Maybe we can make bread...

Peter has had a persistent diaper rash for the past week that wasn’t going away with standard treatment. Peter’s mom called the pediatrician and got confirmation that it wasn’t just a diaper rash, it’s a yeast infection. Fortunately he doesn’t show signs of being irritated by it, and it’s contained to a small area. We got a prescription ointment, but mainly the treatment is to air out his butt every once in a while, and also expose it to light. Apparently yeast likes it dark and warm, and if he’s catching a sunny breeze down there it will help him out. Last night we didn’t have much access to sunlight so we had to use a flashlight, but the only flashlight I had available was an 18 inch maglite. So there I was, aiming the kind of flashlight cops use to beat up jaywalkers at my kid’s butt while he gurgles and coos on the changing table. To make matters worse, the next time I changed him was, oh, about 2 minutes too soon, if you know what I mean (#1 and #2). And he was loaded.

Another thing I’ve found about Peter (and I’m not sure if this is just him or it’s a universal baby thing) is that his arms cause us a lot of trouble. That is, sometimes he’ll fuss and grumble for a long stretch of time, with his arms flailing around like a wind up toy. But if you strap down the arms, he becomes a docile little sweetie. Case in point: 4:30 this morning Peter wakes up, announces he’s not sleepy anymore, and flaps his arms like a hummingbird. He’s not really hungry, and his diaper was clean. Flap flap flap. So eventually I grab him by the midsection and sit him in my lap on the bed, with his arms firmly (but gently) held to his side. In no time he’s quiet, calm, and falling back to sleep. I then hold him like that while lying down (trying to get whatever rest I could before having to get up and go to work) with him on my abdomen, rising up and down as I breathe – and arms held down. Swaddling him and keeping the arms restrained doesn’t always work - Peter is a junior Houdini when it comes to getting out of restraints. What I need to find is a nice little straitjacket, made out of soft cotton, preferably in a nice shade of blue. Anyone know where I can pick up such baby bondage gear?

In Milestones department, today sees Peter turning 5 weeks old. He’s also smiling more frequently now. He’s also outgrowing his clothes at a rapid clip. He should be about 10 pounds now, too.