Waking Early

My little Carly Annalise Taryn had her 1 Month Baby Wellness visit today. Every bit of it was good news!

The first news that I was very happy for was that I shouldn’t see those teeth actually cut through right away–instead of it being tomorrow Carly should be getting them beginning at about 3 months. On the other side of things, she’ll get her teeth fast once they do start coming through because they are further developed than would be expected for this age.

I was also excited to hear about how much she’s gained since her first visit to the pediatrition when she was 1 week old. Then she weight 6lbs and 11oz. Today she weighed 9lbs and 11oz. I don’t remember the length, I can check when I get the information slip out of the car. What an incredible weight gain, I’m so proud–and thankful!

Another topic to bring up with Carly’s doctor was the matter of immunization. Not whether or not to do it, but rather when we should start. According to the list of when the shots happen bases on age the series would start at her 2 Week Wellness visit then on the 4 month she would get another 3 shots. We’re moving to Washington the end of August so will only get the first shots here. Darren and I were wondering if we should put them off entirely until we’re settled with new insurance and can pay for a pediatrician through that. She said no, that we should start now and then get on Washington Basic Health which will cover everything despite future income before insurance activates. What they do want us to do is find a doctor for the kids who they they can send the pediatric records over to before we move so that the children can be all lined up for these things. My nice mom has said that she’ll ask the family doctor if he knows of anyone good in the Bellingham area the next time she’s in for a visit.

And to think that as a kid I never got any of these shots that the doctors want you to believe that your life depends on! And here I am, alive and well!

Anyway. Big healthy baby with teeth that will wait to come in.

Happy day!

Here are the jeans that I hope to fit in again before the world ends:

Why all crunched up?

Because I’m not going to show you how they look on me now. I’m sure you understand.

These are the ones that I was wearing after I had Deeder, well a year after I had him–I felt pretty good about myself then.

I never did fit back into the jeans that I wore before I started baby business–I doubt those will ever work for me again. Babies really do have a way of changing the ole bod. I mean it’s worth it, but yeah. For me anyway, new lumps and bumps…all worth it!

So there you have it, there are them jeans. The ones that might fit me again some day, currently dumped on the bedroom floor. They’re too small through the hips right now. I’m 178lbs currently, that’s like 30lbs to loose. I haven’t started working out yet, still…nice to have a goal.

I’m sure the weight is in more than the hips. I really don’t look like I have 30 lbs hanging out on my hips!

As I was taking pictures of Carly yesterday I wondered why I was trying to make her sit up. Why was I doing that? She’d just slip down and look silly!

Anyway, I did this video for my blog but her sniffy sounds are a little odd so I thought it could be a limited edition just for you guys! Isn’t she sweet?

Thanks for the sleep advice, you’re all right.

I do know that this stage of babyhood is one of finding a place for sleep. Babies are usually a few months old before they figure out that naps belong in the day and lengthier periods of rest should occur during the hours when the sun is down.

We do have a Moses Basket, I used that with Deeder a lot and it was great. For nap time when I wanted to be able to keep an eye on him and have him in the well lit living room instead of the bedroom it was perfect. Easy to move around and with space for him to stretch out. With Carly though I can just invision the Moses basket being yanked off the table or counter by Deeder.
My counter isn’t wide like the one at Double Ditch house, and it’s open from both sides which would grant Deeder easy access!

I think that I’ve decided that she’ll nap in her bedroom and that I can just pull the shades open to let daylight in. The good news about the whole day and night thing is that she’s a natural with nursing so the feedings are done quickly–none of that struggling with it for 45 minutes every two hours business that I had with Diederick.

Carly does have sniffles though that are worse at night–I’m really not sure what causes them. Perhaps a dust allergy. I’ve actually gotten so used to her sniffles that I’d forgotten that they were even there until Darren asked. It doesn’t seem to be a cold because she doesn’t have a runny nose at all.
Ah the lovely mysteries of babyhood–when they’re too young to tell you if it hurts, or where it hurts.

Carly’s such a happy baby. It’s a complete joy to just be with her, to be the one that she’s looking up at; the one who gets her smile and that long look of love that babies quiet sleepy eyes give.

While I have been missing Deeder terribly (I still cry when I talk to him on the phone) I do appriciate this time to be just with Carly and to learn about her without worrying that she might come to harm. I feel more equipped to help them get along, I’m not sure why. But I do feel more of a peace about our little situation. Other people have been through it and come out with a smile later, right?

I’m sorry that I haven’t emailed anyone back yet, I like to get in touch with you when you comment! Your advice has been great–there’s nothing like learning from other mommies, and friends who take time to think of my little family here.

I know I’ve written about this before. But it continues to be something that I’m working on, so here it is again. The ole sleep thing…

Carly has no solution yet. I guess that’s all part of being a baby–you’re allowed to be random and hard to figure out. At Carly’s age babies are really just trying to get a grasp of life on Earth–nights and days, eating and pooping and who to depend on.

So here’s the deal:
Carly wont sleep alone.

She will, sometimes. At night though, tonight for example, it’s just a total no go. She’s fed and changed, burbed and bathed. After we finished up our night time routine of bath and nursing I wrapped her in a swaddle and put her in the Pack n Play. Then I went downstairs and started a load of laundry, when I went back upstairs I heard her screaming like a crazy person. I picked her up and she fell right to sleep.

I’ve considered that this may just mean that she doesn’t like the position she’s put down in. Perhaps she’d rather sleep on her tummy than on her back. I’ve heard of kids no being comfortable sleeping on their back. Of course now with the rise in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome awareness every parent (including myself) is cared to lay their baby on their belly for sleep.

I’ve tried putting her in a tight swaddle before laying her down, that’s supposed to give the child a feeling of security. She likes this sometimes, but others she just kicks it off and cries.

When I think that she’d rather not have that and lay her down without it she also shows no consistency on a preference. On one day this might be the perfect thing, on another day I couldn’t have done worse! only her pjs on she hollers and kicks.

Brother on the other hand can’t sleep when he has to share a bed.

What gives?

A guy at church suggested that I just “lay down the law” and choose how things will be and if she doesn’t like it she can just “cry it out.” Maybe he’s right.

Thoughts?

And the swing? Sometimes it’s a winner, and on another day it could be the most uncomfortable thing she’s ever met!

What she likes is to be held and carried around, and for sleeping to be in bed with me. I know, I know, these are moments that I should cherish because as soon as toddlerhood hits she’ll be running about and never have time for cuddles.

And I do, I cherish every opportunity I have to hold her, just to look at her and love her. She’s beautiful and I’m so blessed! So happy to have her here, in my arms.