Edmund Playing with His School Friend
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). I have even toyed with the idea of writing a book about my love/hate relationship with NAEYC, but that's a story for another day. I selfishly hoped I would miss out on the NAEYC accreditation while on maternity leave, but I had no such luck. I wouldn't call myself a work-aholic, but I do strive to do my best when it comes to work. Shortly before Edmund's birth, however, I made a promise to myself that I would stop working outside of school hours. I assumed my director would be especially pleased with this, especially since she is often on my case about the amount of work I do outside of school. Unfortunately it appears I have returned to my old ways. This is not because I wanted to however, but because now the director is asking us to put in outside school hours to get ready for NAEYC. If we pass we will be offered a bonus, but I'd rather have the time with Edmund. At least I know the end will come sometime in late October.
Now that I've blown off some steam about NAEYC, it's time for the important topic--Edmund! Edmund is quickly acquiring 
new skills. There are days I'll think to myself "when did he learn to do that." For one, he has now mastered the art of sucking on his hands. You will recall that when he discovered his hands he would often end up hitting himself in the face. He now steadies his hands with ease. Once steadied, he brings his hands to his mouth and begins merrily sucking on them. He is also showing signs that he may forgo the pacifier for his thumb. Future postings will reveal his final choice. Edmund also prefers his hands to toys. I'll offer him a toy and he'll drop it in favor of bringing his hands together and waving them in front of his face. One day I decided to try this action to see what the appeal was, but I'm afraid it did not have the same mystifying effect on me that it has on Edmund.
Edmund is also consistently grasping toys when they are offered. He can even use two hands to manipulate his toys, and you guessed it, bring them to his mouth. At school I try to get pictures of Edmund playing with a toy, but by the time I have the camera ready he already has the toy to his mouth. I should also take the ti
me to describe Edmund's favorite activity at school. He absolutely loves the kick gym. The toy has a foot pedal that the baby must kick in order to get the overhead toys to spin and play music. Edmund gets so excited and kicks so vigorously it's hard not to laugh. My description can't do it justice. I hope to get a video before he outgrows the toy, which unfortunately will be in the not too distant future. The babies all seem to lose interest once they can sit up. But for now I simply wonder if Edmund thinks I bring him to school simply to kick the kick gym. When I look at how focused and engaged he is while at the kick gym I picture him as a little baby worker who must carefully time each kick in order to be productive at his baby job.
On Sunday Edmund will be 4 months old! Everyone says "the time goes by too quickly," and I have to say that "everyone" is right. I love watching my baby grow into a little boy, but wish his babyhood wasn't so fleeting. While my job can be exhausting at times, I have to remember how fortunate I am to be with my baby everyday. I will be present for all his milestones and it can't get better than that!
Edmund was the talk of the school in this outfit from his Great Uncles
Edmund Has Tummy Time with a Classmate
Edmund in His Going to School Outfit
(he peed on it before the end of the day)
So far Edmund has been quite the wonderful pupil. He is a happy little guy. It is only his third day, but to this point he has yet to let out a full blown cry. I wish the other babies would follow his example. I am not jumping up and down over his easy going nature at school just yet, however. It could be that he is simply taking everything in right now to one day drop his bomb of fury. Seeing as he has always been an easy going baby, he probably will remain happy. Pray that he does! Unfortunately a happy baby in childcare is a catch-22. It means he is the child everyone loves, but is often ignored because he doesn't demand attention. I try my best to talk with him about everything that is going on while I play with and tend to other babies, so he knows he is not forgotten. I have heard working moms say that they treasure time with their children so much more than they would otherwise. Even though Edmund is with me at work I feel the same way about our time together. Our afternoons have become very special. Afternoons and evenings are now a time to cuddle. So I will bid you all farewell for the evening as I go lavish my son with love and kisses.
