It's currently 11:41 PM; both Tonia & Kadin are in bed while I muck around.
Tonia, before you stab me in the eye with a shoe, I CAN change the site back!
Today was a tough day. It actually started last night when Kadin was awake until after midnight, then woke up about 2 hours after he went down and stayed up again for about a month. Then we were all up again at 7 (well, I was up at 6:23 because Kadin wanted to both kick me in the junk and jab his thumb into my eye) to drive Tonia to work.
I can't quite put my finger on what made the rest of the day so tough. I mean, Kadin is just a wonderful baby and I love him to death. Even when I want to jab a wooden spoon into my head when he either does his prolonged whining half-cry, or the barking cry which just cuts through your brain like a knife.
Tonia just looks more and more like a hero to me for doing this full time while I get my break by going to work.
I'm not getting down on myself though; I realize this is only the second day I've had Kadin all day, so I'm confident fairly soon I'll get a routine down pat.
Our new schedule with Tonia working weekends is taking quite a bit of adjusting as our time together has been axed significantly, and I will never ever be able to sleep in past 7 AM. Ever.
Another effect this is having is that not one single sentence I have written so far actually flows into the next one.
I like blue.
See? No flow.
But anyways, despite the exhaustion I'm feeling now and likely will continue to feel for quite some time, this is a great opportunity for me to spend some quality time with Kadin and spoil him while his mommy is at work. Ok, must be up in 6 hours 7 minutes...g'night!
KADIN'S FIRST STEP!
Actually, his first 6. He took 3 quick ones from me to Tonia, then repeated it a few moments later. Sure, half the time he does a quick face-plant into the floor, but this still is a milestone folks!
Let's just pretend I'm being a dutiful father and writing this post on Sunday, when I should have, mmkay?
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So today was the longest I had been alone with Kadin since the day he was born. Back then all he did for a few hours was sleep, get a professional bath and diaper change from a handy dandy nurse, then sleep some more.
Now, 9 1/2 months later, he's a bit more involved with the world around him.
I dropped Tonia off at work for about 8:30 and got home just before 9. As Kadin had gotten an early breakfast by 7:30 AM, he slept most of the ride home and for a little bit once we got inside. Instead of sitting on the couch in a coma like I wanted to, I figured I would be productive and do some work!
Here are the goals I set out for myself that day:
1 - Clean kitchen (empty dishwasher, fill dishwasher, wash pots, wipe down counters)
2 - Wash all dirty bottles
3 - Make up Kadin's bottles for the day
4 - Make formula
5 - Clean off kitchen table (it quickly becomes our storage area if left for more than 30 minutes)
6 - Tidy livingroom
7 - Vacuum
8 - Tidy livingroom
What did I accomplish?
1 - Brushed my teeth.
Ok, so my morning wasn't quite as productive as I would have liked it to be. But at least I was spending some excellent quality time with Kadin. We played hide-and-go-seek all around the apartment, had some tickle time, and played "Abu is going to lie down face-first in the livingroom while Kadin climbs all over him and Abu only clings to conciousness by holding Kadin's ankle so that Kadin can't get away where he might get into trouble". That's a really fun game.
As we aproached lunch time, Kadin was getting a bit cranky. I figured since it was only 11:15 I would give him a small bottle to get him to settle down until he had his lunch about 30 minutes later.
It worked a bit too well, and he took a 2.5 hour nap.
Now, Tonia is always accusing me of trying to solve all of lifes problems with a bottle. It's true, but I'll never admit it to her...heh.
The whole time he was asleep I suppose I could have accomplished a lot. I felt justified in not ultimately getting anything significant accomplished because I thought "he might wake up any moment now..".
By the time he woke up he was so far past his lunch that I gave him another bottle until it was time to pick Tonia up from work.
The rest of the day kind of flew by. All I remember now is Tonia working very hard to reverse all the damage I did to Kadin's well-formed schedule. Tee hee.
So I never got post partum depression. But I think I have the corner on something new. Im calling it "Back to Work Sadness".
I am walking around this morning crying whenever I even look at him. Kadin that is.
Its just two days a week....I wish someone would tell my aching chest and sick stomach that.
So I start work on Sunday. So freakin nervous I could throw up.....again. I mean Im excited yes and the extra cash is just what we need AND its only 2 freakin days a week but I cant help but be somewhat scared. I know I will miss Kadin. Doesnt matter that its only 2 days. It will break my mommy heart to leave him on Sunday.
Hasan likes to go on and on about the things he will get done around the house while Im at work. Hmmmm we shall see. Kadin may have something to say about that.
Oh and praise the lord above folks (whatever lord that may be) the Hai family here has an air conditioner!! WOOT!! WOOT!! Thanks to the generosity of the original Hai family - Kadin's dadi and abu-jan - everyone here, especially Kadin, is sleeping much better. Thank you....
Kadin has so much personality now. Thats not to say he didnt have it before but as he gets older I can see so many changes in him. Somedays I fear my chest will explode from the love I feel. I find myself staring at him, quietly crying....only because the pure love I feel is so overwhelming. The look in his eyes, the silly sounds he makes, the way he uses the hallway as his own personal race track, his gaze at the TV whenever Beyonce sings, the shrill giggle as he chases Grady around the apartment.....they are all such perfect examples of every reason I love Kadin more then anything/one I have ever loved. Its such a cliche but Kadin is truly my life and everyday I thank whoever decided I deserved him.
Onto something a little less emotional and more...ummm shall I say.....man-dumb. heheh Hasan went into the local Superstore today to buy formula for Kadin. He returned with a can that has a work out dvd attached. For new moms ya know. Nice. Real nice Hasan. Of course he swears they had no other choices for him to make. MmmHmmm....ok I do believe him. It was just fun to make him think I was mad and hurt. NOOOO it wasnt!!! Im kidding. ;)
Father's Day is Sunday in case anyone forgot. Or as we like to call it here "Abu's Day".
So it's been weeks since we last updated, and a ton of things to say!
Tonia just got a job with the Delta hotel! We weren't really considering her working until sometime after the Ottawa move, but they called her last week and offered her part time work that actually works well for us.
At this point it appears to be 2 shifts a week on both Saturdays & Sundays, with a possibility of weekday - evening shifts which can work around my schedule.
This morning was her second and third interview (back to back), during which Kadin and I went on a drive through downtown and Stanley Park. We had a bit of a pitstop next to the Hollow Tree when Kadin started screaming madly, so we got out of the car and ran around in the parking lot until he burped and was laughing again. Once he was settled and I was about to throw up, we went and picked up Tonia and headed home.
In the afternoon was Kadin's 9 month doctor's appointment. Dr. Wang informed me (Tonia got a break and stayed home) that Kadin is the largest baby in the world. No, in the HISTORY of the world.
Ok, but really. He's still topping the charts in all categories. 26 lbs 2 oz for weight, 80 cm in height, and 48 cm around the head.
Typing is difficult now since Kadin is in one arm, about .0002 milliseconds from screaming his head off. I just wanted to add that Kadins Abu-Jan & Dadi were kind enough to buy him his very own air conditioner. Tonia and I might use a tiny amount of the cold air, but that's it.
Ok..must...make...baby...happyypypyoul,.,//.,