Dragon and Mouse

So Trixi's pain meds must be doing the trick.  Since she was diagnosed, she has escaped from the yard 2 times... with a third attempt today but the chicken wire and gravel we had put down thwarted that effort.

Yesterday, she went to visit the dogs next door.  I always wondered what would happen if they ever met face-to-face.  The one (of three) next-door dog is this tiny, yappy dog that runs up and down the fence with Trixi while they bark.  It has a doggie door to be able to come out when it pleases, and we have caught Trixi barking to call him to "come out and play".

Still, I thought with Trixi's track record with the yappy dogs (she used to only play with the bigger dogs at the park) and her dog issues in general, I thought we would be dealing with a big show down if one dog ever made it past the barrier. 

When I called for Trixi yesterday, she took a long time coming and I heard some scrambling from around the side of the house.  She ran very fast in circles (again - showing no signs of her condition) and then disappeerd again.  We then saw her through the fence next door "hangin'" with her new buddies.  So no confrontation as expected.

And then today, her "friend" came to investigate where Trixi was. Guess he wanted to play.  Duncan had not yet filled up the hole.  Trixi was in the back on her lead and I saw the little yappy dog (who I will name "Scrappy" after Scrappy-doo as that is what he looked like.)  Thought Trixi may have an issue with "Scrappy" coming in on her turf but she did not... as soon as Duncan went out to investigate "Scrappy" abandoned the effort, and went back to his side of the fence. Not a peep out of Trixi.

It goes to show, that Trixi can also surprise you in a positive way.  Thanks to Trixi for us not having to explain to our neighbor why she was only coming home to two dogs (because if there were a showdown - no doubt Trixi would have won.)

So Kristoffer is finally experiencing true summer weather.  It has been beautiful, but also very hot (rumored to hit the 90's this weekend and has been in 80's most of week.)  He has spent all his time at home in just his diaper.

Link to this week's album: http://picasaweb.google.com/mindimus/KristofferWeek9

Our friends Adam and Nicole came down to visit from Vancouver over the weekend and it was fun catching up.  On Sunday we met up with the Horwoods and Suttles for breakfast and then took a walk to the beach.  It was so cute to see Graydon and River playing in the sand.  More pictures of that are in this album http://picasaweb.google.com/mindimus/SummerWeekendFun?authkey=tCPbmRTRq80 including some cute videos (only put the ones of Kristoffer in the weekly album)

Upon a referral from our Pediatrician, I took Kristoffer to Children's hospital to see an occupational therapist about all the breastfeeding problems we have been having (the latest being his refusal to eat from the boob.)  It was a great appointment, and now equipped with some tools and a different type of bottle I am able to get him to feed off the boob again.  Granted we are only at once a day (the rest is still pump n' feed) but that is because of my issues and I will be contacting a dermatologist that the OT recommended as apparently with my fair skin my irritations/issues this Dr that specialises in this stuff could help.  As I told the OT, at this point... with going back to work in a couple of weeks... my goal is to get him to feed on the boob for the evening feeds (as I would be pumping from work anyway) so I can keep supply up and keep giving him breast milk for his first year.

This week we also had our first PEPS group meeting.  PEPS is a parents support group where you meet for 12 weeks with couples in your area that also recently had a baby.  There are 6 couples in our group with babies ranging from 4 - 12 weeks.  Seeing the little ones made me realise how much Kristoffer has grown!  he is the second oldest of the group.  It was great to meet people who live in our area, a wierd feeling that we could walk to the meeting as the leader lives just around the corner.  Seems like it will be a good group, I am looking forward to next week's meeting.

Otherwise, I am staring to realise how quickly my Maternity leave is passing by and soon the true reality of working motherhood will set in.  We have been pretty social through Kristoffer's early weeks, but I have decided to be selfish and keep a lower profile in these last weeks to get as much family time as Duncan's crazy schedule will allow, as well as tackle my minimum list of things I want organized around the house before going back.  It is a much shorter list than I started with: rearrange the office, work out a budget so Duncan can hire someone, do some basic planting in the front yard.  Would love to also finish my curtains, plant in the back yard, and a heap of other items... but I am learning to be realistic and that some things will need to get worked into my weekends after starting work again.

 

Kristoffer looks like his Daddy, especially the chin, the round face and the smile.... and I now have confirmation.

Here is a picture of Kristoffer in an outfit that his father wore at the same age.  It is a knit outfit, meant for cold weather and Duncan and Kristoffer were both born in June... only Duncan was in Scotland, which I guess is why he needed a winter outfit for the middle of summer.  We are having a bit of a heat wave here, so only put on the outfit quickly for the picture before Kristoffer got too hot.

    Kristoffer Duncan Green                           Duncan James Green

Time is flying by... we no longer have a newborn.  It seemed like overnight that we suddenly looked down at our son and he was a little baby!  http://picasaweb.google.com/mindimus/KristofferWeek8 

He is getting to be so much fun to play with... all that much harder to put down to get to other things around the house.  But as per Auntie Devon's advise I am making the most of the cuddle times, and not trying to be super woman.

