Development

Well it's been a little while since my last post. I have cleared the 6 week mark without any troubles. I think the best thing is my new trick. I have discovered these wondrous things called arms. I have discovered that if i wave them around in a more of less non-random way I can make the colourful blobby things move. This provides me with abundant distraction, and I also think mum and dad are entertained by this.

Showertime

One of my favourite times of the day.
Regardless of how tired or sore I feel
Going into the shower
Hearing the taps turned on and
Feeling dad close to me
I go quiet
I go limp
I stop struggling and
Relax into the arms holding me
I calmly contemplate the warmth

Photo Update IV

Here are a couple more photos from my recent visitors. Thanks to Marg for taking these shots.

More Visits

Well life continues along pretty well. I have passed the 5-week mark with very few problems. Mum and Dad are trying to get me into a new routine, which I don't like. Although I get all worked up about being in bed during most of the day sleep-times, but I conk-out overnight. This give the parents between 3 and 5 hours sleep in one hit. So, my generosity being limited by my size has meant that I am now having a gripe about everything. Only two things seem to make me quiet at the moment - food and cuddles. Anything else and I will complain.

I did get to meet my other Grandma this week and my Aunty. We had a great time (as far as I am concerned). I got lots of cuddles and being the centre of attention suits me to a tea.
Here is me with Aunty Jac having cuddles. We got a long just fine. Jac got to feed me a couple times. I didn't want to burp for her though. I did enjoy meeting her.













Here is Marg and I discussing the upcoming election. I think that there just aren't enough tax breaks for babies and neither of the major parties are pandering enough to the infant and neonate lobbyist groups.












A rare shot of all the McAteer ladies together

P.S. A special thank-you goes out to all those people that sent me some presents, so here goes...

Big wet baby kisses go to:

• Phyllis
• Sharon, Scott and Brendan Taylor
• Marg
• Joanne
  

I hope that my baby brain has got all the names right... that's all for now.

Photo Update III

Tummy time... although it doesn't look like I am doing much, this takes a lot of effort. But I am getting used to being put this way, I can wriggle around and lift my head for nearly 5 minutes at a time. Then I get grumpy.









Saturday morning just before breakfast. One of the denizens that protect under my bed from any maleficent beings that may be wandering around just happened to find it's way into bed with me.









Dad and I contemplating what to watch on the interweb

Changes v2

Since the last trip to the MCH nurse mum and dad are trying to make a few changes to the daily routine. Main problem is all the guesswork they have to do. But slowly I am adjusting to the changes. Gone are the regular 3 hourly feeds. They have some kind of strange desire to both be asleep at the same time, and are trying to get me to sleep then also. I don't know if this is a good idea. I did give them a 5 hour break on the first night of the new routine, but to compensate I kept everyone awake for 2 hours after the 3am feed (including Pip). Next night I only gave them a 3 hour break, but I was out for the count within an hour of waking. I think that if I complain enough they will realise that I am getting 1 less feed during 24 hours. All in all I am a little tired, as you can see from the bags under my eyes.

Week 4 Report Card

The new parents group (NPG) meeting was all a little boring for me. Right near the start I decided to do a really big poo in my pants. When mum and dad got to change me it was a mess and I decided to wizz all over my new outfit (Aunty Ann: it has now been christened). So planning and forethought was good, there was an entire change ready to go. However, my little surprises weren't done yet. While the MCH nurse was trying to check all my numbers i thought it prime time to wait until I was naked and pointing in a completely inapropriate direction and wizz all over everything in reach. So Dad's only clean jumper, the only warm one left, was now ready to be washed again. Maybe he should have just worn the sick-covered one to the NPG.But that is just the events of the day. The check-up went well. I have moved out of the ultra-midget class and the gnome class is nearly gone - 4.004 kg (8 lbs 13 oz). That means in the two weeks since the last measurement i have put on 610grams (21 oz). This all means I am getting bigger, heavier and enough to eat. The other numbers were my length, which is now up to 54.5cm top to toe (21.5 inches). Also my head is now 1 whole centimeter more round (35cm circumference (14.2 inches)). There are suspicions that my smaller head size takes after mum, rather than dad's big-head.


