.

Friday, April 23, 2010

4 month wakeful??

I've heard horror stories about this...and unfortunately think maybe Sophie is trying it out. For the past 2 nights, she wakes hourly b/t 12 pm and 3 am, and then again b/t 6 and 7. This is a far cry from sleeping 9:30 to 3. It's only been 2 nights and I'm exhausted. It's not like she's hungry, she just wakes up fussy. I must admit to breaking down (not that it was really a break-down, but a difference in the usual routine) and feeding her at 2 am, hoping she would sleep later, which she did. Otherwise, it's just a matter of making sure she has her pacifier and she usually is back asleep in just a few minutes. But then I'm up.

And if there is something we're learning in regards to naps/sleep, it's that she's consistantly inconsistant. Yesterday, she barely napped, and then fell asleep at 8 pm. I put her in her crib, thinking she'd sleep for her predictable 30 minutes, but she slept for an hour. Toward the 45 minute mark I decided I'd just let her keep sleeping and see what happened. I suppose I was blissfully hopefully she'd sleep right on through, but she didn't. SHe woke, was up for about 45 mins and then back to sleep.

Also something new in the past week is that she cries when I put her to bed at night. Usually, she will just lie there, I turn on the Sleep Sheep and she's out in just a few minutes. Lately, she's started crying and will fuss a little, but is still out within 25 minutes or so.

WTH is going on with the sleep? Speaking of, I really need to try to catch up on mine this weekend.

Monday, April 19, 2010

is tired code for crap?

I've noticed over the past few weeks that several people have told me "oh, you look tired." It finally hit me this morning, when the Spanish speaking cleaning woman in our office said "are you ok? You look tired," and it was Monday morning. I must look like crap. It's no secret I'm exhausted, but how can I look tired on Monday morning? I guess I pulled it off.

Seriously, I feel exhausted all.the.time. I very rarely feel refreshed. Sophie consistently wakes up to eat b/t 3 and 4 am. I feed her, change her, and attempt to go back to sleep, just in time for my alarm to go off at 6 am. Then I get up, walk Sierra, get ready/play with and feed Sophia (who generally wakes b/t 6-7 and stays awake until 8:30 or 9) and then I'm off to work. I get home about 5 and take "Sophie duty," not only to give Dan a break but b/c I want to be with her. She goes to bed b/t 9 and 10, I try to get some things b/ 10-11 and then I go to bed. Lather.Rinse.Repeat.
I'm not complaining. I wouldn't change it for anything, but this is HARD!

To end this on a positive note...she's starting to notice her toes and I imagine she'll grab them in the next day or so:)








Friday, April 16, 2010

Got milk??

I have to say, it's still odd to me to do something so personal as to pump breast milk at work. I have my own office thankfully, and I have a cute little "do not disturb" sign for my door, but it's weird. I mean, when people hear my door shut and see the sign, they KNOW what I'm doing. How could they not? And if they didn't, if they listened closely enough they could hear the pump motor running. Thankfully I work with mostly females, almost all social workers, so the level of discomfort is not nearly as bad as it might be elsewhere.

HOWEVER...yesterday I freaked. I had a meeting from 4-5. I was rushing around, trying to get home so Dan could walk Sierra. He still hasn't found the courage to take Sophie and Sierra at the same time, so until then Sierra suffers until I get home.

I packed up my pump, grabbed all my crap to take home and ran to grab my pumped milk out of the fridge. Got it, no problem. THen I realize, OMG one of the bottles is MISSING. Not there. WHAT???!!! There should have been 3 bottles but there were only 2. WTH? Someone stole some milk??? I wrap the bottles up really well in a plastic grocery bag, so I know it's not obvious to anyone what the bag contains, unless they see me come out of my locked office with the sign on the door and stick the bag in the fridge. Then, it's obvious.

I couldn't even think. Then, the thoughts started pouring in. Did I leave it on the counter, did I leave it in the bathroom, did I leave it in the conference room. (I had not been to ANY of these places, so my thoughts were obviously irrational). All I knew was that I had to find the damn bottle.

Turns out I had set it off to the side, on my desk, and in my rush to get to my 4 pm meeting I forgot to put it in the fridge. Crisis averted, but for those few minutes my mind was flowing with all sorts of embarrasing scenarios.

But then, I went home to one of the sweetest things. Dan was lying in the floor with Sophie "playing Glo-Worm." Ah. My heart just melted. Of course he plays with her alot, but for me to get home after such a busy day and walk in to such a sweet scene was just wonderful. Definately picture worthy, but isn't everything picture worthy these days:)

Friday, April 9, 2010

Plans

We've finally decided that it's time to move. After 7 years we've officially grown out of our little condo. Actually, we outgrew it a long time ago but just kept ignoring that fact. Over-sized baby gear makes it impossible to ignore any longer. And that fact that our "junk" room is now a nursery and our sunroom is the new "junk" room is just the icing on the cake.

It's time for a house, for less stairs and for a backyard for Sierra and room for a swing set:) I hate that if we had sold 2 years ago we would have made significantly more money than we will now.

We're putting it on the market in January. We'd love to do it sooner, but it needs some pretty heavy duty work, + our realtor (who is also a good friend) thinks it will do better in the winter months when there is less competition. The bad news is that we have to overhaul the entire kitchen. I have known this forever. I HATED the kitchen when we moved in, but just somehow got used to it I guess. We talked with Home D.epot last week and paid to have a professional measurer come take a look. He sent those numbers back to the kitchen designers at HD and we are meeting with them today to get prices. It's not going to be cheap, but needs to be done if we have any prayer of selling. I am excited though to have a brand new kitchen, even if it's just to enjoy it for a few months.

