Babyrama: Noa Grace & Other Baby Stuff

Tummy Time 2

2006-09-09T11:46:00.000-07:00

After days of screaming episodes during tummy time where Noa would not even lift her head much less her upper body while on her belly, she now will stay propped up on a small pillow while on her tummy for a few minutes at a time. She looks around, assessing her new perspective, then tentatively moves one arm out from under her chest to reach out and grab a toy. Today, she grabbed and wrapped her tiny fingers around her Winkel, a teether/rattle with thin colorful plastic tubing that is easy to grab.

While tummy time in this fashion only lasts a few minutes before frustration and sreaming ensues, it is an amazing progression from her flat on the floor screaming episodes. Now, Daddy is slowly rolling baby across the carpet. At least that is a less risky skill than when he taught her to place her feet on his hand and push off. She then decided to plant her feet on my belly and push off leading to her falling off my lap when she was barely 3 weeks old. She still plants her feet and pushes off when I'm changing her diaper, another risky move less for danger but because of the potential mess.

I couldn't find my digital camera to take a picture of her propped up. Will have to find it because it really is cute to see her scoping her surroundings in her propped up tummy position.

Little Miss Grabby

2006-08-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

She is really grabbing ahold of things now! Pretty cool. We've been putting her on her playmat with a few toys hanging down but they were a little out of reach. She occasionally would bat at them but quite by accident or seem to grab for them but not really get a grip on them.

Then I added a few more toys - 3 little monkeys that hang down a bit lower. She is grabbing them and actually hanging on to their tails, batting them constantly and making funny noises. She reaches up, touches one with her hand, pushes it into another one - she seems to realize the relationship between two objects and that you can push them together.

She still loves kicking while laying on her back - good for relieving gas.

She is chattering a lot more, too. Making a lot of big smiles, too, and not just when passing the gas.

I think she has also learned to stick out her tongue in response to us sticking out our tongue. She may start it, then we respond, then she sticks hers out again after a big smile. Or we'll start and she often sticks her tongue out in response.

I'm liking this more interactive version of baby.

Baby Update

2006-08-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

Noa Grace has discovered her hands. She is now batting and grabbing at things - namely the toys dangling from her Fisher Price play mat (the cheapest one I could find - who needs to spend $80+ when $24 gets you something baby likes?).

She is also discovering putting her hands into her mouth and this morning edged her thumb between her lips - her first thumb suck. She is brilliant, yes?

Right now, her favorite pasttime is spending over 20 minutes under the archway of her play mat batting anything dangling close to her and kicking, kicking, kicking her legs.

She has also discovered how acting impatient can get her anything she wants - both Dad and Mom scramble to figure out what she needs or to hurry up and warm her food so she can eat. Anything the princess wants.

Other than the play mat, toys aren't really tickling her fancy yet, but we offer them to her to see what she will do. Mostly she ignores them.

She recently changed crying for attention to a whimper combined with a few loud sharp screams. Then she waits to see what happens, then does it again.

When she is hungry, she cries out continuously, distinctly saying "Hun-GER Hun-GER Hun-GER!"

Genius.

Day 5: June 24, 2006

2006-06-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

Sleeping Beauty

With Daddy

With Mommy

Day 4: June 24, 2006

2006-06-24T09:47:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to breastfeed (with warm compresses to relieve the pain...oh, the pain!)

Sleeping after breastfeeding...

Day 3: June 23, 2006

2006-06-23T11:44:00.000-07:00

getting gussied up for Baby's First Day Out

do we love the hat?

oh, you think I look cute in the hat? aw shucks!

I'm ready to go!

Maybe not so ready. what's with this baby car seat?

well, it's not so bad, I guess.

Out like a light.

Daddy shows Noa the local Wal-Mart.

back in the car to get to the next destination...

Denny's!

after a little nip of breastmilk, the baby is drunk.

Day 2: June 22, 2006

2006-06-22T11:42:00.000-07:00

Noa trying out her Papasan vibrating chair.

hmmm...do we like this or not?

oops! it's... vibrating!

