The other day Matt asked me how many words Anastasia says, and I didn't know. So I've decided to make a list. I'm putting them in three categories: words she only signs, words she only says verbally, and words she both says and signs. I'm counting signs she made up (like pointing to her head) as well as signs I taught her, because I figure, if she consistently uses it to mean the same thing, then that's language, right?
And I'm counting animal sounds as words. She uses them to refer to the animals, so, well, again...that's language in my book. But I'm pretty sure I'm forgetting some animal sounds--she says a lot.
Words She Says Verbally:
* mama, mommy
* dada, daddy
* there
* that
* all right
* uh-oh
* mm-mm!
* bikes (her latest new word)
* back (while patting my back)
* baby
* ice
* rabbit
* moo
* vroom
* wooah wooah wooah (the whispering sound that a butterfly makes, according to Dr. Seuss)
* arf arf
* meow
* roar
* quack quack
* the sound a fish makes (kind of a pop pop pop with her lips)
* Ana (as in her name! Yes, this is a new one!)
Words She Both Says and Signs:
* hi
* bye
* milk
* shoes
* belly button (she actually says "belly" while pointing to her belly button)
* eye
* potty
* no
Words She Signs (or points consistently):
* more
* give me that (we also use that sign for please)
* open the door (by knocking on it)
* finished
* food
* helmet/hat
* head
* hair
* bum
* mouth
* nose
* tongue
* teeth
* hands
* feet
* bear
* helicopter
* elephant
Words She Sings:
* moon. Every time we see the moon, we sing "Mr. Moon," so Anastasia has started doing this too. She sings a few bars whenever she sees it or it's mentioned.
Showing posts with label developmental milestones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label developmental milestones. Show all posts
7.15.2009
3.27.2009
walking!
ANASTASIA WALKED TODAY!!!!!!!
This morning she was holding my hand and walking, which she's been doing for a while, and I got her to let go of my fingers while encouraging her to keep going. She took three or four steps before she went back to crawling.
Then, later this evening, she was practicing standing. She stood up without holding onto anything for about 45 seconds. I got in front of her and held my hands out toward her, and she walked toward me. She took about ten steps before she crouched down and then sat down.
The first time it happened, I screamed so much that everyone in the house came running. I'm so excited! My baby is walking!!!
This morning she was holding my hand and walking, which she's been doing for a while, and I got her to let go of my fingers while encouraging her to keep going. She took three or four steps before she went back to crawling.
Then, later this evening, she was practicing standing. She stood up without holding onto anything for about 45 seconds. I got in front of her and held my hands out toward her, and she walked toward me. She took about ten steps before she crouched down and then sat down.
The first time it happened, I screamed so much that everyone in the house came running. I'm so excited! My baby is walking!!!
3.04.2009
one year well visit
On March 3 Anastasia had her one-year checkup with the pediatrician. I had originally intended to start her on vaccinations then, but, well, something didn't just feel right about it. Probably I'm just scared about it, but I decided to wait a few more months. I would like for her to be a little more verbal before we start, in the hopes that if something goes wrong, she'll be able to tell me where it hurts, at least.
Anyway, here are her stats from the visit:
Weight: 18.98 pounds (and I was sure she'd be 20 pounds and able to face front in the car seat!)
Length: 29.4 inches
Head: 18.1 inches
Since we didn't do much and didn't have much to discuss, the only thing I could find to be annoyed about this visit was the sample menu for a one year old. (I always have to find something to be annoyed with the pediatrician about!) Mostly it annoyed me because it seemed to consist primarily of dairy. Dairy and eggs are the only things we're still avoiding feeding her, because Matt was severely allergic to them as a child, and we figure that the longer we can avoid them, the better.
In other news, she's been teething like crazy and is about to gain her bottom eyeteeth. Which will mean that mostly just molars will be left. Something to look forward to, I guess!
Anyway, here are her stats from the visit:
Weight: 18.98 pounds (and I was sure she'd be 20 pounds and able to face front in the car seat!)
Length: 29.4 inches
Head: 18.1 inches
Since we didn't do much and didn't have much to discuss, the only thing I could find to be annoyed about this visit was the sample menu for a one year old. (I always have to find something to be annoyed with the pediatrician about!) Mostly it annoyed me because it seemed to consist primarily of dairy. Dairy and eggs are the only things we're still avoiding feeding her, because Matt was severely allergic to them as a child, and we figure that the longer we can avoid them, the better.
In other news, she's been teething like crazy and is about to gain her bottom eyeteeth. Which will mean that mostly just molars will be left. Something to look forward to, I guess!
2.18.2009
when does a baby become a toddler?
Anastasia has done so many new things in the past few months that it's hard to keep up. She's really turning from a baby into a toddler now, and it seems like every day she does a new trick.
The first big thing was over Christmas, when she started to really eat solid food. Of course we've been giving her food since she was six months old, but she never had much interest in it. She would pick it up, play with it, put it in her mouth, and spit it on the floor. I used to joke that I could tell how much she'd eaten--or hadn't eaten--by looking at the floor.
But on our trip to Virginia for Christmas, we stopped at Panera Bread for lunch, and I was enjoying my chicken noodle soup in a bread bowl so much that I decided to let her try a little of the bread. Up until then I'd been very cautious about what I'd given her--only whole foods with no added salt or sugar, no processed foods, etc.--but I figured she probably wouldn't eat it anyway. So I was completely surprised, and rather nonplussed, when she immediately swallowed the bit of soup-soaked bread I offered her and looked for more. She ended up eating quite a bit of it. Which just goes to show you that if you want to raise a child on healthy food in our society, you can never relax your guard. Not even for a second. The first time you offer them something processed and salty or sugary, it's all over.
