As I said earlier, today (Sunday 31 May 2009) we plan to go to doctor or hospital in Kepanjen to check mom's condition. She's not feeling so well, dizzy and fever. Dad suspect her dizziness got someting to do with her low blood pressure which turns out to be true. Doctor i.e. Bu Soesi, gives her vitamins and advise her to consume some particular foods to raise her blood pressure.

Dad is not a doctor that's why he opines that the pratical way to raise a blood pressure is by eating sate / satai (roasted meat). He did buy it for our dinner tonight. Mom actually doesn't like goat so much, that's why she ask dad to buy sate kambing (roasted goat) with sate ayam (roasted chicken) as well. Dad agrees.

It's Saturday. Usually dad asks me and mom to walk around town visiting Kanjuruhan stadium, buying jagung bakar (roasted corn), bakso or other foods or just sight seeing. But not this time. It's because mom ain't feel so well. He's got fever and a bit of flu. So we stick around house, watching tv and reading books while I play with my fingers. Tomorrow dad plans to take mom to doctor to consult if something serious happens or just ordinary symptoms.

As far as I am concerned, I am a bit curious now about myself. As a almost four months old baby, I wonder what it looks like one year from now.

But dad reminds me that I should count every single day as a blessed day worth thankful to God

Kampongan is a place of gathering at our gramma (dad's mother)'s house. It's a humble and simple place. Aunts (dad's sisters) just want it to be like it is. Aunts and uncles (from dad side) just like Kampongan so much. They are no longer here in Karangsuko but Kampongan become the most important reason they would come to Karangsuko. Like aunt Aro, whenever she want to go to Karangsuko all she says is because she misses the Kampongan a lot. What Kampongan looks like?

Here's the legendary Kampongan Dad and all his sis and bros so fond of

It's Thursday, and as I said earlier, I'd be at gramma's house every Thursday and Friday. Meaning I will spend the thursday night there with mom. I meet sister Zahra who are three months older than me. I also meet with bro Najah from Ganjaran Gondanglegi and all bros from Uncle Munib and aunt Elvi family: Tajul Anwar, Syidan, Kia and Farrel the last bro is the youngest among them who are a year older than I am. Life is exciting outhere because I actually can play manything with my little friends. As a three and half month baby, the problem is I am still unable to do that: I still can't talk nor even sit. One day when I can do all of that (talk and walk), should be a year from now, I'll spend all day and night to play hide-and-seek with them. What an exciting day that day would be!

Meanwhile, dad as usual stays at our own home in Karangsuko. He's doing manything outthere from managing students; arranging meetings to write articles. He seems to be more comfy staying at our own home than joining us here at Kauman Kepanjen. Especially when aunts are gathering at gramma's house, the world becomes so small for him to move around.

Speaking of myself, according to this article, I now should be able to begin to smile, laugh, and starts to grasp toys. Did I? Dad and mom know.

I and mom join dad to Kepanjen in the afternoon to bring the computer dad wants to give to uncle Luthfi. Dad asked uncle Luthfi to join the computer training at PP Alkhoirot Karangsuko Malang and dad promised to give him a computer set to practice if he's so interested in the training. Uncle Lutfi seems interested with both the training and the computer. So, dad keeps his promise and today we deliver it to him. He seems so glad. I also wish him luck may that humble machine become a turning point of something new in his life. Amen

When I enter gramma's house, I found out something new: gramma unusually carries cousin Zahra who are 3 months older than me. Frankly speaking I am a bit jealous. Gramma used to carry me whenever I am there. Not this time. And I can't hold my tears seeing that moment of painful truth.

But mom and gramma try to calm me down by saying that gramma will be carrying me tomorrow when I am there again to stay one night with mom.

The imunisasi (mmunization) I took two days ago in Kepanjen (Bu Soesi's house) may be the last. Because mom thinks that the next imunisasi will be done at our neighborhood at the same RT (Rukun Tetangga) just around 300 meters from our home. There's a pediatrician also at my village named Bu Ayu. The next imunisasi will be the first done by Bu Ayu. Hopefully she'll do better than Bu Soesi.

Here are some photos dad took during my last imunisasi at Bu Soesi Kepanjen
Bidan (pediatrician / baby nurse) Bu Soesi Kepanjen registering babies who want to get immunization

Babies and their mothers in line to register Immunization

Bu Soesi's House and Nursing Home

The pain of yesterday's immunization (DPT, polio, hepatitis B3) is still felt. I cry sometimes regardless mom and dad try hard to make me stop crying. I can feel the heat of my body especially my head. Mom feels it too. But pediatrician says it take one to two days after which I'll be ok. Actually, it's the second time the vaccine DPT--that make my body hot--injected into my body. The difference, this time, I stay at my own house unlike earlier where I and mom stay at gramma's house--gramma's certainly a lot more experienced than mom and dad combine.

