OCTO!

8 Months Old (yes - I know this is late...)

Keegan with his nanny, Danielle

While relaxing on the beach with a good friend last week, we started talking about how nice it is that everywhere we go, people are so happy to see our little ones. In Nigeria, every where you go, no matter how grumpy or unfriendly someone may seem, the moment they lay eyes on your baby they burst out in a big smile and they start cooing, clapping and what not.

In North America, children can sometimes be seen as a burden or annoying to those who do not have children (ie. a misbehaving child in Walmart!). One certainally wouldn't get the same response as here, the children are almost expected to act out and everyone loves them for it.

Speaking to young women here about having children is also very different, so many of them are excited and look forward to the day they may conceive and have their own. When asked "Do you have children?" most women respond "Not yet! But I want plenty, still need to find a husband first..." This attitude is in stark contrast to North America where the typical single, young professional woman would often answer "Me? No way! Not for a loooong time!" At least that is how I used to respond! Young people in the West typically see having children as life haulting and fun stopping. We don't see children for what they really are, a great joy, blessing and fullfilling! We focus so much on our careers and paychecks, we don't see having a family as something that helps us move up on the coorporate or social ladder. I guess this experience in Nigeria and having the opportunity to have our son here has really shown us the value of family and how rewarding it is to us as people, even if it will impact the pocketbook a bit.

I will truely miss how excited people become when they see Keegan. It is a real icebreaker, strangers come up and talk to you and the baby, and you learn about their family or their wishes to have one. It is great to take Keegan out for a walk and so many people are happy to greet him. We will miss that.

7 MONTHS!

Keegan is 7 months old. He is now sitting on his own, has two teeth and is still just a happy little guy. This age is certainly fun, in my mind he is the perfect size for cuddling, playing and just well perfect. He isn't as fragile as when he was newborn, and is more and more in tuned with his surroundings. I am going to miss him being this size for sure. He is still small enough to hold and carry but as you can see, strong enough to sit and play on his own.

Keegan is trying his best to crawl, and gets frustrated that his body isn't moving how he wished it would. On his tummy he will squirm and squiggle and move almost like a seal and bob his head, trying to get the rest of the body to follow (without success). Keegan finds the strangest thinks funny, he laughs at the cat's tail. (the cat doesn't find this tail grabbing business funny at all). He laughs when we chime a meditation bell (not quite in tuned with the whole zen thing yet, sorry Auntie Carrie, you will have to teach him).

Lately other parents have been telling us, "oh this is the best age, 6-12 months", at first I thought, well all ages are good. But now I am starting to see what they mean. You are less exhausted than the newborn stage, you worry less about everything (especially the first time around), and their personality really starts to show. When I see and hold younger babies I get a bit sad that Keegan is so big already, and it really does go too fast.

Ryan read a quote the other day, "children are the orgasm of life". (it is weird but true statement). Before having Keegan I thought, "wow that is a lot of work" (which is is), but what you don't see it the immense love, and joy they bring to your life. No one can prepare you for that feeling of true unconditional love. It is instantaneous love at first sight, in the truest form. For those ready to take the challenge, being a parent is both the hardest and BEST thing we've experienced.

MMMMmmm, something new to put in my mouth!

Gazing out at the Harmatton Sunset the bright orange sun. Of course with a bit of drool (as always).

Cute little chubby hands!

Morning laughs on the bed while pestering Simon the cat!

Keegan's first Christmas at 6 months!

Keegan sixth month sure was hectic, we feel like we just recovered! To sum it up, Keegan saw Santa, recieved too many gifts, had his first sleigh ride, went cross country skiing and got to and touch snow! He got to visit with grandmas and grandpa which was the best gift of all.

With Daddy, enjoying his first sleigh ride Grandma and Lynne, sitting beside us.

Uncle Darce helping open presents. You can see, the tongue out while concentrating must be a Quinn thing.

Skiing at the Nordic Center

On Mummy's lap, playing peek-a-boo with Uncle Darcy

Keegan enjoying his first "tonka" truck, thanks Grandpa Larry and Jacquie

Sitting with Santa

Loving the jolly jumper

Keegan at 5 months!

Reflecting back on the past five months it is amazing to see how much Keegan has grown and developed. As new parents we are amazed with how early babies become socially aware and how early they become aware that with certain actions there are reactions.

Humans are social beings, or as Aristole once said, social animals. It is incredible from how early on (essentially day one), how a baby learns to interact and crave interaction. They interact with touch, proximity, smiles, and crying. As parents, there is something inate which draws you to your baby, and "interact" with them. The progression to new, and exciting ways of interacting with them is natural. Once you've become "used" to a certain type of interaction (rocking, peek-a-boo, mimicking etc) they learn a new one to melt your heart.

Keegan is definetly a social baby. It is neat to sit back and watch him when someone new comes along, he is curious and tries to reach for them (if in mom or dad's arms). Although he is social he has reached the "stranger danger" milestone and will sometimes cry if he can't see mum or in big crowds.