Then, of course, while we were in Virginia she discovered Cheerios. My sister-in-law, Heidi, was feeding her daughter Olivia (who's the same age as Anastasia) Cheerios and other Gerber finger foods. Anastasia found some on the floor, and it was all over. Now she's decided that animal cookies will cure pretty much anything, and Cheerios are a blast. Meat, however, is one of her favorite foods. Especially if it's marinated in a nice tasty sauce.
But food isn't the only thing that's changing. She's working hard on walking, which I guess is the official changeover from babyhood to toddlerhood. She started pulling up on the furniture somewhere around ten months, and it seemed like no time at all before she started cruising and moving around while holding onto something. Next her favorite activity became walking while holding on to Mommy's fingers. She insisted on holding a finger in each hand, and then she could walk anywhere with great pride--and even run fast enough to make her breathe hard. Just a few days ago, Daddy convinced her that she could actually walk while holding on to only one hand, and now she's very proud of the trick: she stops to giggle and shriek with pride every few steps.
But the funniest new development, and the one that most makes me see how close toddlerhood really looms, is the attitude change. Anastasia has always been a high-strung baby who wanted exactly what she wanted and wouldn't put up with anything else. But already it seems to have multiplied tenfold. Recently she was having pain from molars coming in, and whenever she didn't get something that she wanted (usually something like crawling outside, which we would prevent by shutting the door), she would stop, put her hand to her jaw with a pathetic look, and scream at the top of her lungs. Her message was clear: "But I NEED that! I NEED it! Because my TEETH hurt!"
And in the past few days, she's started an entirely different type of scream. She used to scream like, well, a baby: it was a wail, a cry, a vocalization with many variations that all were clearly communicative. Now she's discovered a new type of cry: the mad scream. It happens when she doesn't like what's going on, when she doesn't get her way, and it's unmistakable. It's a long, drawn-out, guttural cry, like a cross between a scream and a growl. It says something entirely new, and it says it very clearly: "No! Mine! I want! Now!"
Yes, toddlerhood is definitely coming up far too fast.
The first big thing was over Christmas, when she started to really eat solid food. Of course we've been giving her food since she was six months old, but she never had much interest in it. She would pick it up, play with it, put it in her mouth, and spit it on the floor. I used to joke that I could tell how much she'd eaten--or hadn't eaten--by looking at the floor.
But on our trip to Virginia for Christmas, we stopped at Panera Bread for lunch, and I was enjoying my chicken noodle soup in a bread bowl so much that I decided to let her try a little of the bread. Up until then I'd been very cautious about what I'd given her--only whole foods with no added salt or sugar, no processed foods, etc.--but I figured she probably wouldn't eat it anyway. So I was completely surprised, and rather nonplussed, when she immediately swallowed the bit of soup-soaked bread I offered her and looked for more. She ended up eating quite a bit of it. Which just goes to show you that if you want to raise a child on healthy food in our society, you can never relax your guard. Not even for a second. The first time you offer them something processed and salty or sugary, it's all over.
Then, of course, while we were in Virginia she discovered Cheerios. My sister-in-law, Heidi, was feeding her daughter Olivia (who's the same age as Anastasia) Cheerios and other Gerber finger foods. Anastasia found some on the floor, and it was all over. Now she's decided that animal cookies will cure pretty much anything, and Cheerios are a blast. Meat, however, is one of her favorite foods. Especially if it's marinated in a nice tasty sauce.
But food isn't the only thing that's changing. She's working hard on walking, which I guess is the official changeover from babyhood to toddlerhood. She started pulling up on the furniture somewhere around ten months, and it seemed like no time at all before she started cruising and moving around while holding onto something. Next her favorite activity became walking while holding on to Mommy's fingers. She insisted on holding a finger in each hand, and then she could walk anywhere with great pride--and even run fast enough to make her breathe hard. Just a few days ago, Daddy convinced her that she could actually walk while holding on to only one hand, and now she's very proud of the trick: she stops to giggle and shriek with pride every few steps.
But the funniest new development, and the one that most makes me see how close toddlerhood really looms, is the attitude change. Anastasia has always been a high-strung baby who wanted exactly what she wanted and wouldn't put up with anything else. But already it seems to have multiplied tenfold. Recently she was having pain from molars coming in, and whenever she didn't get something that she wanted (usually something like crawling outside, which we would prevent by shutting the door), she would stop, put her hand to her jaw with a pathetic look, and scream at the top of her lungs. Her message was clear: "But I NEED that! I NEED it! Because my TEETH hurt!"
And in the past few days, she's started an entirely different type of scream. She used to scream like, well, a baby: it was a wail, a cry, a vocalization with many variations that all were clearly communicative. Now she's discovered a new type of cry: the mad scream. It happens when she doesn't like what's going on, when she doesn't get her way, and it's unmistakable. It's a long, drawn-out, guttural cry, like a cross between a scream and a growl. It says something entirely new, and it says it very clearly: "No! Mine! I want! Now!"
Yes, toddlerhood is definitely coming up far too fast.
12.04.2008
nine month well visit
On November 26, Anastasia went to the pediatrician for her nine-month visit. I do feel silly sometimes making these visits when I know perfectly well that she's not only well but intelligent, healthy, bright, and well above average. However, it's always nice to get outside confirmation of these things.
