MORGAN'S SMORGASBORD: February 2009

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Mom is trying to get more photos up of ME ME ME but she says the internet is too slow sometimes and then uses some naughty words that I wouldn’t be allowed to say if I could talk. She tries each day to download photos onto this blog; sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. So please be patient, I’ll have more photos and videos of me up soon!

Baby Group

On Wednesdays I hang with my hommies and their mommies at a baby group. About 10 of us meet together every week to play and drool all over each others' play mats. Some of us are American, some are European, some are mixed Tanzanian/European. There is one baby who is in an even bigger percentile than me (!), another with lots and lots of thick black hair, and one baby born 8 weeks early. Almost all of them are boys, except for 2 girls, and all but one baby already has a big brother/sister at home. 4 babies were born the same week as me (Nov 25, 2009) and a few others that are a couple months older than I am. Each week the group meets at a different house and the mommies mostly sit around and gossip. Soon we'll put up some photos of one group meeting at my house – check out my toys! I don’t actually like the toys all that much, but my friends sure used them all.

3 Months Old and Hefty!

I had my 3-month birthday on Feb 25! The doc says I’m a healthy big boy at 15.5lbs and 26 inches long (90^th and 95^th percentiles according to CDC charts) – I like my doctor, I just smile and giggle at her, until, of course, she sticks me with those icky immunizations. I don’t like those so much, but mom always holds me close and gives me a little snack from the tap to make it all better J I fell asleep immediately after my doc appointment, and so far haven’t had any adverse reactions to the vaccines!

Tonight I’m having a special night with just me and my babysitter, Gertrude. I’m sure G has lots of distracting games for me, but I’ll probably just clonk out on her. The ‘rents are off to a business dinner (borrrriinnggg) at Mommy’s fave restaurant, Osaka.

Monday, February 23, 2009

VBAC - Vaginal Birth After C-section

Mommy's using Morgan's blog to promote her own agenda here..........

Imagine my shock after being told (during labor) that I was a good candidate to have a 2nd child VBAC (vaginally) and then learning that the hospital will not allow doctors to perform VBACs because of insurance costs associated with the practice. This, despite the fact that a vaginal birth is, after a caesarean and in all cases, significantly less risky than major abdominal surgery. I will be forced to submit to surgery regardless of whether or not it is necessary. I am livid and heartbroken.

The VBAC issue is resurfacing now as the c-section rate in the USA tops over 30%. That means nearly 1 in 3 women will have a c-section. This is the highest in the developed world - we may then either assume that there is something very wrong with American women, or very wrong with our health care system. My strong suspicion is that there is something wrong with the system, not me.

Time Magazine and the Huffington Post are the latest media spots to address the question of why the c-section rate is so high and the VBAC rate so low in the USA. Consumer Reports investigations concluded that US hospitals are over-using medical technology in childbirth and lists a c-section at #3 of "12 surgeries you may be better off without." I encourage all women to read the articles and develop your own opinion. It is not the first time the medical community in the USA has taken a natural evolutionary process, birth, and in a genuine attempt to help out, has managed to twist the entire process such that women are at greater risk of complications. Ask your great-grandmothers, grandmothers, and mothers - who remembers their births as a happy, joyful experience. Or who remembers a painful, frightening process? So far, I've found that women who are in full control of their birthing experience, whether in hospital with epidural, c-section, or going natural at home, they are the ones who love their births. Women who have been directed like servants and treated as if they were sick speak of their births as though they are battle stories.

This isn't how it should be. My c-section was a necessary, life saving procedure. But the incidence of my affliction, placental abruption, is less than 10%-15%. What is happening to the rest of the women in the USA being operated on? We are not all ill or afflicted. If I am safer, healthier and happier to deliver vaginally, I should be supported in hospital. Not cut open.

Time Magazine -

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1880665,00.html

Huffington Post (same author) -

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pamela-paul/childbirth-without-choice_b_168652.html

Consumer Reports -

http://www.consumerreports.org/health/free-highlights/manage-your-health/needless_surgeries.htm

and

http://www.consumerreports.org/health/medical-conditions-treatments/pregnancy-childbirth/maternity-care/overview/maternity-care.htm

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Two Intensely Cute Baby Videos

Time lapsed videos - Baby playing with toys and baby eating strawberry. Love it!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

More Sexy Photos of Me!

