Natalie: Five Months

On December 17, 2014, Natalie turned five months old!

In month five, Natalie:

• Is ready to move!  This girl is the wiggliest, squirmiest baby.  She does not like to sit.  She either wants to stand or to crawl.  She obviously can't do either yet, but she sure wishes she could.  I'm wondering whether she will skip sitting up and go straight to crawling.
• Is getting much more steady when she does let you sit her up.  If she would stay in that position long enough, I think she'd be sitting on her own in a couple of weeks.
• Rolled from her back to her belly pretty immediately, every time she was put down.  She just started rolling the other way, so now she can roll across a room, literally, in seconds.  She also learned to pivot on her belly, so she will move directions and end up in a completely different spot from where she began.
• Slept horribly.  And I do mean horribly.  Naps don't happen unless she is in someone's arms, the carrier, or her carseat.  I hate to admit it, but I will put her in her carseat when it's not in the car, just to get her to sleep.  I feel like it's better for her brain development to get enough sleep than to miss naps and be in her seat less. At night, she slept in our bed for weeks.  This began when she started rolling onto her belly, which she didn't like, and she couldn't get back onto her back.  Rather than listen to her scream, I let her sleep in our bed.  Ugh...but last night, we got brave and attempted the crib again, now that she can roll both ways.  And what do you know--she slept all night just fine!  Please, Natalie, keep it up!
• Spends time in the highchair while Henry is eating!  She hasn't had solids yet, although Lord knows this girl wants to eat.  I'm holding out for another two weeks.  But if you put toys on the tray, she is happy for about 10-15 minutes.
• Is still exclusively breastfed.  I am very proud of myself for making it this far.  It is a big time commitment, particularly since I have to pump at work.  My new goal is 6 months exclusive breastfeeding, then add in solids and maybe some formula on the days I work if my supply decreases.  My end date is probably 9 months, as it was for Henry, but since Natalie seems more emotionally attached to nursing, I may breastfeed until 12 months but stop pumping at 8-9.  We will see how things go.
• Seems to have slimmed down.  She got a cold right before Christmas, and when the doctor weighed her, she was only 16 lbs, 8 oz.  A whole pound less than she weighed at her four-month checkup.  Because of the difference, the nurse weighed her again, but she was still at 16.8.  I am thinking that the scales in different exam rooms are calibrated differently (she was in a different room for her checkup than for the sick visit), because there is no way she could have lost a pound.  But, I am not sure which number is accurate!  She goes for her six month appointment in a couple of weeks and we will see what she weighs then.
• Still wants to be part of the action.  She gets antsy very quickly when put down in her bouncer or her crib.  She is much happier sitting on your lap watching Henry play!
• Loves her brother!  She laughs for him more than for anyone else, even though he isn't always the nicest to her.  She doesn't hold a grudge.
• Wears 6-12 month, 6, or 9 month clothes, depending on the brand, and a size 3 diaper.  Her feet are much smaller than Henry's were.  Her 6-12 month shoes are much too big.
• Still has blue/brown eyes.  Amber in the center and a dark blue around that.  
• Is just the snuggliest thing, and I love it!  She buries her head into your shoulder when she is happy.  I hope I always remember that feeling.  I'd say she is more of a snuggler than Henry was.

More recent photos of our girl:

Natalie LOVES the jumperoo!  She can spend 30 minutes in it.  She is much more of a fan than Henry ever was.  My kids are pretty much opposites, I have found!

You can see her poor runny nose.  Preschool germs strike again,  Luckily no croup this time.

I thought this was hilarious.  She loved trying to eat one of her new Christmas gifts,

Working on sitting up!

I have started putting bows and headbands on Natalie.  One, to tame her hair, and two, because they are impossibly adorable.

My Babies

Just some photos of our two joys.  The days in which they will willingly pose for photos together are limited, so I may as well take advantage while I can!

Henry insisted in sitting in the baby seat.  I think he likes it more than Natalie does.

With Grandma Linda!

Matching overalls!

Natalie: Four Months

On November 17, 2014, Natalie turned four months old!

