Dad cuts his beard (and is traumatized)

Dad finally gave in and trimmed his beard (for the first time since Oona arrived). The beard growth originally started as the result of sleep deprivation and the general exhaustion that comes with looking after a newborn. But as Oona grew, the beard grew and so too did Oona's interest in it. She would snuggle up under the beard when she was sleepy and grab and pull on it when she was playful. Dad became convinced that Oona would would not recognize him if he shaved, and / or she would miss the hairy mass terribly.

Eventually Mom couldn't take it anymore - it was becoming embarrassing to be seen with Dad in public. When Mom told Dad that he was starting to look like a grizzled old man,he finally gave in and trimmed it. Thankfully, Oona has taken to the civilized look - now she likes to lick the newly trimmed facial hair. Dad survived as well.

Oona has a technical sleep-through-the-night and routinely touches toes

Miracle of miracles! Last night Oona had her first technical sleep-through-the-night. Exciting, but not as exciting as it might sound, technically five hours is considered "sleeping through the night".

She can now routinely touch her toes - providing minutes (hours in baby-time) of entertainment.

Raff-i-licious - Oona's Current Playlist

1. Raffi
The undisputed  king of children's music. I'm not really sure whether Oona actually likes him, but I have acquired a serious Raffi addiction. Raffi helped me out big-time when Oona was first born and I realized I didn't know any children's songs to sing to her. Raffi is so great that he even developed a philosophy to help create caring, humane people. Its called child honouring and you can learn more about it on Raffi's website.

2. Dan Zanes

For the hipper-than-thou kids. Dan Zanes makes really cool music for kids and their parents too. His albums are a mix of folk-rock, alt-country, traditional American spirituals and even some reggae and Latin beats. He does both fun and "message" music, and definitely has a little bit of Bob Dylan and Woodie Guthrie in him (kid-appropriate, of course). He also does a version of the the spiritual "The Welcome Table" once featured on Strangers With Candy (definitely not child appropriate).  The New York Times Magazine,  said, “Zanes' kids music works because it is not kids music; it's just music—music that's unsanitized, unpasteurized, that's organic even.”Check out his website and click here to watch a really cool video on youtube.

3. Putumayo Kids

Putumayo Kids is a collection  of children's music from around the world. Their latest cd is Sesame Street Playground, with music from Sesame Street productions from around the world. It has some very cool songs, like Zhima Jie (Rubber Duckie) from China. Putumayo also has download-able Teacher Tools on their website.

4. Stardust by Willie Nelson

Such a sweet, sweet album. Oona and I enjoy listening to it at bedtime and on Sunday afternoons.

Grow With Me Spring Tea and Social

Today Oona and I went to the Grow With Me Spring Tea and Social. We had blizzard-like weather the day before, so the term "Spring" is used lightly.

Everyone was asked to bring along a baked good. I actually couldn't remember the last time I baked anything, so I was a little stumped about what to make. I had to find just the right recipe - one that was easy (finding time to bake with a young infant is enough of a challenge)but reflective of my tastes. I decided to make jam thumbprint cookies because they were one of my favorites when I was a kid, and also I remembered my mom said they were easy to make. I found a recipe at http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/poppy_seed_thumbprint.html . I made two varieties: organic apricot and organic strawberry. Mmmm. Two moms complimented me - I'll take that as success. Plus Dad liked them even though they were made with whole wheat flour and at least somewhat healthy.

Oona had a great time at the social, briefly holding hands with her little friend Dylan (who is just one-week older than her). Very sweet. Dad did not approve of holding hands with a boy.

Oona takes a pacifier and puts herself back to sleep - twice in one night (morning)

Big milestone for us - last night Oona finally took a pacifier. Babies have a sucking reflex that they need to fulfill. It was sometimes heartbreaking to watch Oona struggling for satisfaction pre-pacifier acceptance. Even though she can now get her thumb in her mouth most of the time, when she is worked up into a frenzy and most needs it her coordination is at its worse. So it was a huge relieve when she accepted a pacifier to supplement her thumb-sucking.