Anyway, she was 17.6 lbs, which is 30th percentile for her age; 28 inches tall (67%); and her head was 17.9 inches around (88%). She's already doing pretty much all the milestones from the 6 to 12 month handout the pediatrician gave me: sitting alone, reaching for things she wants, transferring objects between hands, crawling well, pulling herself to standing (not well yet, but that's a 12-month milestone), making noises to show her displeasure or satisfaction (this she does vehemently and constantly), looking for toys or balls that fall out of sight, becoming distressed if a toy is taken away (boy, does she ever!), responding to her name and recognizing our names, pushing toys away when she doesn't want them, playing patty cake, dancing and bouncing to music, and clapping her hands. Some people might disagree whether she's said her first word, but she regularly looks at me and says "Mama" when she wants me...and if that's not talking, I don't know what is. And, of course, she certainly "shows mild to severe anxiety at separation from parent." Make that, "screams in protest at the sight of Mommy's back, even if Mommy is just picking up toys or something and not actually leaving the room." But I don't mind. She has every right to insist on my presence. It won't be long before she'll be all too eager to get away from me. Sigh.
The one thing she hasn't done on the list is wave goodbye. Probably because I've never tried to teach that to her. Yet.
Although, on second thought, I've never tried to teach her any of these things.
When I read that she should "crawl well" by twelve months, I was curious whether her current method of motion qualified as "crawling well," so I asked the pediatrician and put Anastasia on the floor to demonstrate. Naturally, as soon as I put her down, she immediately began crawling away from me, eager to explore a new floor.
"Yes," the pediatrician said patiently, already tired of my unending exclamations about how advanced Anastasia is in every way, "she's definitely crawling."
According to the handout, we do have some exciting new developments to look forward to:
She might try to talk to herself in the mirror. She hasn't done that yet. Then again, she doesn't try to talk to other babies, either...just smiles and reaches for them, which is what she does to her image, too.
She might start offering toys or object to others but want them to be returned. So cute. Her friend Jubilant, who's six months older, does this to me in church all the time, and it never fails to crack me up. I can't wait till Anastasia is doing this one.
Ah. So fun to watch the changes--she really is different every day now. Not long ago she crawled away from me for the first time--it gave me quite a turn. I was in the bathroom (of course; wouldn't that be the way?), and I put her on the floor of the bathroom while I peed--which I always do. But this time, instead of sitting there happily looking for pieces of fuzz to eat as she usually does, Anastasia was no sooner on the floor than she was happily crawling away--out the bathroom door. I was too flabbergasted to be able to get off the toilet quickly.
Luckily Matt was home, so I called for him to come keep an eye on her while I caught up.
But I can understand all the cliches now. It really does seem like yesterday that she couldn't even control her arms, and now she's crawling away from me. Next thing I know she'll be driving and moving out of the house.
At least I'll always have the satisfaction of knowing I took advantage of every moment she did want to be with me and enjoyed it...
Anyway, she was 17.6 lbs, which is 30th percentile for her age; 28 inches tall (67%); and her head was 17.9 inches around (88%). She's already doing pretty much all the milestones from the 6 to 12 month handout the pediatrician gave me: sitting alone, reaching for things she wants, transferring objects between hands, crawling well, pulling herself to standing (not well yet, but that's a 12-month milestone), making noises to show her displeasure or satisfaction (this she does vehemently and constantly), looking for toys or balls that fall out of sight, becoming distressed if a toy is taken away (boy, does she ever!), responding to her name and recognizing our names, pushing toys away when she doesn't want them, playing patty cake, dancing and bouncing to music, and clapping her hands. Some people might disagree whether she's said her first word, but she regularly looks at me and says "Mama" when she wants me...and if that's not talking, I don't know what is. And, of course, she certainly "shows mild to severe anxiety at separation from parent." Make that, "screams in protest at the sight of Mommy's back, even if Mommy is just picking up toys or something and not actually leaving the room." But I don't mind. She has every right to insist on my presence. It won't be long before she'll be all too eager to get away from me. Sigh.
The one thing she hasn't done on the list is wave goodbye. Probably because I've never tried to teach that to her. Yet.
Although, on second thought, I've never tried to teach her any of these things.
When I read that she should "crawl well" by twelve months, I was curious whether her current method of motion qualified as "crawling well," so I asked the pediatrician and put Anastasia on the floor to demonstrate. Naturally, as soon as I put her down, she immediately began crawling away from me, eager to explore a new floor.
"Yes," the pediatrician said patiently, already tired of my unending exclamations about how advanced Anastasia is in every way, "she's definitely crawling."
According to the handout, we do have some exciting new developments to look forward to:
She might try to talk to herself in the mirror. She hasn't done that yet. Then again, she doesn't try to talk to other babies, either...just smiles and reaches for them, which is what she does to her image, too.
She might start offering toys or object to others but want them to be returned. So cute. Her friend Jubilant, who's six months older, does this to me in church all the time, and it never fails to crack me up. I can't wait till Anastasia is doing this one.
Ah. So fun to watch the changes--she really is different every day now. Not long ago she crawled away from me for the first time--it gave me quite a turn. I was in the bathroom (of course; wouldn't that be the way?), and I put her on the floor of the bathroom while I peed--which I always do. But this time, instead of sitting there happily looking for pieces of fuzz to eat as she usually does, Anastasia was no sooner on the floor than she was happily crawling away--out the bathroom door. I was too flabbergasted to be able to get off the toilet quickly.
Luckily Matt was home, so I called for him to come keep an eye on her while I caught up.
