Dear Gilly,
Happy 3 month birthday... and a couple of days :)
You are now 13.5 lbs (75%ile) and 25 inches long (93%ile). You slowed down a little bit, averaging 4 oz of weight gain a week during your 3rd month, when the average is 5-7 oz/week.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
2 Month Update, 1st Shot, and 1st Hike
Dear Galena,
Yesterday was an eventful one as we took your 1st hike and you had your 2-month doctor appointment (which included your 1st shot).
The hike was at Forest Park in Portland - the Lower Macleay Trail. It's a nice 2-mile loop that is a stunning green. I'm not sure if you're seeing green yet (I need to look into that), but this is a good place for you to experience a lot of it. We hiked up to an old stone house and then back down through the nearby neighborhood. You were awake for a good portion of it and seemed content for most of it. I kept some ferns to put in your baby book.
Following a fun day, we had to take you to your 1st shot. This was a terribly difficult decision for me because I just wish you didn't need any shots. I've had a lot of friends talk about how terrible it is to hear you cry from the shots (and we heard it when they took your blood at another appointment), but I worry more about the longer lasting effects from the shots. However, we decided that we would get all of them, but split them up at different times. You got the combo DTP/Polio/Hib yesterday and as the nurse got ready to prick you, I started crying - both for worrying about the decision and waiting for you to scream. I knew I was going to feel TERRIBLE as you cried... So, in the needle went... And we all watched you... And there was nothing. No tears. Not even a flinch. We all were so surprised and confused - the nurse had NEVER seen a baby not cry. But there you were perfectly fine like it didn't even happen! Still so shocking to think about! Our little superhero :)
Of course one of the most important parts of the appointment is checking your weight and length. You are 24.5 inches (98%ile) and 12 lb, 9.6 oz (87%ile). Your head circumference is 16 inches (88%ile). That's our girl!
You are focusing on things more than ever - especially when you make eye contact with us. You are focusing on pictures in books a lot of the time too, which is really exciting to watch. We are getting bedtime down - you went down at 8:30 tonight with a few wake-ups for your pacifier in the first couple of hours, but then went back to sleep on your own. This last weekend you slept 8 hours each night, without waking for food, so we're hoping that we'll get there regularly. Otherwise, you are very consistently sleeping 11:30 or midnight to 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. I'd be quite happy if that was the worst that it got because I think that I'll be getting up at 4:30 to feed you once I return to work. But we'll see how you do!
All in all, these past few months have been the best in my life. And I should say that the last year has been the best in my life too. I enjoyed pregnancy for the most part and I'm really enjoying motherhood. It sounds cheesey, but I really feel I'm blossoming into the person I want to be when I'm with you. It makes me so happy to see you happy and I can't wait to teach you all that I can to help you develop into a kind, smart girl. I know it will be difficult to leave you at day care when I return to work, but I have to tell myself how fortunate I am that I love my job. Of course I'd much rather be home with you, but it's just not an option. But we already know that you are going to be a social butterfly (much like your mama & daddy), so you will really enjoy it!
Love you heaps,
Mama
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Yesterday was an eventful one as we took your 1st hike and you had your 2-month doctor appointment (which included your 1st shot).
The hike was at Forest Park in Portland - the Lower Macleay Trail. It's a nice 2-mile loop that is a stunning green. I'm not sure if you're seeing green yet (I need to look into that), but this is a good place for you to experience a lot of it. We hiked up to an old stone house and then back down through the nearby neighborhood. You were awake for a good portion of it and seemed content for most of it. I kept some ferns to put in your baby book.
Following a fun day, we had to take you to your 1st shot. This was a terribly difficult decision for me because I just wish you didn't need any shots. I've had a lot of friends talk about how terrible it is to hear you cry from the shots (and we heard it when they took your blood at another appointment), but I worry more about the longer lasting effects from the shots. However, we decided that we would get all of them, but split them up at different times. You got the combo DTP/Polio/Hib yesterday and as the nurse got ready to prick you, I started crying - both for worrying about the decision and waiting for you to scream. I knew I was going to feel TERRIBLE as you cried... So, in the needle went... And we all watched you... And there was nothing. No tears. Not even a flinch. We all were so surprised and confused - the nurse had NEVER seen a baby not cry. But there you were perfectly fine like it didn't even happen! Still so shocking to think about! Our little superhero :)
Of course one of the most important parts of the appointment is checking your weight and length. You are 24.5 inches (98%ile) and 12 lb, 9.6 oz (87%ile). Your head circumference is 16 inches (88%ile). That's our girl!
You are focusing on things more than ever - especially when you make eye contact with us. You are focusing on pictures in books a lot of the time too, which is really exciting to watch. We are getting bedtime down - you went down at 8:30 tonight with a few wake-ups for your pacifier in the first couple of hours, but then went back to sleep on your own. This last weekend you slept 8 hours each night, without waking for food, so we're hoping that we'll get there regularly. Otherwise, you are very consistently sleeping 11:30 or midnight to 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. I'd be quite happy if that was the worst that it got because I think that I'll be getting up at 4:30 to feed you once I return to work. But we'll see how you do!
All in all, these past few months have been the best in my life. And I should say that the last year has been the best in my life too. I enjoyed pregnancy for the most part and I'm really enjoying motherhood. It sounds cheesey, but I really feel I'm blossoming into the person I want to be when I'm with you. It makes me so happy to see you happy and I can't wait to teach you all that I can to help you develop into a kind, smart girl. I know it will be difficult to leave you at day care when I return to work, but I have to tell myself how fortunate I am that I love my job. Of course I'd much rather be home with you, but it's just not an option. But we already know that you are going to be a social butterfly (much like your mama & daddy), so you will really enjoy it!
