The changes that occur in the first few months of a human life are amazing. Although the changes don't seem so drastic from day to day, in the course of 1 months we can really see all the developments in Benjamin. We definitely don't have a newborn anymore.
First of all Benjamin is all stretched out. The fetal position has been traded in for a lot of kicking and batting with his arms. Also he has become a lot more alert. His eyes can focus on faces and objects for a long period of time and he has a sparkle in his eyes when he catches yours.
His "langauge" has also improved. Going from only making crying noises, to now making small whimpering noises or coos. He also makes small laugh like noises, but they are definitely not full out laughs just yet.
Sleeping continues to be the focus point of the day. Benjamin is still only awake for about 5-6 hours a day, and that is including feeding. He takes a 4 hour nap in the morning and often times a 3-4 hour nap in the afternoon. He is then awake for a few hours before taking shorter naps during the evening and finally crashing for the night around 9 or 10 after a feeding. This later bedtime has been wonderful as it means that Mommy can get more hours of uninterupted sleep. Benjamin has been waking up between 2:30 and 4:30 for his next feeding, so that gives anywhere from 4-6 hours of non-stop sleep for us!
I have started in a mother's group again this time, and they have yet to meet Benjamin, as he has been sleeping the entire time both times we've met!! We have found out that he sleeps best if he is not given his pacifier, so we just take a short 5 minute walk with him in his carriage and then he sleeps for those long stretches. Definitely worth it...even in bad weather!
Some other facts
1) Sleeps in his bassinet for all naps and at night
2) Spits up only a small amount after each feeding--he is a balanced eater and stops when he is full.
3) Feedings only take 10-20 mintues
4) Can follow objects with his eyes
5) Enjoys looking at the car mobile above the changing table...especially when it is moving
6) Has started noticing his hands---he stares at them in amazement and they often find his mouth.
7) Likes to lay on his activity mat and stare up at things that are hanging, or just the colorful sides
8) Rides in the bike trailer on the way to pick up Silas
9) Is very popular at preschool. Lots of the kids come up and want to hold him and give him hugs. They say that he is "dejlig"!
10)Wears size 62 clothes---3 month shirts are definitely not too big either!
11) Weighs 6.7kg (14.7lbs) and is 60cm (23.6inches) long
Børnehave---this is the Danish term for what I've decided can most closely fit the description of preschool. Yes, Silas' world has suddenly become much larger. 2 weeks ago we said goodbye to our fantastic daycare mother who Silas has spent many days with the past 2 years. It was an emotional rollercoaster for me to say goodbye to Margit as she has been such a big part of ours, and Silas', lives these past 2 years. She has taught Silas so many things and really cared for him as one of her own family memebers. She made a fantastic scrap book for Silas with pictures from their everyday activities and a whole section with notes and lyrics for Silas' favorite songs. The first 2 days after Silas got the book he spent actual hours looking at it and singing us all the songs. We were so impressed to hear that he knew so many songs and all the verses for them as well. We thank God so much for giving us such a wonderful woman to take care of Silas, and we are so glad that we are able to have her again for Benjamin this fall!
Anyway, it is the culture here that when a child is around the age of 3, they switch from daycare to a larger, more institutionalized daycare option. Børnehave. So at almost 3 years of age, it was time for Silas to "move on." We have not been nervous about the switch, as Silas is quite independent and social and likes new challenges, all of which he gets to continue to develop in Børnehave.
A few weeks before his starting day, Margit, and all her daycare children, went to visit Silas' new preschool. They participated in the morning routine, were given a tour of the facilities, and got to play with the toys in the RED ROOM, where the youngest kids start out. Another one of Silas' friends from Margit's house, Emelia, was to start preschool the same day as Silas, so it was a great trip for them both.
The following week, Søren and I went with Silas to visit the preschool and officially meet the leader of Silas' RED group. We were given information on how the upstart would take form and also got a little tour of the place. It was fun to see Silas kind of show us some of the things he had seen during his visit with Margit. He especially liked to show us the small toilets in the bathroom, and the refrigerator where their pack lunches go.
Monday March 3rd came and Silas was ready to start. He was super excited about bringing his new Lightning McQueen lunch box with, and helped me make his lunch. Søren brought him there the first day and stayed for an hour and a half joining in on the morning rituals. We picked up Silas again after lunch where we found him sitting at the table talking to some of the other kids from his group. He called them by name and said "see you tomorrow". It was comforting to see him already adapting to his new environment.
The past 2 weeks have gone really well. Silas cries most mornings when Søren says goodbye, but the workers assure us that less than 1 minute after Søren leaves, Silas is happy and playing with the others again. It helps that he gets to wave goodbye in the window. Silas especially likes playing outside and I find him there every afternoon when I pick him up. Silas has come home singing many new songs he has learned and can perform them along with all the actions. He sleeps in the music room on a mattress with 14 other children. It has gone well most days, but some days he hasn't really slept much, but luckily he hasn't seemed too effected by that.
I personally think it is so strange to pick up Silas in the afternoon and find him often just playing in a corner by himself or with some of the others, with no adults super close by. We also get a lot less information about what they have done during the day, so that takes som getting used to. I guess this is all just part of the next step in Silas becoming an independent person. We are happy to see that Silas enjoys being there and likes to tell about his day when he comes home.
On Friday it was Father's Day at the preschool and Silas and Søren had a fun morning together. It was great to get to hear about how a normal day is for them and Søren got to experience it first hand. We feel it is a great preschool with lots of caring workers, so we are certain it will be a good match for Silas.
Pictures from his first day---off he goes with his lunch in hand!