But I can understand all the cliches now. It really does seem like yesterday that she couldn't even control her arms, and now she's crawling away from me. Next thing I know she'll be driving and moving out of the house.
At least I'll always have the satisfaction of knowing I took advantage of every moment she did want to be with me and enjoyed it...
11.20.2008
Anastasia crawled!
Anastasia crawled this morning. Really crawled on her hands and knees, not belly-scootched like she's been doing for a while. We were in the bathroom. I was going to take a shower, so I put her on the floor with a bunch of toys while I got ready. As usual, when I set her down, she landed on her hands and knees and stayed there for a minute. Usually she rocks that way for a while and then lowers herself to her belly and moves around that way. But today, she sat there very still and serious for a minute, and then she crawled: first one hand, then one knee, and then the other hand, then the other knee. She went about four steps before she lowered herself to her belly to play with a toy. But after weeks of watching her get frustrated as she tried to do this, I was very impressed!
Now, of course, she already seems to have forgotten how she did it, because when she tried again later, she got frustrated again. But of course it's only a matter of time--and a very short time, it looks like--before she's moving all over the place too fast to keep up with. My easy days of babywatching are over. Time to get ready to run after her all over the house.
Other tricks she's learned recently:
* Clapping. Mary and I both occasionally have clapped for her when she did something cool, but she suddenly started imitating it without really much prompting. Now she does it on cue. "Clap your hands!" I'll say, and usually she'll respond by clapping them and giggling, a big grin on her face. Adorable.
* Peek-a-boo. I definitely didn't teach her this, and we only played it a couple of times before she figured it out. I really don't think I'd done it more than once or twice--you know, the whole thing where I put a blanket on her head and say, "Where's Anastasia?" and then whip it off with a triumphant, "There she is!" But after we'd done this a few times, Anastasia started doing it herself. The first time, she used a book. She put it on her head like a hat and looked at me expectantly, with an unmistakable "I'm-playing-a-game-now!" face.
"Where's Anastasia?" I asked agreeably, although I didn't really think she was going to do it. But sure enough, she waited just a minute--with an impressive sense of comedic timing--before whipping the book off her head and grinning at me. "There she is!"
She really is at the best age now. I think I say that all the time, but it's true what a neighbor told me: she just keeps getting better.
Now, of course, she already seems to have forgotten how she did it, because when she tried again later, she got frustrated again. But of course it's only a matter of time--and a very short time, it looks like--before she's moving all over the place too fast to keep up with. My easy days of babywatching are over. Time to get ready to run after her all over the house.
Other tricks she's learned recently:
* Clapping. Mary and I both occasionally have clapped for her when she did something cool, but she suddenly started imitating it without really much prompting. Now she does it on cue. "Clap your hands!" I'll say, and usually she'll respond by clapping them and giggling, a big grin on her face. Adorable.
* Peek-a-boo. I definitely didn't teach her this, and we only played it a couple of times before she figured it out. I really don't think I'd done it more than once or twice--you know, the whole thing where I put a blanket on her head and say, "Where's Anastasia?" and then whip it off with a triumphant, "There she is!" But after we'd done this a few times, Anastasia started doing it herself. The first time, she used a book. She put it on her head like a hat and looked at me expectantly, with an unmistakable "I'm-playing-a-game-now!" face.
"Where's Anastasia?" I asked agreeably, although I didn't really think she was going to do it. But sure enough, she waited just a minute--with an impressive sense of comedic timing--before whipping the book off her head and grinning at me. "There she is!"
She really is at the best age now. I think I say that all the time, but it's true what a neighbor told me: she just keeps getting better.
9.04.2008
look out world: here comes baby!
Yesterday, Anastasia started crawling.
Ok, so it wasn't exactly crawling--more like Army crawling, or scootching on her elbows and stomach as she pushes forward with her feet. But either way, she's definitely mobile now. I can measure her progress in feet instead of inches.
The funny thing is she's been able to move herself a little bit for a while now, and I don't know when it all came together. I discovered it yesterday because I left her by herself for a minute in the bedroom while I did something in the living room. I left her in the middle of our bed (which is just a mattress on the floor), happily playing with my library book. I could hear her making happy sounds when I was in the other room, so I knew she was fine. When the happy sounds suddenly changed to crying (as they often do at this age, very suddenly, for no apparent reason), I immediately rushed back into the bedroom to see what was wrong.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered her not in the middle of the bed, where I'd left her, but several yards away in the middle of the bedroom floor.
I wasn't worried about the fact that she'd gotten off the bed; she's rolled off it several times before, and I have the floor all around it lined with pillows and towels to soften the fall. The fact that she'd traveled so far did surprise me, though, because she's never done that before. But mostly it was the fact that she wasn't on her side as though she'd been rolling; she was on her belly, and it was obvious that she's been dragging herself along. She'd finally figured out crawling.
Naturally, after I picked her up and comforted her, I tried to get her to do it again. I set her down on the bed, and sure enough, she immeidately started dragging herself along, scootching with her elbows and knees, her head up high and a huge, goofy grin on her face. But when I went to grab the video camera so I could capture the magic moment on tape, she stopped. Of course. She's a little performer--she loves to do tricks when people are watching--but she hasn't figured out yet that the camera is fun to perform for, too.
Ok, so it wasn't exactly crawling--more like Army crawling, or scootching on her elbows and stomach as she pushes forward with her feet. But either way, she's definitely mobile now. I can measure her progress in feet instead of inches.