Here's the video when I took the third immunization on Sunday May 24, 2009 at Bu Soesi (pediatrician)'s house.

In the morning, I poop. This poop thing is a good news for me, a baby who used to no poop for several days. It exicites mom and dad too. The record breaking is ten days without pooping.

Another news, I do immunization again this morning at pediatrician Ms Soesi in Kepanjen. The good news is I cry only a little in stark contrast when I did immunization last month. Mom and dad are both glad seeing my resilience in resisting the tempation to cry.

Just in case you're a baby like me and wanted to know about the immunization timeline, this is something you need to tell your mom:

* At 2 months your baby will be due for DTP-Hib*, Polio and PCV**.


* At 3 months your baby will be due for DTP-Hib*, Polio and Meningitis C.


* At 4 months your baby will be due for DTP-Hib*, Polio, PCV and Meningitis C.


* At 12 to 15 months your baby will be due for Hib, Meningitis C and MMR***.

*DTP-Hib (Diptheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (whooping cough)
**PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine - Pneumococcal infection)
**Measles/Mumps/Rubella (German Measles)

I do not poop for several days now. Probably 5 days more. Unlike previous occurrence which make mom and dad panic, this time around they look calm. Moms told dad that my no-poop habit does not scare her anymore. Having said that dad advise mom to eat some watery juice such as banana and papaya to enable me poop smoother. Mom try her best to do dad's advice regardless the fact she doesn't like eating juice.

If you are the first time visiting here, I need to tell you that once I have the experience of ten days without poop. But as dad found out that such no-poop-for-days thing is nothing to worry about especially for a breastfed baby like me: "a breastfed baby can go up to 15 days without pooping."

Gondanglegi is a place 4 km from my home. Dad says it used to be our subdistrict (kecamatan) before government change into Pagelaran. Dad says actually Karangsuko is better becoming part of subdistrict or kecamatan Gondanglegi, not Pagelaran's because geographically the latter is a lot closer than the former. But government insists Karangsuko should be part of Pagelaran subdistrict. We go there with dad and mom along with some santri putri (female students) who happen to want to go there too. Dad asks mom to offer them a ride which they accepted.

We buy daily needs in Gondanglegi.

In the afternoon, dad asks us to go to Kepanjen, a city 7 km from my home. We buy Mr Mac fried chicken for us and for our maid too.

Dad and mom having dinner with that of Mr Mac fried chicken we buy at Kantor Pos (post office) area.

My age reaches 106 days or three months three weeks. One weeks shy from four months hallmark. Dad and mom seem like me even more because I look like a healthy baby: chubby and hardly cry. It's in contrast to the previous days when I cry for nothing and make nom dad confused.

Well, I have a new routine nowadays: listening to Islamic VCD for children in Bahasa Indonesia and English. Mom also starts reading me stories every now and then sometimes twice, in the morning and at night.

Dad and mom think that though I am unable to speak, my brain alread works and is able to store some vocabularies. That's why they keep talking a lot to me even when they don't get any response from me in return.

I'll say a big "Thanks you dad. Thank you mom" the time when I am able to talk later. Maybe next year. Looking forward to that moment. I am sure dad and mom too.

We, me mom dad, are going to Gondanglegi this afternoon to buy books at Al Haidar bookstore. Dad buys these books: Gus Miek, Sejarah Ulama Madzhab and Majmuk Syarif. While Mom buys Hidayatul Mustafid for teaching at Madrasah Diniyah Putri.

We also buy two big buckets for dustbin and fresh milk (Ultra Milk) and some snacks at Indomaret (Lays, etc). We also buy tempe penyet, ikan lele penyet and terong penyet near the Gondanglegi public grave and then we buy Pempek Palembang near Puskesmas. Lele is a kinf of freshwater catfish which mom likes so much.

Meanwhile, today I am a 105 days old baby. Meaning I am going to another level as far as baby development goes. I am now in the category of 3 to 6 month baby growh. Here's an article about the development of baby my age:

3 to 6 Months (baby development


EATING
Because they take in more now at each feeding, babies 3 to 6 months old will generally need fewer feedings. Breastfed babies tend to nurse until they are full — but should be able to do so in a shorter period of time. If a healthy breastfed baby nurses for longer than 15 to 20 minutes, it may be that he's using the breast as a pacifier. In general, if a baby is growing, peeing and pooping well, seems alert and is playing and sleeping well, chances are good that he's getting enough to eat.

