Mike, Tara, and Aviana: November 2005

Getting ready for the baby

With only 30 days to go until Tara’s due date, we’ve been busy taking care of all the last minute details. This weekend, we organized and decorated the baby’s room, created our phone and email list for communicating the news to family and friends, and started packing our bags for the hospital. I think we’re pretty much ready for this kid! Well, I guess you can ever be fully prepared for something like this.

Over the past few months, I’ve been reading several baby parenting books in order to gain at least a basic knowledge of how to care for our son or daughter. Through this process, I’ve discovered several interesting and helpful tips about parenting. For instance, did you know…

Research shows definitively that babies do better if you respond promptly when they cry. Experts suggest that adopting a mentality of “she’ll cry herself back to sleep” is not healthy. If a baby learns that she has to scream for ten minutes to receive attention, she is laying down a pattern of behavior that will continue on into the future. A baby who is left to cry is more likely to grow up clingy and attention-seeking because he’s learned that he has to work harder to make you respond to him.
Your attitude to your baby in the first few weeks forms the blueprint for your future relationship with him, and for all the relationships he/she goes on to form later in life.
You have to be 8-10 inches away from a baby’s face in order for him/her to see you clearly
The way babies fall asleep differs from adults; adults can crash suddenly, whereas babies sleep lightly for about 20 minutes then go through a transitional stage before reaching deep sleep.
You’re supposed to avoid going back in the room once your baby is asleep because your smell could wake him/her.

Interesting stuff, eh?

As a closing note, I thought I would mention that when the baby does arrive, I’ll try to post some pictures on this blog site within 12-24 hours. It all depends on whether there’s a phone line I can access at the hospital. Once the pics have been posted though, I’ll send out a mass email to let you know they’re online.

Please keep Tara and the baby in your prayers over the next few weeks.

Good night,

-Mike

38 days to go (give or take a few)

On Thursday, we had our 34 week check-up. The doc (Dr. Braun) says everything is looking great with both Tara and the baby (dad is looking good as well). Believe it or not, Tara actually lost 1 pound since her last appointment two weeks ago. This is despite the fact that she is eating us out of house and home :)

As I write this, both Tara and her mother are continuing to work on the never-ending cloth diaper project. They’re making 48 diapers in total. Most people think we’re crazy for wanting to use cloth diapers, but we think the pros outweigh the cons. They (the experts) say that babies who use cloth diapers are often potty trained much sooner. I also read somewhere that you’ll save about $1000 per year by avoiding the disposable diapers. I’ll include some pics of the diaper construction.

We’ve been very blessed with the number of baby gifts from our family members over the past few weeks. It would take too long to list all the gifts, but here’s a shortened list: crib, dresser, changing table, stroller, nursing pillow (see the included pic of how I found a new use for this), blankets, and lots of clothes. Thank you so much to all who’ve blessed us in this way. For those who haven’t sent us a gift yet, what are you waiting for? Just kidding!

I think I wrote enough for one day. I’ll try to start keeping this blog more updated in the next few weeks.