The funny thing is she's been able to move herself a little bit for a while now, and I don't know when it all came together. I discovered it yesterday because I left her by herself for a minute in the bedroom while I did something in the living room. I left her in the middle of our bed (which is just a mattress on the floor), happily playing with my library book. I could hear her making happy sounds when I was in the other room, so I knew she was fine. When the happy sounds suddenly changed to crying (as they often do at this age, very suddenly, for no apparent reason), I immediately rushed back into the bedroom to see what was wrong.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered her not in the middle of the bed, where I'd left her, but several yards away in the middle of the bedroom floor.
I wasn't worried about the fact that she'd gotten off the bed; she's rolled off it several times before, and I have the floor all around it lined with pillows and towels to soften the fall. The fact that she'd traveled so far did surprise me, though, because she's never done that before. But mostly it was the fact that she wasn't on her side as though she'd been rolling; she was on her belly, and it was obvious that she's been dragging herself along. She'd finally figured out crawling.
Naturally, after I picked her up and comforted her, I tried to get her to do it again. I set her down on the bed, and sure enough, she immeidately started dragging herself along, scootching with her elbows and knees, her head up high and a huge, goofy grin on her face. But when I went to grab the video camera so I could capture the magic moment on tape, she stopped. Of course. She's a little performer--she loves to do tricks when people are watching--but she hasn't figured out yet that the camera is fun to perform for, too.
8.30.2008
six months old
On Tuesday, August 26, Anastasia had her six-month pediatric visit. Her stats:
* weight: 15.3 lbs (38%...still skinny)
* height: 26.98 in. (88%)
* head circumference: 17.3 in. (88%)
Although I don't know why they always measure the head circumference. To make sure her brain is growing, perhaps? But I knew that.
In other news, today (August 30), she tried her first solid food. I can't say why I hesitated to let her try solid food until now; I just didn't feel ready for it. Maybe the same reason I didn't give her a pacifier for such a long time; I just love nursing her so much and don't want anything to interfere with that in any way. But today my mom was down to visit, so we thought we'd give her a little avocado to try it.
Except the avocados which we'd bought for that purpose (all right, it was a week ago, but still) had already gone bad.
Fortunately, we had some banana as well, so we decided to try that instead.
However, it wasn't much of a success. I mushed a little bit of banana on my palm and held it out for her to examine. She studied it thoughtfully for several minutes before dipping her fingers in it and stuffing her hand in her mouth. We weren't sure if she was actually getting any banana in her mouth, since she seemed to be putting a different part of her hand in her mouth than the part that had banana on it. Evidently Anastasia had the same concern, because after a few of these attempts she abandoned her hand entirely. She opened her mouth wide and lunged it at my open hand, where the banana rested invitingly. That enabled her to get a pretty significant mouthful.
She then sat up and mouthed it experimentally. For a minute it seemed like she was quite pleased with herself, but then she made a horrible face and started coughing and gagging. She was clearly still breathing fine, so we weren't worried, but she didn't seem very pleased.
I figured she was probably done with solids for now, but apparently the lure of the banana was just too much to resist, because a minute later she again plunged open-mouthed toward it. But again, it caused her to cough and gag; I guess she was gulping up more than she could chew! This time she started protesting and crying, so we picked her up, patted her back a bit to make sure nothing was stuck, washed her off, and nursed her.
Which made her much, much happier. She kept pausing while nursing to look up at me reprovingly. "Now, this is food, Mom!" she seemed to be saying. "I don't know what you were thinking with that banana stuff! This is the real thing. This is all I need." And with these thoughts apparently on her mind, she drifted happily off to sleep.
So much for growing up too fast. Deep down, I'm rather pleased. We'll try again in a week or so and see if she likes it better then.
* weight: 15.3 lbs (38%...still skinny)
* height: 26.98 in. (88%)
* head circumference: 17.3 in. (88%)
Although I don't know why they always measure the head circumference. To make sure her brain is growing, perhaps? But I knew that.
In other news, today (August 30), she tried her first solid food. I can't say why I hesitated to let her try solid food until now; I just didn't feel ready for it. Maybe the same reason I didn't give her a pacifier for such a long time; I just love nursing her so much and don't want anything to interfere with that in any way. But today my mom was down to visit, so we thought we'd give her a little avocado to try it.
Except the avocados which we'd bought for that purpose (all right, it was a week ago, but still) had already gone bad.
Fortunately, we had some banana as well, so we decided to try that instead.
However, it wasn't much of a success. I mushed a little bit of banana on my palm and held it out for her to examine. She studied it thoughtfully for several minutes before dipping her fingers in it and stuffing her hand in her mouth. We weren't sure if she was actually getting any banana in her mouth, since she seemed to be putting a different part of her hand in her mouth than the part that had banana on it. Evidently Anastasia had the same concern, because after a few of these attempts she abandoned her hand entirely. She opened her mouth wide and lunged it at my open hand, where the banana rested invitingly. That enabled her to get a pretty significant mouthful.
She then sat up and mouthed it experimentally. For a minute it seemed like she was quite pleased with herself, but then she made a horrible face and started coughing and gagging. She was clearly still breathing fine, so we weren't worried, but she didn't seem very pleased.
I figured she was probably done with solids for now, but apparently the lure of the banana was just too much to resist, because a minute later she again plunged open-mouthed toward it. But again, it caused her to cough and gag; I guess she was gulping up more than she could chew! This time she started protesting and crying, so we picked her up, patted her back a bit to make sure nothing was stuck, washed her off, and nursed her.