Most pediatricians recommend a maximum formula intake of approximately 32 ounces a day. When babies start acting hungry despite getting this much, or start waking up more often at night out of hunger, it may be a sign that they're ready to start solid foods. It is recommended that babies start being fed solid foods (in the form of infant cereal) somewhere between 4 and 6 months of age, with some recent research suggesting that waiting until closer to 6 months is preferable (especially for breastfed babies).

Between 4 and 6 months, most babies lose their tongue-extrusion reflex, a reflex which causes a young baby's tongue to push everything but a nipple right out of her mouth. Being able to control their tongues means that babies can start to keep foods in their mouth. Since learning to eat solid foods is a task that can take time and effort, however, it is a good idea to make the first feeding of the day a breast or bottle feeding. This is particularly important when a baby wakes up extremely hungry, since many babies will not have much patience with the spoon and the challenge of eating off of it. Check with your doctor about how often to introduce new foods, and what to look for in terms of allergic reactions or food intolerance. And as you do introduce new foods, remember that your baby's bowel movements will likely be significantly different than they were before solids were introduced, potentially varying in how loose or solid they are, as well as their frequency, color, and/or smell!

Because they are growing, babies need more calories and nutrients per pound of body weight than adults. In general, there is no need to worry about a 3- to 6-month-old getting "fat" — and there's no indication that a chubby baby will become an overweight adult. Your doctor will help follow your baby's growth to make sure that he is gaining weight appropriately, and will be able to address any questions or concerns you might have about feeding your 3- to 6-month-old.

SLEEPING
By 3 months, a more predictable sleep pattern begins to emerge. In general, babies in this age range sleep about 14 to 16 hours a day, several of which are during the day time. Sleep time is usually spaced out in two or three naps and a solid block of about six hours (sometimes much longer) at night. There are, of course, great variations in babies' sleep needs and schedules. As a general rule, it's a good idea to push for longer periods of uninterrupted sleep at night and try to phase out middle-of-the-night feedings at this stage. Ideally, babies should be able to be laid down to sleep while still awake by 4 months of age, since learning to fall asleep on their own is often the key to a future of good sleep habits.

PLAYING
It's not uncommon for 3-month-olds to have calm, wakeful periods of up to 45 minutes. By 6 months, many babies can stay awake for stretches of two or three hours. As babies spend more time awake, the opportunity for periods of play increases dramatically. Play is vital to a baby's physical, mental, social, and emotional development, and best of all, babies at this age enjoy and actively respond to play. Remember that while toys can be fun and engaging, nothing beats the sound of your voice, the warmth of your touch, and simple human interactions.

This is the perfect age for you to start reading with your baby — that is, if you haven't already. Board books are specifically designed to be explored by babies (and their mouths), and having your baby sit on your lap and listen to the sound of your voice as you point out the colorful pictures can help your baby develop an early love of reading and learning.

Babies are fascinated with objects that move and make noise. Here are some ways to play with your 3- to 6-month-old:

* Hold a toy the baby can reach for and grasp. Start by holding the toy close to the baby's chest and directly in front of her eyes. She will bat at the toy. As she gets older and starts to roll, increase the challenge by holding the toy farther away and to the side, so that she will need to turn and reach to get it.
* Hold your hands a few inches from your baby's feet to create a kicking target. Safely suspend a rattle or some other crib-safe toy over the crib, low enough for him to kick.
* Help your baby gain better head control by gently pulling her from a reclining position into a sitting position. To do so, simply lay your baby on his back and grasp his wrists in each of your hands. Gently draw him by the arms into a sitting position, holding his gaze as you do. By the fifth month, you may be able to pull the baby onto his feet.
* Put your baby in front of a mirror. Babies this age are increasingly interested in their own images and will often smile and be quite entertained with this simple game.
* Remember that babies this age can be moody, and that they may not always feel like playing when you do!

My first long trip to distance and hot place makes me sick and so tired. That causes me cry a lot. Dad and mom decided to bring me to Kepanjen to tukang pijat (English, masseureuse) in Jalan Suruji Kepanjen. I cry even harder during the massage but feel a lot better after the massage has been done. The masseureuse seems know what to do to 100 plus baby like me.

I feel so comfy after the massage. I even having fun, making joke and laughing all along with mom and gramma at Kauman Kepanjen while waiting for dad cleaning up his car at Cuci Mobil Semangat Baru near SPBU (stasiun pengisian bensin umum) or Opposite Bakso Duro.

We come home in the afternoon and I sleep well till evening.

