We got discharged from the hospital. Many thanks to all the wonderful doctors, nurses, and midwives that took care of Mommy and me! We cannot express how thankful we are for all you have done to make us a family! Best wishes and I hope everyone stays healthy, happy, and safe!
Yay! Daddy is here to take us home! We finally got the okay to leave. Let’s get this show on the road!
I’m all ready. When can I leave?
Here I am looking my best in my new outfit and now I’m stuck waiting. Mommy’s packed up and ready to leave the hospital, I have all my belongings ready to go, Daddy’s in the parking lot waiting for the okay to come up and get us, but we are still here. What’s the deal?
So apparently just because I’m want something, it does not mean that my expectations and needs are immediately met. I did not agree to this. I have a bad feeling that life will not be as easy as I thought it would be.
Mommy and I are being discharged from the hospital today. It is standard practice in Japan for mother and baby to be admitted to the hospital for a week. The nurses and midwives watch over them and make sure everyone is doing well before they go home. They even give the mothers basic lessons on how to care for their babies.
I’m so excited to go home and start my life with Mommy and Daddy in our home! I got all dressed up for this occasion. How do I look?
I know that parents like to take a lot of pictures of their kids, so I thought I should toss in a few poses. Without the poses, all the pictures would look the same. The problem is that I am sleeping for most of the day. So, I’m doing my best to pose in my sleep.
I’ve been giving Mommy a tough time these past few nights. I have been sleeping a lot during the day and crying a lot at night. I’ve been keeping Mommy up and possibly waking up the entire hospital ward. It’s not completely my fault. I’m still getting used to life on the outside and trying to learn how to sleep and everything. Things were a lot easier in Mommy’s tummy. It is a long learning process and I guess I have a lifetime to master it.
I was born at a good length of 51.5 cm (21.28 in.). I think everyone expected me to be plump, round, and fat when they heard about my estimated weight. But I’m not fat at all. If anything, I’m on the athletic side. Long and strong. I have long legs, big feet, and I also have long fingers and toes. It looks like I’ll grow into a tall boy.
For some reason the baby bed/cradle at the hospital is at an angle. I’m sure there is some safety reason for it, but they should post a weight limit on it. I think I’m too heavy for it and I end up sliding down to the bottom. I hear that kids like slides at the park, but I don’t think I’m there yet.
With Mommy always looking at me I figured that maybe I should do the same. Looking at it from her point of view, it could be slightly unnerving. But sometimes you just can’t help but stare.
I hear that babies like to be swaddled, all wrapped up like a little baby burrito. I don’t think I’m that kind of baby. I’m okay for a while, but then I need my freedom. I wriggle my arms out and sometimes kick my covers off. All in the name of freedom.
But I guess there is a downside to that. Without my covers it can get chilly quite quickly.
Us babies are fickle things. We can go from this ↑, peaceful and content, to this ↓, crying, punching and kicking, in a matter of seconds.
By the way, look at that arm and leg action. Now you know why Mommy’s belly was moving so much when she was pregnant with me.
I got the hiccups. I used to get them a lot when I was in Mommy’s tummy but I never thought I would have them out here too. I know they may look and sound cute, but they are tiring.
I have to share this traumatic experience I had last night. Mommy was breast feeding me as always and it is usually the happiest part of my day. I’m a good eater and Mommy has no problem feeding me. So things were going as normal.
I stopped feeding for just a second to catch my breath and then I was attacked! Mommy’s boob shot milk at me! I was shocked! My favorite thing in the world just attacked me for no reason!
Mommy quickly wiped the milk off my face but she couldn’t help laughing at the situation and my shocked reaction.
I get the feeling that it’s not the last time that will happen. In order not to give it a chance to attack me again, I planned to drink that boob dry! Hmmm, which side was it, the left or right…?
Most of my day is spent sleeping, eating or crying. During those three activities my eyes are always closed. But every so often when I am calm and have nothing else to do, I open my eyes and take in the world around me. It is bit overwhelming! There are so many colors and so much movement. I can’t quite see much beyond 30 cm (12 in.), but that’s fine because that’s just about how far Mommy’s face is from me when she holds me.
Today I got to meet Daddy for the first time! I had heard so much about him and chatted with him a couple times through FaceTime, but I got to see him in person! Well, “see” might be the wrong word. I was sleeping peacefully when he came to visit and I didn’t wake up while he was here. With the pandemic restrictions, he could only visit once and for 20 minutes. Those 20 minutes went by very quickly. It’s okay though, I’ll be home in a few days!
I haven’t been sleeping very well through the night, but when I do fall asleep, I look like a perfect angel.
It is important for a baby to get a lot of sleep in order to grow. I try to do exactly that.
It’s not all sunshine and roses out here. Sure, there are many great things for me to learn and explore, but there are a lot of difficult things as well. Life out here can be frustrating to say the least. I can’t do what I want and I can’t express what I want. What is a baby boy supposed to do in this situation but cry. And I do that quite well, if I do say so myself.
Okay, I love Mommy a lot, but she is always staring at me. I mean, ALWAYS! At least in her tummy I had some privacy. Out here I’m exposed for the whole world to see. Sometimes I’m sleeping and I sense that she is looking at me. I take a peek and sure enough, there she is staring lovingly at me. Oh well, can you blame her? I’m pretty darn adorable.