30 Random Facts About Morgan

Mom got this idea from a Facebook thingy - 25 Random Facts about me - and I had her write everything up about me. Except we didn't stop at 25 and made it up to 30. So here it is:

30 Random Facts About Morgan Cayes Gama-Lobo

1. Morgan is growing like a weed. He is in the 90^th percentile in length and the 75^th percentile in weight.

2. Morgan has his daddy’s dimples and his mommy’s eyes

3. Morgan started smiling in his first month, and he wakes up with a big smile. He smiles with his entire body.

4. Morgan curls his toes all the time

5. On the weekends, daddy will barely let mommy hold Morgan

6. Morgan looooooves his changing mat. As long as he can look at your face he’ll let you do anything on that mat. But try changing his diaper or put on some clothes in another location and watch out!!

7. Morgan gets his last feeding of the night from a bottle. His Daddy feeds him.

8. Before going to bed, Morgan gets a little bath and then gets dressed in his long sleeve shirt and a sleep sak. His Daddy hates the long sleeved shirt because he can’t figure out the buttons.

9. In the mornings, Mommy feeds Morgan in the bed. On most days they fall back asleep together after Daddy leaves for work.

10. Morgan loves to babble. He loves to have long intense and slow conversations with you looking right into your eyes (ladies beware!)

11. Morgan has no butt.

12. Morgan likes toys a little bit but since they can’t look in his eyes and converse with him he gets a little frustrated at them.

13. Morgan cannot stay awake in his car seat, stroller, or when we put him in the baby carriers.

14. Morgan loves to have company or to go out to restaurants. But he does not like it when company plays the Wii too loudly.

15. Morgan is learning to enjoy the swimming pool and generally likes the water and his bath.

16. Morgan gets very cranky when he’s tired, but won’t go to sleep until someone holds him.

17. Morgan has a distinctive, demanding squawk he uses when he wants attention or wants to be fed. He is very demanding and uses it often.

18. Morgan and Mommy go on walks in the stroller or the baby carrier most days.

19. Morgan likes to sit in his bumbo chair on the table when his parents are eating dinner.

20. Morgan is jealous of the Wii.

21. Morgan hasn’t noticed the cats, but they sure are jealous of him. They make regular attempts to co-opt his play mat and pack n play bassinet.

22. Morgan used to sleep in his stroller bassinet, but is too long for it now. Now he sleeps in the bassinet of his pack n play. But he really prefers to sleep with Mommy and Daddy, and usually ends up in bed with them by 4am every night.

23. Morgan helps Mommy and Daddy do their chores in his baby carriers or in his stroller.

24. But the truth is, Morgan usually wants all attention to be on him, or else to be walked or bounced, so doing chores is usually a pipe dream.

25. Morgan has already won the heart of the housekeeper, Gertrude, who babysits him so Mommy and Daddy get things done.

26. Morgan does not sleep well when the electricity goes out at night and the air conditioner turns off.

27. Morgan still wakes up at least once during the night for a feeding. But he’s starting to sleep 5-7 hours straight.

28. Morgan usually wakes up around 6:45 or 7. Usually Daddy will take him and play with him for a half hour or so and Mommy can get a little extra sleep. They will make breakfast together and check Daddy’s email.

29. Morgan has unfortunately taken an interest in the television. He is not sure if it is responding to him or not. If he decides it is responding directly to him, he’ll smile. But if not, he’ll get frustrated and start to cry.

30. Morgan loves to poop while his diaper is being changed. Then he’ll pee, and if it’s a really special day, he’ll spit up, pee, and poop all at the same time. He’s sort of a sexy beast.

Learning to Sit Up

I get my posture from my mom. She's looking pretty rough these days............ I'm sleeping 6 hours straight now, so I don't know what her problem is. Maybe it's because I go to sleep at 8pm. I think she goes into an internet frenzy around then and loses track of time...........

My Digs

I outgrew the bassinet I was sleeping in (it came with the stroller) at about my 2 month mark, so now I'm sleeping in my pack n play.

It's pretty cool, I like it well enough, and it's got some cool games.

My bassinet is set up right next to Mommy's side of the bed so I can get her up for a nightcap when I need to. I like to wake her up around 3:30/4am. Then, if I act really fussy, she'll usually just let me stay in bed with her for the rest of the morning. Score!