27.03.10
Posted in Micah at 9:38 am by Sarah
My baby is one. Correction… my almost-toddler is one! Either way, Micah didn’t really have any idea what was going on. He just knew he got to rip wrapping paper, play with boxes and eat (sugar-free) cake. And he gets to do it all again at his belated birthday party and dedication. 
It’s funny how his personality has emerged so much since he’s been able to get around. He crawling FAST and walking doesn’t seem too far away. He follows you around everywhere, especially in the kitchen because he knows that’s where food comes from. We call him ‘the seagull’ because if you have food, he’s there, trying to climb up on your knee and whining for your food. His food choices have become a lot more varied and exciting since the emergence of opposing teeth. Opposing teeth allow you to bite… and Micah takes advantage of that.
Micah LOVES anything technological (although we knew this early on when he wanted to play with our mobile phones) and will get his hands on anything with buttons or wires or electricity attached. As you can imagine, this is mostly uncool. This, along with the climbing as high as he can… are probably the most common causes for ‘removal’.
And we are also getting to see the not so fun sides of having a toddler as well. Micah has a habit, especially when he is happy or hyper, of hitting people’s faces. Doesn’t matter who it is at the moment… he’s just slappy. To add to this… if you have glasses you are likely to lose them within 2 minutes of being in Micah’s company.
With all this happening, we are now trying to get our heads around how to discipline a one year old. It’s a tough job considering we can’t be sure of how much he understands of either what we say or what he is and isn’t allowed to do. Although we aren’t against smacking, we are feeling that this just isn’t the time. It makes us feel terrible and Micah is just confused about what is happening. So we are sticking to an obvious display of disapproval, using the same key words eg: dangerous, naughty.. and removal from the situation.
It’s also been a time where we have been contemplating the fact that our kids don’t become sinful… they are born into a sinful world. Therefore we can’t have expectations that Micah will automatically be ‘good’… but that we will need to to teach him to be good. For college bible study next term we are going to be going through the study book for ‘Shepherding a Child’s Heart’ which is about biblical parenting. I have heard talks by Tedd Tripp before and I’ve started reading the book in preparation for the study and, apart from a hard line approach on physical discipline, he is very good.
The most recent thing I’ve read is about how many parents discipline based on the idea that the child has wronged the parent. Tedd says that a parent who aims to parent biblically should instead discipline based on the idea that the child has wronged God. This gives you an entirely different frame of parenting that is God-centered. So when you talk to your children you remind them of what God requires of them and why He has made you their daddy or mummy in authority over them.
This makes sense to me. But not having older children, I really don’t know how his advice works in practice. His theory seems sound, but we all know that things can be different in the heat of the moment. I’m guessing it would be hard work just breaking through the ideas that you have picked up from your own parents, plus outsiders expectations.
I’m sure I’ll be getting many insights from the other mums on what works and what doesn’t so I’ll keep reporting as we go through the study…
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02.02.10
Posted in Journal, Micah at 1:25 pm by Sarah
So we have been back from Malaysia for a total of 1 week. We were’nt really looking forward to that week because it was full of things – like Greek and sermons and dermatology appointments and Hebrew. Not a particularly relaxing week in which to acclimatise and recover (travelling with parents is somewhat exhausting – no matter how convenient the babysitting is).
And so in an apparent attempt to avoid that week, or perhaps to celebrate Australia Day.. and our homecoming, I broke my ankle on the stairs. Read the rest of this entry »
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16.10.09
Posted in Micah at 11:13 am by Sarah
The word that has been constantly on my brain the last few weeks? ROUTINE!
Shortly after my last post, things went very pear-shaped.. and I was reminded, once again, that with a child things never stay the same.
Micah had had his vaccinations, actually I’m not sure if that was the trigger, but it was around the same time and I needed something to blame. Suddenly the routine went out the window- Micah refused to sleep during the day. I kept everything else the same, feeds, solids, baths… but come bedtime, it was a fight.