Love you heaps,
Mama
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Month 2 Photos & Happenings
Dear Galena,
I promised I wouldn't apologize anymore for not writing, so I won't do it now. But that is the only reason that I won't. I wish that I took more time to write you, to document your progress and my feeling as you grow up in front of me, but I have been simply enjoying more time with you rather than writing about it. We'll say that's a REASON, not an EXCUSE :)
Over the last month, the biggest changes to us have been your vision (and focusing), your smiles (which are abundant and the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!), your growth, your strength (neck and legs), and your cooing.
VISION
I read that one of the main causes of autism is lack of social interaction, which causes an interruption in development. And that one of the only ways to interact with an infant is to make eye contact and to be sure to lock onto it when you make it back. Well, I have been entirely impressed with your ability to do so! You will win ANY staring contest ANY day of the week! You don't have to blink much and you will simply stare and stare and stare right back at me. It feels so special, as if we can have a conversation without saying anything at all. Although I do talk to you a lot. I also read that it was important - to have a conversation with you as if you are talking back. You'll get there someday.
SMILES
There really is nothing better than your smiles. I hate to say, "I can't wait" because I know that time will continue to go by way too fast and I don't want it to go by any faster, BUT... I am really looking forward to the laughs that will be coming soon. On our 2nd wedding anniversary, in response to seeing yourself in the mirror, you smiled and cooed a, "h-ha". It was ADORABLE. Not quite a laugh, but oh so close. But your smiles. Your smiles are becoming more and more regular and I'm loving every minute. You particularly like to give them when you wake up (immediately following your adorable stretches that I also love). You do them in response to me, but you also do them without me starting it. You seem to be very happy - and I hope with all of my heart that it stays that way! :)
GROWTH
STRENGTH
You were born with a strong neck. When you were only 2 weeks old, you were laying on your tummy on Grandma Lynnie's chest at the opposite end of the sofa from Mama & Daddy. You were sleeping away when suddenly, you held your head up about 45 degrees and faced right at us. Your eyes were closed and you were puckering in the way you do as you're waking up, so you must have still been asleep. You sat there for a good 5 seconds and then went right back down into Grandma's shoulder. It was so hilarious! Anyway, your neck is very strong now and we rarely have to hold i.
On top of that, you have been standing on us a lot. You give the sweetest face in response to our excitement (as you did when your neck was getting stronger too) and I love it. I know that all parents think that their child is the best and the fastest and the prettiest and the most advanced, but you really are! :) The doctor says that we shouldn't put you in a walker/activity table until you're at least 6 months old, but you are already using your leg muscles so well considering you're only 2 months old!
COOING
While it's not that frequent, you are cooing more and more. And it is so sweet. I'm really looking forward to more of it :)
PHOTOS & ACTIVITIES
Great Grandma Fran's Birthday
Park with Grandma Lynnie, Great Grandma Fran, Aunt Lori & Samm & Sadie
Market with Uncle Ryan
Visit with Grandpa John
I promised I wouldn't apologize anymore for not writing, so I won't do it now. But that is the only reason that I won't. I wish that I took more time to write you, to document your progress and my feeling as you grow up in front of me, but I have been simply enjoying more time with you rather than writing about it. We'll say that's a REASON, not an EXCUSE :)
Over the last month, the biggest changes to us have been your vision (and focusing), your smiles (which are abundant and the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!), your growth, your strength (neck and legs), and your cooing.
VISION
I read that one of the main causes of autism is lack of social interaction, which causes an interruption in development. And that one of the only ways to interact with an infant is to make eye contact and to be sure to lock onto it when you make it back. Well, I have been entirely impressed with your ability to do so! You will win ANY staring contest ANY day of the week! You don't have to blink much and you will simply stare and stare and stare right back at me. It feels so special, as if we can have a conversation without saying anything at all. Although I do talk to you a lot. I also read that it was important - to have a conversation with you as if you are talking back. You'll get there someday.
SMILES
There really is nothing better than your smiles. I hate to say, "I can't wait" because I know that time will continue to go by way too fast and I don't want it to go by any faster, BUT... I am really looking forward to the laughs that will be coming soon. On our 2nd wedding anniversary, in response to seeing yourself in the mirror, you smiled and cooed a, "h-ha". It was ADORABLE. Not quite a laugh, but oh so close. But your smiles. Your smiles are becoming more and more regular and I'm loving every minute. You particularly like to give them when you wake up (immediately following your adorable stretches that I also love). You do them in response to me, but you also do them without me starting it. You seem to be very happy - and I hope with all of my heart that it stays that way! :)
GROWTH
STRENGTH
You were born with a strong neck. When you were only 2 weeks old, you were laying on your tummy on Grandma Lynnie's chest at the opposite end of the sofa from Mama & Daddy. You were sleeping away when suddenly, you held your head up about 45 degrees and faced right at us. Your eyes were closed and you were puckering in the way you do as you're waking up, so you must have still been asleep. You sat there for a good 5 seconds and then went right back down into Grandma's shoulder. It was so hilarious! Anyway, your neck is very strong now and we rarely have to hold i.
On top of that, you have been standing on us a lot. You give the sweetest face in response to our excitement (as you did when your neck was getting stronger too) and I love it. I know that all parents think that their child is the best and the fastest and the prettiest and the most advanced, but you really are! :) The doctor says that we shouldn't put you in a walker/activity table until you're at least 6 months old, but you are already using your leg muscles so well considering you're only 2 months old!
COOING
While it's not that frequent, you are cooing more and more. And it is so sweet. I'm really looking forward to more of it :)
PHOTOS & ACTIVITIES
Great Grandma Fran's Birthday
Park with Grandma Lynnie, Great Grandma Fran, Aunt Lori & Samm & Sadie
Market with Uncle Ryan
Visit with Grandpa John
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