Buckets of Insight: Annelisa is 4 Months!

Annelisa is FOUR months old!

Annelisa and I saw Dr. Starnes for her four month well baby exam on Thursday, July 26, 2012, making her exactly 18 weeks old!

At her 4 month well baby exam she:

weighed 14 pounds 7 ounces, placing her near the 75th percentile.
measured 25 inches long, placing her near the 75th percentile.
measured 15.75 inches for her head circumference, placing her near the 25th percentile.

I discussed with Dr. Starnes some of my observations of Annelisa's eyes. Since her two month well baby exam, I've noticed off and on, and almost daily the last month, that Annelisa's eyes do not focus together. Both eyes focus just not in the same way. It has seemed that her right eye was turning in to focus on things the left eye was focused straight on. Dr. Starnes was able to see both eyes turning in at different points in the appointment today. So what do we do with this...we watch and observe her for now. I'm not too worried because Annelisa's daddy had Strabismus as a child and an operation at 2 years old to correct it. I found this website that details it here. He also wears prisms in his glasses that help correct it today. We know that if Annelisa does have this it is very treatable and doesn't affect her well being long term. At her six month well baby exam, we will revisit this with Dr. Starnes and possibly be referred to an ophthalmologist for the beginning of diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Starnes gave us the go ahead to begin rice cereal! So next time I grocery shop, I'll pick some up with some baby utensils and bowls and we'll try it out. Her instructions to me were simple, one tablespoon of cereal mixed with breast milk making it very runny then over time gradually increasing the consistency to the equivalent of stage 1 baby food. If she likes it we can then try other grains like oatmeal. At her six month well baby exam, we will discuss fruits and veggies!

Annelisa received her next round of vaccines, neither of us enjoyed them! She and I both cried today! :( Infant Tylenol works wonders and so far she isn't that uncomfortable. I hated having to help hold her arms down, but at the same time I wouldn't want anyone else to do it!

Her milestones this month include:

figured out how to start sucking thumb
likes to suck her thumb to go to sleep
championed self soothing for bed time and nap time
grabbing toys, like her rattle and the dangling toys on her play mat
grabbing and holding on to mom or dad when carried and held
grabbing and pulling her clothes while playing
started playing in her exersaucer...it's a little overwhelming still, but she's warming up to all the toys and pushing with her legs!
manipulating fingers by pushing them together
holding her hands
starting to teeth...likes Sophie the Giraffe and frozen teether toys
finds the direction of voices and music by turning her head to look and listen
seeing people across a room
knows mom and dad by voice and sight
moved her car seat harness up one notch
super manning in tummy time
can complete 15 minutes of tummy time without a problem
can push herself up on her forearms
can lift her head up and look around during tummy time
can roll onto her side from her back
can wiggle and scoot herself off of her play mat or quilt onto the carpet (there have been some near head bumps)
doesn't really like to be in her bouncy seat or swing anymore, she'd rather be on the floor playing with toys and wiggling around
started to giggle (The first time with Aunt Lauren in the car after church on 7/8/12.)
stayed in the nursery at church for the first time on 7/8/12. Annelisa slept in the swing!
went swimming for the first time
celebrated her first Fourth of July
still wearing size 2 diapers
still wearing 6 month outfits, onesies, and dresses
sleeps for 11 to 12 hours every night without interruption
taking two to three naps a day (one of these is usually three hours) in her crib
nursing five to six times a day