Most impressive, with the help of said pacifier Oona was able to put herself back to sleep while in her crib. Once at 3:30am and again at 5:30am. I am so proud of her. Hopefully we are all about to enter the road to sleep filled nights. Well, at least five hours or so.

Sweet dreams; four un-assisted turn-overs; one confirmed toe-touching

Early this morning Dad witnessed Oona having good dreams. At least, we suspect they were, because Oona was clearly in REM sleep and was smiling sweetly. By now we know the difference between a gas "smile" and a real one, so I am inclined to believe Dad's assessment. I have no idea what would constitute good dreams for a baby, but I suspect it probably involved eating or thumb-sucking.

Today we were also able to officially confirm the unassisted turn-over as an acquired skill. Oona completed four turn-overs in a row! She probably would have went back for more, but she had worked herself up into a frenzy over her lack of mobility on all fours and I decided it was time to move on to another activity.

With the unassisted turn-over well-established, Oona began working on a new skill: the toe-touch. Dad confirmed a toe-touch sighting during a diaper change. Today has been busy!

Daddy googles protruding tongue

Oona has discovered that she has a tongue. She is putting it to great use by leaving it partially hanging out of her mouth, making herself look like a baby baboon for about 70% of the day. Baboon is a good look for her. Very cute.

Dad was getting worried. He started imagining all sorts of strange things about the meaning of this new tongue business. He imagined that we would end up in the emergency room a week from now and none of the doctors would understand why we had failed to notice this obvious sign of severe illness. Clearly Dad is sleep deprived.

Oona Wins a Prize!

Oona and I went to our first meeting of the Grow With Me parent / tot group at the North End Community Health Centre. Thank God I checked their online schedule before we left
and spared Oona from being labeled a social pariah amongst the mom and baby set. According to the schedule there would be a green theme in honor of Saint Patrick's Day: all babies wearing green would be entered into a draw to win a prize. We frantically rushed around looking for a green outfit. Being way behind on laundry, we settled for the least dirty green clothes we could find - cords and a t-shirt. The luck of the Irish must have been with us because Oona's name was drawn! Her first prize ever: a zebra hand puppet.

The Unassisted Turn-Over. And Back Again!

Oona has been training like an Olympic athlete and all of the hard work and practice is starting to pay off. Today she executed an unassisted turn over from back to tummy. This was a big break through, but not wholly unexpected as she has been coming closer and closer all the time.

What was totally unexpected was what happened next. Upon becoming frustrated that her rattle was not moving to her mouth, Oona executed a tummy to back turn over. We have never practiced this move without total assistance and I was completely unprepared (and amazed). Oona appeared to be thrilled.

Both moves were completed unassisted only once today. Exhaustion from all the hard work set in and the remaining turn-overs were partially assisted.

The Double Ear Hold

Oona has added another yet-to-be perfected technique to her growing collection of self-soothing behaviors. The technique, the "double ear-hold", is a variation of the existing "ear-hold", which involves placing a hand over the ear with the option of jabbing fingers in. As its name suggests, the "double ear-hold" involves holding both ears. Thank God coordination is improving every day - but I am afraid of what is going to happen when she decides she wants to do the double-ear hold while attempting to suck her thumb.

The Names of Oona

Oonimal, Baby Bear, Pee Pants the Elf, Bundles, Chicken Little, Cranky Pants the Elf, Tickle-Toc the Elf, Chimpy, Chimpy Chimp-face

The Wheels On the Bus

Oona went for her first bus ride today. We took the #7 bus all the way across town. Watching things pass by the window was great. Stops not so great - they prompted some fussing, which inspired the little girl sitting behind us to sing "the babies on the bus go wah wah wah......"

I think that from now on the "Wheels on the Bus" song we sing is going to make so much more sense to Oona. She did seem to pay extra attention to the actions today.