Losing it

My girlfriend asked me a few years ago to go to West African dance class in New Haven. I went on a couple occasions but because I lived in Boston at the time I did not continue to go. Five years later I finally took the plunge and have been going one a week in Manhattan.

At about 6 months I felt like I was going stir crazy being around Noah and not having as much interaction with adults. I was at my breaking point, being a stay at home mom, having little time to enjoy any independence and have any physical activities such as running or dancing. Luckily, John's mom started coming into the city to watch Noah. This allowed some well needed me time.

I slowly overcame the concern of leaving Noah with other people and mustered myself to find a babysitter in July. She is a high school student, somewhat young but her reference said she was very responsible for her age. The first couple times were nerve racking; her phone battery died one night we were at a concert in Central Park so we ended up leaving early. Her mom was willing to stay with her a couple times until we felt comfortable. Now that her daughter is back in school she watches Noah every Wednesday.

With my Wednesday nights free I go to my West African dance class in Union Square. I consider it the W. African version of Tai Bo. The first 30 minutes are concentrated on ab work and then we go through the choreography of the routine. I've been told Tyra Banks also goes to the same class but on a different day.

It has been a couple months already and I am more confident. I feel revived after each class; my tank shirt drenched in sweat and my muscles panging from exerting my body. Maybe I will try belly dancing next!

Going mental.........

After some disagreements over whether Noah needed a helmet I eventually gave in. John and I noticed around 3 months that his head was flatter on one side. Our pediatrician said it was normal and instructed us to wedge his head and alternate sides for the next few months. It was not so easy since Noah had a tendency to immediately shift on his back.

It turns out that Noah has something called, plagiocephaly, 'a condition characterized by an asymmetrical distortion (flattening of one side) of the skull. It is a common finding at birth and may be the result of a restrictive intrauterine environment. If there is premature union of skull bones, this is more properly called craniosynostosis.'

He has to wear the helmet 23 hours a day. During the 1 hour he is not required to have it on we need to wipe down the foam lining with alcohol and give him a bath. His hair tends to wreak of alcohol combined with his sweat.

I resisted at first, knowing that the helment brings more attention to Noah. Living in such a big city with hundreds of kids I thought I would see other babies though to this day I have not. People stare a little longer than they should, kids point and there is an occassional curious person who does ask what the helmet is for. I realize though that it makes him look cuter!
Two more months to go!