4 Months Old

Isabelle is 4 months old today!  The time is just flying by and I want to remember every single moment.  Caring for her has become much, much easier because she sleeps better and her gas problems have subsided.  She probably has gas once a week and it goes away pretty shortly afterwards.  We went to her four-month appointment yesterday and our pediatrician recommended that we hold off giving her any food like rice cereal until she is closer to 6 months old due to her being born 7 weeks early.  The doctor was afraid her motor/coordination skills are not advanced enough.  I agreed because Belle just started holding her head up the past few days, and I want her stable enough to sit in a high chair before I start feeding her food.  The doctor also noticed that Belle's head is a little flat on the backside (probably because she is always laying down on her back or being held), so she wants us to make sure Belle is turning her head alot, looking around, and basically working on her head control skills.  This means we are going to have to start treating the little one like a baby instead of a newborn, and not holding her quite so often.  It is a little bittersweet for me because I love cuddling with her.  She's already growing up, *tear*!  At least all her baby toys like the swing, bouncy seat, and jumper will get used more often now.  Here's a recap of what's been going on with her lately:

-Belle, you weighed 12 pounds and 2.4 ounces at your four-month check up.  This puts you in the 19th percentile for your weight!

-You are wearing 3-6 month size clothes now, and Mommy is having too much fun buying you new outfits!  I notice that some clothes fit you in length, but are too wide.  You are still wearing size 1 diapers although they are becoming a bit snug.  Pampers swaddlers fit the best and Pampers sensitive wipes seem to be easier on your skin.

-Tummy time is still upsets you more often than not, but we have noticed in the past week or so that you are getting much better at  holding your head up.  Daddy has been practicing with you by making you stand up and hold your head upright, and you are getting better at it.

-You have started to roll from side to side when we put you on your back.  Yay (my mom) thought you were about to roll over once and even texted me a photo while I was at work.  You kick your legs with such purpose now that I call it "back crawling."  I can place you in the middle of the bed, and you will be near the edge before I know it.  This is just the beginning of you becoming mobile!

-You sleep great in your crib, and usually only wake up once at night.  We put you to bed around 10 p.m., you wake up around 2 a.m. to drink a bottle and have a quick diaper change, and usually you sleep the rest of the night until 5:30-6:00 a.m.  There have been two times that you have slept straight through the night.  Although you aren't sleeping all night consistently yet, Mommy doesn't really mind all that much getting up to feed you because it is so peaceful with just me and you in the nursery. 

-Since you might roll over soon we put you in a sleep sack now instead of a swaddle blanket so you will be able to use your arms to move and breathe in case you end up on your tummy at night.  It only took you three days to get used to having your arms out!  I was afraid it was going to take much longer because you used to love to be swaddled.  Another instance of you growing up, *tear* again!

-You are definitely able to recognize who your parents and grandparents are, and usually cry now when someone else is holding you. 

-It is also getting easier to take you places because you are awake alot more during the day.  You stayed for the first time in the church nursery this month and did just fine.  This past month we have taken you on several walks around the neighborhood in your stroller, out to restaurants, over to visit friends and family, and even my favorite, shopping :-)

-I think you are starting to enjoy bathtime more.  You look very relaxed when we bathe you, and you love staring at your reflection in the mirror. 

-I'm looking forward to you being able to sit up soon and play with toys.  You aren't quite able to hold things in your hands yet, but I know it will happen before I know it.

-You drink the regular Enfamil infant formula and take usually 7-8  5oz bottles a day.  We are weaning you off Zantac because you don't act like you have acid reflux.  We stopped giving you gripe water as well, so gas drops are is the only supplement that we give you regularly.  It has become more difficult to burp you,and I'm not sure why.  You are not constipated anymore and only need pear juice every one in awhile.  You usually go #2 every other day. 

Belle you make our lives better and we love having you in it each and every day!

 More wiggly by the minute

 Me and Lyndsey with our babies, Isabelle & Graham, no longer in the Baby Bump Club, now official mommies!