In month four, Natalie:

• Is a healthy, healthy girl.  To the tune of 98th percentile for height and weight!  At 17 weeks, Natalie weighed 17 pounds, 8 ounces and was 26 inches long.  Her head circumferences was 16 inches, which put her in the 50th percentile.  I was happy about that, because I was a bit concerned her head growth was lagging.  Luckily, her flat spot has greatly improved!  The pediatrician said it was barely noticeable.
• Can squeeze into some 3-6 month clothes, but mostly wears a mix of 6 months, 6-9 months, and 6-12 months, depending on the brand.  I am hoping her growth slows a bit so she can wear some of the cute things I have for her before they are seasonally inappropriate.
• Has kept her dark hair, and her eyes are still a mix of deep blue and brown.  Around her irises, they are like an amber, but the rest is a deep blue.  I have a feeling they will end up light brown, but we will see.  In looking at photos of Henry at Natalie's age, his eyes were already dark brown, so maybe she will keep her current shade.  We shall see!
• Has learned how to turn from her back to her belly, and does it every time you put her down. Unfortunately, she is not very good at turning back over, probably because she is so chunky, so she ends up like a beached whale and cries until you flip her over!  Kind of funny during the day, but not so funny at night when I am trying to sleep!
• Is, I hate to say it, pretty high-maintenance.  She does not like to be put down--in her bouncy seat, on the play mat, in the rock n' play, anywhere.  She will tolerate it for a few minutes but then starts whining.  So, I have learned to do lots of things with one hand while holding her.  I do love holding her, because I know it won't last forever, and it is a good workout, but sometimes mama just needs a break!  Dinner isn't going to make itself, Natalie ;-)
• Loves pacifiers now, as long as they are the MAM brand.  Won't use any other kind.
• Loves to laugh!  She continues to be very social.  She especially loves laughing at her brother's antics.  No sweeter sound than a baby's chuckle!
• Made her first (and hopefully last!) visit to the ER for croup.
• Survived my return to work.  It was fairly stressful leading up to the return, because Natalie flat-out refused to take a bottle for weeks.  It was so bad I ended up having a lactation consultant come assess the situation.  We had tried six different bottles, various people feeding her, various feeding positions, to no avail.  The consultant wasn't very helpful, honestly, I think because I had already tried so much.  She suggested getting a sippy cup made for young infants.  I was willing to try anything, so we looked for the sippy cup.  The store didn't carry it, but it did carry a bottle by the same manufacturer--Avent.  On a whim, we tried it, and what do you know, seventh time's a charm!  Natalie took it like it was no big thing.  It has a newborn nipple, and something about the combination of nipple type and flow worked.  So, I am back in the office three days a week.  And to be honest, it has been hard.  I really, really miss the kids during the day.  Henry will be in school full-time in just two years, so I want to soak up as much time with him as I can.  And, pumping sucks big-time.  Other than the commute, it is by far the worst part of the return.  Luckily, it is a short-term thing, as I plan to breastfeed for about another four months or so.  I am sure it will get easier, but for now, the transition has been difficult.
• Does not love to sleep.  Naps are really hit or miss.  If Natalie happens to fall asleep in the carseat, she often will sleep for another couple of hours once we are home.  But otherwise, she doesn't like to nap unless someone is holding her.  At night, she is in the mini crib, but without fail, she ends up in our bed at some point during the night.  Somewhere between 3-4 am, probably.  It happens usually when she is stuck Shamu-style on her belly.  Maybe once she masters rolling from stomach to back she will do that and go back to sleep on her own.  One (I, since I am the one who gets up with her every time) can hope.
• Although Natalie still wakes up at night, she is not eating at night any more!  This was a huge milestone.  Henry didn't sleep through the night without eating until he was 10 months old.  Natalie's chunky-monkey status is one reason for this, I think, and I also think she is just so tired from not napping that she catches up at night.
• Is super snuggly, and I love it.  I love to bury my face into her neck and soak up her warmth.  I will definitely miss these days when they are gone!
• Loves to stand up on your lap, just like her brother did.  She also enjoys the jumperoo for short periods.