According to this piece, massage is ok for a baby like me:

Baby Massages (4th Month)
If you have already gotten your baby used to receiving massages, you can continue to do them and increase the amount of time you do them. Rub your hands together before starting the massage so that your hands are warm. You can start to use special baby oils but do not use talcum powders or colognes. If you use oil, be careful to not touch the baby’s face because it could irritate the baby’s eyes. You can also pass different textures over the baby’s body such as soft ones, rougher ones, cold ones, wet ones, warm ones etc. Allow the baby’s body to come into contact with balloons, feathers, cotton, soft brushes etc.

When to Call the Pediatrician

If the baby does not look into your eyes
If the baby is very apathetic and gets mad a lot
If the baby does not move most of the time
If he does not smile or laugh [1]

--
Note:
[1] www.babysstory.com

On 2 clock early in the morning dad was told that Uncle KH Abdul Haq Zaini of Pondok Pesantren Nurul Jadid Paiton Probolinggo Jatim dies. It's not clear what causes his death. Everyone wonders considering nothing serious about his health and the fact that he's still relatively young make everyone puzzle. Dad taught me that whenever someone dies I should say "Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi roji'un" To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.

Dad plan to go alone to Uncle Abdul Haq burial--around 80 km from home but later changes his mind and ask mom (including me) and aunt Ram of Brongkal Pagelaran (Kamil's mother) to go along.

It's the first time for me to go to such hot place like Ponpes Nurul Jadid. It's so hot that I sweat all the way. Aunt Luthfiyah help me undress my clothes. It feels a bit better. But when I am home later this undress thing causes me got flu in the following day.

We arrive home at around 8 pm. We perfom shalah (prayer) of Maghrib and Isha at Masjid Baiturrohman Kepanjen and having dinner at Warung Anda Kepanjen. Oh by the way, when we at Masjid Baiturrohman, the electricity is off outthere. Mom is so scared.

Hurray, dad and mom (along with me and maid mbak Muti'ah) go to Malang to buy, among others, VCDs of Islamic song and stories made in Indonesia (kisah dan lagu anak Muslim) from Bayaqub bookstore near Cairo Restaurant.

Dad buys me four VCDs with a kid named Syamil as main character. I just can't help but laughing whenever I watch him singing and talking with his sister Nadia. He sings very good Islamic song and recite some prayers like bismillah, alhamdulillah, etc.

We go further to Toga Mas in Jalan Raya Dieng and mom buys me some children book including the Islamic ones. While dad buy a book note for himself.

He spent a lot more time in Bayaqub to buy arabic books and Tafsir Al Misbah by Quraish Shihab.

A day after 100 days baby landmark, I think I still sank in with the "hang over" of the achievement feeling of getting through this important and critical moment in my life.

Dad and mom watch kid tv and they're so interested with the program Shamil / Syamil series a program made for Muslim children. For suitable for kids from three to 5 years yet dad and mom think it fits me too. So they plan to buy me the Syamil series for me tomorrow in Malang from either Gramedia, Toga Mas or Bayaqub. Let's see which book store sell those vcds

Meanwhile here are some latest photos of me

The moment has finally come when I as a newborn baby have reached the 100th day hallmark. Today I am a 100-days old baby. Compared to my cousins, I am way too early to say that I am a "grown-up" enough baby. But compared to myself 100 days ago, I am a much older person. Having passed through 100 days smoothly without any hindrance is worth a thousands of grateful to the Almighty God and to everyone who help raised me in the process especially to, who else, Dad and Mom who nurture and nourish me without precondition. They just do it for uncoditional love. A love that I might not be able to pay back.

In this occasion, I just want to put a series of my photos Dad or Mom have taken during my first 100 days of my existence in this world. Photos is certainly worth a thousand words. It's a lot better expression than, say, verbal expression especially for me, a one hundred baby with very limited vocabularies.

Ok, I have to confess that I'm a bit nervous today to celebrate my 100-day existence in this world tomorrow. A 100 days old baby and is still alive is a grand thing for me. And for that I've to be thankful to everyone concerned: mom and dad in particular who accompany me with the warmest caress and loveliest hug I ever get. But the 100 days hallmark is still one day to go. Not today, I should remind you.

Having a three-months plus old baby like me for the first time makes my dad busy about what to do. I think here's a good an advice from expert for dad and mom suppose to do to me:

Start reading to her now


Reading to a child, no matter how small, will pay off. It helps your baby develop an ear for the cadence of language -- in fact, varying the pitch of your voice, using accents, singing, and vocalising make the aural connection between you and your baby that much more stimulating. But don't worry if she looks the other way or loses concentration -- adjust her stimulation by trying something else, or give her time to rest. Co-ordinate your interactions with her responses and interest.

There are also plenty of good books to read to your baby. Choose board books with large, bright pictures and simple text -- or even wordless books with pictures for you to narrate.

