Edgar Facts I Ponder on a Daily Basis

I know that Edgar has really hijacked my blog for the past few months, but how could he not? He is the single most important person in my life right now, and taking care of him is my endless job day in and day out. I didn't realize until K and C arrived just how much I had lost my centre because of the intensity that taking care of a baby is without a backup helper. I didn't know what it was like to step out of the house without Edgar because I just couldn't. I honestly envy those who have their parents nearby to help out or to babysit; they are all so very fortunate and I hope that they are aware of that fact.

I also didn't realize just how close I was skirting the line of PPD. I think that being in the same apartment day in and day out with only Edgar as company all day long and limited outings didn't do much for my mental health. K is on top of making sure that we get out at least every few days. We're even going to the pool (almost) every Sunday!

Here are some thoughts about Edgar that I ponder on a daily basis:

Edgar has been teething for three and a half months.

The doctor didn't believe me when I told her he was teething at his two-month checkup. He's been working on the same tooth since then. He's a drool fountain and a Mr. Grumpy-Pants when the teething gets really bad. He'll gnaw on anything and everything near his face with the ferocity of a tiger working on its latest kill. His nose even wrinkles up.

Edgar is huge.

Edgar has been in the upper 97+ percentiles since he was born, so that's not new. We've been on size 4 diapers for the last few weeks to accomodate his thunder thighs. To put this into some perspective; Edgar's 3-year-old cousin wears size 4 diapers. He has outgrown his baby bucket carseat as well as a plethora of some of my favourite clothes that I dressed him in on a regular basis. I'm not really allowed to fall in love with any outfits of his, I guess. I do worry sometimes, but I've been assured by everyone that he'll thin out once he starts walking. I still worry.

Two hours after he was born at 10lbs 11oz

1 month old, weighing around 12-13lbs.

Just a few days ago. A month ago (4 months), he weighed in at 18lbs 5oz.

 
Edgar loves solid food and hasn't really disliked anything other than avocado.

Avocado was a massive failure. He gagged and spat out every single bite, and then the diaper afterward was horrific. I swear it was the worst diaper I had every seen. No more avocado. Solids have been super easy otherwise. He also took to formula like it was regular breastmilk. I was pretty concerned that he'd reject it, but he was happy as a clam!

Edgar hasn't really been sick yet.

At almost six months old now, Edgar has yet to have a cold. He's had a touch of one when both DH and I were sick, but other than that he hasn't been sick. Are we super careful with germs and such? Nope! I don't usually wash my hands after coming back from the grocery store unless I'm about to prep a bottle for him, we don't sterilize anything of his unless I'm in the mood to do it (which is like once a month maybe), I've taken him on public transit about a dozen times and don't hesistate to take him out of the house, if his pacifier drops on the floor at home it goes right back into his mouth unless there's a hair or something on it and then it gets rinsed with plain tap water, and he's allowed to chew on anything he wants (within reason, of course). Maybe that has something to do with it? He's had plenty of chances and exposure to get sick, but he just hasn't!

I'm pretty biased about that fact, actually. See, I'm the firstborn. From what I've seen and what I've heard, the first baby is subjected to far less exposure to germs than subsequent babies. I have a fairly crappy immune system, have asthma, and had eczema fairly often as a child. I don't want that for Edgar, so I'm not going to shelter him from all the germs out there. I can understand why parents want to protect their babies, but they'll never develop an immune system if everything that goes into their mouth is sterilized.

Okay. Ranty-rant is done.


Edgar can be so intense.

Edgar loves to just absorb everything before making a decision on whether he likes something or not. He doesn't seem to cry at sensory input until he's had a while to judge whether or not he dislikes it. When we took him to the pool the first time, he didn't cry. He didn't become happy, either. He just absorbed everything. He took it all in. The next time, he was familiar with the scenario and seemed to like the pool. He even kicked and splashed around a bit. Edgar does the same thing with new foods and toys. It's amazing sometimes to just see his concentration and know that the gears in his head are just turning and he's wrapping his mind around new sensory input.

Hmm...

... I dunno about these, Mommy...

I love my Edgar more than life itself.

I honestly cannot imagine life without Edgar around. I wonder sometimes how we could have lived without him in our lives; the joy that he brings to my life is just so complete that I can't imagine how he couldn't have existed before now. How could I have never known how much love I could receive from or give to another person every single day of my life?

I'll never know, and I'll never question why. All I know is that Edgar is my baby; I worry about him, I care for him every day, I can't imagine my life without him, and I love him so dearly that it blows my mind.

My Job Search and Waldorf Education

Since arriving in Calgary nearly two weeks ago, I've been essentially spamming potential employers with my resume and customised cover letters. Having been in the workforce for several years prior to this situation, I must say that it's a different experience this time around.

The job atmosphere in Calgary is almost a polar opposite to that of Vancouver.

I feel like I have choice and that I can actually choose to apply for jobs that fit my qualifications, rather that settling for a mindless, emotionally taxing position of a pawn. It's refreshing to have the options, and I believe this entire experience helping to mould me into a more complete person.

On to something completely different... and pretty much unrelated.

Whilst browsing for a Christmas gift for DH's niece, I came across toys that are designed to accompany the Waldorf Education system. I had come across Waldorf education prior to leaving for Calgary, but had dismissed it as a future possibility as the only Waldorf school in the Lower Mainland was all the way out in North Vancouver. Now that we are in Calgary, it is a distinct possibility that DH and I may choose to use this system when we start a family. There's even a Waldorf school right here in Calgary. Here's why:
 
The Waldorf education system is designed to allow children to learn at their own pace. Observation skills and oral traditions are developed in the early childhood education portion and set up a solid foundation for incorporating theory and practice later on. Literary and craft skills are nurtured from a very young age; they're taught to knit, sing, cook, crochet, write and orate poetry and prose, play musical instruments, and woodwork from the elementary school levels. These are all required portions of the curriculum alongside government-mandated elements!

Another thing that I like about this method is the encouragement of a healthy imagination. Electronic toys, TV, and popular music are all discouraged in the early years of childhood development. Instead, open toys, made out of natural materials such as wood or silk, that are simplified and can be used for multiple purposes as the imagination allows are used as alternatives. I love this. I cannot express enough just how much this alone makes this method so desirable to DH and me. 

Examples of Waldorf toys, starting from top left: Sorting acorn colour game from AlmostCrunchy, Waldorf tree house from manzanitkids, Waldorf-inspired carved wooden animals set from jupiterschild, and Waldorf play silks from BeneathTheRowanTree.

The method itself requires a lot of commitment to see it through, and I dearly hope that we'll be able to follow through it whenever DH and I start our family. It really feels like this method might be a good fit for us down the road.