Ellison's 4 Month Appointment

Ellison finally had her 4 month appointment (at 4.5 months) today! It is so weird to think we were at the pediatrician four times in the first 2 weeks of her life (due to her need for some extra weight checks) and now she hasn't been there in 10 weeks!

Her "stats" today were a weight of 12 lbs, 10.5 ounces (50%tile) and 25 1/4 inches long (90%tile). She has been in about that same range for length from the time they started plotting on her growth chart (I still think her length at birth had to be at least an inch off based on the one at 2 weeks when she was already 2 inches longer!). She has been a little higher on the weight curve in the past but her doctor isn't worried. Ellison sleeps through the night most nights and has been since shortly after her 2 month visit, so her weight has obviously leveled off a little since she's not eating as often! Based on her parents' body types, I think we should probably expect her to be a tall, skinny kid. Jay and I were both pretty gangly as kids! Her head circumference continues to be 90%tile as well. She is growing big and strong so fast!!!

Development-wise, Dr. Grunske was VERY pleased with Ellison. She is doing all the "tricks" she should be (laughing, rolling, being up on her elbows when on her belly, chewing her hands) and even some that usually aren't seen until a little later (I guess grabbing your feet and pulling them up to your mouth is a 6 month old thing...go Ells!). I have to give Jay and his strict adherence to tummy time credit for a lot of her skills! It's so nice to live with a physical therapist :) Basically, the Dr. told us what we already know...Ellison is doing awesome! She seems to expect Ells will be scooting around by the next time we see her!

Our main discussion with the doctor today was about Ellison's napping. She currently only really naps if we are holding her, and that doesn't allow us to get anything done, and even worse, messes with her ability to fall asleep without us at night. She absolutely hates bedtime. Our usually happy, smiley baby turns into a frantic devil when bedtime rolls around! We were basically prepared for the doctor to tell us we need to put her down in her crib and let her cry at naptime just like we attempt to do at bedtime...and that's exactly what she said. We are finding it's hard to get a baby on a schedule when Mom and Dad have such differing schedules from day to day and week to week! I am sometimes home for many days in a row, sometimes Jay is with her during the day, sometimes my mom is, sometimes she is at daycare, etc. Almost every day there is a different situation, so she has never gotten into a real routine. We will continue to work on it!

The only way Miss Ellison wants to nap...

The other big thing today was we got the go ahead to start feeding Ellison SOLID FOOD! She has seemed very interested in watching us eat for weeks now, and had all the other "signs" that supposedly mean babies are ready for solids. And I am ready to add some variety to her diet because she is getting so distracted while eating that nursing takes forever now! I used to be able to watch TV, make phone calls, pretty much do anything I wanted and she just focused on the food. Not so much anymore! If I try to do anything that involves noise or talking, she detachs herself from her meal to check out what is going on. What a stinker! Let's just say our first attempt at rice cereal didn't go as well as we had hoped. I think it all came back out at us and Ellison screamed the entire time. I am going to chalk it up to her being a bit "off" from the shots she got today, and we will try again very soon. She did look very cute in her high chair for the first time, though!

Better luck next time!

As for her shots, Ellison was a trooper and barely cried. The nurse seemed pretty shocked at how she sucked the oral rotavirus down! She loves to take her vitamin D so I am not surprised. However, the poor girl has not been herself since getting home. Very cranky and whiny! Poor baby. I worked last night and have yet to get any real solid sleep since getting home this morning. At least we have almost 2 months before we have to do it again...