Sunday, December 2, 2012

Ahglooba!

I am terribly sorry, my dears. Such a long time since my last post :-( I really enjoyed reading your lovely comments and they certainly helped to cheer up some very tiring days and quite a number of sleepless nights. Life with an 8-week-old is certainly challenging, mostly because a lot of it takes place with afore-mentioned 8-week-old in your arms. They don't like being parted from their parents, did I mention that? And as typing is generally a two-handed job, it can be quite difficult to blog.

But Baby G is starting to charm us with his antics. Yesterday morning I passed by my bed, where Baby G was getting some shut-eye (on a side note: I never, ever wanted to co-sleep. Never. But the baby had other ideas. He sleeps best with a fistful of boob and his feet tucked under the flap of fat left when he vacated the premises a month ago. I sleep curled around him like a crescent moon, one arm stretched out above his head, the soles of his feet resting on my thighs. Before he was born, I tossed and turned in bed about three dozen times a night; since his birth I sleep like a statue, waking in the morning with stiff limbs and scratched bosoms.) In any case, the child was asleep with one arm up the air, a tiny fist clenched. Startled, I realised he was doing the Black Panthers' salute. While I watched him, his tiny body did a Riverdance of flailing limbs and resettled into something equally uncomfortable-looking but much less political.

Motherhood. Ahhh.
Right now, I'm at the point where I'm pressing my nose up against the windowpanes, watching people outside in the fresh air, doing exciting things like going for a walk or buying bread. Simply leaving the house involves a lot of planning - I have to get the baby in an Ahglooba period. Yes, that's right: we've started to speak his language. We have two words so far: Nnnnngah, which expresses general displeasure - you know, when you decide you're hungry but food doesn't appear magically in front of you straightaway (this works best if you beat someone's chest while you're howling "Nnnnngah! Nnnnnnnnnnnngah!" And maybe do some kicking, too.) Ahgloobah is a general sound of contentment, doled out to parents deperately trying to please you. Both words are quite excellent. Missed the bus? Nnnnngah! About to tuck in to a cup of hot tea with a chocolate biscuit? Ahglooba! It's great fun. And, considering that the little chap will have to grow up bilingually, we're probably doing irreparable damage to his language-learning skills. Oopsie.


Anyway, here's a gratuitous baby picture for the first Advent Sunday. What does one have a baby for, if not to dress up in ridiculous holiday hats? (Note the look of pained tolerance in his eyes. Poor child.)
"Help! Help! Am being held captive by lunatics! Help!"

17 comments:

Sharon Marie said...

He's definitely a cutie!

Playing Hooky said...

Actually, I think he looks as though he's trying to do Benny Hill's "Fred Scuttle" salute. The child is a born entertainer!

Jill said...

Adorable child! Cherish every moment.

Darlene said...

I did the co-sleeping and found that where I used to sleep through any and all noise, once I had the baby the smallest sigh and my eyes would snap right open. Amazing how instincts work. He's adorable!

Petunia Pill said...

I'm dying giggling at this post. I have a dear friend who had a baby a few weeks before you and she has been through the same sleepless nights and learning how to live with one other being attached to her...on the outside rather than inside. She seemed to think that three months was a magical number for getting it all worked out. She also found a book on sleep for babies that told her to be sure the baby was never awake for more than two hours and to chart the waking and sleeping times. That seems to have made quite the difference for her and her life. I giggle at your pressing your nose to the pane and envying those with the freedom to go buy bread. I think that is a universal desire for all Moms in the first few weeks...and you expressed it so eloquently. Your baby is adorable...it looks like you're doing a fabulous job! Best wishes and promises that this phase will pass soon and a new phase will begin. Hugs, Annette

Debbie said...

That is one cute baby. My babies are 31 and 33. It is fun to relive the good times through your blog. I loved every moment of my kids childhoods.

Chain Stitch Crochet said...

Awww such a sweet looking little Santa! Enjoy him now, they grow very quickly.

Ella said...

Ahglooba indeed, both for the photo and your writing skills. :-))

Sue said...

Oh he looks a cutie! I remember the huge effort it took to go out with tiny ones and that feeling of being out of touch with the world, but I think that's natures way of helping you to get to know your little baby!
before you know it you'll be an unpaid taxi service LOL!

Paul & Carla said...

How well I remember that sleeping position, curled around the baby so Daddy doesn't accidentally whack her in the night. We mothers do that — protect our little ones even in our sleep. By the way, he's adorable.

Annie Cholewa said...

As ever a post one shouldn't read while drinking coffee ... far too dangerous given the hilarity that ensues. That last pic is priceless, and ditto your caption!

Lisa said...

Hallo,

I nominate you for a Liebster Blog Award on my blog. See more on:
http://my-world-of-colours.blogspot.de/

Merry Christmas and a happy new year

Lisa

SpinMeAYarn said...

Well, he's a lovely looking baby in the Santa outfit for First Advent, and I know all about the sleeping habits of small babies, had 4 of them myself, nothing unusual about your sleeping arrangements, let me just assure you,
Main thing is that everyone gets a good night's sleep, to be able to cope with the next day.
Every day is only as good as the previous night's sleep.
Hope ye had a good Christmas and that ye have a great New Year in 2013!

Playing Hooky said...

Are you ok? It's been a long time and I wondered.
c

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Anonymous said...

I never wanted to co-sleep either, but I ended up doing it until just recently (Saffron fell off the bed, so, all done, given that our bedroom door doesn't shut, and we can't put a gate up at the stairs), and I miss it so terribly. It really is wonderful--she'd sleep with her hand in mine, and once crawled over and slept curled up under my chin! She's sorely disappointed that the co-sleep train has left the station without her, and so am I. My 3 year old slept in my bed last night as a consolation gesture she came up on her own, holding my hand to assuage my feelings of loneliness *sniff*. But yeah, babies totally trash our best intentions sometimes!

Anonymous said...

OOPS I left out the part I meant to type (funny how that happens when covered in kids): I used to have terrible nightmares about co-sleeping, when my firstborn was an infant. I am also one of those tosser turner sleepers that instantly slept completely still and curled around the baby when I slept with her! My night terrors were always about suffocating Carolyn (my elder daughter), and once I persuaded myself that I would never have her in bed with me and she was safe, my mind decided that there were multiple Carolyns to watch out for, and I would have to check each one! My husband woke in the guest room once to me crying for help, standing at the chest of drawers and desperately holding onto a pile of clothes that I breathlessly informed him were 5 Carolyns all trying to fall off... Luckily now my sleep disorder is medicated, and I'm much more laid back about babies. I think both girls have turned out better for it, heh. Sorry for writing a book in a comment twice!