Which made her much, much happier. She kept pausing while nursing to look up at me reprovingly. "Now, this is food, Mom!" she seemed to be saying. "I don't know what you were thinking with that banana stuff! This is the real thing. This is all I need." And with these thoughts apparently on her mind, she drifted happily off to sleep.
So much for growing up too fast. Deep down, I'm rather pleased. We'll try again in a week or so and see if she likes it better then.
8.25.2008
a tooth at last!
Yesterday Anastasia turned six months old, and today she cut her first tooth. I can hardly believe she's grown so much already! The tooth is so cute...it's just a little edge peeking out, really, but it's definitely coming in. I'll post a picture when I can get one.
8.19.2008
is this teething?
Yesterday and today have not been fun.
It started with something like a cold. Now that Anastasia is almost six months, that didn't worry me at all. Bit of a runny nose, some fussiness--no problem at all. Build her immune system.
Nor did it worry me when she continued to get more and more fussy throughout the day. But by late afternoon she was crying a lot until she finally fell asleep. Well, I thought, maybe tomorrow will be better.
The morning was better. She seemed cheerful and happy. We went to school--I'm teaching a writing workshop at my neighbor's little private school, and Anastasia's coming with me; yesterday was our first day--and she was happy to see the kids and even fell asleep in the sling toward the end of class. She woke up as soon as we got home, so she only napped for about half an hour, but she still seemed reasonably happy.
That was at 9:45 am.
By 1:00 pm, things were falling apart. She hadn't slept that entire time. She'd been crying for about two hours, and she'd pooped in her diaper (a completely unexpected and unusual occurrence these days, especially since I quit eating dairy). Worst of all, she wouldn't nurse. She would eat a little and then pull off and cry. I kept offering, switching sides, trying different positions...but no go. She clearly wanted to sleep, and usually she falls asleep nursing, but something was bothering her, and she sounded like she was in pain.
I've heard that teething can sometimes make it hurt to nurse. Something about the sucking when the gums are sore, maybe.
She finally fell asleep in my arms, cradled on my shoulder as I rocked her in the rocking chair. She tucked her little face into the hollow of my neck and slept at last. Poor little thing. I was so exhausted by then that I put her down and slept with her--and both of us slept for three hours.
Now it's 9:00 pm, and she's just fallen asleep again for the night. The evening was much better than the morning, but there was still a lot of fussiness and crying and refusing to nurse before she finally settled into sleep. Poor baby. I really hope a tooth comes through soon.
It started with something like a cold. Now that Anastasia is almost six months, that didn't worry me at all. Bit of a runny nose, some fussiness--no problem at all. Build her immune system.
Nor did it worry me when she continued to get more and more fussy throughout the day. But by late afternoon she was crying a lot until she finally fell asleep. Well, I thought, maybe tomorrow will be better.
The morning was better. She seemed cheerful and happy. We went to school--I'm teaching a writing workshop at my neighbor's little private school, and Anastasia's coming with me; yesterday was our first day--and she was happy to see the kids and even fell asleep in the sling toward the end of class. She woke up as soon as we got home, so she only napped for about half an hour, but she still seemed reasonably happy.
That was at 9:45 am.
By 1:00 pm, things were falling apart. She hadn't slept that entire time. She'd been crying for about two hours, and she'd pooped in her diaper (a completely unexpected and unusual occurrence these days, especially since I quit eating dairy). Worst of all, she wouldn't nurse. She would eat a little and then pull off and cry. I kept offering, switching sides, trying different positions...but no go. She clearly wanted to sleep, and usually she falls asleep nursing, but something was bothering her, and she sounded like she was in pain.
I've heard that teething can sometimes make it hurt to nurse. Something about the sucking when the gums are sore, maybe.
She finally fell asleep in my arms, cradled on my shoulder as I rocked her in the rocking chair. She tucked her little face into the hollow of my neck and slept at last. Poor little thing. I was so exhausted by then that I put her down and slept with her--and both of us slept for three hours.
Now it's 9:00 pm, and she's just fallen asleep again for the night. The evening was much better than the morning, but there was still a lot of fussiness and crying and refusing to nurse before she finally settled into sleep. Poor baby. I really hope a tooth comes through soon.
6.27.2008
teaching herself how to roll over again
So yesterday when I was posting the video of Anastasia rolling over, she was watching it with me. She hadn't rolled over in a couple of weeks, but I figured it was just because she preferred to be on her back right now.
Apparently she'd actually forgotten how to do it...but watching the video reminded her.
When I put her on the floor after watching the video, she immediately rolled over several times in a row. She's done it again every time I've put her on her back today. How clever is she? She reminded herself of her new trick!
Apparently she'd actually forgotten how to do it...but watching the video reminded her.
When I put her on the floor after watching the video, she immediately rolled over several times in a row. She's done it again every time I've put her on her back today. How clever is she? She reminded herself of her new trick!
6.26.2008
my baby is a genius
Anastasia went to the pediatrician on Monday (June 23) for her four-month well baby visit. She weight 13.3 pounds (which is the 43 percentile) and was 25.98 inches long (96 percentile!). Not that it means anything at this stage, but isn't that just gorgeous? She definitely has model potential!
Good thing I'm not one of those moms...at least, I don't think I am...
Of course her development is well ahead of average. When she put her on her stomach to see how she held her head up, the pediatrician said she "looks just like the baby in the picture"--completely ideal. But I don't think Dr. Sells believed me that Anastasia can already roll over from her back to her stomach. "That's a six-month milestone," she said, with an incredulous twist of her lips. "Is she doing it consistently? Is it really on purpose?"
