News and Views from the Oshikas: Summary

The days go by so fast, and so many things happen so quickly. I can't keep up! So this posting will have to be a summary of all the things we've done recently, and all the developments that have transpired.

So let's start with food.
I've mentioned before that I was struggling with milk supply. Last week sometime I fed her what I had, and within an hour she was hungry again. There is no feeling worse than being unable to feed your child. So I offered her a bottle of formula - - - and she just chugged it down, like it was something she does every day! And that was the end of the two-month bottle strike. I have NO IDEA why she rejected them in the first place, but she's had no difficulty taking bottles every day since.
I felt unhappy about giving her formula, but she's been exclusively breastfed for more than five months. I regret that I can't offer her more, but Johnny and I agree that we've given her the absolute best foundation we can. I continue to nurse her twice a day, and will do so for as long as I can. We also had some problems with her being sick from the formula, but now that we're on a lactose-free version ('for sensitive tummies') she is absolutely fine with it. Apparently lactose intolerance is common among asians; I do hope she grows out of it in time.

She's also really gotten into the food thing. She's not the biggest fan of rice cereal or oat cereal, but has LOVED every other thing I've offered her, with the exception of avocado. It made her gag. But to date, we've tried carrots, applesauce, peaches, peas, sweet potato, and a mashed up banana. I think the banana was her favourite, but it's slow going because she wants to chew it, which takes FOREVER.

After a few days of figuring out the spoon, she now wants to be in charge of it. Unfortunately, she doesn't really get that the point of the spoon is to avoid putting your hands in your food: instead she slides her hand right into the bowl of the spoon, where the food is, and tries to cram it all into her mouth. Then her hand is dirty, so then my hand is dirty, and her sleeve is dirty, and of course it snowballs from there to her face, the counter, the bumbo, and her hair. When she got up this morning she had peaches left over on her eyelid!

"*I* can handle the spoon, Mommy."

Between the food and the formula, I'm feeling quite certain that she's stacking on the weight. Her face has filled out, and that double chin is back. I will have to figure out the right amount to feed her each day, but that kid can EAT! She rarely tells us she's full, and will usually take all of anything that's offered to her! For example, at the dream feed she'll take about 10 oz of formula before spitting out the bottle. That's 1 1/4 cups! Not much for you and me, but imagine all that formula in someone so tiny!

(Check out Johnny's mouth - getting into the action!)

A few other things regarding food:
- Different kinds of baby food result in spit-up of all sorts of rainbow colours. I think I liked it better when it was white.
- The night wakings have stopped, and Aili is a dream sleeper again. Down at 6.30, dream feed at 11.30, wake up around 8. HEAVEN!
- All this food has resulted in needing diapers with a far greater storage capacity. As I'm sure you can imagine.

Here we have the Story of Supper:

Now that we've both recovered from our colds, we've been out and about, too.

We went for a lovely walk in the sunshine:

The quintessential baby nap: with thumb and blankie.

Hangin' with the Blondies next door. Annabelle is 2 1/2 already (when did THAT happen?) and Zoey is 6 weeks younger than Aili.

On Saturday we went to see a lovely wedding in the afternoon, and our sweet neighbour Patrik babysat when we went to the reception that evening! He did the bath and the bottle and the bedtime routine without incident, and she behaved herself perfectly. Johnny and I were able to get out of the house and enjoy a wonderful evening together. FREEDOM!

Aili and Jackson contemplate each other at the wedding.

Auntie Melinda and her new hubby Jim.

Auntie Lil and Uncle Scott!

Much loved by Mommy.

Family photo. I thought she wasn't supposed to sulk in family photos until she was a teenager?

Much loved by Daddy.

Flyin'!
(And Daddy is just ASKING to have mashed pea spit-up all over his nice outfit.)

On Sunday I went with my friend Michele to the Van Dusen garden sale. I know, I know, you're thinking to yourself how ironic it is that I would show my face at a garden sale when my own flowerbeds are an embarassing chaotic mess. The hypocrisy has not escaped me. But this has become our little tradition for the past few years. I remember last year at the garden sale I was morning sick and green. I needed to sit down a lot to rest. And now look how life has changed!

While I was out contemplating shrubs, Aili and Daddy spent the whole day together! They went swimming with Ojichan Shu and had a nice walk with Leo.

I realize that I tend to hog Aili. I spend all week with her, so when Johnny's home I am so excited to spend time with them together. He tells me that I can have some freedom to go do something - - but most of all I just want to be with them! But I know that Aili and her Daddy need to have their own relationship without me hovering around. So off I went.
It WAS nice getting away, I admit....

One happy kid, getting ready for bed. The sound track would include shrieks, squeals, coos, and giggles.