Classic Photos

Wee, lift off!!

Did any of it get in my mouth?

Mmmmh, this tastes yummy!

Cousin Saydie says, "How come I got stuck with this job?!" Kaua says, "Yikes, get me off this ride, I feel sick!"

4 month appt (at almost 5 months old)

I know, it's been FOREVER. It's just so hard to get on the computer now that I'm back to work. The last thing I want to do when I get home is get on the computer. But today, I made myself, because today, Kaua had his 4 month appointment (although he'll be 5 months old in 5 days).

So he is 16 lbs, 9 oz and 26" long....that puts him in the 75th percentile for height and weight. His head circumference, is at the 50th percentile. So he's still a big boy, but not a giant. I still hope he stays on the bigger side of things. He also took his two shots like a champ. We did the whole mommy tickle and distract him and he winced for the first one and cried after the 2nd one. I nursed him right after and it seemed to help. He slept longer today and was more fussy than usual, but no fever. I did, however, give him some infant tylenol in the afternoon, just cause he was fussy and seemed in pain. That helped.

And let me just brag for a bit...but the pediatrician said he's got the skills of a 6 month old already (yeah, he's a genius, send him to harvard!). She also thinks he's going to teeth soon, but I dunno, I've been feeling his gums and I dont feel anything. We shall see....

At the appointment we got the green light for solids! So according to our pediatrician, we'll start him on rice cereal with a spoon for a few weeks, then vegetables for 3-4 days for each new introduction.

Tonight we did his first ever rice cereal experience with a spoon. I mixed in a tiny bit with some breast milk...and of course we captured it all on film to share with you all (dont mind me, I'm in pjs and just out of a shower....).

Kaua is now a champion roller...going both ways, front to back and back to front. So that means, we have to really watch him when he's on the bed, couch, changing table, etc. He also rolls himself over if he wants to sleep on his tummy...and we've pretty much accepted the fact that his day time naps have to be on his tummy, because if we put him on his back, he'll just get right back up. Ever since we've been putting him on his tummy for daytime naps, his naps have been EXCELLENT! We're talking 1 - 3 hours!!! Such bliss. He is such a happy baby when he's well fed and slept. Of course, the pediatrician was not stoked on the tummy time naps, but oh well, whatcha gonna do, huh?

Kaua is also getting over his 2nd cold, ever. Lotsa congestion. So yesterday, for the first time, we tried this salt water remedy thing I saw a girlfriend do with her 6 month old a while back. She just warmed up some water, mixed in some salt (to make it similar to tears), then used the nasal aspirator and squirted it in one of baby's nostrils. The water will then come streaming out the other nostril and the same one in the process. This helps loosen the mucus so that when baby sneezes, or when you suck it out with the aspirator, it comes out easier. And let me tell you, it works. After we did this, Kaua sneezed a couple times and lotsa stuff came out. Of course, he eventually got congested again, but it seemed to help.

Anyways, life is going well with us here. Kaua is such a doll and we are loving him as much as can be!

Going back to work

(Yeah, I just posted 3 separate posts on 1 day).

I started working 2 weeks ago. I now work partime at a small plaintiff's firm. I work 3 days a week. It's a different type of firm than my old one, so the work is different. I'm finding that I dont really care for it much. But the pay is decent and I can work part time! =) So I'm sticking with it for now.

We're lucky in the babysitting department. I'm able to adjust one of my 3 days to work around DH's firefighting schedule. And if both he and I happen to be working on the same day, we have my grandmother who can watch Kaua. She does babysit my brother's three kids too (but two of them are in school already), and she only has them on Wed - Friday, so it's not too crowded very often.

I was worried how I'd take being away from Kaua for 8 hours a day...but so far so good. I think it's harder for him than it is for me. =( It is sorta nice to have some time to myself though. Being a SAHM is hard work! I can also feel like I have a career and that all those years spent at school have not gone to waste.

And its sooo wonderful to come home to an extra smiley baby who is totally glad to see me. =) Everyone says they can tell he misses me while I'm away. And I do miss that little guy too. When I walk in that door, his face lights up and he just laughs and smiles up a storm. Makes me feel pretty awesome!

This does cut into my work out schedule though (I dont want to spend an extra minute away from him, so I dont get to exercise on the days i work). I'm still trying to lose those last 10 lbs!!! Ugh!!

Rolling

Kaua is a late bloomer in the rolling department (I think). He finally rolled over from tummy to back the day before Easter. He was about 4 months and 1 week old at the time. He did it again the day after Easter too. Each time he did it, I congratulated him and then put him back on his tummy to see if he'd do it again. He didn't replicate it. I dont think he quite realizes that he can roll over. He does know how to turn onto his side, he just doesn't quite get himself all the way over.

I wonder if he'll be a late crawler?

We got him a jumper for Easter. He sure loves that though!

Oh, and man oh man, does he have a bald spot on the back of his head where his head touches the floor/blanket etc. It looks really bizarre. Any other hairy headed babies have this?

Feed the boy!

Oh man, Kaua's appetite is growing.

I've been trying to keep up with his appetite but its a losing battle. I think it may be time for baby food, but I want to hold out till we see his pediatrician, but that's not until April 20!

Ok let me back up.

So we started giving him rice cereal and I think I posted about that. It went fine for a few days. He pooped for two days of the three that we started him on rice cereal (just a teaspoon 1x a day with his breast milk). But then day #3 rolls around and he doesn't poop. I figure, no biggie, he's gone a day or two without poop, but I decide to lay off on the rice cereal till he poops. But then 4 days roll by and I'm getting worried.

I call the KP advice line and the nurse tells me to try manual stimulation, prune juice or glycerin suppositories. The manual stimulation did nothing. So the next day we bought prune juice and fed him about 1 oz in a bottle (which was hard, I didn't think to mix it with breast milk...duh!). Later that night, hallelujah, we had a poop.

I waited a week to make sure his system was back on track and it was. So we fed him rice cereal yesterday. We got two poops today (no rice cereal feeding though). So I'm going to feed him some more rice cereal tomorrow and wait a couple days for a poop. If this goes off without a hitch, I may increase his rice cereal intake to a thicker consistency. I'm hoping this will help satiate the boy's appetite, because I swear he is ALWAYS hungry.

For those of you who are pumping BM. How much was your 4 month old eating? I was doing 3 oz per bottle, but am now moving up to 4 oz per bottle. He tends to drink at least 3 - 4 bottles during my 8 hour work day (that doesn't count his morning feedings or evening feedings or middle of the night feedings!) Does this sound about right?