Golden Slumbers...

So you may have noticed the frequency of posts has declined around these parts lately. Well, that is probably because I have spent most of my waking hours for the better part of a month or so focusing on helping Calla learn to nap effectively. It has been a huge investment of time and effort, and we haven't quite accomplished all our nap time goals, but we have made great progress. Calla now naps in her crib twice a day, everyday, for around two hours. She goes to sleep pretty easily, but usually wakes up mid-nap and needs a little help getting back to sleep.

Maybe someday soon I will have a chance to post in more detail about our plan and strategies, which were inspired by Elizabeth Pantley's No Cry Nap Solution, with a bit of Dr. Weisbluth's Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child thrown in for good measure. I am not down with "crying it out" personally, so I really cherished the information I found in NCNS.

As I type this, Calla is napping. I know we have lots of work left to do, but I am experiencing a feeling that is all-too-rare for first time moms: confidence! I'll close with examples of two images I hold dear these days: a peacefully sleeping Calla, and a happy well-rested Calla, upon waking from a nap:

Calla's First Official Playdate

Calla had her first official playdate yesterday!!! The adorable Mr. Miles and his mama, Shelby, came over to play. Aimee S. came over to play with babies (and visit mommies, too). Charlie came over to hang out with everybody. I strongly advise having the adults outnumber the children at playdates. Everything went smoothly and it was really so much fun.

We're going to try and make the playdates a weekly event. I'm already looking forward to next week!

Here is Mama Shel's take on the event from her blog, which is always a joy to read. Her post contains a video clip of the little ones, too!

I have photos, which I will post as soon as I have an opportunity. Be patient with me.

Heck Yes She Loves Her Jolly Jumper!

Well Baby Visit - 4 Months

So, Calla had her four month old well baby visit on the 12th. And here is the essential information:

Weight: 19 lbs 2 oz (I was wrong; she is not yet 20 pounds)
Height: 27.5" (Amazon baby!)

She is in the 97% percentile, I believe, for weight and height. Big healthy baby!

Other medical information of note:

* She had her DTaP vaccine and an oral Rotavirus vaccine. She was very fussy that evening and had some very watery, stanky stanky poo for a few days (diarrhea, I suppose). These are common side effects.
* Doctor advises that between four and nine months old babies should be sleeping through the night. We'll see about that. Still, I
really don't mind our night feedings, generally only once a night and I sleep through most of it, anyway!
* Doctor says it's cool to wait until six months to start experimenting with solids, but that it is also okay to start giving Calla
cereal now and then. My current plan is to hold off, and to start after six months with vegetables instead of cereal. We'll see
how that goes.
* Calla's stubborn neck rash is finally almost gone!
* We're taking Calla off the reflux medicine to see how she does!

Healthy, happy baby!

Happy Birthday!!! Four Months Today

Today, Calla is four months old! Daddy came home with a little cake (that Calla can't eat, but Mama can) and a pretty balloon. Mama took some photos, you can see all of them here.





Also, one year ago today, I peed on a stick and discovered that I was going to be a mother! You might remember this post from that day: OMG OMG OMG.

She's Rolling

Calla rolled over for the first time today, but she did it from back to belly instead of the other way around! I have a feeling she'll never roll from belly to back because she knows the best way to get off her belly is to make an annoyed (and annoying) squawking noise.

She's been rolling onto her side since she was about four weeks old, but in the last few weeks she's become particularly adept at it. I think she meant to just roll onto her side this morning, but she went a bit further, winding up on her face, and then squirmed around until she was on her tummy!

Never Shake a Baby!

Here is Calla laughing up a storm while playing with her Dad. Usually her laughter has been more of a raspy "HAA!" kind of thing, or you just get a super big smile with her tongue sticking out and no sound where you'd expect laughter. Giggles like in the video are kind of a new development (although she does the most adorable chuckles in her sleep sometimes).

Enjoy!

Photos

On Daddy's shoulders!




Sorry there haven't been many posts lately!  We'll try to post more regularly soon.  Here are some photos, until then: