12 weeks old

Exactly 12 weeks old today and according to Dad's scale I am 5.8 kg. I am really discovering how to smile and usually in the morning, I do nothing but smiling, especially when Mum changes the nappy and I feel the cold air on my little baby bum. I am improving my rattle skills. My rattle looks a bit like a dumbbell, in case you haven't noticed, but Dad said he is not pushing me into weight training at all. I personally have my doubts, but I just let him, don't want to spoil his expectations just yet.

I am already going to bed a few nights in a row at 8pm without any problems. Mum and Dad are more fun during the day, when I make sure they have some proper sleep and some quality time in the evenings. It works best for the both of us. Last night I slept from 8pm until 2 am and then again from 3am until 7am. Mum and Dad were really proud

Me in my sleeping bag

Today Maui and Molokai, the two cats living in my house, have to go to the vet for vaccinations. They need to have them so we can take them to the cattery in December, when I visit Netherlands with Mum and Dad.
I already received my first vaccinations on 15th September when I was 2 months old and the next lot I will  receive on 15th November when I am 4 months old.

Oma leaving

                                        Final play time with Oma today

Mum and I brought Oma to the airport this afternoon because she is leaving. I was a bit sad and gave her heaps of cuddles. Luckily I am travelling to Netherlands in December, so it will only be a few weeks before I see her again!

Enjoying the sun

                                               Dad and Me enjoying the sun!

Mum makes sure I am protected with a hat or otherwise she puts me in the shade, because the Australian sun is very strong. I love the sun and for a baby who has never been in the sun, I already have quite a natural sun tan. Dad and I will be doing competitions when I am older, who will be the most tanned.....

Warrandyte

We visited Warrandyte today, where we walked along the Yarra river and took my beautiful pram off road.
Mum and Dad would like to buy a house in this area next year and today they showed oma what the area looks like. It was the hottest day since Oma arrived in Australia so we were getting our dosage of vitamin D.

Hearing test

Oma and Mum took me this morning for a hearing test. This is a routine test for all premature babies, who have been in Special Care for more than 48 hours.
At the hearing clinic Mum and I were taken to a dark room and I got 4 electrodes attached to my head. Mum was supposed to get me to sleep for the test, but because I was visiting a new and exciting place and I love to see what is going on, there was no chance of me sleeping.
Next best thing besides sleeping, was trying to keep me as still as possible, which worked when Mum started breastfeeding me. They tested my left and right ear by measuring my brainwaves in response to certain sounds and both ears appeared to be perfect.

I can even hear it when Mum and Dad are whispering, so watch out, I am listening to everything!!!

 Look I am an aeroplane! Great way to get rid of my little winds!

Final check with Dr Mills

Today I have my final check up with the paediatrician, Dr. Mills.
Before my appointment Mum took Oma and me to see the Special Care Unit, where I spent my first 12 days. The nurses were very happy to see I am such a chubby big boy already.
After that we went to see Dr. Mills. He was very happy to see me and gave me a thorough check. I weighed in at 5.6 kg and 38 cm head circumference. He forgot to do length because Mum was chatting to much again. He was so happy with my progress that he said that he never wanted to see me again! (he meant it in a nice way!)
He checked my hips, my lungs, my eyes, my ears, my abdomen everything. I stayed really relaxed and Mum was very proud, I was so easy.
The baby that was in his rooms before us, was crying like crazy, not like me, I am a happy baby.

Dr Mills told Mum that there is a big chance that if there is another baby Koopman ever to come.it might come early as well. So Mum for the next one, make sure the bag is packed!

After that Mum had the final check up with Grant, the obstetrician, and he was also very pleased to see me growing so well.

Mornington

Dad left the house this morning on his road bike at 6.30 to go cycling. He is practicing for the annual " Round the Bay in a Day cycling tour", which is on October 17th. To help him get his kilometers up, Mum, Oma and me decided to drive down to Mornington for the day to meet with Dad for lunch and Dad could do a 160 km ride. In Mornington Dad put the bicycle in the car and we walked around and went to the beach, because it was very sunny.

 Don't I look tough 'Stoer' in my Dutch T-Shirt, which Oma gave to me.

 It is weekend, so that means Daddy time

 My hat is still a bit too big, but Mum says I will grow into it! At least it keeps the sun out of my face!

Oma and Me

Dad even got his feet wet, still a bit too cold for me!

Oma is getting better every day!

Oma has been around for 2 weeks and it is getting better every day. She gives me my milk bottle every now and then when Mum wants a little break. She went with us to Mothers Group and met all my little mates and their mums last Tuesday.

Today we went to St Kilda for coffee and a little walk along the boardwalk, as it was beautiful weather. We also met up with Charlie and his Mum Melanie, my little mate from hospital.   

Oma also lets me hold her finger while I am drinking

Mum and I can take little naps, while she cleans the windows!

