Today we went to the Dr Office...

The boy turned 15 weeks. We celebrated by sleeping in and then going to papí's dentist appointment. He was great and the dentist was not so bad either.

Anyway, the feedings went mostly regularly, but the boy was pretty gassed early in the day. His breathing was forced through a stuffy nose, and the dumb suction device next to the bed is so abhorrent to the boy that he tends to fuss more than I can justify as to its actual effect.

He just slept and slept any chance he could get. I put a hat on him and his breathing seemed to ease. It is hard to do my own breakfast when the boy clings, but when he is having trouble sleeping I rather he sleep on me and I will grab what's at hand.

I become better at using one hand to do the little things, but I got a little freedom to get to the kitchen and make chai and reheat some pancakes from Saturday. It all worked out pretty well. papí was fed, and baby was sleeping.

Mid-morning I needed to get across town to the dentist, so we packed up after the second feed--unusual to actually feed him over the morning, but he does not eat as much when he is forcing his breath; he becomes hungry sooner...

The dentist's office is generously sized, and I told them that the boy is coming with me, so they cleared space as I rolled the stroller into place at my feet. Later I regret not having his car seat separated and on the floor; he becomes unsettled when papí is being probed. If I put him at my feet on the floor I can rock him and his mood settles.

The Dr was lightning fast. He absorbed the developing mood of the boy with a decent reservoir of patience. I appreciated that because the work was somewhat painstaking. Papí's teeth are not in the ilk of 'good.'

The boy has a few blusters, and really does not let go until we nearly land in an elevator on the first floor. I really pushed it with the change this time, and I always tend to regret when I skip something in the boy's care.

A large part of my learning from and with the boy arises from self-centered-ness and its counterproductive consequences for my boy.

After the dentist's office, we stopped in the car for a feed/change pitstop. He appreciated the care and he smiled constantly. He is charming when he smiles, but there are also cues to something he might need.

I found the diaper-bag baby care kit and its suction ball worked very well. The key was that the tip of the ball (the part inserted into the nose) is very soft and flexible. The boy did not protest quite so hard when papí attempted (and succeeded!) ...

From then on, the boy breathed well and got a nice afternoon nap.

As I write, he is talking to mommy rather loudly. I wonder what the rest of the evening will bring? Anyway, I must dress the boy with more layers when I take him out for a little jog. More about that another time.

Got to go fix tomorrow's lunch for papí and Mrs papí...

Cheers.