied. I was freaking out since I thought this was chickenpox. The pediatrician called back and said this was not chickenpox (whew!) but still part of the viral illness. While the bumps don't seem to be itchy, Sean is definitely uncomfortable and fussier than usual. Today, they have spread to his arms and legs, but the initial ones are finally starting to fade.
We took Sean since we thought he'd enjoy it. He looked around a lot and squealed when a butterfly almost landed on Matthew. We'll definitely take him back when he gets a little older.
Can you believe this is located in the middle of Houston? The Center has the educational-museum-exhibit part and then there's this rainforest habitat where all the butterflies fly around. It's quite hot and humid: about 80 degrees and 80% humidity.
I finally found a growth chart for breastfed babies. On this chart Sean's weight (~9.6 kilograms) is in the 50th percentile. The World Health Organization released these growth charts in April 2006, and I found them on The Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition's website. And here is the link directly to the WHO website. What a relief! I don't think Sean is considered skinny by anyone's definition and using the CDC growth charts was like comparing apples to oranges (weight-wise). I think I will have to bring some of these charts to our pediatrician next time so other parents won't be unnecessarily worried too.
Today we went to my favorite sushi place for lunch. Sean usually eats tofu, but he didn't like it as much today. Still ate it, but he made faces the entire time. Also, he's not so gaga over bananas anymore. I guess those taste buds are a-changin'.
We went to the pediatrician for Sean's 12-month-checkup today. He said Sean is progressing extremely well developmentally. His head circumference was about 18 inches (80th percentile), height was 29-3/4 inches (50th percentile), and his weight was 21 pounds, 3 ounces (25th percentile). Sean's weight dropped off quite a bit, but the doc wasn't concerned since I'm petite. Plus, breastfed babies gain weight more weight during the first six months and less weight during the second six months. Also, breastfed babies tend to weigh less than formula-fed babies, and Sean is very active now. He eats a lot though, especially when Matthew feeds him on the weekends, and I can't imagine him heavier since my arms and back get pretty tired as it is. Plus, I don't think that he looks skinny. Do you?
I've been reading a bit on the vaccines vs. autism debate, especially after the Hannah Poling case. Apparently Hannah Poling has a condition that predisposed her to autism, but they didn't know that until after she developed it. And I know that there hasn't been any definitive link between vaccines and autism, but I opted for just one live vaccine at this checkup. According to the guidelines it's okay to give two live vaccines, but I just felt like Sean's immune system could better deal with one at a time.
Speaking of immune systems, the pediatrician warned me to expect Sean to be sick at least once a month for the first six months once we start daycare. He said that he has noticed that is true whether babies start daycare at 3 months or 3 years. This makes me want to let Sean self-wean instead of weaning him at one year...
Another suggestion was that we teach Sean sign language. It's supposed to help with "the terrible twos" since babies will be better able to communicate and be less frustrated during that time. Does anyone have any books or DVDs that they can recommend?
I finally found a playground for Sean. The equipment is smaller for toddlers, and there's a springy surface and a fence encloses the entire area (with a sign prohibiting pets from entering, so no doggie poo in the playground). It's not too far from where we live either.
I bought this sandcastle cake pan at Williams-Sonoma's after Christmas sale and immediately thought of Sean's first birthday. I used a pound cake recipe and unfortunately, some of the turret details didn't come out well because I forgot to tamp the pan before I put it in the oven to release the bubbles in the batter. Well, there's always next time... Maybe a haunted castle for Halloween?
I used brown sugar mixed with raw sugar for the sand. (The raw sugar didn't really make a difference, just got lost in all that brown sugar.) Then finished off with gummi candies in fish and shell shapes and milk chocolate rocks. Served with ice cream, of course!
I read Old-Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills and Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control. These articles are very reassuring. I have obsessed over just about every purchase for Sean since before he was born. Partly because I'm just that way; partly because I can in this day of instant online information. Maybe I'm also determined that our apartment will not be over-run with toys.
One of my concerns is the amount of marketing geared towards children. Every kids show has dolls or action figures, lunch boxes backpacks, cereal, a clothing line, and the list goes on ad nauseum. Is this what childhood is now? Developing little consumers...
I don't want Sean to be a bratty kid and I don't want him to be more concerned with things than people. Thinking back to my childhood though, I was pretty concerned with "stuff." Still am. Of course, I should probably set a good example by cleaning out my closet...
I just met a woman today who told me about her breastfeeding experience. She nursed her daughter for about 5-6 months while working full-time and was upset that she couldn't make enough milk to continue past that time. I tried to comfort her, but I'm not very good at that sort of thing and she said that she would never get over it anyway.
I'm amazed by moms who work full-time and pump for their babies. I'm not even working full-time and I can't wait to quit pumping at work. It's just difficult to find the time to pump when you're busy working. Plus, there's so much gear to lug around: your pump and all its paraphernalia, a cooler for milk storage, some water and snacks for me, plus my purse. And you have to find a place to pump. Personally, I refuse to pump in a restroom, sitting on a toilet. (Would you choose to eat in a public restroom?) And then everybody at work knows you're pumping and sometimes you have to deal with comments from people who don't think breastfeeding is all that great. I think my employer is breastfeeding-friendly, but I feel like I have to censor myself because formula-feeding moms may get offended. It's tough. A friend of mine is working full-time and plans to continue breastfeeding till her son is two years old. I think she deserves a medal!
As moms we are really hard to ourselves, aren't we? Sometimes, we're hard on other moms too. We're all trying our best, and half the time we don't know what we're doing. We're just hoping our kids turn out well in spite of our mistakes. I find myself reading everything I can about parenting (when did that word become a verb?), and I realized that it's because I'm used to everything having an instruction manual. So, I'm slowly learning to let go.
Isn't it pretty and cool? I guess we're kinda late to the game, but this is the first apple product we've ever owned. (Gasp!) Of course, I've already spent about 3 hours with iTunes downloading music, checking out podcasts, and just goofing off in general.
Sean's hair is getting pretty long. Sometimes it tickles his ears too (he was pulling/hitting his ears and we thought it might be an ear infection). But I'm a nervous about using a pair of scissors near his head, so he may be sporting a little 70's hair for a while. Or as one lady called it, "movie star hair." A friend said that she used clippers to cut her son's hair, but I'm not sure if we're ready for a buzz cut. What do you think: to chop or not to chop?
Well, it was actually this afternoon. We took a walk around the courtyards of our apartment complex. I've been trying to find a nice park/playground for toddlers. Does anyone have any suggestions?