But at this point you needn't be slavish to age guidelines. Books designed for older children with clear, crisp images and bright colours can captivate a baby. Or you can even read poetry originally written for adult ears. What your baby doesn't understand will nonetheless delight her because of its musicality (you'll probably be amused as well).


Early language development


This is a sensitive time when verbal stimulation is particularly important for your baby. Seize the moment and engage her with a variety of words and sounds. Recent research links higher intelligence levels to how many words a child hears in the first year of life. This is the time to set a sound foundation. Even a trip to the shops can be a chance to stimulate your child -- as you roam the aisles, point to objects and identify them by name. Your baby can't repeat these words yet, but she's storing all the information in her rapidly developing memory.

A baby in a bilingual home will get double the language training if she regularly hears both languages spoken. If you'd like her to learn more than one language, have each parent speak to her in a different language.


Touch becoming more sensitive


Stimulate your baby's sense of touch with materials such as fur, tissue, felt, and terrycloth, or look for books that make touching a part of the reading experience. Touching, carrying, and massaging your baby, along with moving her through the surrounding air when you lift her, are powerful ways to relax her and may even increase her alertness and attention span.

My Picture with Toy Mom Bought Me

Mom and dad brings me to market Pasar Kepanjen along with mbak Muti'ah, the maid. The main purpose is to buy her a set clothes called busana Muslimah or a Muslimah clothes for women. Mom says mbak Muti'ah seems so excited to know that because she's from a poor family and having a new clothes is a luxury. After that we're going to Kantor Pos (post office) area Kepanjen to buy fried chicken from Mr Mac fried chicken for us and for cousin kak Helmy too.

Dad also comes to computer shop to ask for cheap price second hand computer to his brother in-law.

This is sample of Indonesia's Busana Muslimah (Muslimah clothes)

I have a new habit nowadays: sucking my own right thumb and other fingers whenever mom and/or dad leave me alone. I don't know since when this habit starts, my guess is since I reach three months of age.

Is it normal habit? I don't know and a bit care less about it. The thing is that's what I'm doing. Just in case you're curious, dad has just record it in a video. Watch it on Youtube below:

Dad really wanted to know my development month by month so that he can supervise if anything not going ok. He tries to find a good and brief baby development chart for baby aged 1 to 6 months.

He finally got this good one:


Baby development chart

Newborn to 1 month

-Infant lifts head, when lying on tummy, stares at faces

1 month to 2 month

-Baby enjoys visual stimulation, follows sound and objects, makes smoother movements.

2 month to 3 month-

-Baby recognizes faces and sounds, play with hands and feet, squeals, gurgles, and roll over, ability to grasp objects

3 months to 4 months

-Baby begins to smile, laugh, and starts to grasp toys.

4 months to 5 months

-Baby begins to recognize his or her own name and turns towards new sounds.

5 months to 6 months

-Baby begins to imitate sound, will roll over from tummy to back, and starts to sit with support.

Dad is always curious about my growth as a three months old baby. Basically, I don't care about my growth and development as far as mom breastfeeds me whenever I need it, it'd be ok for me. But dad just can't keep quiet on my growth. He keeps searching on the internet if I'm doing ok. If my growth and development are normal, etc. Considering I am his first kid and first son, his "over-attention" to me is understandable I think.

He finds out the baby growth rticle which says:

As a 1- to 3-month-old, your baby will likely continue to grow at a similar rate, while also gaining 1 to 1.5 inches (2.54 to 3.81 centimeters) in length per month. These are just averages. Your baby may grow somewhat faster or slower, and is likely to experience growth spurts along with other times of slower growth.

How many feedings a day your baby gets. A breastfed baby may feed 8 to 12 times in a 24-hour period; bottle-fed babies usually eat less frequently, perhaps every 3 to 4 hours.

How much your baby eats at each feeding. A baby generally nurses for at least 10 minutes, should be heard to swallow, and should seem satisfied when done. Bottle-fed babies eat about 3 to 4 ounces (88.72 to 118.29 milliliters) a feeding during the first month, with an extra ounce (29.57 milliliters) per feeding for each additional month.

How often your baby urinates. Babies should have at least 4 to 6 wet diapers a day.

How many bowel movements your baby has each day, and their volume and consistency. Breastfed babies' stools should be soft and slightly runny. The stools of formula-fed babies tend to be a little firmer, but should not be hard or formed. Frequency of bowel movements depends on age and type of feeding.

We stay all day at home since dad has teaching duty all day. At 1 pm he teaches the Tsanawiyah diniyah students while at 4 pm he delivers a sort of general lecture at the al-madinah mosque to all students and teaching staffs alike.

