We hit the third month anniversary of Al and Teo's birth on March 28! Just three short and long months ago, we were in the hospital and I had just had two babies cut out of my uterus. How crazy! It both feels like a really long time ago, and not so long at all. At that time coronavirus was just a whisper of a weird disease from Wuhan and I was meeting my babies for the first time, so relieved to be done with pregnancy and gestational diabetes.
Now, we have two big babies who are wearing 6-9 month sized onesies (or does Carters just make them really small?) who are getting more and more active every day and coronavirus is making huge block letter headlines every day and shattering everything about modern life as we know it.
My dad shaved their heads on March 25, in a time honored tradition that he has done for every one of the members in our family - my sister, me, all of my cousins, and my cousin's son and daughter. He wanted to do it for Lola but Michael was heartbroken at the thought of his beautiful daughter being bald, so we skipped the ritual for her. Lots of Chinese people do this because they believe baby hair is really fine and doesn't grow out well, so you shave it off which then encourages the stubbier, thicker growth. For my sister and me, my dad shaved our hair not once but twice! They also had my sister's hair made into Chinese calligraphy brushes, which he told me he gifted to her when she got married.
It's been a bit jarring to see the boys bald. I think it makes their heads look even more fragile somehow, so pale and tender. And you can see all the veins - a fine network of blue and purple lying right below the surface, as well as the steadily pulsating soft spot at the top of their heads. But otherwise, the boys are just so... good. Even their "cranky" time is manageable with some cuddling, crooning and gentle swaying. They are so sweet.
Teo was feeling a little bit under the weather lately, unfortunately, but now seems to have made a good recovery. For a couple of days late last week the poor boy had a slightly stuffy nose and could not sleep or drink milk well as a result. He required a bit more cuddles and sympathy. On Saturday morning I used the infamous Frita snot sucker on him and he shriek-cried in panic, probably terrified of the strong suction that he could feel pulling on his nose. Teo loves his musical mobile and can lie there for a long time, wide eyed, listening to the music and watching the animals circle. He can fall asleep by himself like that, though it's not the norm. He is really good at tummy time and generally swivels his head left to right with no issue, and is also quite good at picking his head up and propelling himself forward.
Al is still feeling okay, and we are trying to keep him well, knock wood. He used to be what I would characterize as the more chill baby, but lately he has really perfected his pout and whimper and uses it to startlingly good effect - basically, as soon as his head is laid onto his mattress. He likes being carried and held and loves cuddles. He also loves his musical mobile and can lie there for a long time just moving his arms and feet, though not for as long as Teo. Yesterday he managed to grasp a toy for a little while, demonstrating very good finger strength and dexterity, and lately he really likes to hold his own bottle. Al, I'm sorry to say, is not a fan of tummy time at all. He generally spends it crying and snuffling with his face down, refusing to participate. We've noticed that he tends to prefer looking to his left, which we are trying to remedy before it turns into torticollis like it did with Lola. Today, he was the most adorable baby ever, in just the best mood possible and giggling and laughing up a storm. He also ate a ton and even while drinking milk from his bottle his lips kept curving up in a grin.
Lately when cuddling them I have felt an overwhelming surge of love and tenderness and also despair. What kind of world have they been born into, what kind of future are they going to face? It's hard not to feel fiercely protective when they're so small and innocent - and their first couple of months has definitely been more stressful than the norm. I was so worried about breastfeeding before they were born, and whether I'd be able to accomplish it with them. And now with everything that's been going on in Hong Kong and the world, it has been rather low on my list of priorities - but with Covid 19 looming, I have tried to maintain it, hoping it provides them with a useful boost of my immunity.
It's especially sweet when Lola interacts with her brothers. She is so gentle and she talks to them like she wants to teach them and play with them. She brings out her toys and instructs them to "hold it" and tries to stuff it into their little hands. This week, I helped her make bread following a recipe from her school teachers - and she then patted Teo and said, "When you're older I will teach you to make bread, okay? Okay!"
