January 14th 2009 - Alicia´s day with Daddy

During the spring school term I will be staying home with Alicia every Wednesday. It is great that Sweden puts so much importance on the parental / baby bond. I am sure that Alicia and I are going to have lots of fun together. I will need to find some activities for the two of us to do together during this time. It is a little tricky for me sometimes when I am watching Alicia on my own. I want to spend as much time as possible doing activities that benefit her overall development. I find it a little difficult to balance playing and training with her, with some of the other activities that would be just considered just enjoyable. For example it is nice to go for walks with Alicia in the stroller. She can look around a bit, but since she is all bundled up in the stroller she doesn't get to move around so much. The same goes with hiking and hanging out with some of my friends. Even though she seems content and enjoys these activities, I personally have a feeling like I am wasting valuable time that I could be spending exercising with her. I hopefully will come to see the benefits of doing these other activities with her.
It also seems that before I can go anywhere with Alicia there is something else that we have to do. For instance, she needs to eat, its time to change a diaper, or she is asleep and I don't want to disturb her. It is also amazing how much planning there is when we want to go somewhere. You have to pack for every possible situation and it seems like I am packing for a whole week even if we are only going to be gone for a couple of hours.
When Alicia is home it is full time fun, but also a lot of work. Since Alicia has some trouble with her vision and moving around we have to help her with some of her activities. For instance if her pacifier falls out of her mouth she is unable to find it on her own so we have to give it back to her. The same goes with some of her toys. Her Whinny the Pooh has buttons that need to be pushed, which she has not figured out yet, so when the music stops we push the buttons with her or for her. We also assist her when she wants to turn over and she gets a little stuck. Another thing we do is help her stretch her legs, arms and help her reach out. Alicia can be very content on the mat by herself, but we don't really just lay her down and leave her to do her own thing too much.
Today I am going to give a detailed account of Alicia's big Wednesday with Daddy.
8:03 "Cough, cough, cough awwwwww" It is obviously time to get up and give Alicia her bottle and medicine. Afterwards a quick change which she seems to enjoy and then on to the play mat.
8:45 Alicia is getting really tired so it is off to bed for a little nap.
9:20 Up and ready for some activities. She started with a little bit of time on her mat looking at the electric aquarium and listening to Whinny the Pooh. I put her on her stomach and she put her head up oh so nice. After about 20 minutes I put Alicia in her jolly jumper. She was into it for a little while with her feet stepping and a bit of turning.
10:00 I put Alicia in her chair and brought her into the kitchen, during this time I had put a classical CD on for her. I also put Alicia's glasses on her. She had her new musical worm on her lap. The worm plays music with even the slightest touch. Alicia laughed whenever she touched the worm and it played music. After a while I brought out Alicia's touch book. She enjoys this book which has different material that feels soft or rough on her hands. She really likes the feel of the sandpaper (probably because it reminds her of her daddy after a week without shaving).
10:50 Back on the mat
10:55 Asleep
11:06 Awake already, talk about a catnap
11:10 a little bit of chilling laying down taking it easy and some cuddling
11:41 starting to make some noise I am not sure if it is a happy noise or a hungry noise. I think she knows it is almost food time. Wow that was a big smile she just gave me.
11:57 Back into the kitchen for some lunch. Meatballs and vegetables, a true Swede. She is a professional eater. One day I hope to enter her in a hotdog eating contest. Watch out Kobayashi, Alicia is gonna get ya!
12:30 Alicia is naked on her changing table, while I am starting up her bath
12:31 Alicia decided to go pee on the changing table during the minute I was getting her bath ready and she thought it was funny.
12:32 Alicia was in her bath and started kicking crazy like usual. She absolutely loves being in the bath. She even gave me a couple of the big laughs where it sounds like she is sucking in air as she laughs. I love that laugh.
12:59 Out of the bath and onto the now clean changing table. Alicia is starting to get whiney, because she is really tired. It is funny how it progresses. She laughs then yells, then laughs then yells and then squirms and rubs her eyes. This means it's time to get her to bed quick.
13:31 Alicia has been asleep for about 15 minutes, while I took a shower. Now we are off to the store to get some food for tonight, for Alicia's friend Jamie and his parents.
13:40 Look who's awake again
14:13 We are finished shopping and are going on a little walk through the neighborhood gardens.
14:57 Back to the apartment Alicia should be asleep, but her beautiful eyes are not staying shut.
15:27 After a little bit of cuddling and some tosses in the air Alicia ate her middle meal which was jar food with banana and mango.
15:30 Mommy's home!
15:37 Finished eating
15:57 A little cuddling with Mommy did the trick. Alicia knocked right out for a much needed nap.
16:07 Unfortunately Jamie got sick so there will be no dinner date tonight
17:20 Alicia is back up (good luck getting away from Mommy tonight). She has been sitting in the kitchen with us as we make dinner. She is sitting and laughing and tapping the singing worm. The nap really gave her renewed energy.
18:30 Alicia is getting her dinner a little late. We know it is late because she told us. Porridge with applesauce.
18:47 Time for Mommy to give Alicia a dry diaper and change her into her pj's.
18:48 Ha, ha! Alicia just peed on the changing table again. This time it's Mommy's turn to clean it up.
19:00 Alicia is back on the mat playing on her stomach with her head held nice and high. She is looking at the teletubby and watching her Whinny the Pooh.
19:46 Medicine time
20:07 Finally asleep
20:20 Woke up again
20:23 Back on her mat with a burst of energy and smiles
21:15 One more diaper for Mommy to change. Not the easy type if you know what I mean. At least she didn't pee on the table again.
21:30 Final bottle
21:42 On Mommy's lap just laughing and smiling right before she is about to nod off
22:48 Finally sleeping after a very long and exciting day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1