A walk in the woods (Silas is apparently always running ahead, so he is not in the picture here!)
Playing in the Red Room
Story time with the Red Group (See Silas' blonde hair on the left side)
There are lots of traditions around Lent time around the world. Mardi Gras, Carnival and here in Denmark it is called Fastelavn. The tradition is that children dress up and go door to door singing a song about how you want candy or you will make some trouble. (Much like Halloween...trick or treat) The tradition also includes various Fastelavn parties, where kids dress up, eat special cream-filled rolls and take turns hitting a wooden barrel until candy flies out.
Our church throws one of these parties every year and this year Silas was present, dressed up as Handy Manny. It was fun to see him get excited about his tool belt and to play at the party. He really enjoyed hitting the barrel, and did a good job waiting his turn in the long line of kids.
It's a fun way to start of this speicial time before Easter....a time of waiting and focus on the miracle and sacrifice of Easter.
I refuse to fall victim to the 2nd child syndrome...where the baby book, pictures, videos of child number 2 become much less if not non exsistent. Therefore it is my goal to post monthly updates of Benjamin's first year...as with Silas the first one is a little late, but better late then never.
BENJAMIN 1 MONTH OLD
When people ask us how it's going with Benjamin, and if he is an "easy" baby, Søren and I look at each other and immiediately answer..."It's going SO well, he is such an easy baby." Yes, this is probably due to the fact that Benjamin is an excellent sleeper. In the beginning he was basically sleeping all day, and now at 5 weeks he is still sleeping all day. His "routine" is a 3-4 hour nap in the morning, awake for an hour and then another 3-4 hour nap in the afternoon. Around dinner time he wakes up and is awake for a few hours before crashing for the night at around 8:30 pm. He sleeps best in his baby carriage just outside our front door.
At night Benjamin sleeps from around 8:30-1am in his baby basket. While/after feeding, he and I usually end up falling asleep and just in the past few days I have been able to lay him back in his basket afterwards where he sleeps until 4 or 5. Most days he falls right back to sleep after that feeding and sleeps until between 7:30-8:30, where it all starts over again. So yes, he sleeps A LOT!
(The above "rountine" is how it has been the past week. The first few weeks contained just as much sleeping, but it was mostly in our arms. He did not want to sleep in his basket and woke up, from what we thought was a deep sleep, almost immediately upon being laid down there. At about 3 weeks we started walking with him and thats when he started sleeping in his carriage for longer periods. Now we don't even have to walk with him, we just bundle him up in his fleece suit and he almost falls asleep instantly.
Other "traits":
- In the middle of a meal, Benjmain gets a burping break where he burps 2 times and then gets the hiccups.
- At 3 weeks old he had a few nights where he slept 5 hours straight at night.
- Started taking regular naps outside at 3 weeks. (3-4 hours)
- Would only sleep at night in bed with us...but that is slowly changing.
- Makes a lot of CRAZY noises, especially at night. You would think he is wide awake or needing something, but he is completely asleep making grunting noises, squealing and other high pitched noises. We sleep with earplugs when he is in the basket next to the bed, as we now know that these are just his sleeping noises and that he doesn't need us for anything.
- Around 4 weeks Benjamin had his first smile. It was while getting changed after a big release of gas. He now smiles quite often, and mostly on the changing table.
- He sits with us at the dinner table in his own infant chair and seems quite content.
- Has a lot of gas and can really let some loud ones rip.
- Is most fussy in the evenings from 6pm-8:30pm...and it is here where we have to walk around with him. But otherwise he doesn't need us to walk around with him to keep him happy. Just look at him and talk.
- Mommy and Benjamin have a routine of sitting at the piano everyday. Benjamin has begun to coo and make quiet noises while I am singing to him.
We are enjoying getting to know Benjamin more and more and cherish each special day of this amazing newborn phase.
Another interesting bit about Benjamin coming to the world, is that he is a little brother and therefore his big brother is around. Silas has taken so well to Benjamin. He is so gentle with him and uses the sweetest voice while talking to him. Silas has to give hi and goodbye kisses and will also just come up to Benjamin and say "Hi little brother...or Hi sweetie...or Hej, min skatte basse." Silas wants to help out with giving Benjamin his sut (pacifier) and in general try to cheer him up if he is crying. Silas has not wanted to hold Benjamin, but he did hold him for about 20 seconds the other day.
Some funny stories between brothers.
1) I was sitting in the living room about to give Benjamin some food, and Silas asked from the kitchen what I was doing. I told him that Benjamin was hungry...one second later, Silas came with a big spoonful of his oatmeal to give to Benjamin.
2) At daycare a few days after Benjamin was born, they were walking to the park and when a complete stranger walked past Silas shouted "I'm a big brother!"....Silas has also told this fact proudly to many guests and strangers since.
3) Silas sometimes wants to push the baby carriage when Benjamin is in it. Otherwise he has fun playing on Benjamins activity blanket or in his basket. Silas also likes to pretend that his stuffed doggy is a baby and put it in Benjamins chair, blanket, clothes, etc.
4) Silas was a bit overwhelmed by all the guests in the beginning. When we had guests Silas wanted Søren or I all to himself and would drag one of us into his room, shut the door and say we had to stay there and play with him. Sometimes others weren't even allowed to talk to him...not even Grandma or Farmor. (This phase now seems to be long gone)
UPDATE: At 6 weeks Benjamin weighed in at 6.24kg (13.7 pounds) and grew to 58cm (23 inches)!
He gained 2 kilograms (4 pounds) in 6 weeks! Crazy!!
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