Yesterday Steven and I put a sleeping Edmund in the car. When Edmund awoke he found himself in Lynchburg, VA where we had traveled to meet Edmund's Aunt Becca and to see his Grandma Kay Kay. When we arrived at Panera, the meeting place of choice, Edmund was greeted for the first time by his boisterous aunt. His initial reaction was one of confusion, although this seems to be his initial reaction to anyone new. Eventually Edmund decided Aunt Becca was very entertaining and gave her a great big smile. Edmund was ravenous after a two hour car ride, so Aunt Becca did the honors of feeding Master Edmund. As Edmund thinks the moon of anyone who feeds him, the two soon became fast friends.
After wearing out our welcome at Panera, we again loaded a sleeping Edmund into the car. When Edmund awoke this time, he found
himself wandering the Lynchburg Mall. Steven commented that there must not be much to do in Lynchburg if the tiny mall is the local hangout. I have a feeling he is right. While at the mall we made a stop in Baby Gap. I mainly go to Baby Gap to drool enviously over the miniature, trendy clothes. Edmund, or his mom as the case may be, hit the jackpot though because Grandma Kay Kay and Aunt Becca were present to spoil him. That's what grandmas and aunts do best. Becca helped to pick out an adorable argyle sweater vest, pants, and matching argyle socks. If Edmund wasn't the best dressed baby on the block he certainly will be now.
By the end of our tour of the Lynchburg Mall Edmund was again sleeping. The next time Edmund awoke he found himself in the Lynchburg Olive Garden. It occurred to me that a baby must get quite confused
if he constantly wakes up in a new place. That or he thinks that people teleport to get to their destinations. Just think, he went to sleep in Chapel Hill and awoke in Virginia. If only I could travel long distances without the monotony of a long car ride. We all enjoyed our time at the Olive Garden, especially Steven who claims it as his favorite restaurant. Edmund entertained our table by giving everyone his world famous grins. Eventually we had to say good-bye after an all too short visit. Edmund had a great time, however, and is already begging for another visit with his aunt and grandma.
My Mommy Makes Me Laugh
Last Thursday evening Steven, Edmund, and I headed to the mall. Steven decided to study in Panera since they have wi-fi and I wanted to walk Edmund around the mall until he decided to nap. If you will recall from an earlier blog posting, Edmund refuses to nap during the day. After walking around the first floor of the mall a couple of times Edmund was still wide awake. I needed a change of scenery, so I decided to take the elevator to the second floor. I pushed the up button. When the elevator opened I pushed the stroller into the elevator and pressed the button to close the doors. After about a minute the doors reopened. Edmund and I got off the elevator while making room for the next mommy and stroller to enter. We began our walk on the second floor, or so I thought. After walking 100 feet or so the stores seemed all too familiar. Edmund and I were again walking on the first floor. Edmund's very silly mommy had forgotten to press the 2 while in the elevator. We had stood in a non-moving elevator for a minute and I never noticed. Fortunately no one was around to see my blunder except Edmund, and for the moment he's not talking!
Edmund Sneaking a Nap in Mommy and Daddy's Bed
What surprised me more than anything was how exhausted I feel. At work I take care of six infants on a day to day basis, though somehow have never felt so tired. I wonder if perhaps it is because my baby now refuses to sleep during the day unless I am holding him. I vowed my child would be an excellent napper, before he was born of course. I have gotten somewhere in the range of 20 babies to sleep in their cribs for naps, but not Edmund. Edmund has a mind of his own, and is keeping his mom on her toes.
This week I've learned that as much as I want order I can't have it. With Steven here I could hand Edmund off and get things done. That's not the case anymore. Edmund is teaching me to be more flexible, but that's a good thing. In two weeks the two of us will make another transition, a transition filled with five baby friends and lots of new caregivers. Edmund will begin attending Chapel Hill Cooperative Preschool and I will start back to work as his teacher. I think Edmund and I can handle it, but we'll see if CHCP can handle Edmund and me!