Some photos of Natalie in month four:

Halloween

Life has been busy around these parts, so posting to this blog has taken a backseat.  But, I am back with a Halloween recap!

Halloween 2014 will not go down as one of the best days in our household.  On the Tuesday before Halloween, Mark came home early from work with strep throat.  He was laid up in bed with a high fever and chills for days.  Meanwhile, Natalie had gotten sick (again, thanks to germs from the pediatrician's office this time, I think).  What was a cold turned into croup.  Which is scary when your baby is three months old.  On Wednesday night, the croup seal bark began.  I worriedly called the pediatrician at 5:00 in the morning and made her an appointment for later in the day.  I then spent a half hour or so in the bathroom running the shower to create steam and open up Natalie's airways.  I took her to the doctor at around 10:00.  After waiting for 20 minutes, I asked what was going on.  I hate, hate waiting in the waiting room at the doctor.  I am paranoid that we are going to leave with something worse than what we came in with.  Half the time I am right.  Anyway, turns out the pediatrician was running behind and wouldn't be able to see us for at least ten minutes (you think??) and I had to pick Henry up from school at 11:00.  So, I ended up canceling that appointment and making another one for later in the day.  The doctor seemed surprised a three month old could have croup, but she confirmed the diagnosis and prescribed a steroid that she wanted me to use only if Natalie got worse in the middle of the night.  Apparently there can be bad side effects of steroid use in a baby so small.  Well, night two of croup came and at around 1:00 in the morning, Natalie started having trouble breathing.  She was breathing in rather than breathing out, with each breath.  I took her into the bathroom and ran the shower twice.  At around 3:00, it wasn't getting better, so I called the doctor.  She could hear Natalie struggling on the phone and said to give the medicine and take her outside, hoping the cool air would open her airways.  Neither thing worked.  At that point, the doctor recommended taking Natalie to the ER to get breathing treatments.  Cue my freak out!  Mark was out of commission, so I ended up calling my wonderful, wonderful aunt Lois who rushed over and went to the ER with me.  Natalie got a steroid through a mask (which was a pretty traumatic experience for both of us, as I had to hold her down so she wouldn't rip it off, as she screamed) and then a steroid shot in her leg.  Neither the pediatrician nor the ER doctor had ever seen a three-month-old with croup before; usually babies don't get it until 6 months or older.  So that was encouraging.  I was on pins and needles for the next couple of days, hoping that Natalie wouldn't have more trouble breathing, but the steroids did the trick.  

Anyway, long story short, Natalie did not get to wear her giraffe costume this year.  I took Henry out for a half hour or so, because we had been talking up Halloween for weeks.  He was a construction worker, and the costume was a big hit!  He had wanted to be a garbage truck (ha!), but I wasn't sure how to pull off that one.  I figured he would love dressing as a construction worker, since he can name pretty much every piece of construction equipment.  Henry loved his vest, hard hat, and goggles, and still wears them frequently.

Henry loved trick or treating!  His favorite part, I think, was ringing the doorbells.  He was a little shy and often was silent, even though we had practiced saying trick or treat and thank you.  I let him have a couple of pieces of candy that night, and two the next day.  Then I put his bag away and he never asked for more.  Mommy took care of the remaining candy!  

Hopefully next year Natalie will get to participate in Halloween.  I am already envisioning her toddling around with Henry, ringing doorbells and carrying her matching jack o lantern bag!

And, more photos of Henry, because that's what everyone really wants to see anyway.

Siblings

Henry LOVES his sister.  He is so sweet with her.  He loves helping give her baths, watching me care for her, and getting in her face to talk to her and try to get her to smile.  He says hi to her in the morning ("Hi, Nanie Noo!"--I often call her Natalie Noo) and talks or asks about her throughout the day.  Natalie, in turn, loves her brother.  She smiles for him even in circumstances where she is annoyed or fussy.  My hope is that they will always be close and love each other.

Oh the look of brotherly love kills me.

What a Difference a Year Makes...

November 4, 2013

November 4, 2014