Nothing too new with Sophie. She hasn't pood since her poo-splosion last week so I'm anxiously anticipating the next one:-/ She is working on new sounds now, and has really been working with her tongue lately. Also, I think she might have curly hair! I noticed one little lone corkscrew curl that she's had for awhile, but last night, after her bath I was trying to give her a mohawk style (it's really the simple things that bring me pleasure) and the hair on top of her head most definately has some waviness, if not curls. Usually, I just brush it to the side, trying to get a part started so I haven't noticed it before now. Of course I took pics and will post tonight.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

4 month check-up

Sophia's 4 month pedi appt was relatively uneventful. She rec'd 4 vaccines (1 was oral) and cried for about a minute, then started smiling. I think she has inherited Dan's high tolerance for pain.

She is 23" tall which puts her in the 10th percentile; 13 lbs, 14 oz, which is 50th percentile; and still has a big head, 75th percentile.

We also got the ok to start some "solid" foods like cereal, applesauce, bananas and pears. She typically recommends starting these somewhere b/t 4 and 6 months. For Sophia, since she is eating so well, she said that there is no rush but that 5 months might be a good time to give it a try.

Speaking of eating, she was quite surprised that Sophie only eats 5 times per day (2-4 oz bottles and 3 nursing sessions). Apparently I must be quite the milk producer:) Go me!

On a somewhat negative note, Dr. R referred us to a physical therapist to discuss potential torticollis. http://www.babycenter.com/0_torticollis_10912.bc Lovely. Just as we are getting hip dysplasia under control we are potentially faced with another hurdle. Dr. R just picked up on a bit of leaning and did say "it may be nothing." She said something similar about the dysplasia. We have an appt on May 5 with the Children's Physical Therapist. The article above does mention that 8% of babies with torticollis also have hip issues. Honestly, I've noticed some head tilting, but really thought it was just b/c her neck muscles aren't super strong yet. We're definately going to make it a priority to do a few tummy time sessions a day, especially now that she'll tolerate it more. I did a few more internet searches and it gave some good ideas to help correct it, like positioning her the right way when she is sleeping as well as handing her things from her "bad" side in order to let her excercize those muscles.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Falls, rolls, and poo

Wow, quite the eventful weekend in Sophia's world. Let's start with...

FRIDAY

Dan called me at work to let me know that the inevitable happened. He had her positioned in her boppy, on the couch, and went to heat up her bottle. He heard a thud. He looked over to see her face down on our hardwood floor. She screamed bloody murder until he picked her up, then stopped, then started again once she realized she really did hurt. The cries finally turned into smiles. She had a little red mark that was all but gone by the time I got home from work.

For those that are thinking "boppys aren't for sitting" and "why was she left alone ON the boppy ON the couch" the answer would be to this point it hasn't been a problem. She LOVES sitting on her boppy, propped up next to us. Lesson learned. We won't do that again. I actually had a feeling last week that I should probably tell Dan to stop doing that during the day. Her neck just keeps getting stronger and stronger and something told me...but I didn't listen.

SATURDAY

Sophie and I met Stephanie in the park to take some pics for her 4 month birthday. It was a great day, and her first trip to the park so that was fun. We got home, I put her down on her comfy pile of blankets (where she loves to play) and went about my business. I heard Dan say "there she goes" and I'm like "WHAT, WHERE?" She rolled over:) From back to belly...not COMPLETELY flat on her belly, she just couldn't quite get her arm out of the way. This was the end result of that first roll.



SATURDAY NIGHT
We had a poo-splosion. Sophie hadn't pooped in SIX days! We weren't concerned b/c she didn't seem constipated or uncomfortable. I was sitting with her on my lap, facing away from me. She started lifting her head off my chest and looking at me. I thought it was odd but didn't think anything about it. Well, I rubbed my hand over her belly and ew. Just ew. At first I thought she had peed through her diaper. Um. No. Poo. Poo all over. I got her to the changing table and it was poo everywhere. Hands. Armpits. Fat rolls. EVERYWHERE. This officially took the record for worst poo experience to date. I tried to clean her up, but just wasn't making any progress. I finally just put her in the bathtub.

SUNDAY

We spent Easter at my parents house, where (as Dan put it) Sophie got passed around like a football. I could tell it was irritating him, but she is in high demand these days, and better to just get it out of the way. Once every one had had their turn, I put her down on a blanket (which is one of her favorite past times lately). She can entertain herself for over an hour, playing with her fingers, her small toys or just looking around. She entertained all the grandparents by rolling over (back to belly again). That darn elbow was still in the way, so I positioned her so she was fully on her tummy and this is what we got...

Doesn't seem like much, but this is most definately new. Not only did she NOT cry while on her belly, she lifted head and shoulders for quite a little bit. THEN, she rolled belly to back for the first time. She landed with a little thud and got a little startled, but in all seemed ok with the experience, lol. I had a feeling that was going to happen, so luckily got the whole thing on video. If only I could get my video to upload here, we'd be all set. Anyhoo...an entire room full of people cheered her on when she plopped over onto her back:)

And for the required Easter dress pic...