P.S. For those of you that want some more specificity in weight conversions, want to know if Erik was a diamond, how many carats he weighs, or something much simpler, like his weight in koku (the way the Japanese would pay their samurai in rice), or even how many Ancient Roman scruples he has. Check this out...

http://www.convert-me.com/en/convert/weight

4 Weeks Today

Today has a few things happening. I have been a little topsy-turvey in the last few days. I sleep like a baby during the day, even up until midnight. But from about 2:30am I am awake a ready to go. Or just cry a lot so that no-one can sleep. Maybe it's just a growth spurt happening. Maybe little wind. Or maybe I just think everyone has the day around the wrong way: when the sun is up it is sleep time, ok? No wonder Pip is still trying to deal with the new not-so-clever kitten-like thing.










A new adventure for us today. There is a new parents group starting today at the maternal and child health centre. Will see what that is like. It will give us all a chance to get out and about. I am sure to fit right in with this kind of outfit on.The only other plans for the day is the visit to the MCH nurse to see if I have grown and if I am doing all the "normal" baby things.

More Skillz

I am trying out a new trick. I think it has some potential for parental entertainment. I was lying down after a feed and looking around flapping my arms and wriggling my legs. Mum was talking to Dad about stuff that goes beyond the real needs of life (i.e. something other than food or sleep) when I decided that I would turn my head and look in the direction of where mum was moving. A new min-milestone in the expanding life of Erik!

More pics soon.

Grown-Up Skillz

Here I am practicing sitting up in the couch all by myself. Pretty soon my plan for world domination by cuteness will prevail!

Photo Update - Busy Busy

So, I have had a few visits in the last few days. Got some new clothes and a new toy.... notmuch to say, made it past the 3 week mark. I am getting heavier. My skinny thighs are getting a little more filled out. But, who wants talk when you can just see...

New Hat!!
Grrr... tiger.
Or maybe,
Oooo.. tiger

If you can believe it, these little fingers of mine are getting chubby now!

A visit from my Auntie Ann... I liked her lots. Slept in her lap for hours. Then when she left I decided to cry at Dad, being a big meanie pants for changing my pants.

Changes

Some new things are afoot, and it does have something to do with my feet. I think for the first time ever, I have officially out-grown one of my outfits! It seemed like only last week that my arms barely made it down the sleeves and my feet were more like knees in the legs, but now... i can't even stretch my legs out properly. It would appear that my growth spurt has begun.

I am also letting mum and dad have a little more rest at a time, I can go up to 4 hours between feeds now. So my demands are changing also.

The other news is that we all took a trip down to the Northcote town hall so that mum and dad could get injected with pertussis! Eww... but it's so they don't give me a nasty disease. I am still to little to get my own injection yet. Anyway, I slept for the entire time we were out.

New pics again in a short while.

Gramps

I had a visit from my Dad's parents today. I think Grandma was very happy to see me. Grandad looked like he could use some more practice holding a baby, but I felt safe and relaxed. I got a new present - A hat! WooT! I now have an awesome collection of hats to wear. One for any occasion. I did sleep for most of the time they were here. Grandma did get to feed me from a bottle, which was nice.

















Three generations in one room...

Photo Update - Captions

Shopping

Well that was a novelty. Mum and Dad took me outside to do the shopping. I got strapped into the harness and we braved the cold to go get some food. I was pretty quiet most of the time. Just a few snuffles and snorts. The check-out-chick was very appreciative of my immense cuteness. I suspect that she opened the isle just for us to get through faster. I don't think Dad was too impressed with the lady pushing a full trolly into the 12-items or less lane. By the time we got back I think it was time for all of us to have a snooze.