Just to clarify: when I say ‘not sleeping’, I mean willful angry screaming when any attempt is made to put him to sleep, and constant whinging when I give up and let him stay up. This is hard to deal with on a good day. 2 weeks of it turned me into a quivering weepy wreck. It’s not just the sleeplessness, it’s the emotional toll, it’s having to hear your baby scream and cry and not knowing how to make it ok. It’s the fact that you can’t do anything! It’s the expectations that you give to yourself and fail to live up to, it’s the shame you feel when you admit your problems to someone else.
At the height of the woefulness I finally took action. I didn’t start enforcing a strict routine, call Tresillian or skip the country. I just sent some prayer request emails. That was actually a really hard thing to do, it felt like giving up. But later I realised it was something I should have done days ago… put my trust in God.
I sent those emails on a Tuesday. From the moment I did, I started feeling so much better. The dark cloud lifted.
We had a extremely busy weekend, and I knew that if things continued the way they were we were going to have to cancel altogether. But we didn’t have to. On Friday suddenly something clicked in Micah’s little brain and things were back to normal. God is good.
Since then things have gone from good to better. Not only has Micah started to sleep.. he’s started to have good long sleeps. Instead of 4 short sleeps he does two long sleeps. Our only challenge now is to get him to sleep in early evening. Evenings are still a bit of a battle where sleep is concerned – but I would prefer that to a week ago!
I should mention that throughout the whole fiasco that I was trying to keep up the encouragement to sleep through the night. And it’s paid off. We did it! No more 3am feeds!
And all this extra sleep makes for a happy chumbawumba.
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30.09.09
Posted in Micah at 7:05 pm by Sarah
I’m still getting over how many changes have happened in Micah in such a small period of time. If you really think about it, babies are only babies for a year… then they turn into toddlers. I can’t believe that his first birthday is in March – that seems like such a short time from now! The old adage holds – ‘they grow up so quickly don’t they?’.
Just a few months ago Micah was a very serious child. He smiled rarely and laughed never, but seemed generally interested in most things. Nowadays you’ll just glance in his direction and earn a huge open mouthed grin. He loves being thrown about the place and adores sky-diving/penguining/flailling on his tummy. He is even starting to ‘get’ the whole concept of peek-a-boo!
Poo has been quite a common topic of conversation in our household.. especially since Micah is now eating solid foods, often, three meals a day. I thought the change might be gradual over a few weeks. But no, we had a no show for two days and then BAM! We were indoctrinated into the world of the big-boy-poo. I am dealing with the smell so far, and quite honestly I am enjoying the ease in which you can deal with such poo… ahhh explosive poos are now thankfully a thing of the past! And that’s quite enough about that.
Eating is now in full swing. It has added another thing to the schedule which has been a little demanding. But I’m keeping on top of it by cooking a whole bunch of food up and freezing it at least once a week. We have been caught out a few times when we’ve been out and had to make it up on the run… with varying levels of success. But I am learning to cater for all amounts of hungriness when we’re out.
Now solids are now in the diet, I am attempting to tackle another challenge. Sleeping through the night is one of those things that easy for some and elusive to most. ‘Is he sleeping through the night?’ It’s the question that mothers (whose children are perfect and have slept though since they were 3 days old) and others (who don’t have children) ask to make us feel particularly human. Micah CAN do it… he has done it on occasion. But can he do it consecutively? This is what I am trying to find out.
He wakes up invariably between 1 and 3am where he will be quite easily settled with a cuddle. After this, it’s a little more challenging. The pattern at the moment is that he wakes at 4-5am and is unsettleable without a feed. Then he’ll sleep till 7am. So we’re looking at the variables. If we feed him more during the day will that help? If we double up his nappy, or perhaps a disposable?
I’m just wondering how long I should keep it up… ? These things do take a toll. How much sleep should we lose in order to gain sleep? This is the billion dollar question.
End mum rant.