So, I and mom stay at home. Mom busily breasfeeds me and calm me down whenever I show a little fussiness and/or change my diaper whenever it wets and makes me uncomfortable with it. Mom also kills the time by reading book on Fiqih Wanita and watching book every now and then.

After maghrib (6 pm) however, dad asks us to have a little trip to Kepanjen buying martabak in front of Kantor Kabupaten, new clothes for me and sarung for dad in Sri nDadari store.

We go home right away after that and we sleep all night after mom and dad read a book for a while and watch tv.

Dad finds out an article on what three months old baby like me is capable:

Eye-Hand Coordination

• Eyes can follow a moving object held about six inches above her face vertically and in a circular pattern. She can see objects 15 to 20 feet away.


• Hands open most of the time. Voluntarily shakes and holds a rattle. Grabs onto your clothing and hair.


• Looks at her hand held in front of her face. Enjoys watching her fingers move. Grabs one hand with other one. Sucks on fist.


• Swings at and reaches for dangling objects. Likes to feel different textures of objects.


• Explores her own face, eyes and mouth with her hand.


• Loses interest in mobiles if they're beyond her reach.
  

Thinking Skills

• Turns head and eyes together toward an interesting sound.


• Quiets and stops sucking to listen intently to a variety of sounds. Prefers the human voice to other sounds.
• Coos and gurgles with vowel sounds "ah, eh, oh" in response to what he sees, hears and feels inside his body.


• Begins to suck at sight of breast or bottle, anticipating feeding.


• Becomes excited in anticipation of a regular activity like bath time. Begins to enjoy bath time.


• Soothes and relaxes himself by sucking on hands.


• Startles and looks surprised at a sudden loud noise.


• More visually alert when sitting upright. Beginning to associate lying down with sleeping.


• Imitates your exaggerated facial expressions.


• Stares at himself in mirror.


• May become distracted during feeding by watching other people and activity in room or even just by hearing mother talk.

I forget to let you know that we have a domestic helper who assist mom cleaning up the house, cooking, and washing our clothes. Yes, my clothes and mom & dad clothes. Her name is Muthi'ah or Mutiah.

In the last three days she's been not feeling well. She's sick. So, mom works alone assisted by dad.

This morning is good news. She's been cured. And she's coming back to us to assist mom doing manything we can't do ourselves.


Thanks God for giving her health back.

By the way, Dad finds a good article on how to comfort a crying baby, yep, that's me:

Comforting your baby
- Sucking - whether at your breast, a bottle, baby's own fingers, thumb or a dummy, sucking is always comforting
- Carry your baby close - snuggle him close to you in a baby carrier or sling
- Massage - gentle stroking and massage of all kinds can help calm your baby, but don't massage his tummy before he's four weeks old, miss out his spine and avoid nut-based oils such as almond oil
- Music - rhythmic sounds or music can help comfort newborns and even the droning sound made by a washing machine or vacuum cleaner help soothe some babies
- Movement - rock him in your arms or a cradle, or push your baby in his pram
- Fresh air - get out and about because even if the crying doesn't stop, it won't seem quite so bad outdoors
- Wind - some babies feel better after they've had a chance to bring up some wind, so try placing your baby in an upright position against your shoulder and patting his back gently
- Bath - a warm bath can instantly calm some babies, but be aware it can have the opposite effect
- Take your baby into a quieter room and soothe him by gentle cuddles and soft singing

Today is Friday and I am still at gramma's house. After Friday's prayer, around 3 o'clock, dad is supposed to be here pick me and mom up. It turns out there's new plan: dad will drive aunt Luthfiyah and aunt Juwairiyah and uncle Jafar to Wava Husada hospital at 4 o'clock. So, dad delay the time to pick us up until around 6.00 pm.

During my stay at gramma's house I cry a lot. Mom and gramma are confused. They don't have clue why. Of course I know the exact reason why I cry a lot. The problem is I still can't speak. So, I will tell them (mom, dad, gramma) later on when I am able to speak.


Actually, there's many interesting guide about baby cry. A good example is this:

Sometimes you might not be able to figure out what's wrong when your baby cries. Many newborns go through patches of fretfulness and are not easily comforted. The unhappiness can range from a few minutes of hard-to-console crying to several hours at a stretch, an almost constant state of crying that is sometimes called colic. Colic is defined as inconsolable crying for at least three hours a day, for at least three days a week. Many parents find it very difficult to cope with a baby who has colic, and it can put a strain on the whole family. There is no magic cure for colic, but it rarely lasts for more than three months. If you can hold on to the fact that your baby will grow out of it, that may help.

Look, frankly speaking I hate it whenever dad put my crying picture in this blog. It looks really uncool.

