Gemma's 4 month dr visit

Gemma had her 4 month well visit with our pediatrician today.  We didn't have any concerns going in and the doctor didn't have any concerns on the way out.  The highlights:

Height:27 inches (110%ile for kids her age)

Weight 16 lb 9.5oz (94% for kids her age)

We talked about how she is a great size and growing well.  While discussing her weight, the dr asked how much formula we were giving Gemma and I got to say NONE.  NONE EVER. (Nothing against formula, we just haven't needed to use any and I'm proud.  It's been more work this time devoting the time and energy to nursing a baby. ).  He gave us the go ahead to start solid foods if we want.  We talked about waiting and he was fine with my plan to start roughly around 6 months old.

Gemma is doing very well physically.  The doctor was very impressed with her gross and fine motor skills.  She showed off a little when he put her on the exam table by promptly rolling over when he was reaching for his equipment.  Luckily, I was right there to keep her from rolling too far!  He also liked how well she is sitting up and bearing weight on her feet/legs.  He even went as far to say he felt she was roughly 2 months ahead of schedule for the growth motor development - just what mama likes to hear!  At this point, I asked if her supreme gross motor skills now would allow her to run without tripping over her own feet or hit a home run in a baseball game at the age of five.  He was not willing to commit to either one of those, so we'll just have to be happy with what we have: a very healthy baby girl!

 Our poor girl got her shots and we were on our way.  Hopefully we have a quiet night as this Mama is up late!

William!

I had the pleasure of joining William's class today in their field trip to the local fire station. We walked from the school and I very much enjoyed getting to spend some special time with my big guy.

While walking out of the building, we joined up with 4 other kindergarten rooms. Suddenly, I was in a chorus of "William!" "William!" "William" "William!" From all sides. Kids from many different classes were calling his name. I turned to William and said "Wow William! You sure do have a lot of friends here today!" William half nodded and then went back to his in depth conversation with another boy about Legos.

William's teacher overheard this exchange and nodded at me with a big smile on her face. "William is a pretty popular guy around here," she commented to me.

With much relief, I am now putting a huge worry to rest. We went into this school year not knowing any of his classmates and only one (1) other kindergartner (who was not assigned to his class). I worried countless hours about him making friends, establishing relationships and finding his way socially.

Apparently, he is fine. In fact, I'm happy to report, William is a pretty popular guy.

Look mom!

I'm swimming with my intertube on (Boppy)!

*photo from this summer

4 months

Gemma is sure tricky to keep on her back these days. She rolls very quickly and works hard to get to her belly. She very badly wants to be crawling and is making some progress towards the army crawl. Thankfully, she is slow going still - our house is nowhere near ready to have a crawling baby again! We have a lot of Legos to pick up!

Gemma is working hard on sitting up by herself and is doing a good job until she becomes distracted and tips over! She loves being upright and you can see on her face how proud she is to be doing it on her own.

Gemma adores her brother and sister. They make her laugh, smile and giggle on a daily basis. Her face lights up when they are around.

4 months old!

Gemma is 4 months old today! Which means it was time to make time to break out the camera and take some pictures. Not the easiest task on a busy day in the middle of a busy week. But, here are some new pictures of our littlest one (rest assured, there are many more high quality pictures on our nice digital camera. Phone is just so much easier!)

Running Ragged

Crazy busy appears to be the new normal standard at out house.  I feel like I am just barely keeping up and not ever getting ahead.  Only the most serious fires are getting my attention and even then, things that are important to me are getting dropped.  For instance: this blog.

My kids don't have a baby book.  I'm not jotting down milestones anywhere else.  This is it.


I'm resolving to do this more and make time to sit down and write the precious moments DOWN now while I remember.  All too often, I forget.  So, here are two from the last few days.


1.  William overslept this morning.  He has been very tired lately which has led to some more difficult behaviors.  So, I let him sleep in which meant he missed the bus.  He took it well and we got ready without incident.  I drove him to school and I hit the timing perfectly. (side note: I rarely get the timing perfectly.  Especially with 3 kiddos to cart around).  On the way to school, I was mentally congratulating myself and giving myself some 5's for being so awesome.

I pulled up to the drop off loop.  This was my first time dropping him off and I was nervous about getting it right.  I wanted to get him in the correct door, stop in the right place, not hold up the line or otherwise embarrass myself.  I didn't want to look like the newbie.

I stopped at the right place.  I high fived my kid on his way out the door and told him I loved him as I directed him safely around the car.  Just as I started to congratulate myself and get back in the car to drive home, I realized I had shut the sleeve of my fleece jacket in the door of the van at the very top of the sliding door next to the luggage rack.  I shut the sleeve of my fleece at the wrist, so I couldn't move my right hand at all.  It was high enough up I couldn't reach the handle with the right hand and my left hand was positioned in a way I had to reach around awkwardly to open the door to release my jacket.

During this short period of time, the line of cars behind me grew and grew.  Everyone waited patiently while I danced around and tried to free myself.  So much for not looking like the newbie!



2.  (the kids are at home playing with Grandpa and Daddy on a Saturday morning)

William: Hey!  Guess what!  I know a "F" word!
Daddy: Whaaaat? (heart stops)
Grandpa: Well, I don't think that is something .....
William: Felipe!  Felipe!  Isn't that a great F word?
Daddy/Grandpa: Laughing....relieved laughing



3. (at a restaurant on a Sunday morning with Grandpa and Grandma)

William: Hey!  Listen to this joke!
(reads from menu)
Question: Why did the football coach go the the bank?
Answer: To get his quarter back!

(everyone dutifully laughs uproariously)

Amelia looks around and surveys the situation.

Amelia: Hey!
(pretends to read from her menu)
Question: Why did the guy go to the bank?
Answer: To get his penny back!

(Amelia looks around expectantly, everyone humors her with uproarious laughter)

3.5

Amelia turned 3 and a half yesterday. I meant to take some pics and write a post. Didn't happen ;(

Sent from my iPhone