Petite But Otherwise Healthy

We went in for our weight check, and Abigail is still trending along the 1% curve, which is good I guess in the sense that at least she hasn't fallen completely off the chart.  She is now 11lb 1oz.  The pediatrician wasn't too concerned and said she's just "petite" but otherwise healthy.  It's really funny to think that a child of mine could be petite, but I guess stranger things have happened!

It seems like milestones come in waves.  Just in the past few days Abigail has amazing head control and loves being on her tummy (a big change for her!). She's a rolling machine, constantly flipping over and trying her best to crawl.  She turns onto her tummy, lifts up her head and moves her legs like crazy.  Her chest is still firmly planted so she's not going anywhere just yet, but it won't be long now! 

She also started making this awesome noise. It sounds like a cross between Godzilla and a pterodactyl.  Of course I caught it on video.  The quality isn't great. I really need to start using the proper camera instead of just my phone.

Coughing is another new trick.  I'm totally convinced she does this for attention.  She'll cough a couple times and if I look at her she'll smile this enormous smile.  She doesn't cough in her sleep or have any other symptoms, so I'm sure it's on purpose.  Just another one of those "I just figured it out so I'm going to keep doing it" sort of things.

Here's an example of Jelly showing off her excellent head control in the bumbo:

And one showing off her shampoo-do:

The other thing that's going on is I think she's teething.  She was super fussy the other day and would cry every time she started eating. I think her poor gums are sore.  She was cranky all day until I finally gave her some tylenol, then she went right to sleep!  Something was obviously bothering her.  I even called the triage nurse at the pedi office because I was worried it was an ear infection or something else that required treatment. She said if there's no other symptoms (fever, discharge) then it's most likely teeth.  She has 2 white spots on her lower gums, and has been drooling like crazy and chomping on everything in sight, but those have all been going on for awhile.  I guess we'll find out sooner or later if it's tooth-related! 

Trip to the Park

I just wanted to post some pictures of our trip to the park this weekend.  The weather's been beautiful and it's lovely to be outside.  Grandpa Ian came down and we had a nice morning walk around the lake. 

That's all!  Just wanted to show off more pictures of my gorgeous little girl  :)

Roly Poly, Sleep, and Stats

I love baby emotions. There's no hiding how they feel, no pretending to be one thing or another. If they're happy, they smile. If they're sad, they cry. Abigail has a toy we call Prince Ribbit (it's a frog that crinkles and squeaks). I'd say it's her favorite. Every time I hold it in front of her she smiles the biggest smile from ear to ear. It's so cute. The only thing I respond to like that is her!  I can't help but smile when I see my darling girl.

That being said...
We're working on sleep training.  It's so hard!  She doesn't go to bed until late (usually 10ish), and even though she'll sleep 10-12 hours (with a couple of times up to eat), it's still too late and it affects her whole schedule. Naps can be a challenge too, although today she's sleeping like a champ. We also need to move her to her crib. She can't be in the RNP next to me forever!

So we researched different methods and decided the only real way to do it is to do both at the same time, and use a modified Ferber method. We do our routine (pjs, nurse, burp) then put her down drowsy, but awake, in her crib and leave the room. We come back to calm her in intervals, without picking her up. So the first night was rough. She cried like she was being tortured! We came in after 3, 5, 10, and 15 minutes before giving up. Then, last night, after the 10-minute mark I yelled into the monitor "she's on her belly!"  She had decided now's a good time to roll over for the first time, and was stuck on her belly and NOT happy about it!  So we gave up again.  It's so hard to hear her cry, and seeing her gasp for air between cries with her face planted into the mattress was just not happening. I guess we'll make another attempt when she gets stronger.