And just like that, my parents have been here for a month. They got here right when the boys were two months. Since then, my parents' flight back to the US at the end of April was canceled, so we have had to arrange for a visa extension for my aunt who is currently in NY with my 93 year old grandmother. My aunt's flight back to Taiwan at the end of April has also been canceled. My parents had a trip to Germany in June, which has also been canceled. For now, it seems my parents are here for a while, at least until things calm down enough for them to travel safely. They have been here every day, playing with Lola and the boys. Here's a shot of my dad juggling two at the same time. He got quite a kick out of playing footsies with Al.
Now, we have two big babies who are wearing 6-9 month sized onesies (or does Carters just make them really small?) who are getting more and more active every day and coronavirus is making huge block letter headlines every day and shattering everything about modern life as we know it.
My dad shaved their heads on March 25, in a time honored tradition that he has done for every one of the members in our family - my sister, me, all of my cousins, and my cousin's son and daughter. He wanted to do it for Lola but Michael was heartbroken at the thought of his beautiful daughter being bald, so we skipped the ritual for her. Lots of Chinese people do this because they believe baby hair is really fine and doesn't grow out well, so you shave it off which then encourages the stubbier, thicker growth. For my sister and me, my dad shaved our hair not once but twice! They also had my sister's hair made into Chinese calligraphy brushes, which he told me he gifted to her when she got married.
It's been a bit jarring to see the boys bald. I think it makes their heads look even more fragile somehow, so pale and tender. And you can see all the veins - a fine network of blue and purple lying right below the surface, as well as the steadily pulsating soft spot at the top of their heads. But otherwise, the boys are just so... good. Even their "cranky" time is manageable with some cuddling, crooning and gentle swaying. They are so sweet.
Teo was feeling a little bit under the weather lately, unfortunately, but now seems to have made a good recovery. For a couple of days late last week the poor boy had a slightly stuffy nose and could not sleep or drink milk well as a result. He required a bit more cuddles and sympathy. On Saturday morning I used the infamous Frita snot sucker on him and he shriek-cried in panic, probably terrified of the strong suction that he could feel pulling on his nose. Teo loves his musical mobile and can lie there for a long time, wide eyed, listening to the music and watching the animals circle. He can fall asleep by himself like that, though it's not the norm. He is really good at tummy time and generally swivels his head left to right with no issue, and is also quite good at picking his head up and propelling himself forward.
Lately when cuddling them I have felt an overwhelming surge of love and tenderness and also despair. What kind of world have they been born into, what kind of future are they going to face? It's hard not to feel fiercely protective when they're so small and innocent - and their first couple of months has definitely been more stressful than the norm. I was so worried about breastfeeding before they were born, and whether I'd be able to accomplish it with them. And now with everything that's been going on in Hong Kong and the world, it has been rather low on my list of priorities - but with Covid 19 looming, I have tried to maintain it, hoping it provides them with a useful boost of my immunity.
It's especially sweet when Lola interacts with her brothers. She is so gentle and she talks to them like she wants to teach them and play with them. She brings out her toys and instructs them to "hold it" and tries to stuff it into their little hands. This week, I helped her make bread following a recipe from her school teachers - and she then patted Teo and said, "When you're older I will teach you to make bread, okay? Okay!"
And just like that, my parents have been here for a month. They got here right when the boys were two months. Since then, my parents' flight back to the US at the end of April was canceled, so we have had to arrange for a visa extension for my aunt who is currently in NY with my 93 year old grandmother. My aunt's flight back to Taiwan at the end of April has also been canceled. My parents had a trip to Germany in June, which has also been canceled. For now, it seems my parents are here for a while, at least until things calm down enough for them to travel safely. They have been here every day, playing with Lola and the boys. Here's a shot of my dad juggling two at the same time. He got quite a kick out of playing footsies with Al.
Happy three months my darlings!
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