Author: Pappa on Leave

Day 108: New Parent Bed Time

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Before the little guy was born, my wife and I were never really the kind who were either up super late or going to bed early.  We would just go with the flow, and go to bed when the time was right.

Now, with a little guy in our lives, if we are up past 22:30, it’s a miracle.  If we have everything our way now, we start the whole bedtime routine at 21:30 and are probably sleeping no later than 22:30.  The other day, we went to bed at 21:00 –  and we were literally falling asleep around then.

When you have a little guy who wakes up at 5:00 to start the day regardless of what time he goes to bed, and who also wakes up a few times a night (especially now with the teething process), you want to sneak in as much sleep time as you can – and that’s what we are trying to do.  It makes us both feel old, but hey, I guess that’s just how it goes!

Day 107: Adjusting to the Heat

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I’ve written before about how hot it is here, and how it makes your face melt (ok, ok, I didn’t exactly use those words).  Hong Kong in the summer is not cold – ever.  Not in the early morning, not in the evening, not in the middle of the night.  It just stays hot and humid, and it ranges from “it’s hot out” to “it’s really hot out” (that’s why thermometers here are easy to read 😉 ).

Today I went on two walks with the little guy – one from 7:30-9:00, and the other from 15:00-16:30.  When we went at 7:30, it was because I wanted to get out there while it was “only” 27 degrees.  And when we went at 15:00 when it was 32 degrees, it was because I wanted us to get out of the house after waiting all day for the air conditioner repair guy, who never came.  By then the sun is at the right angle in the sky that the direction I walk is away from the sun at the beginning of the walk, and then when we come back the sun is really mild.

I am pumped with a purchase I made for the little guy which allows him to be out for those walks without getting hot.  It’s basically a gel ice-pack with padding on it that is meant for babies for this exact purpose.  I will write more about this ice-pack-thing later.  Anyway, combined with a portable fan to keep the air flowing, he stays cool as a cucumber the whole walk, so then it’s just me who must deal with the heat.

Funnily enough, I have come to not really notice the heat anymore after that initial step outside, or unless I am in the sun for a long time.  I might be sweating like crazy, but it’s just how it is here, so I guess my body and mind have gotten used to it.  The air conditioning in the stores here is super cold, but even when popping in and out of these stores I no longer notice the heat as I used to.

We go back to Sweden in 2 weeks to spend a nice chunk of the summer there, so it will be interesting to see how long I am freezing in the Swedish summer (I saw temperatures in Stockholm were around 12 degrees today).  It only took me 2 years living there to stop being cold all the time – let’s hope I can adjust quicker this time!

Day 106: Fizzy Milk Drink, Anyone?

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Over the past few months I’ve tried a lot of different beverages while out on walks with the little guy.  Watermelon “cooling” Iced Tea?  Yep.  Pear and Aloe drink?  Yes.  A variety of others?  Of course.  But one I have resisted was the fizzy milk drink called “Milkis.”  I mean, what better to cool you in 33 degree heat than a cold, sweet, milk-based fizzy drink, right?

 

the milkis fizzy milk beverage
 
This week, I noticed it was on sale at the supermarket, and thought “it’s now or never.” So, this weekend, ready for the inevetable, I stepped outside and opened the bottle and took a drink.  It was interesting. 

It’s super sweet, and tastes like a melted vanilla milkshake that has been mixed with 7-up.  Or more accurately, it tastes like when I was a kid and made different types of floats with vanilla ice cream (coke float, rootbeer float, and so on) – and this was spot on with the 7-up / Sprite float that we tried to make more than once as kids and were never quite happy with (therefore leaving it to melt in the glass – repeatedly trying it and becoming less and less optimistic that it would be enjoyable.  

If I had known back then that this flavor combination would be a drink that people actually drink on purpose in Hong Kong, maybe we would have tried to develop the taste for it.  Then again, maybe not. ;P

Day 105: Swedish Royal Wedding: Carl Phillip and Sofia Hellqvist get married

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When you are all the way in Hong Kong and you are missing the Swedish summer (best summers in the world), you try to stay connected to what is happening back in Sweden.  This means a variety of things – including watching things like Eurovision Song Contest (Sweden won again this year!).  This weekend, it meant watching the Swedish prince, Carl Phillip, get married to Sofia Hellqvist.