Before I Forget

This is a completely random post, but I wanted to jot a few things down before I forget.  We go to Belle's 4 month check up today, so I'll let everyone know how it goes!  Our daughter has been so funny lately.  Some days she is all about Mommy, and other days she only has eyes for Daddy.  For example, on Sunday when she was laying down and doing the usual aerobics, she would only look at me.  As soon as I walked away Belle would turn her head and follow me with her eyes while I left the room.  Then, on Monday night she only cared about Daddy.  Sean put his face really close to her and she literally swatted and tried to grab at his beard with her sweet little hand for at least 25 minutes.  Also, I'm sure she knows who we are now because this Easter weekend when members of our extended family wanted to hold her she cried every single time.  We used to be able to pass her off to anyone, but that was before she was aware of what was going on.  Now only me, Sean, and the grandparents are able to hold her.  We are going to have to work on that for sure!  This may be TMI, so if poop scares you stop reading now.  This morning I got Belle out of her crib to change her and dress her for the day.  She was her usual happy self and was cooing and kicking away.  I always put a clean diaper under her before I take off the old one.  Well, today just as I got done with the baby wipes and was about to put the new diaper on it happened.  She pooped with so much force that the diaper could not catch it and it went everywhere!  I'm talking the changing pad, the changing table, the dresser beside the changing table, and even the carpet!  It shocked me so much that I even woke Sean up to see what had just occurred (and to help me clean up :-).  Belle was so happy with herself that it made us both laugh.  She immediately started smiling and blowing bubbles.  So this is our life now, quality family time at 5:30 in the morning!

Belle and her Daddy, she is holding her head up now!

Easter Photos

I took Belle to get her 3 month/Easter photos taken this past weekend.  The wonderful Courtney Yarberry was the photographer, and she is one talented woman.  As kids we went to the same babysitter, Omega Milam.  She was a wonderful Christian lady and I considered her like another grandma.  She was the first to teach me about the love of Jesus.  I think she is smiling at us from heaven now that we have our own happy families!  This is Sean's second time to be out of town for training, and thank goodness it is easier this go around.  I feel more confident taking care of the baby by myself.  Easter is this weekend and more than ever I realize that everything is because of Him.  I have felt absolutely no arthritis pain the entire time I've been alone with Belle.  What a blessing it is for me to be able to wake up in the middle of night with her, and have the strength to pick her up and care for her properly.  I thank God every day for this, it may not seem like alot to others, but it is everything to me.  Happy Easter and rejoice because he has Risen!

Belle at 3 1/2 months old. I had that tutu specially made for her.  Oh did I mention she hates headbands, hats, and basically anything that is on her head so the flower went on the top instead.

My blessing

Time to Lose the Pounds

Hello,

I have decided it is finally time to get serious about losing these pregnancy pounds.  I didn't want to put alot of pressure on myself to lose the baby weight right away because I knew it would be too much stress at once.  While on maternity leave I focused on her, and the first month back at work I was just trying to make it through the day.  Belle is 3 1/2 months old and I'm finally getting into a routine.  I'm getting more rest because she is a much better sleeper now.  I should have time now to workout consistently again which is something I have missed.  I enjoy exercising so that isn't a problem, it is watching what I eat that gives me trouble.  My friend and I have committed to losing weight together and it will be helpful to have an accountability partner.  As the weather gets warmer and the shorts and bathing suits (eeekk!) are about to come out of the closet, I know I won't be happy with how I look unless I lose weight  I wasn't in best shape before I got pregnant, so I also want to lose some weight beyond what I gained with Belle. 

Here are the stats:

*I gained 25 pounds while pregnant.  (I only carried her until 7 1/2 months, imagine if I went the entire 9 months!)

*While I was breastfeeding I was able to lose about 12 pounds, but I gained some of it back once I stopped, so I have only lost 8 pounds total. 

*Therefore, I have 17 pounds to lose to get to my pre-prenancy weight.  This will be my first goal.

*I also want to lose an additional 35 pounds to get to the weight I was when I got married almost 5 years ago!  I was pleased with the way I looked at that size.  People are telling you the truth when they say marriage will make you fat and happy :-)  This will be my second goal.

The Plan: 
*I am going to use Weight Watchers online to keep track of my food intake.  Weight Watchers gives you an allotted number of points to use for the week, and if you do not exceed those points you should be able to lose weight.  I desperately need the help because I am not good with portion control or eating healthy!

*There is a very nice gym at work, and the best time for me to exercise is during my lunch break.  If I wait to workout at home it will probably not get done because I'm busy with the baby.  My goal is to exercise 4 times a week for 30 minutes.  I will start out doing light cardio and some weights.  Once I build my endurance again I will extend my workout sessions.

*I would like to lose about 1-2 pounds a week.  I want to lose the weight slowly so I can keep it off.  I am a bridesmaid in a wedding in June, and I would like to be at my pre-pregnancy weight by then.

It is also important to me to be healthy so I can take care of Belle.  So here's to becoming a hot mama!