Here's a pic from today, practicing her rolling and de-socking at the same time:

She's such a little thing. At our 4-month appointment on Monday she weighed in at a whopping 10lbs 13oz, that's in the 1st percentile for other babies her age. The pediatrician didn't seem overly concerned, since she's happy and otherwise healthy, and is soiling diapers regularly and reaching her milestones.  The concern is the drop in percentile, meaning she's not even growing at the same rate as most other babies.  So we have to go in for a weight check on the 22nd and evaluate from there.  I was very upset at this and even though in my gut I know she's healthy, the thought went swimming around in my head that I'm not giving her what she needs and I'm starving my baby. I didn't sleep for 2 days. I feel better today. Here are her stats from her appointments to date:


Weight (in pounds.ounces):
NB: 7.10
2 months: 9.3  (12%)
4 months: 10.13  (1%)

Length:
NB: 20 1/4"
2 months: 22 1/2"  (56%)
4 months:  24 1/4"  (40%)


Some more pics for good measure:

4 Months, and Lots of Pictures!

Abigail is 4 months old! I can't believe how fast time is going. She's really starting to be her own little person. She has her favorite way of being held, her favorite toy, and unfortunately wants to be awake more and more.  Naps are a challenge. 

Here she is at 4 months:

And a couple more...
 Sweet little butterfly:

 Reading through osmosis:

More from today:
  She figured out how to chew on her toes this morning, and pretty much hasn't stopped since!:

 So cute:

 Fun on the playmat:

Last couple:
 Rock n Roll!

Bumbo and Staying at Home

We got a hand-me-down Bumbo for a gift (along with an exersaucer thing and a mountain of clothes - so generous!). We decided to try it out even though Abigail doesn't exactly have great head control yet.  On the first attempt she was very floppy, and only stayed up long enough to take this picture:

Then yesterday we tried again. She did much better, and really enjoyed it!

She's getting to be such a big girl!  She doesn't like being held like a baby anymore, which makes me a little sad.  She likes to be upright, either sitting or vertical on my shoulder. 

I was surprised to learn Bumbo is a South African company. Fun to know such a successful and popular product comes from SA!

I'm not looking forward to going back to work in April. Maybe it's because Mom stayed home with us and I just always pictured me doing the same. Or maybe it's because I so enjoy taking care of Abigail that I don't want to hand over the privilege to someone in a daycare. Oh well, until that time comes I will enjoy hanging out all day with Jelly!

The Best Thing I've Ever Heard

Yesterday Abigail started laughing, like a real from-the-belly laugh. She has been giggling for awhile now but nothing even close to what she came up with last night. It was amazing!  I was doing my usual routine of stupid faces and funny noises that usually gets smiles or giggles, and she burst out in laughter. She kept doing it all evening too.  It's my new favorite thing to hear  :)

The other thing she learned is how to make wet razzy noises, usually accompanied by a stream of drool pouring out of her mouth.  She's been doing that nonstop since she figured it out. I tried to explain to her that blowing raspberries at someone is rude, but I'm not sure she got it.

I was trying to take a video of her laughing. Instead this is what I got:

Speaking of learning new things, this is a lesson from the other day: if she falls asleep in her swing, leave her there, don't try to gently pick her up and tip-toe her over to bed.  That's what the baby monitor is for.  It's a great invention. However, they've gotten so fancy that I can pretty much hear all the little noises Abigail makes while sleeping. It's hard to focus on anything else when she's asleep in the other room. I'm glad I don't have a video monitor. I'd probably spend the entire nap staring at her through a screen instead of being productive.  Sometimes the latest technology is great (as in my new iphone), and sometimes the more basic the better!

3 Months Already!

I can't believe Abigail is 3 months old already!  She's such a happy baby, all babbles and smiles (well, mostly). She is growing and changing every day.

Literally from one day to the next there's something new.  Just in the last week:

* She's discovered her hands. She'll bring them together and stare at them like they just sprouted from her arms.

* She started blowing spit bubbles.  Such talent!
* She started really laughing.  The most fun is the diaper change.  Guess there's something hilarious about being told you have a stinky poo-bottom.
* She sticks her legs straight up in the air.  It's fun, especially when I'm trying to get her dressed.
* She tries to get her whole hand in her mouth and will chew on it vigorously.  Her knuckles even get red from all the chewing.  It'll be extra fun when she starts teething.


What we're working on: tummy time - it's not exactly her favorite.  She'll fuss and squirm and not do what she's supposed to (lift her head to strengthen her neck and arm muscles). Ah well, she seems to be doing fine, and she can hold her head up better every day despite the lame tummy sessions.