Nevermind

During Schuyler's first swim last week we decided to put some of our newfound baby erudition into practice by testing the dive reflex wherein very young babies will automatically hold their breath when taken underwater. Afterwards, i felt like maybe it was possibly a stupid thing to do. Research reveals that this is a pretty common thing done in Germany. And Germans have never led us astray in the past, so i feel comforted.

Special thanks to Seth for the use of his underwater camera and to Schuyler's first cousin twice removed for chasing down the photo.

Green Bouncy Chair

Schuyler's Dad humiliates himself with a version of 'Green Bouncy Chair' sung to the tune of 'Yellow Submarine'. Schuyler seems very interested given the mediocrity of the entertainment on offer.

a couple of firsts

Now that the water temperature has hit a barely tolerable 79.6 degrees Fahrenheit, we decided it was time for Schuyler to "sink or swim". It turns out she sort of does something in between. Her first swim was very successful - we even tested her diving reflex (more in a subsequent post). She wasn't too pissed off and almost seemed to enjoy it. She must be Bermudian.

In related "firsts" news, Schuyler slept through the night. Whenever i heard people talk about their child sleeping through the night i would always think that the child was now leaving their parents to slumber for eight good hours. But no. Apparently, the doctor defines 5 hours straight as "sleeping through the night". Only a doctor with their 48 hour shifts would define a full night's sleep as five hours but i have to tell you that it felt damn fine.

Sticks and Stats

A traumatic day for young Schuyler who had her two month check up today which included two injections to innoculate her against - among other things - polio and common infant viruses. She was unamused. The tears flowed. The new parents laughed and comforted. And Schuyler was adorned with Peanuts brand bandages which apparently condone the psychiatric services she will find so vitally useful in undoing the constant psychic damage we are doing to her.

She is now 23.1" long with a head circumference of 15"... so she's longer than most but with slightly smaller head (we didn't want a bigheaded girl anyway). She also clocked in at 11lbs 11 oz - I guess that breast milk really works.

Baby To Go

Sometimes Daddy just doesn't have a spare hand when heading upstairs...

The Plump Pink Smurf

If smurfs were chubby and pink, Schuyler would be able to infiltrate their clan and learn all their smurf secrets. This is her sexually stereotyped sleepwear and the hat that doesn't quite fit yet.

It's been quite a social weekend: last night, Schuyler stayed with her godmother/aunt Ardleigh while we went to Charlotte and Andrew's wedding. It was very odd to be "free" and temporarily childless for the evening as well as be around a lot of other adults. It was kind of like those stories of prisoners who are released and no longer know how to interact with other people. I guess we are becoming institutionalised so this break was great for us (thanks, Ard). I got to have a conversation that didn't involve the word "poop".

Tonight, Schuyler had French lessons... well, we went to Priscillia and Alex's house for dinner where the other guests gave Schuyler a taste of what true french (director from France) sounds like rather than her dad's vague memories and mediocre pronounciation. Even her "waaaas" now sound like "oui"s.

Schuyler had a little lamb

The lights are on and somebody's home. Where there was once only a basic need for food and cleaning, there is now a little person in those big (temporarily) blue eyes. Maybe there is an intelligent designer: just when the novelty generated enthusiasm of the first hard month wears thin, they start to smile (which I read as "Thank you for wiping my bum at 3am, Dad"). Moreover, Schuyler is especially smirky in the mornings which is lucky for her on mornings like this morning when she decided that she needed various bodily functions met at 5am, 6am and 7am. She's an enthusiastic, curious baby so far and not a whole lot of trouble (which is odd considering her parentage) and we're beginning to fall pretty hard for this little girl.

Some milestones

She's making more sounds and made the famous "razz" noise this morning which is the same one i think teenagers use for "whatever". She's much more focused on faces and recognises basic relationships now e.g. "I'm on the changing table now - I can chill" or "That is the burp cloth, I can end the baby siren - food's a comin'".

She also has reached for objects (with her mouth - the arms are still being test driven) and she can hold her head quite steadily and do some baby push ups.

Her eyes give no real sign what colour they will be. Some days they hint at brown (expected) and some days a green hue. Her baby hair is falling out leaving a very attractive 80's mullet in the back which we'll have to photograph for her 18th birthday party.

I've been reading to her still from the politics textbook and she strangely frowned during the chapter on dictatorship and fascism. It's a real comfort to know that she won't have lived through much of the Bush dynasty.

Beach Bunny

In an attempt to comingle exercise with an injection of normalcy, we packed up the little one and headed to the beach... well, to the pool. Well, the poolside. Still, we got in the water which is really what mattered. Schuyler played lifeguard from the distant poolside, offering cautious reminders about the hazards of skylarking near the water's edge. We kept her in the shade because of a minor debate about the appropriateness of sunscreen on infants (Baby 411 says "yes", What To Expect says "no" - what's a parent to do? Make up their own minds themselves?).

Now and then...

June 10, 2008
June 10, 2006

undercover

I've been trying to fully capture Schuyler's big open smile that she tends to reserve for the mornings (or for when she is ridding herself of gas) and i finally got one. Apologies for today's pic being so similar to yesterday's.