Keegan (as i am learning with most other babies), enjoys seeing other babies and children. We meet for a play group a couple times a week, and on the rare instances when all the babies are awake at the same time, they sit, and smile at one another. They seem to all understand that "Hey, that person is just like me!" Although they aren't actually "playing" together yet, it seems as though they are interested in one another in a different way than "big people". Keegan also likes older children, smilling away as he watches them zoom around the room making different noises.

For those of you that have children, you are probably thinking "well, yeah!", but for two new parents, I guess we just didn't give babies the credit they deserve.

A quick Keegan update!

Keegan has started eating a bit of solids, he really likes his rice cereal leaning in for more. The first few tastes though, he didn't like the taste one bit!

We started to give him these Rice crackers, his first tastes he loved them, and cried when it was all gone! (in the picture he is crying, but we quickly went and got another).

He loves mushing the food in his mouth with his fingers. He got his first tooth this week (on the bottom) and the drooling has slowed a bit, (no longer soaking through three or four bibs a day, down to two now).

He is getting stronger everyday, and is almost sitting up on his own (almost). Keegan is able to roll from back to tummy and tummy to back. He has really really found his thumb and has got it in his mouth ALL the time now. He will even try shoving it in there when I am nursing.

Keegan loves his jumper, and can spends his mornings just jumping away. He has learned to jump with two feet now, rather than just swing. Here is an action shot

Looking forward to being home for the holidays! Wishing All of you a VERY Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday Fine Boy 4 months!

Keegan, "you are welcome" as they say in Nigeria. Keegan has received such a warm welcome to Nigeria. All our friends have made both him and I happy to be back. It hasn't been hard to show off our little man, as everyone is excited to greet him. The Nigerian men, say FINEBOY, FINEBOY. we agree.

We are both learning the cultural differences about parenting, here vs western (not to say that we represent all western parents, but we represent some). Our maid Danielle is constantly asking if she can wear Keegan on her back. I have no objections as he seems quite content back there. I will even tie him onto my back if I've got something to do around the house. It is much easier than having him on my back rather than in the front. If he starts to fuss, she tells me I am not bouncing or rocking enough.

Danielle tells me that west Africans (she is from Benin), will tie their babies on their backs as soon as the umbilical cord falls off (that can be as early as THREE DAYS)! I feel a bit better about Keegan being back there with some head and neck control. It isn't uncommon to see a woman riding on the back of a motorbike with a tiny baby strapped to her back and their head flopping about.

In Canada it is stressed to protect the babies head and neck from day one! No jostling around! Some books even discourage car rides down bumpy roads! All the roads here are bumpy, I think even more so on the back of an okada.

Danielle has been especially helpful with taking care of Keegan. We've had to explain to her several times, not to rush to the crib with each little fuss. That sometimes he cries out in his sleep, or he will fuss a bit when falling asleep. In Nigeria, they wear their babies all day and sleep with them at night. The concept of a baby monitor or a crib for the baby in another room just isn't practical for them. We (at least Ryan and I) try to give Keegan the opportunity to soothe himself to sleep, and shoot for longer sleep periods.

One night in particular, Keegan needed to be left alone to fall asleep. Danielle's rocking, singing seemed to just stimulate him. I kept encouraging her to just leave him. It was very very hard for her. I ended up nursing him to sleep. She asked me the next day if he was ok from crying, and whether he had marks around his eyes. It sounds like we let him cry a lot, that isn't the case, but I am just writing this to point out the differences.

Although there are many differences, there are also many similarities. In both cultures, there is a profound love and respect for babies. I am seeing this more and more, when even the vendors on the street peep in the car and smile.

Babies loved to be sung to, at least Keegan does. Both Danielle and I (and Kris too, she is much better than I am) sing to him to help him go to sleep. It is funny, Danielle even sings some french tunes that I hum to him. (Au Claire de la Lune, Frere Jacques).

Now for the Keegan update!

Keegan has become much more vocal over the past month. Squealing while he is playing in his jumper or with his toys. He will "talk" to us, mostly in the evenings, while sitting on our laps. It is funny he kinda sounds like Chewbacca
He is getting better at tummy time, and is able to lift his shoulders off the mat. He does not spend much time on his tummy though, as he has gotten quite good at rolling over onto his back.

EVERYTHING he can grab is in his droooooly mouth (we think he is teething, as it is especially drooooly). Toys, his fists, blankets EVERYTHING he can grab he will stuff in his little mouth. He even gave me a hickey on my neck tonight as I was trying to cuddle him. His shirts and bibs are soaked by mid-day. You can see in some of the pictures a big long string of drool hanging from his mouth (almost impossible to get a picture without one, believe me I've been trying).










Keegan is becoming more and more curious about the world. He wants to be sitting up and able to look around. He really enjoy just standing in his jumper and watching us. (has not figured out how to jump in it yet). When we have company over Keegan is not interested in sleeping, he wants to visit. He usually stays up later than his regular bedtime playing with our guests.





We like to take Keegan swimming. He LOVES it. He is getting better each time we go, and starts kicking and kicking as soon as he is in the water. He now kicks his two legs out and the same time, it is a sight to see. It would be neat to start actual swimming lessons (not sure if that is an option here).

It was Keegan first Halloween! He went as a Pea in a Pod and a monkey (Ryan and I couldn't agree which one was cuter). We visited our neighbors in the building and he was a big hit!