Mommy's Diary
Month 16 - Becoming more social - Clingy period - 15 month check up - Saying two-word sentences
May 10, 2000
These few days are really a test of my faith and patience. The deal with the house turns out to be the biggest mass in the world. Hopefully we are in the eve of solving the problem. Sometimes it's really hard to keep calm when things don't go right, especially when it's not your fault. But I try to keep cool. Everybody in the house has been so tense. I know Tiger can sense this and I don't want him to be affacted. Fan had a big qurral with mil and now mil is really in a bad mood. She even refused to eat. I feel bad for everybody but I care most for Tiger. These days Tiger has been quite fussy and clingy. Of course this makes things worse. I know Tiger is simply reflects to things going on around him. I try to give him more time and love. I also take him to the park and the mall in weekend, and going out a lot in the evenings after I come back from work, just to get away from the not so happy grandma. Plus, she needs a rest too.I take Tiger to visit kevin who is 6 mo younger than him almost everyday. There we can get a short period of laugh and happy time. He now is so used to visiting his little friend. Everytime we are out, he'll point to where Kevin lives and tries to go in. He know knocks the door himself too. I'm glad to see Tiger becoming more and more social. the other day he even took Kevin's bottle and tried to feed him.
Ever since Tiger weaned himself from day time bottles when he was 11 mo old, I have not been actively trying to wean Tiger from breastfeeding. I think he will stop when he is ready. Right now both of us still enjoys nursing. Although I have to put up with mil's every day's adverse comment about "this is not healthy for both the baby and the mom". In fact I thought Tiger has almost come to the point that he will wean from breast. In a few nights he didn't nurse or nursed for a short time then changed his attention to his books. In many mornings he just didn't have to nurse. During the nights he only woke up once around 12 o'clock when we went to bed. However these few days he becomes much worse. He nurses for about four or five times per night (bedtime included). I think one reason may be because this moving thing really disturbed his schedule. Also, he needs comfort when people around him becomes upset easily for reasons that he didn't understand. Yesterday in his 15 month check up his doctor suggested that he may be cutting his molars. It this is true, that could be one more reason for him to wake up and demand nursing more frequently. I'm very tired because I not only have to deal with the house matter but also the irritated mil, and now plus Tiger's night waking. But I feel for Tiger more. Poor baby, not knowing what's wrong. I have determined that I will do all that I can do to make sure he feels secure and happy. I can't imagine what negative comment mil will have about having to nurse Tiger 4 or 5 time at night. At this point, I just have too much to worry. I know things will become better once we settle down in our new house.
Tiger had his 15 mo check up yesterday. He is growing beautifully. He is now 22lb 7 oz and 31.5 inch long. Both are at the 50 percentile. His other aspects such as language and motor skill are so advanced. I am really proud of him.
May 22, 2000
Last week Tiger has spoken his first sentence. He has been able to indicate his wants by a combination of words and gesture for a long time. But usually he only says one word. Last Thursday when he finished his dinner and grandma tried to pick him up from the high chair, he pushed her away and protected loudly. And suddenly he said, "Mama BaoBao (pick up)!" I was so moved. He wanted me to pick him up. I immediately quit what I was doing and went to him.Last Friday we went to one of Fan's coworker's house party. Tiger had a good time tring the jumping pad for the first time. At first he didn't know how to jump on it and was a little nervous because it was so high. In less than 5 minutes though, he was jumping high and low excitedly. He counted loudly with me while jumping. He was so happy and proud of himself. Then he got rid of my hands and ran to the middle of the jumping pad. It then was my turn to be nervous because I don't want him to jump in the middle without me besides him, I was afraid that he would hurt himself or something. I was very relieved when a friend's 7yr girl volunteered to chase him back to me.
I still don't see Tiger wean from breastmilk any time soon. He now is so happy when I'm ready to nurse him before his bedtime. He would jump in the bed and sqeal in delight. Then he would open his mouth in the middle of his busy nursing session and say a few words to me. It would be from "mama" to anything he saw in the day, such as moon, fan, "wow-wow" for dog or "Ai Yi" for aunty. Once he even stopped in the middle and clapped his hands as if he wanted to tell me "this is really wonderful!" Other than feeling the pressure from outside to wean, I am really enjoying this different feeling of being appreciated from my dear Tiger.
May 25, 2000
Well after one month's delay and three month's worrying, we finally got our new house and actually moved in this last Tuesday. Now only if we can survive the cleaning up of all the stuff that fill the entir two car garage ... I'm really shocked about how much one can accumulate in seven or eight years.Tiger is real clingy to me these few days. He plays contently when I'm around but whenever I'm out of his sight, he starts to cry. I think this is because we just moved in to a new environment and he needs assurance from me. I have to carry him with me everytime I go to the garage to get something. The result is that I don't get much done. I'm starting to feel mil's accusing looks. (or is it just my imagination out of my own guilt?) On the other hand I'm so flattered. Tiger can't be comforted by anybody else. Not grandma, not his big brother, not even daddy. But he is so happy when I'm there.
I called home this morning and grandma asked Tiger to say mama over the phone. We tried this before but Tiger would just look at the phone and listen to the phone but he wouldn't say anything. Today however, he said "mama" loud and clear. I was so happy! Then he said "mama" again. And again. And again. He called me at least 20 times. My poor baby. He must be really missing mom. I feel so much being loved. My heart is filled with his love and I just want to fly back to him.