Okay, it's true that Anastasia hasn't done it consistently all the time. When she first learned to do it, she did it every time I put her down for about a week. Then she stopped for a while. Then she did it again a few times, and lately she's stopped again. I think she just prefers to be on her back right now. She has turned over from her stomach to her back once or twice, but that was definitely not intentional, and she hasn't realized that she can do it on purpose yet. But fortunately, I did manage a few weeks ago to catch her rolling to her stomach on tape:
Just tell me that isn't intentional!
Good thing I'm not one of those moms...at least, I don't think I am...
Of course her development is well ahead of average. When she put her on her stomach to see how she held her head up, the pediatrician said she "looks just like the baby in the picture"--completely ideal. But I don't think Dr. Sells believed me that Anastasia can already roll over from her back to her stomach. "That's a six-month milestone," she said, with an incredulous twist of her lips. "Is she doing it consistently? Is it really on purpose?"
Okay, it's true that Anastasia hasn't done it consistently all the time. When she first learned to do it, she did it every time I put her down for about a week. Then she stopped for a while. Then she did it again a few times, and lately she's stopped again. I think she just prefers to be on her back right now. She has turned over from her stomach to her back once or twice, but that was definitely not intentional, and she hasn't realized that she can do it on purpose yet. But fortunately, I did manage a few weeks ago to catch her rolling to her stomach on tape:
Just tell me that isn't intentional!
5.26.2008
what a difference three months make
We spent Memorial Day weekend with Matt's parents in Virginia for the traditional Baker family reunion on Saturday the 24th. Saturday was a significant day for several reasons, most importantly because it was Anastasia's three-month birthday. But I little dreamed how significant it would actually be.
We spent Friday night at Matt's parents' house with his brother Jeff and Jeff's wife Heidi, along with their two children, Isaac and Olivia. Olivia was born two days before Anastasia, so we were excited to introduce the cousins to each other! -- more excited, probably, than they were. Although we did manage to get some video footage of them smiling at each other.
Saturday morning, as we were all getting ourselves and the babies ready to go out to the cabin where the reunion would be, Matt decided to put Anastasia under a little toy of Olivia's. It's a mobile that sits on the ground with dangling toys, music, and flashing lights--exactly the kind of toy I never want to own. But Matt thought it would be fun to see how Anastasia reacted to it, so he put her on her back under the mobile while I was about to go get dressed. I stopped to see what she would do.
She didn't seem particularly interested in it, but she didn't mind it, either. She lay there cooing and looking at Matt, ignoring the flashing lights and the toys. Then she rolled on her side, maybe to get away from the lights, or maybe to get closer to Matt. She's been rolling onto her side from her back for quite a while, so none of us thought anything of it. But then, after just a minute on her side, she kept going--all the way to her stomach!
Those of you who aren't parents might not understand why this is a big deal, but rolling over is a big developmental milestone. Naturally, Anastasia is very young to be achieving this--most babies don't roll over until they're four months. But I never could have predicted exactly how exciting this would be for me. "Oh my gosh!" I shouted. "She rolled over! She rolled over! I can't believe it! She rolled all the way over! Anastasia, you're so clever!"
Matt and Jeff were a little startled by my shouting. To tell the truth, I was a little startled myself. "Uh, is it really that big a deal?" Matt asked uncertainly.
"It's a huge deal! This is an important developmental milestone!" I appealed to Jeff, since he's been a father now for almost two years. "Jeff, tell him what a big deal it is!"
"Uh, it's kinda like graduating college, or getting married," Jeff agreed obligingly.
"I see." Matt looked down at Anastasia, who was starting to cry because she couldn't get her arm out from under her.
"Heidi!" I shouted up the stairs. Maybe this was something only another mother could understand.
Heidi was appropriately excited for Anastasia and me, but by the end of the week, I don't think anyone could quite appreciate just how significant the accomplishment had been. Because that was only the beginning. Over the course of the week, Anastasia gradually started staying awake for longer periods--and sleeping for longer naps. Instead of being awake for an hour and then sleeping for an hour constantly throughout the day, she started having a two-hour period in the afternoon when she was awake--and more surprising, happy. Then she took a two-hour nap in the late afternoon. She also started going to sleep more easily at night, and I was able to leave her once she was asleep and hang out downstairs for two hours (from 9 to 11) before she woke up to eat again.
She also amazed me by going holding her pee for longer stretches--especially at night. One morning I got up at 4:30 am, thinking her restlessness was because she needed to go to the bathroom, to discover she had a completely dry diaper. And the first morning after we got back, she was still dry when I changed her at 8 am. It's not a pattern yet, but I'm hoping that soon we'll be able to go diaper-free at night with a towel for back-up!
On Friday she laughed for the first time--not the infant shriek she's been doing for a while, but a real, rolling, gurgling laugh. Olivia's first laugh was also this week, three days earlier, so Heidi and I got to enjoy that together. But the strangest part about that was that Anastasia's first laugh was in the car, and she hates the car. Heidi, Jeff, Olivia, Anastasia and I were going shopping, and I sat in back with the babies to try to keep Anastasia happy. I was desperately playing with her to stave off crying: "Where's your nose? Boop! There's your nose! Where's your chin? Chin! Chinny-chin-chin!" It was tickling her chin that elicited the laugh: a chuckling, cooing, rolling laugh such as only a baby can give.
