Amanda's Baby Blog: Where Is The Time Going?

As I was boxing away Gage's newborn clothes today, it hit me how fast time has gone. I can't believe a month has passed since he was born.

Friday, March 23rd 2012, 10:10 am

By: News 9


Where is the Time Going?

As I was boxing away Gage's newborn clothes today, it hit me how fast time has gone. I can't believe a month has passed since he was born.

It makes me a little sad that it's flying by so fast! I was warned this would happen, but I was also told each day just keeps getting better. Luckily I found this to be true.

Just this week, he started smiling (granted it tends to happen right before he has a poo, but it's still sweetJ). We've also now perfected the bath. The first one was rather traumatic – for both Gage and me! But I found he really likes the sling insert that goes in his baby bath tub. And if I turn the tub so he can see himself in the bathroom mirror it keeps him intrigued long enough to get him clean.

I love how he's trying to raise his head, how he flings his arm towards toys, and how he's now starting to make eye contact.

The Tricks of the Trade: Swaddling and the Clothes Dryer

If someone told me a clothes dryer would be the secret to calming my crying son, I would probably have thought they were crazy. But when you have a crying baby, the things you will try! The suggestion to put the baby on top of a running dryer is just one of the things that I found to work in settling Gage down. The noise and vibration is the trick.

I also just read a book on calming a crying baby and I sure wish I had read it 4 weeks ago! When Gage was first born I stopped swaddling him because every time I did, he would scream. I just thought he was one of those babies who hated to be confined. But then, at the suggestion of a friend, I read the book ‘The Happiest Baby on the Block'. The expert suggests the ‘5 "S's": Swaddling, Side/Stomach, Shhh, Swinging, Sucking. The idea is when your baby starts crying you swaddle (that doesn't calm him down, but allows him to pay attention to you as you do the other "tricks"), then hold him so he's on his side or stomach, shush him as loud as he is crying, do some energetic swinging or jiggling in your arms, then sooth him by letting him suck on a pacifier. I tried it (and have been doing it) and let me tell you, it works! Silence is golden!!!

But silence also means my mom, who had been here for 3 weeks to help out, and my grandma who would hold Gage whenever I needed a few moments to myself, are gone. This means I'm left trying to figure out how to get things done – including the simple task of showering! But that's where the baby bouncer comes in. I've found I can set it in front of the shower and he's content until I get out. At least for the last 2 days this has worked, so hopefully it'll continue!

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