Daddy multi-tasking

snug as a bug in a Bjorn

Daddy and Noa test out the Baby Bjorn

back to some good vibrations!

Here She Is...

2006-06-21T13:26:00.000-07:00

more soon...

Day 1: June 21, 2006

2006-06-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

welcome, noa grace!

2006-06-20T14:59:00.000-07:00

noa grace was born at 1:25pm Alaska time zone, weighing in at 7lbs 1oz. mom and baby are doing great. more info to come. (this is noa grace's aunt blogging)

Day Zero: June 20, 2006

2006-06-20T08:23:00.000-07:00

Some additional photos of NG's first day out of the womb...

And the hospital gave her a cake...

Origin of a Name

2006-06-16T09:24:00.000-07:00

In case anyone is wondering about NG's 5 names, here is a breakdown for curious minds:

Noa - We thought early on that the unidentified fetus in the womb was a boy, mostly because of old wives tales. I was carrying low, not high. I was craving spicy foods, not sweet, Fetal heartbeat was slow, not fast. The Chinese Gender Charts online all said it would be a boy. So we picked Noah as a name. When all sonograms began pointing to girl (3 lines between the legs instead of something resembling a "turtle" - their words, not mine), my sister suggested Noa - removing the "h" from Noah - to make a girl's name. The name is popular in Israel, as is my name.

Grace - Thinking of a middle name, I was toying with the idea of a Spanish name (my sister and I both have Hebrew first names and Spanish middle names). But we were also thinking of honoring one of our relatives. When I started naming them, Grace - my father's mother's name - just sounded wonderful paired with Noa. We finally decided on Grace.

Pascuala - When my mother heard that we were naming NG after my father's mother, she asked - very non-forcefully I might add - if we might not also honor her mother. The reality is that I was closer to her mother through the years. After much discussion with the hubby - who was alarmed at the growing length of NG's name - he finally admitted that he did like the name Pascuala and relented after I explained that it was only for the birth certificate and when she was old enough, she'd be able to pick and choose from the myriad of names we are giving her.

She also has a double last name - NOT hyphenated - combining my maiden name and hubby's last name. He, in turn, legally changed HIS last name to the double last name - went before the judge, changed all his credit cards, bank accts, etc. I wanted to keep my maiden name to honor my Dad and hubby also felt strongly that he wanted to do the same (even asked Dad's permission to do so). Now we both have 4 names and NG will have 5. Lucky girl!

Just checkin' in...

2006-06-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

We are waiting for the momentous day when Princess Noa Grace enters the world. And we are ready! We have all the latest and most advanced gear. We are either going to need a bigger house or get rid of some books or something. Love it! Love it! Love it!

The Proud Father

I feel you knocking...

2006-06-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

Well, about 9 days before the EDD of June 16. Dates schmates. I hear her knocking but my door hasn't opened yet. So she'll have to wait a little longer, but not too long mind you because we're anxious for her arrival.

I have to keep saying "but I'm not trying to rush things, of course" because I'm not. It will happen when it is meant to happen.

And nothing makes me want to draw on my deepest and most snarky reserves than when women say "I bet you just can't wait for it all to be over! I remember when I just couldn't wait..."

But instead of the snark I want to dish out at that presumptuous and stupid remark, all I really say in reply is, "No, I'm actually not feeling like I want it to be over. I'm feeling pretty good, thank you."

This, of course, is not what they want to hear and they follow up with, "Oh I just couldn't wait to get it all over with!" Whine, complain, bitch, moan.

Am I aloud to say "bitch" on a baby blog? Well, she will hear these things coming out of my mouth in due time.

Knock, Knock. I feel you knocking, and we're ready for you, baby!

Future Blog of Noa Grace

2006-04-29T19:51:00.000-07:00

This is the future blog of our soon-to-be-born daughter, Noa Grace. ETA is mid-June. (EDD 6/16/06).