The "duty" to stay for a night at gramma's house has changed. It used to be every Monday to Tuesday. Now it changes to Thursday to Friday. So, now I with mom stay at gramma's house till tomorrow. Another artcile on 3-months old baby:

* When lying on his stomach, she can begin to lift his head up and prop herself up on her elbows.
* He is interested in faces and recognizes her mother.
* He can hold onto objects and wave them around.
* He does not deliberately reach, but may swipe at objects and if they move, will swipe again.

Another good article:

Here are growth and development patterns of a child at three months. Each step listed represents an average of a time span of six to sometimes 12 weeks that is considered within the normal range for that behavior. Don't be concerned if your child is not doing something listed here. Each baby develops at her own pace.

* Body Movement
* Eye-Hand Coordination
* Thinking Skills
* Emotional Development

Body Movement

* Lifts head when lying on tummy. When held on adult's chest, will push away and look over your shoulder. Turns head from side to side while on stomach and propped up on forearms.
* When on stomach, with weight on elbows and forearms, arms can lift chest. Legs remain flexed when lying on stomach.
* Sits erect when supported at the hips.
* Arm movements are more purposeful. Enjoys moving arms and legs vigorously when lying on back, sometimes symmetrically or in bicycle motion.

Eye-Hand Coordination

* Eyes can follow a moving object held about six inches above her face vertically and in a circular pattern. She can see objects 15 to 20 feet away.
* Hands open most of the time. Voluntarily shakes and holds a rattle. Grabs onto your clothing and hair.
* Looks at her hand held in front of her face. Enjoys watching her fingers move. Grabs one hand with other one. Sucks on fist.
* Swings at and reaches for dangling objects. Likes to feel different textures of objects.
* Explores her own face, eyes and mouth with her hand.
* Loses interest in mobiles if they're beyond her reach.

Thinking Skills

* Turns head and eyes together toward an interesting sound.
* Quiets and stops sucking to listen intently to a variety of sounds. Prefers the human voice to other sounds.
* Coos and gurgles with vowel sounds "ah, eh, oh" in response to what he sees, hears and feels inside his body.
* Begins to suck at sight of breast or bottle, anticipating feeding.
* Becomes excited in anticipation of a regular activity like bath time. Begins to enjoy bath time.
* Soothes and relaxes himself by sucking on hands.
* Startles and looks surprised at a sudden loud noise.
* More visually alert when sitting upright. Beginning to associate lying down with sleeping.
* Imitates your exaggerated facial expressions.
* Stares at himself in mirror.
* May become distracted during feeding by watching other people and activity in room or even just by hearing mother talk.

Emotional Development

* Responsive smile in reaction to parent smiling at her. Smiles for pleasure and delight.
* Turns away from eye-to-eye contact when tired of interacting.
* Begins sucking, wrinkles up face, stares vacantly, yawns, begins to squirm or cry when tired of playing.
* Expresses the emotions of delight, excitement, distress and protest with total body movements.
* For colicky baby, crying may peak at 6 weeks and continue to 10 weeks; gradually fades by 12 to 16 weeks.
* Demonstrates individuality in temperament and personality.
* Settles into feeding and sleep pattern with more alert responsive time in the day. May sleep five to seven hours at night.

Celebrating the first day of my 3-months hallmark today is not so comforting at least for mom. She's actually so busy today along with gramma as there'll be another meeting tonight between dad and teaching staff candidates of MTS (madrasah tsanawiyah / MA (madrasah aliyah) Alkhoirot.

Mom wanted to cook for them (12 people) with special foods. He's a bit depressed to the fact I cry a lot today whenever mom leaves me. I myself wonder why. So, as usual dad finds an article on how to deal with a crying baby like me:

When baby cries
One of the toughest decisions you may face will be about crying. Most experts recommend soothing those cries as soon as possible–at least during your baby's first few months. It's virtually impossible to spoil your new infant–hold and snuggle him continually. Coo with baby, too! As you watch baby grow and see how capable he is of entertaining himself, remember baby can use those same skills to calm himself when a crying spell occurs. If baby isn't able to calm himself, use toys, books, or music to comfort him rather than picking him up. Or direct his attention to his crib's mirror; it may distract him enough to calm him down.

Yay, finally I reach the three months hallmark. I get bigger and look more "mature". Unfortunately, dad aint bring me anywhere today. I expect him to drive me somewhere. Actually dad is going to Kepanjen but mom a bit hesitant to join because it's windy. She's worried of my health. So, I celebrate this 3 month landmark by staying at home with mom.