My wife is madly in love with the Swedish royal family and can talk for hours about how good they are for Sweden, and why they are important.  As an American, royal families are not really in our blood, except as some interesting thing that other countries and Disney movies have.  But I have gotten infected by my wife’s thinking, and I also can appreciate the Swedish royal family and what they do and stand for in Sweden.

Swedish television network SVT has an app and allows you to stream many of their programs, no-matter where you are in the world.  So, we put the little guy to bed and nestled in to watch the wedding. Watching a royal wedding is a lot like watching the Super Bowl – there are hours of “pre-game” analysis and discussion, side-stories, and other things before the actual event.  But when it finally comes, it’s great.  This wedding was absolutely beautiful, and I am glad we watched it.  I wish we could have been there in Stockholm to feel the city’s energy – but at least we could join in this way.

pre-wedding show
pre-wedding show
IMG_5653
two real life princesses and their husbands
and a bunch of real-life queens, too!
and a bunch of real-life queens, too!
here comes the bride
here comes the bride
this photo basically has the whole royal family in it
this photo basically has the whole royal family in it
gorgeous church
gorgeous church
Prince Carl-Phillip and Sofia Hellqvist getting married - they look sincerely happy
Prince Carl-Phillip and Sofia Hellqvist getting married – they look sincerely happy
of course then you ride thru stockholm waving at everyone

Day 104: sleep pattern change – again!

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The little guy, now fresh into 7 months, is now waking up every 3 hours during the night.  Not awesome!  I am therefore trying to go back to basics with him to make sure he is set up for success:

  • Feed him well all day, and more frequently in the afternoon (this gives him all the calories he will need so he doesn’t need to feed at night)
  • Shorter naps during the day – no longer than 45 minutes
  • Solid foods meal in the evening – should keep him fuller, longer
  • Right temperature in his room and comfortable sleeping clothes
  • Don’t pick him up right away when he cries, he may just need the pacifier out back in and then he will sleep again

There are probably a lot of things that can be done, but those are some good basics to return to, in order to hopefully help the little guy’s sleep get back on track so it goes thru the whole night.

Day 103: Another Guy at the Play Group!

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Today I went to a fantastic play group at Hong Kong’s famous St John’s Cathedral.  Every Thursday from 14:30-16:30 there’s a play group that is open to everyone.  There is a charge of 20 HKD (23 SEK, 2,50 USD), which basically covers coffee/tea and the cookies they have.  Today it was a full house, and I counted at one point 18 babies between 3 months and 12 months.  It was so cool to have that kind of attendance, and what a great opportunity to meet other parents (and for the little guy to meet some other new friends!)- some of the moms I sat with were really nice!

The coolest part aside from all the really nice new people I met was that there was another dad who is a stay at home parent.  Tjoho!  I have been in Hong Kong for over 3 months now, and have attended many different play groups in many parts of town, and it has always been me and the moms.  What a cool thing to meet another guy!

I have really liked getting to know the moms that I have been hanging out with and meeting at the play groups, but there is also something nice about having a guy friend who is in the same situation, too.  Our little guys are the same age, so we decided we will try to get together sometime.  Tjoho!

As you know, I’m not super into focusing on gender differences, so what I am excited about is having a stay at home parent who is in the same situation – a guy staying home with the baby, in a city where it is expected that a mom is staying home with the assistance of a helper.  So, it could be cool to connect with someone else who is in the same unique situation.

Day 102: baby yoga: downward dog

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The little guy is getting so close now to crawling, you can almost taste it in the air.  He’s wobbling back and forth on his hands and knees, almost as if trying to decide of he should take the gamble to go forward.  He also brings one leg up as if in a sprinter’s start position, and then stops there, not sure what to do next.

He is also trying another approach which is probably less beneficial to his crawling efforts than the other mentioned efforts, but is probably a good workout for his little muscles – and it is fun to watch.  This is his current movement to get in the “downward dog” yoga position.  He goes into this position for minutes at a time – most likely staying in it because he is stuck there and cannot figure out the way out of it safely.  