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05.08.09
Posted in Journal, Micah at 3:23 pm by Sarah
- Watching Micah discover toys by squashing them, chewing them, and throwing them on the floor.
- Being able to make him laugh his cute little baby laugh.
- Watching him fall asleep by himself in his cot.. trying to fight those little eyes closing.
- Micah loving splashing in his bath and kicking his chubby little legs as fast as he can!
- The discovery of feet and how he can grab them/the nappy/his clothes/anything during a nappy change.
- That my little boy is the cutest baby boy in the world (I dare you to say otherwise!).
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17.07.09
Posted in Journal, Micah at 11:12 pm by Sarah
We’re back again from another trip away from home. These sorts of trips – especially trips back to my home town – remind me of a few things.
- Like that I really am a city girl now. I never EVER thought I would be. But just being away from Sydney now makes me homesick! I still panic at the thought of driving in the city.. and going to unfamiliar places. But I just love the convienence, the variety, the culture, the absolute cityness of Sydney. Small town stuff makes me feel claustrophobic. There’s always ‘talk’ about the latest disaster, death, divorce, terrible baby’s name. A walk down the street will mean bumping into 10 different people you know. Perhaps it’s because I’m wired in a way where I don’t enjoy visiting my past, rehashing old memories and events. I like where I am now. And where I might be in the future.
It kind of makes me wonder what the pull of a country town is. Perhaps I will understand when I’m older and slower. Perhaps I’ll never understand. Yet, people live that life and relish it. They love the familiarity, the closeness, the slow, easygoing, casual pace of almost everything. I know my Dad loves that sometimes he gets paid with a box of fruit, or a favour, or some antique wood out of an old house. My Mum loves the homeishness and being able to run her Bed and Breakfast with both lavishness and precision. My sisters are established with local groups of friends, and one is a passionate visionary, wanting to give the disoriented youth of the town a bit of direction.
We did discuss on the way home how varied Micah’s extended family experience are going to be. This was always going to be the case culturally (and hopefully he won’t have too many identity crises!) but also in the locations our families live. I really do hope that Micah will appreciate the joys of city life and everything we love about it, that he will enjoy the practically-beach-house that Haoran’s parents live in, but also get his hands dirty and discover the country existence and it’s quiet beauty.
- Like the fact that although I love my family and spending time with them.. that, you know… family is family. And you see your family in a totally different light to everyone else in the world. Once upon a time your Dad was the tallest guy in the world and your Grandad was the wittest person ever and your Mum made the awesomest baked dinner. Then as you grow up you realise that they are like everyone else. Not the the best, not the tallest.. but people.. human. My Mum still makes a mean baked dinner though.
It was also kind of interesting to talk with my newly married sister and her husband about family in relation to marriage. How the relationships change, how we pry those apron strings off and make new families for ourselves. It was good to forge that link of sameness, of solidarity.
- Like the joy of being home.
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12.07.09
Posted in Micah at 12:05 am by Sarah
Micah is getting to that age now where he’s really responsive to his environment and people around him.
It’s so special and rewarding to now get smiles in response to your voice and snuggles into your shoulder and goos back when you talk to him. He does an almost laugh (a huge smile without noise) when you tickle him and make silly noises. That love is so precious and unique and you just want to bottle it! I can’t wait until he can give little baby hugs .
Things tend to be a bit hit and miss at the moment. Micah can react really well to things like going away or going out at night… and the next time we try it – he’s a big fussy mess. He can be quite happy being held by people other than us sometimes – and other times the infamous bottom lip will make an appearance.
It will be an interesting next few months as I take on a couple of extra things – including some study at SMBC. Will I handle it? Will Micah handle it? Will Haoran handle both of us? We can only wait and find out.
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21.06.09
Posted in Micah at 1:01 pm by Sarah
I can’t believe it’s only been 3 months… and yet Micah has changed so dramatically. I was trawling through his photos the other day and came across the photos taken moments after he was born. So little and blue and squally. Now he looks like a true little boy.