But perhaps the most exciting accomplishment of all was that she started reaching for things. As Matt put it, she discovered her hands at last! It's hard to pinpoint exactly when this happened, as it's a gradual process from flailing arms and reflex grabbing to actually reaching out and picking something up. However, it was Wednesday when I left her on the floor for a minute to go get something and came back to find her holding my sunglasses, which had been lying on the floor next to her, in her hand. Reflex? Maybe. But they are bright pink, a color she definitely enjoys looking at. At any rate, by the time we were driving home, I felt like I had a different baby than the one I'd brought on the trip up. She spent an hour sitting in her carseat happily playing with a few brightly colored tissue papers from a present her great-grandparents gave her. I folded them into a kind of mobile and held them in front of her, and she batted at them and fingered them with great interest. She also enjoyed playing with a beanie baby crab from her great-aunt: I held it so the legs dangled down, and she batted at them and pulled them into her mouth. She's turning into a real baby at last!
Now if only I could catch some of these brilliant accomplishments on video...
We spent Friday night at Matt's parents' house with his brother Jeff and Jeff's wife Heidi, along with their two children, Isaac and Olivia. Olivia was born two days before Anastasia, so we were excited to introduce the cousins to each other! -- more excited, probably, than they were. Although we did manage to get some video footage of them smiling at each other.
Saturday morning, as we were all getting ourselves and the babies ready to go out to the cabin where the reunion would be, Matt decided to put Anastasia under a little toy of Olivia's. It's a mobile that sits on the ground with dangling toys, music, and flashing lights--exactly the kind of toy I never want to own. But Matt thought it would be fun to see how Anastasia reacted to it, so he put her on her back under the mobile while I was about to go get dressed. I stopped to see what she would do.
She didn't seem particularly interested in it, but she didn't mind it, either. She lay there cooing and looking at Matt, ignoring the flashing lights and the toys. Then she rolled on her side, maybe to get away from the lights, or maybe to get closer to Matt. She's been rolling onto her side from her back for quite a while, so none of us thought anything of it. But then, after just a minute on her side, she kept going--all the way to her stomach!
Those of you who aren't parents might not understand why this is a big deal, but rolling over is a big developmental milestone. Naturally, Anastasia is very young to be achieving this--most babies don't roll over until they're four months. But I never could have predicted exactly how exciting this would be for me. "Oh my gosh!" I shouted. "She rolled over! She rolled over! I can't believe it! She rolled all the way over! Anastasia, you're so clever!"
Matt and Jeff were a little startled by my shouting. To tell the truth, I was a little startled myself. "Uh, is it really that big a deal?" Matt asked uncertainly.
"It's a huge deal! This is an important developmental milestone!" I appealed to Jeff, since he's been a father now for almost two years. "Jeff, tell him what a big deal it is!"
"Uh, it's kinda like graduating college, or getting married," Jeff agreed obligingly.
"I see." Matt looked down at Anastasia, who was starting to cry because she couldn't get her arm out from under her.
"Heidi!" I shouted up the stairs. Maybe this was something only another mother could understand.
Heidi was appropriately excited for Anastasia and me, but by the end of the week, I don't think anyone could quite appreciate just how significant the accomplishment had been. Because that was only the beginning. Over the course of the week, Anastasia gradually started staying awake for longer periods--and sleeping for longer naps. Instead of being awake for an hour and then sleeping for an hour constantly throughout the day, she started having a two-hour period in the afternoon when she was awake--and more surprising, happy. Then she took a two-hour nap in the late afternoon. She also started going to sleep more easily at night, and I was able to leave her once she was asleep and hang out downstairs for two hours (from 9 to 11) before she woke up to eat again.
She also amazed me by going holding her pee for longer stretches--especially at night. One morning I got up at 4:30 am, thinking her restlessness was because she needed to go to the bathroom, to discover she had a completely dry diaper. And the first morning after we got back, she was still dry when I changed her at 8 am. It's not a pattern yet, but I'm hoping that soon we'll be able to go diaper-free at night with a towel for back-up!
On Friday she laughed for the first time--not the infant shriek she's been doing for a while, but a real, rolling, gurgling laugh. Olivia's first laugh was also this week, three days earlier, so Heidi and I got to enjoy that together. But the strangest part about that was that Anastasia's first laugh was in the car, and she hates the car. Heidi, Jeff, Olivia, Anastasia and I were going shopping, and I sat in back with the babies to try to keep Anastasia happy. I was desperately playing with her to stave off crying: "Where's your nose? Boop! There's your nose! Where's your chin? Chin! Chinny-chin-chin!" It was tickling her chin that elicited the laugh: a chuckling, cooing, rolling laugh such as only a baby can give.
But perhaps the most exciting accomplishment of all was that she started reaching for things. As Matt put it, she discovered her hands at last! It's hard to pinpoint exactly when this happened, as it's a gradual process from flailing arms and reflex grabbing to actually reaching out and picking something up. However, it was Wednesday when I left her on the floor for a minute to go get something and came back to find her holding my sunglasses, which had been lying on the floor next to her, in her hand. Reflex? Maybe. But they are bright pink, a color she definitely enjoys looking at. At any rate, by the time we were driving home, I felt like I had a different baby than the one I'd brought on the trip up. She spent an hour sitting in her carseat happily playing with a few brightly colored tissue papers from a present her great-grandparents gave her. I folded them into a kind of mobile and held them in front of her, and she batted at them and fingered them with great interest. She also enjoyed playing with a beanie baby crab from her great-aunt: I held it so the legs dangled down, and she batted at them and pulled them into her mouth. She's turning into a real baby at last!
Now if only I could catch some of these brilliant accomplishments on video...
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