I find it all fascinating – these physical milestones for things that we take for granted every day – just think about it next time you are feeling a little down: you can crawl, right?  This is something my son would definitely envy you for!  In all seriousness, if you think about all the things you can do and the things you have learned in your life, it is really impressive, isn’t it?!

downward dog position (found on pponline.co.uk)

Day 101: Teething

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The little guy was sick at the end of last week, with fever, runny nose, and sluggishness.  It was not fun – it is never fun to see your little one in pain.

One thing that is weird is the symptoms that go along with the sickness he had are exactly the same as teething.  Apparently, the whole process of a new tooth coming in really takes a toll on the little ones’ systems.  As it is currently, the little guy still has a runny nose, and is very tired, and while he is awake he is more obsessed than ever on chewing on things.  So I am convinced he is just going thru teething, and that he will bounce back to normal and then we will see another phase of it later on.

So, what can you do to ease the teething pain?  There are a lot of things you can apparently do (and buy), but the best is just simply having things available for them to chew on.  Hard things, soft things, chewy things – it seems you need a variety so they can get what they need at that moment.  Just because something works one minute does not mean it will work the next, so I guess you just need to stay flexible, show love, caring, and empathy for the whiny little one, and you will make it thru it ok (I hope so, anyway!) 😉

Day 100: Wow, 100 Days of Pappa Leave Already?

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I cannot believe that 100 days has already passed since the first day on Pappa Leave.  There have been so many lessons learned; so many accomplishments and developmental milestones for the little guy.

Having this blog, where I literally post every day, keeps me alive and reflective, and prevents me from getting stuck in any kind of “daily rut”.  It keeps my mind sharp and asking questions as I go thru the day, and it is good to have it as a project.

I have also enjoyed reading the blogs of all the people who I have “met” while doing this blog – those who follow me, and those who I am following as well.  There are a lot of people out there who are in a similar situation, or who are seeking an outlet for their creativity, or who just want to share their thoughts.  Whatever the reason for their blog, it is great that there is an online community that seems to be so supportive.

So, as I look back into the first 100 days, I cannot believe it has gone so quickly, and how much growth has taken place.  And as I look forward to the next 100 days, I can only hope they be filled with laughter, joy, and a daily appreciation for the life we have!

Day 99: Perks of Traveling With a Baby

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Although traveling with a baby is not always the easiest thing in the world, you find your rhythm eventually and can have some fun along the way.  Plus, there are a few perks – for example:

  • People are nice to you almost automatically. As long as you encourage your baby to participate in the world, instead of being just another hotel guest or tourist in a shop, you are (or more accurately, your baby is) now a celebrity – everyone loves to make a baby smile.
  • People smile your whole trip.  It’s hard to know if the people in Ho Chi Minh are nice or not, because I had a baby attached to my chest the whole time, so in my experience a huge proportion of the people there are super nice and always smiling.
  • Boarding the plane first.  This is not to be underestimated, especially when carrying a baby and the equips with you.   It is awesome to get on the plane before even the first class people get a chance toboard.
  • Baby gets their own checked bag for free.  This is a good thing because you will be bringing enough stuff for the baby that you will need a bag just for them anyway – but you can also not worry so much about if you should bring their extra sweater or toy – you have room, bring it!
  • Cutting the line at passport control, too.  Yep that’s right, in Vietnam we were asked to go into one of the special lines (like that deals with diplomats, for example) both on entrance and exit from the country.
  • Memories of the little guy when they traveled with you when they were tiny (and not old enough to have an opinion of where you go).  For example my wife took some photos of me with the little guy strapped to my chest, surrounded by Vietnamese women who were in love with him.  What a great story we will have for him later!
  • Traveling with the little ones surely helps babies to be more flexible later in life, right?  Learning to go anywhere, eat anywhere, and sleep anywhere is surely something that will come in handy as the little guy grows older.

There are probably millions of other perks of traveling with your baby – if I missed any top perks that you have identified, please comment and add your own!  The thing I encourage is all parents, everywhere, to be active and go places with your baby. You can still keep regularity with their schedules even if you are somewhere else, and I think it is good for them (and you) to not be stuck at home.  Make it a short trip within your town or a big trip across the globe – relax and have some fun!