His latest favourite thing to do is to smile at himself in the mirror. He can pretty much sit up on my lap without much support from me and play with my fingers. He hasn’t shown a huge amount of interest in toys yet.. but he’s started grabbing things (my sleeve, my hair… anything). When he’s happy he’ll ‘talk’ to you and stick out his tongue. He was also on the verge of rolling over for the last week… and today he finally did it!
3 months is a milestone for a few reasons. But the one that is always in the back of my mind is the SIDS stuff that gets drilled into you. The highest percentage of SIDS deaths happens in the first three months. So… now I can relax a little. Although I’m not sure if it’ll stop me getting up in the middle of the night to make sure he’s breathing.
I’ve heard parents say that ‘it goes so fast’ like a million times… but it’s just very true. If you think about how much they grow and develop in a year… walking, talking, eating… it’s pretty incredible.
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01.06.09
Posted in Micah, Projects at 12:57 pm by Sarah
The practise run…
The duds…
The results…
It took forever for me to get around to doing these! The footprints took so long that I didn’t have the energy to do hands as well… with the whole prising open tightly shut fists and all….
Ah well… fun times.
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21.05.09
Posted in Micah at 11:15 pm by Sarah
Apologies for all the posts on parenting… but as it takes up 80% of my brain space at the moment… hopefully I can be forgiven.
Micah is now 2 months old. He’s smiling, gooing and responding alot more when you talk to him. He’s gone from 000’s to 00’s.. (although it does depend on the brand of clothes). He settles easier now we know how. He loves his dummy for sleep time. He even has a favourite book – ‘Where is the Green Sheep?’… he smiles and goos whenever I read it to him. Although he is also partial to Paddington Bear!
I am loving how we get to see his personality shine more and more brilliantly. He has a new facial expression every day, a new sound to make, and new hurdles to cross.
Being a parent to a baby in the first few months is similar to the first few months of pregnancy where there is a huge learning curve. Pregnancy is more learning about how your body will change, how the baby will grow inside you etc. Parenting is learning about a new little person who is an individual.. who won’t necessarily react to life in the same way other babies do. You are learning about each other.. learning new skills, like feeding and sleeping and taking a bath.
Thing start becoming very automatic. Changing a nappy becomes a fine art. You must do it correctly or risk a leakage… usually on freshly laundered clothes – yours and his! Efficiency is also crucial – especially with a grumpy screaming child. And you also have to guard against ‘accidents’! Haoran and I calculated that between us we had changed about 700 nappies so far… that’s just crazy talk – and that’s only the beginning!
Also… the time during which Micah is sleeping is incredibly sacred. Choosing how to use that time must be done wisely. Housework invariably needs to be done.. if it isn’t done it annoys me now.. perhaps because of the increased amount of time I spend in the house! Facebooking happens whenever there is a spare few minutes… connection with the outside world is important. I like to get on the WiiFit as often as I can… not so often of late.. Enjoyable pastimes like sewing comes down the list – as does blogging. Time with Haoran.. playing board games and bible reading… is especially special now. This is all interspersed with the great production of Going Out… which is becoming a easier as time goes on.
A good example of prioritising happened this morning when I felt like I was coming down with something.. and felt exhausted after a tough night with Micah. The house was a bit messy and we were expecting a visitor for lunch. But in the end the housework waited while we both slept. And it was worth it.
Socialising is another thing that’s changed. I have tried to limit going out to once a day so as not to unsettle Micah too much and tire me out as well. This doesn’t always happen and it usually ends up badly . Going out with Micah during the evening just doesn’t work for us right now either. I would like to say yes to everything… but sometimes it’s wiser not to in the long run. In the last week or so I’ve managed to get out by myself a couple of times – and Micah even got babysat by the grandparents one evening! And although the time out is appreciated… I still end up worrying about him anyway. I suspect this will be an ongoing feeling!
And so the learning curve continues…
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