Watching Edmund Sleep After 2 Month Shots
Last Friday Edmund went for his 2 month check-up. He now weighs 11 lbs 4 oz and is almost double his birth weight. He is in the 25th percentile for weight and his 22 1/4 inches puts him somewhere between the 10th and 25th percentile for height. I'm still convinced the nurses aren't doing a great job of measuring him, since I often get a good half inch taller when I measure, not to mention the fact that Edmund had apparently shrunk on his first pediatrician's visit. Edmund checked out just fine. He is all smiles and cooing frequently. He is tracking objects and faces very nicely. When the pediatrician got out the light to check Edmund's eyes, Steven and I both exclaimed "oh he loves lights." Apparently not this particular one. Edmund thought it was a bit too bright.
Unfortunately the 2 month check-up brings with it immunizations. Edmund was so happy playing on the examination table and smiling at the doctor and nurses, that when they gave him his shots my heart broke for him. The little guy had no idea what was coming. He had made some new buddies and then they went and stuck him with giant needles. He came through it just fine, however, and was given some neon band-aids to cover his battle
wounds.
After Edmund's doctor'
s visit we thought what better than to hand him over to relatives. His great Aunt Suzann and great-grandmother Nannie made the trip all the way to Chapel Hill from Owensboro, KY. They made quite a fuss over him even though he was making quite a fuss over the fact that he had just gotten poked in the legs. I have heard horror stories about the 2 month shots, but Edmund did quite well. He mainly slept, giving Aunt Suzann and Nannie time to hold him.
We spent the rest of our visit catching up. Suzann spent most of her time standing over Edmund's crib and watching him sleep. I know it made him feel quite special. Nannie and Edmund even took a short snoo
ze together. Steven got a picture to prove it. Edmund was certainly a king while they were here. Unfortunately for him, when Nannie and Aunt Suzann left, Edmund went back to being a mere prince
Edmund Playing with His School Friend
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). I have even toyed with the idea of writing a book about my love/hate relationship with NAEYC, but that's a story for another day. I selfishly hoped I would miss out on the NAEYC accreditation while on maternity leave, but I had no such luck. I wouldn't call myself a work-aholic, but I do strive to do my best when it comes to work. Shortly before Edmund's birth, however, I made a promise to myself that I would stop working outside of school hours. I assumed my director would be especially pleased with this, especially since she is often on my case about the amount of work I do outside of school. Unfortunately it appears I have returned to my old ways. This is not because I wanted to however, but because now the director is asking us to put in outside school hours to get ready for NAEYC. If we pass we will be offered a bonus, but I'd rather have the time with Edmund. At least I know the end will come sometime in late October.
new skills. There are days I'll think to myself "when did he learn to do that." For one, he has now mastered the art of sucking on his hands. You will recall that when he discovered his hands he would often end up hitting himself in the face. He now steadies his hands with ease. Once steadied, he brings his hands to his mouth and begins merrily sucking on them. He is also showing signs that he may forgo the pacifier for his thumb. Future postings will reveal his final choice. Edmund also prefers his hands to toys. I'll offer him a toy and he'll drop it in favor of bringing his hands together and waving them in front of his face. One day I decided to try this action to see what the appeal was, but I'm afraid it did not have the same mystifying effect on me that it has on Edmund.
me to describe Edmund's favorite activity at school. He absolutely loves the kick gym. The toy has a foot pedal that the baby must kick in order to get the overhead toys to spin and play music. Edmund gets so excited and kicks so vigorously it's hard not to laugh. My description can't do it justice. I hope to get a video before he outgrows the toy, which unfortunately will be in the not too distant future. The babies all seem to lose interest once they can sit up. But for now I simply wonder if Edmund thinks I bring him to school simply to kick the kick gym. When I look at how focused and engaged he is while at the kick gym I picture him as a little baby worker who must carefully time each kick in order to be productive at his baby job.
