Daniel reacted so badly to taking him out for pictures, it almost makes me wonder if it was worth it.  It is so sad to see him so upset.  Mama had to give him his Zegerid medicine (which he absolutely hates to take) and tried to feed him, but he was too upset to eat.  But he did finally just pass out from exhaustion.  Papa took him so that Mama could get a much needed nap and he continued to sleep.  He didn’t wake to eat that bottle but chose to just keep sleeping until after a few hours Papa put him in the crib and he still kept sleeping for hours.  Baby breakdowns take a tremendous amount of energy.  I guess he can eat tomorrow.

While Papa was holding him Mama thought the was all too sweet.  It’s just sad that this relaxation is actually just shear exhaustion.

Well, it was an adventure, but we did manage to get three month professional pictures made today.  It was a taxing day for Daniel and his little village of caretakers.  Poppy and Mama got him ready and took him for the pictures.  He was pretty upset at the end, so we made a run for it and Papa showed up in time for us to tag team with him for him to pick out the pictures we want and pay and so forth.

Daniel had a mini-baby-breakdown after we got him home.  We first did several things to cool him down and then started on things to console him.   We suspect that the new drug he is taking for his acid reflux, Zegerid, is causing this extreme nervousness.  But there is nothing we can do. He has to take a drug and this one has fewer side effects than the Zantac did.

Part of our cooling strategy was a bath.  This mostly just got Daniel more upset (he usually enjoys baths) but he was settled down once Poppy got him on the changing table.  Poppy took these pictures.  This is Daniel’s new favorite pass time.  He makes a fist with his right hand and moves it closer and further from his face repeatedly while staring at it.  It is the cutest thing.  He can occupy himself for 15 mintues at a time this way.

Poppy and Mimi have already gotten Daniel some pretty neat toys and whatnot, and he’s showing more and more interest in the contrasted colors, texture and plain old widgetiness of them all.

Here’s one of his (and my) favorites – the mighty Skwish (slightly better description at this store)! In the background you’ll hear Daniel’s favorite CD:

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The small circle of people Daniel can cope with right now – Mama, Papa, Mimi and Poppy – can’t always take care of themselves, but they’ll do anything in the world for him. His grandparents have been here since the first, and because of that they imprinted themselves on his brains before the Zantac nightmare ever began. And that’s really fortunate because Daniel has started his next adventure: teething! I hear that some babies make it through that phase with absolutely no discomfort whatsoever, and we wish (and Daniel most of all!) that he fit that description. But, alas, alack, aherm and acrap, I must unbundle yet another sadness: he doesn’t, not one little bit, and Mama and I aren’t yet self-sufficient.

Here’s the scenario. Ready? OK:

1. Daniel’s lower gum had been bothering him like nuts all day
2. He hadn’t been able to sleep with the pain, and whenever he finally did pass out from exhaustion, he just woke up again with the next throb
3. Mama and Papa had been up with him all day massaging his mouth and keeping him comfortable
4. Mama, who currently gets her sleep during the day, finally had to conk out, leaving Papa with the unhappy little bag
5. And Papa had to get some work done because he hadn’t been able to get to it all weekend, and he figured he’d have to stay up into the wee to finish it
6. But Mama wouldn’t have any of that, and she called her folks for yet another favor

So Poppy, who’d already given s much time to his favorite boy in the whole world, showed up to sit…

…sick and with a 101.4° fever.

That’s true devotion.

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I wondered how Poppy and Daniel spent their together-time… 🙂

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Until the Zegerid starts fully working, Daniel is getting acid relief in any way possible.  This portable swing provides a good upright angle and is comfortable.  Sometimes Daniel gets sore from being held so much (for us to keep him at a good angle), so this is a welcome relief.  When his acid is really bad, he’d rather be held and consoled.

It is taking a while for the Zegerid to kick in.  It can take up to two weeks.  So Daniel is having acid pain, mostly at night and in the morning and it is so sad and pitiful.  Because of this he doesn’t get much sleep and is tired whenever he’s awake.  We are all praying the Zegerid will become fully effective as soon as possible and give this poor little guy some much deserved rest and relief.

Zantac had slowed his digestive system down.  He was having a poop once a week.  Off Zantac, he now has a poop once a day – stangely enough at exactly 1:45 a.m.  This wakes him up from a sound sleep.  He’s happy in this picture because we just changed his diaper after his daily poop.  But right after this he started having acid pain and things got really sad.

Daniel has grown so much he was pressing up against all sides of his Moses basket.  He can spread out in his crib.

Teething?  We aren’t sure.  Only time will tell.  Daniel has recently started drooling a lot.  Here he is licking his teething ring.

Daniel thinks his Bumbo seat makes him feel like a big boy, but it makes him look so tiny.