She bought me this beautiful rainbow colour thing that turns when you blow

Oh yes and Mouse was also a gift from Oma. He is my favourite!

(At least Mummy wants this one to be my favourite as it fits easy into every suitcase, I won't tell her that I like to take the Big Winny The Pooh to Europe in December)

No Milk

Today was an interesting day. Mum, Dad and I went for a little walk in Albert Park. Mum decided to go running (without me) and pumped all her milk into a bottle for Oma and Dad beforehand as it was close to me feeding time. She then took off on her run and Dad and Oma gave me my bottle, but it was NOT enough! Mum left me with NOT enough milk in my bottle and I screamed and screamed and screamed, but Mum was gone.

Dad comforted me to sleep after a while and was desperately waiting for Mum to return. To make things worse, Mum was enjoying her run so much, she decided to run extra long, as she thought that I would be bottle fed anyway. Was she wrong! After Mum finally returned and I was boobed up on some extra milk, we decided to stroll along St Kilda board walk and have a bite to eat.



Pictures of me being cute again

 Me on my playmat, practicing my rolling

 Mum stop cuddling me all the time

Oma I don't want the hat on, I want to look at all the people!

 Mum and Me

 Dad and me

Oma and Me

Bath time fun!

Oma is great!

Oma carries me around on my belly, when I have tummy trouble and sings the "Tiedelum" song. It is not even a real song, she just made it up, isn't she clever!

Mum taught Oma how to do my Pentavite

She was already good with giving bottles, I only sometimes forget how to suck bottle, because it is different than breast, but Oma is very patient with me.

Maternal Health Nurse visit #4

I am 2 months old today and I will therefore receive my 2 month immunisations today:
Rotavirus was just given in my mouth and tasted pretty good. Similar to my daily vitamins, so I was used to this.
DTP and Hepatitis B and Pneumococcal 1 was given in  both my legs.
I screamed only one big scream. Because Oma was watching me, I had to show her I was already a big boy, so I did not cry much.
Elaine, the Maternal Health Nurse, was very kind as usual. She gave Mum an awesome shiny toy to keep me occupied whilst she did the injections. It worked great!

I weighed in at 5095 grams and 58 centimeters and my head circumference is 37.5 centimeters.

Oma is coming to visit

Yesterday Mum and I had a walk along the Maribyrnong river to boost my vitamin D and we also had lunch in Moonee Ponds with Marloes, one of Mums Dutch friends. Marloes is having a little girl in 3 weeks.

Today Mum and I went to baby massage at Mother's group, which was very relaxing for me and I slept the rest of the afternoon.
Mum and Dad have been busy in the afternoon cleaning the whole house (except the windows), because Oma (Mum's Mum) is coming to visit. She loves to do the windows, so that is why Mum and Dad invited her over. And of course she wants to see me!


She arrived at 19.40 and I made my first trip to the airport to pick her up.

Oma definitely knows how to cuddle (I could hardly breath) and she knows all these awesome songs and she holds and carries me around all the time, which is great as I have just started to focus on colourful things.

My sleeping bag

This is my cute sleeping bag

Bellarine Peninsula day trip

Mum and Dad took me down the Bellarine Penninsula today to show me all the good stuff down there. Mum found a Bellarine Food and Wine car trip in one of the magazines, which she wanted to do for a long time, so off we went.  First stop The Chocolate Shop in Queenscliff.

Look how much Chocolate Mum was eating: Chocolate Mousse, Large Hot Chocolate and we even got smarties for me!!! Because I do not eat yet, Mum did not mind eating them on my behalf and turning them into Chocolate Breast milk, so I could already enjoy the chocolate shop even at my age.

We had great fun and Mum and Dad really enjoyed themselves, it was Mum first day out after having me, so I decided to be very quiet and behaved very well.
In Queenscliff Mum did some shopping while I was asleep in the pram, I was not too interested and pretty tired and full from all the chocolate milk,so decided to take a nap and wait for some more exciting things to happen. In Barwon Heads we checked out the beach, it was very windy but very lovely. Dad had a rough time pushing the pram on the beach.

Althought it was my first trip to the beach I did not see too much of it yet, but Mum made sure I had a beachy picture of my first beach trip.

After the walk we enjoyed a great lunch at Barwon Heads, Mum had the mussels - I am not sure whether I like those yet!

Before going home we stopped by Geelong where we surprised Auntie Sarah and Uncle Paul with a quick visit! After such a big day and I was asleep at 7pm already ( and have not cried for 3 hours like the rest of the week)
Apparently I was so tired that I forgot to wake up at 11pm for my feed. I did not wake up until 1am that night.


After my first 3 days of Infacol I appear to have less wind and it is definitely not as painfull anymore. The reflux is still there, but does not make me cry as much anymore whilst feeding. Mum keeps me upright after every feed for about 30 minutes to ensure the milk is not coming back.