What a three monsh means for a baby like me? Here's a good article of what I am supposed to or expected to be and what parents that is mom and dad should do:

Your three-month-old’s sleeping and eating patterns become more predictable now. In your three month old's development, you’ll also notice your child discovering new ways to communicate with you and discover the world … touching, feeling and grabbing everything within reach! Offer your baby sensory-stimulating toys, play soothing music, and read about how to understand your baby’s cues as you play together.

How baby plays

* When lying on her stomach, she can begin to lift her head up and prop herself up on her elbows.
* She is interested in faces and recognizes her mother.
* She can hold onto objects and wave them around.
* She does not deliberately reach, but may swipe at objects and if they move, will swipe again.

By number, it's a day left for me to celebrate myself as a 3-month-old baby. Actually calendar wise, I'm already a 3-month old baby. Because I was born on February 4, 2009 and now it's May 4, 2009. Today is exactly three months.

But dad insists that I'd be a 3 month old baby at 90 day from the day I was born which is tomorrow.

Ok, I budge to dad. Tomorrow I'll celebrate it with mom and dad!

Wish me luck.

It's a nice Sunday. Me, mom and dad are just sitting idle before tv set watching cartoon and news channel. Dad like watching both channel while mom attracts more to any Indonesian song channel. Of course cartoon is the favorite of us all.

I feel good today. Mom breasfeeds the never-satisfied me all day. I think that makes me poop again today.

From today I'll no longer wear gurita or grito in Javanese. Mom says I've reached 3 months old and no longer needs to wear gurita or grito.

Gurita is a baby undershirt clothes worn for 1 day to 3 months old baby. It's supposed to keep a baby under three months old like me feel warm. But modern Indonesian pediatrician advice against using gurita for too long since it can make the baby difficult to breath if tied too hard.

The name gurita, I suspect, is taken because the form of gurita is just like Gurita laut (Octopus in English)

Here are the pictures when I wore guritas (grito)










These two are modern Gurita (grito)

After five days (since Monday), I poop again. This time the stools quite much. Dad and mom are surprised and happy.

Surprised because it's smelly. Happy because I'm back to normal life again. Why do I poop only after ten days before and why do this time I do it after five days? Why the irregular? This article explains:

"Breastfed babies who are not on solids may pass stools four times a day or more, or only once every three days, but you shouldn't worry about the frequency as long as the stools are soft and easy to pass. But bottlefed babies normally need to pass a stool each day to avoid constipation."

Your baby's stools may regularly change in consistency and colour, too, going from soft and mustard-yellow in colour to yellow with green specks, and then back again the next day. This is completely normal.

So, I'm a normal baby and thanks for that. I can celebrate my three month old in the next few days with style!

undershirts / vests
receiving blankets
double receiving blankets
sleepers
sweaters
shawl or cotton blanket
pairs booties
caps
pairs socks
pairs scratch mittens
Side-snap tees
Bodysuits
Rompers
Bibs
Hangers
Dozen Cloth Diaper

Today nothing interesting to note. Dad drives me and mom to Kepanjen to buy carpet matress and bakso food.

By the way, dad found a good article in wikipedia on pacifier known in Indonesian as dot as follows:

A pacifier (known as a "dummy" in the United Kingdom) is a rubber, plastic, or silicone nipple given to an infant or other young child to suck upon. In its standard appearance it has a teat, mouth shield, and handle. The mouth shield and/or the handle is large enough to avoid the danger of the child choking on it or swallowing it.

There is a long history of parents giving their children items to suck on in order to comfort them.In the 1800s, the expression "born with a silver spoon in his mouth" could be taken almost literally silver soothers/teethers were often given to babies born to wealth. Other expensive materials were also used, with mother-of-pearl or coral being thought to ward off sickness. Coral was believed to guard against all kinds of evil,[1] and in England in the 17th–19th centuries, a coral meant a teething toy made of coral, ivory or bone, often mounted in silver as the handle of a rattle.[2] A museum curator has suggested that these substances were used as "sympathetic magic"[3] and that the animal bone could symbolise animal strength to help the child cope with pain.

Problems caused by use

If a pacifier is dipped in a sugary substance like syrup or honey (a practice employed by some, and perhaps related to the outdated sugar tit) it may cause dental caries in emerging teeth. Feeding honey to infants is also dangerous due to the risk of botulism.
Infants may use pacifier or thumb or fingers to soothe themselves

Pacifiers have been shown to interfere with breastfeeding, especially if introduced within the first 6 weeks of life.[14][15]

Children who suck pacifiers may be more prone to ear infections (otitis media).[16]

Some older infants may have delayed speech development due to the pacifier's constant presence in their mouths preventing them from practising their speaking skills.

Hmm... I haven't used this pacifier yet. Sometimes when mom is away, I just suck my own right hand for comfort.