Flatty McFlatterson

I didn't have time to mention in the last couple of postings that my little William has developed quite the flat head. He sleeps on his back and doesn't like to turn his head, so the back of his soft little skull has flattened. Its quite common with babies, but you do have to try and rectify it or else the bambino in question can end up wearing a corrective helmet. Which, according to the doctor, can cost upwards of $600. Yowza. Owen doesn't have the same problem since he likes to keep his head on the side, as shown in most of the photos on this blog.

When I showed the doctor Will's flat-headedness, she wasn't overly concerned as both babies are starting to hold their heads up, have more tummy time, etc. But of course, I am worried, as I am a natural worrier. A worry-wart as my mother often calls me.

So since Monday's appointment, I've been trying my best to keep Will off the back of his head - wedging him on his side to sleep at night and during naps, eliminating vibrating chair time, etc. And this has been both challenging and tiring, since I now realise that we keep these guys on their backs an awful lot! They love their chairs, they love lying on their backs and kick-kick-kicking away, they love anything but spending inordinate amounts of time on their tummies. And the sleeping on the side thing isn't working too well either - I'll go to get the boys in the morning and Will has managed to work his way onto the flat spot again. Little devil. However, I do have incredibly buff arms and an incredibly sore back from carrying them both around with me for 4 days. I shove Will in the baby bjorn carrier and then feel guilty that I've left Owen in his chair, so I scoop him up too and put him on my hip. They usually fall asleep and I am stuck with two lumps in my arms. Cute lumps though.

My mum is quite fed up of me worry-warting about this though and has told me to cool it. In a much more supportive manner though. She's also spoken to my cousin Mike who's gorgeous baby Jack had a similar flat head issue - Mike said it went away and was nothing to worry about. But they did get him a Noggin Nest and my mum is looking into bringing one back for me from her California travels. In the meantime, I've chilled out a little bit about the whole thing and William is currently playing happily in his vibrating chair, making little squeals and coos of delight at finding his friends again - those friends being the hanging toys that he swats at with chubby hands. Owen, having never been denied his friends, is a little less coo-ey and a little more grunty ("You again! I thought I swatted you yesterday. Hmph! I'll show you!" swat swat swat). Of course I think I've calmed down mainly because my back, arms and brain can't take the pressure anymore.

And yes, those Bumbo chairs featured in the previous photo help too, but the boys can only sit in them for so long without either slumping to one side, bawling their eyes out, or slumping forward. I think they need to be a couple of weeks older to truly appreciate the chairs, but gosh darn it, they're so cute! I also think the more I put them in there, the more they'll grow to like them. I try to keep them entertained by singing and dancing for them, but that only tends to last through three or four Sharon, Lois and Bram songs before the slumping and the chin wobbling start. This could have something to do with my being tone deaf though. I tell you, American Idol could hire these two to replace Simon Cowell. They're not only a pretty quick judge of talent but fairly brutal with their criticism. One of them actually puked when I sang She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain. sigh.

Okay, Will has lost interest in his buddies, I'd best go save him. I feel like there's more to say, but I'll save it for next time. Toodles.