Anja has discovered an unfortunate new sound: whining. It's reeeeeeeaaaaallllly horrible, and we're hoping she outgrows it soon. REALLY soon. We're pretty sure she's just doing it because it's something new she's learned, because it has replaced all other sounds. She makes it when she's upset, she makes it when she's happy. She is constantly whining. It's what we wake up to in the morning and what we listen to all day long. Even when she's smiling.
Speaking of smiling though, she's very happy right now (as she whines) -- I introduced her to her Raggedy Ann doll!! I didn't realize how good that might be for a baby with all the reds, whites and blacks, the bright dress and all the textures. But she was playing in her crib and I saw her peeking at it from underneath the crib bumpers, as it was in her toy basket below. She seemed really fixed on it, so I gave it to her and she loves it!
Other than this, vacation is going splendidly. I still haven't found the time to upload any pictures though. Yesterday we took a break from real work. In the morning we walked over to Vienna for coffee, meeting up there with our friend Matt. On the way over, we stopped at the Farmers Market and got some peaches to eat on our walk. We washed off our stickiness at the plaza water fountain. On the way home from Vienna we stopped at Rubia and bought 1/2 price flowers. Yay! I can't really remember what we did with the rest of our day, but we ate all our meals outside and took a lot of walks. We each went to the library a couple of times. In the evening we walked down to the Plaza to hear the dulcimers practice. Anja was tired and cranky so we didn't stay long.
I've been reading Dr. Sears' Baby Sleep Book, which is already very useful and I'm only on the first chapter. It tells you about the 1/2 hour sleep window a baby has, and that if you miss it, he'll catch his second wind and getting him to sleep will not be easy anymore. It suggests you log your baby's "sleepy times" for a week, and then plan accordingly your bedtime routine. Anja's sleepy times seem to be between 6:30 and 7:30--MUCH earlier than we've always been putting her to bed. No wonder it's been so difficult!!! So I've really tried to crack down and give her a bath every night before bed. It seems to really help in getting her down, although she's not waking up any less during the night. (Except for last night, she only woke up twice, but we missed her sleepy time and she didn't go to bed until after 10.)
Oh, Martin is home from walking the dog so it's time for breakfast! I LOVE VACATION!!!!
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3 comments:
I hope Anja loses the whining too. Once Charles discovered it, he hasn't stopped. Some days, of course, are more whiny than others. It's such a lovely sound...
I know I'm just getting payback though because I have always been a big whiner!
I know Anja is to young right now, but for the future there is a Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy Festival in Arcola, IL. It's usually the second weekend in June. If you can't make that work, there is a museum that tells the story of the dolls that is open year round. Would be a nice place for a little girl that loves Raggedy Ann.
(anna) Annie you might want to try playtime while you eat your dinner, loooooong walk, bath, nursing or something that follows an inhale-exhale pattern of activity and rest. This will help adjust Anja to a routine. I love this concept of rythm in routine with babies, because they seem to react poory to both absolute lack of structure and military scheduling.
Also remember babies do not transition from activities as well as adults do. Especially you can see this in toddlers. They need plenty of warning that the activity is going to change because toddlers and babies are made with strong wills, mostly so we adults don't abuse them :)
Anyway, just like I like to have some tea in the evening and read a book, or watch a movie before bed, babies need that wind down too. We help with that wind down time. They are not equipped to do it on their own any more than they can feed themselves or take themself to the bathroom. Yes it is a pain in the neck, but they need us to help them get to sleep to when they are young. I realize this is not a universally accepted philosophy but it has worked with my kids and you have to find what works best for your kids. People have different needs.
As they say here. Se si vide, si vide. If you see it, you see it. ;)
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