He has slept the entire night!  And for two nights in a row as well. From 10pm to 5-6am in the morning!  Fingers crossed this is a trend, or at least get lots of these nights before the teething "fun" starts. Though even when he doesn't make it through the night, we still get long stretches with one "break" around 3am.

He had his 2 month check-up and weighed in at 12 lbs 4oz.... moving from the 50th to 75th percentile.  So even though we are still having issues with nursing, he is getting what he needs from the bottle.  He is also now 23 inches long!  No wonder he is already threatening to outgrow his 3 mo clothes!

There were three cute videos this week.  One of him at his gal-pal River's house.  We were babysitting her while her parents went to the Opera.  She was proving she is ready for a little bro/sis.  She was adorable sitting and playing with him and she wanted to share her favorite "Fat Cat" toy.

Another cute video... though the high def version I caught is better (still need to figure out how to upload those!  If anyone know how to convert please let me know)... Kristoffer loves his Dragon-friend and was playing so cute with it... but naturally once I got there with the camera in his face, I was more interesting.  Still he was very cute... and still cute when he cries at the end (or maybe I only think so as his mother.)

And the final video of the week is such an adorable shot of him interacting with Daddy.  Duncan was really sick most of the week (thought it could be Strep but the test came back negative so Doc said probably a viral phoryngitis) so he was not holding the baby and missing all the cuddles and playing.  Last night was the first time since being sick he really got to cuddle and play... and this video is of them playing with his Giraffe friend.  Kristoffer is really interested in the noises we make with his toys. Trixi is in the wings, checking out what is going on and making sure Kris is safe.  Later when Duncan brought out the Dragon, Trixi nudged inbetween Kristoffer and the Dragon as if to be protecting him from the "unknown threat".

Since we moved in 2 years ago, our front yard has been "in progress"... though our neighbors never said anything the piles of dirt and weeds and start/stop transformation must have kept them guessing as to whether we would ever have a presentable yard (we were the only house on the hill not to have a groomed front yard).

Well, no more!  We finally bit the bullet and paid some guys to finish our project... and they did such a better job with the final touches than we ever would have (especially with the brick path).

You can see the progression in my web album: http://picasaweb.google.com/mindimus/FrontYard.  The last picture is not from the front, but they also finished the "boat home" area which had been waiting for gravel ever since we had the fence built.

 

So today we went to the vet as Trixi has been yelping when getting up from bed recently and doing lots of general whining. The vet took X-Rays and it turns out she has Arthritis! She has it in one vertebrae and her hip and a couple of other not so perfect vertebrae. So they believe we have caught it early and with some medication we should be able to stabilise it, The vet reckons it is uncommon for dogs to gt it this young but she has known dogs to live 16 years with the condition when managed well. So poor Trixi is definitely slowing down and we will just have to see how things develop.

 

Kristoffer is 7 weeks old today... pictures of the 7th week are posted at http://picasaweb.google.com/mindimus/KristofferWeek7.

I can't believe how quickly we are in our new state of "normal" where this gorgeous, charming baby boy has changed the routine at home with his own routine.  We are enjoying all the smiles and noises he makes.  I can also honestly admit I still think he is adorable when he is crying, and crying, and crying (usually the long cries are when he is tired and is fighting sleep).

 

 

Here's another video of him smiling and cooing....

 

This week we went to our friends' wedding.  It was beautiful, and fun, and Kris was very well behaved.  He got lots of comments on his calm attitude and also a lot of "what is her name" which is a first so we think it has to do with the kilt he was wearing. 

I have sorted out my "back-to-work-date".  Monday, Sept 8th I become a working Mom.  I am actually looking forward to it.  More because that is the real normal... this maternity period is more the transitional period... it would be nice to have a longer leave, but then if I got what I really wanted, I would be having a choice about whether I go back to work rather than it not being an option to stay at home (my job pays our health insurance among other benefits to me working there.)  Saying that, I am kinda glad not to have a choice right now as I am not sure what that would be as I really like my job and know that it not the type of job that would be easy to find again if I were to decide the stay-at-home Mom thing is not for me.  Fortunately we found what looks to be a great daycare for Kristoffer, which also helps me not dread the back to work date.

The only other event for this week is my mobility.  Went on a walk in the neighborhood with Duncan, Trixi and baby in the stroller to test my ability to drive the stroller and maintain control of Trixi at the same time.  Trixi has gotten so good on the lead that it is really not a problem to have her in one hand and drive with the other hand (which also has a safety strap to the stroller on the wrist).  We had a lovely walk this morning/noon-time to the park.  The sun was coming out and all of the gardens gave me lots to look at and think about.

 

Kristoffer is getting more and more control over his movements.  Last night he grabbed my hand for comfort while on the changing table (I was busy looking for his diaper.)  For that past couple of days I have suspected he was intentially hitting the hanging toys.... now it is certain.  And I captured his playing with the elephant just moments ago.

 

Sorry for the delay on the 6 week pictures.... they are up at http://picasaweb.google.com/mindimus/KristofferWeek6.

 

 

Here is a cute video from this morning... a bit similar to the one from yesterday, only today he is interacting with himself in the mirror.  Apparently he won't recognize that it is himself until after a year old... so he thinks he is playing faces with another person :)