Which means I really need to take his six-month t-shirt picture to match the girls'. Oops.
Showing posts with label Ryan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ryan. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
He
...is seven months already. Seven.
Which means I really need to take his six-month t-shirt picture to match the girls'. Oops.
Which means I really need to take his six-month t-shirt picture to match the girls'. Oops.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Ryan @ six months
On Saturday the 19th, Ryan turned six months old. Six months already. Half a year. He's no longer my tiny little baby. He laughs and "talks" and rolls and grabs. Sigh. He's amazing.
He's starting to sit up. With a bit of a lean.
The tongue is still out all the time.
And he's still happy, all the time. Seriously, this is the happiest, most content baby.
He has the best laugh. And there's something about Emma he finds funny. Sometimes he just looks at her and lets out a belly laugh. She had him giggling like crazy the other night. He was the cutest thing. Of course, once my camera was out to video it, he couldn't decide if he should watch Emma or look at me and the laughter wasn't quite as forthcoming. But it's still cute.
He's starting to sit up. With a bit of a lean.
The tongue is still out all the time.
And he's still happy, all the time. Seriously, this is the happiest, most content baby.
He has the best laugh. And there's something about Emma he finds funny. Sometimes he just looks at her and lets out a belly laugh. She had him giggling like crazy the other night. He was the cutest thing. Of course, once my camera was out to video it, he couldn't decide if he should watch Emma or look at me and the laughter wasn't quite as forthcoming. But it's still cute.
Emma making Ryan laugh from Erin Sweeney on Vimeo.
He's doing wonderfully when it comes to tummy time. He is constantly rolling onto his stomach. He loves looking around, watching the girls.
Of course, he's not a fan of tummy time when he's in his crib. Oh no. This usually occurs between 3 and 6 am. I find myself in there up to a half dozen times rolling him onto his back because he's gotten stuck. Sometimes with a leg sticking out the crib. Two nights ago he was stuck on his belly with his head pointed diagonally in the corner. Poor guy, he had no where to go. I will say this though, it does get annoying when on your third trip in there, you roll him over, give him his binky, tell him to stay put - only to have him immediately roll back on to his stomach! Twice now he's given up and just slept on his belly, but for the most part he's not a fan of that yet. It amazes me though how a baby who can't yet crawl can get in to every square inch of that crib. In the dark. I wish I could film him one night just to see what he does when he's sleeping/supposed to be sleeping.
He likes the jumperoo.
And the star on the exersaucer.
He's all about putting things in his mouth. His hands, binkies (which he can do on his own when he wants to), toys, the bottle (more miss than hit with this one), the newspaper, anything that's within grabbing reach. Like his toes.
He's teething. His hands are constantly in his mouth and it's like a faucet turned on with the amount of drool he has.
He's tried all the stage one foods now. He loves to eat. He gets very excited when he sees the container, the spoon and the bottle. He tried a sippy cup just to see what would happen, but no success. He just got frustrated. We'll try again in a couple weeks. He's still drinking 32oz of formula a day.
He had his six month well visit. He's 15lbs 3oz, 10-25% (up almost 3 lbs) and 25 3/4 inches, 25-50% (up 2 1/2 inches and up from the 3-10%). Our pediatrician said he's made noticeable improvements with the head tilt. Ryan doesn't have to have physical therapy, but we do have to continue stretching his neck. There's also some improvement with the flat spot/forehead/small eye issue, but that will continue to get better as he does more tummy time and starts to sit up. It'll take a while for that to correct itself.
This picture makes me laugh. This is the exersaucer at the gym. He's so tiny in it, but he loves watching all the other kids at Kid Park.
He's in size 2 diapers and fits well in to his 3-6 month clothes, but with room to grow. According to the tags on the Carters clothes, he should be in 9 month outfits. I don't see that happening quite yet. He has some summer outfits from Gymboree that are 6-12 months and even though according to the tag he fits in them for height (starts at 25 inches) and is only 1 1/2 lbs away from them in weight, he's really no where close. the shorts come down to his ankles. And I think two of him could fit in the shirts. He's gonna need one heck of a growth spurt between now and June!
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Random, again.
Today I saw this and it made me smile.
He likes to eat his feet.
Michael had a basketball game at Shelly's high school last night. I texted her, "I'm at your school. No reason to tell you that. Just felt like it," while we were in the commons having a snack during halftime. I'm taking pictures of the girls and the next thing I know, there she is! She had conferences. Totally did not expect to see her, it caught me off guard, oh but what a fun surprise! Also, I'm glad I sent her such a random text.
The girls have been putting together quite the outfits when dressing themselves. These were Mondays' looks. I meant to take a picture of today's as they were equally colorful.
He likes to eat his feet.
Michael had a basketball game at Shelly's high school last night. I texted her, "I'm at your school. No reason to tell you that. Just felt like it," while we were in the commons having a snack during halftime. I'm taking pictures of the girls and the next thing I know, there she is! She had conferences. Totally did not expect to see her, it caught me off guard, oh but what a fun surprise! Also, I'm glad I sent her such a random text.
The girls have been putting together quite the outfits when dressing themselves. These were Mondays' looks. I meant to take a picture of today's as they were equally colorful.
Swim lessons ended Monday. Emma can move up to what is essentially the same class, just for older kids. But really, we just need to work with her on her strokes, holding her breath and her confidence. She can swim, she just thinks she can only go so far and then stops. She could go so much further in the pool if she'd just keep going.
This one was promoted from beginner to advanced. On one hand, not surprised since the beginner class is just to get them acquainted with the water and that's no issue for her. She loves it and is not at all afraid. On the other, it makes me laugh because whenever Taylor had her on her back and Mac was supposed to be kicking, she'd instead just let Taylor pull her through the water. I'm thinking she's going to have to work a bit harder in the next class.
This is how we entertain ourselves. Michael comes up with random stuff for the girls to do. In this case, it was practicing both their long jumps as well as high jumps. Emma was so into it. She's competitive. Very.
Ryan in the exersaucer at the gym's Kid Park. I think he likes it. (Of course it could be that he was happy to see me. Just sayin'.) Bonus, extra time working on his trunk/head strength. No worries, though, he gets plenty of time being held by the wonderful women who work there. He's quite the ladies man already.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Ryan @ 5 months
I'm a little late with this, but Ryan turned five months old on February 19th.
No clue what he weighs right now. I'm guessing about 13 1/2 pounds. He's fitting nicely into his 3 - 6 month clothes but still has plenty of room to grow in them. I don't see him outgrowing them anytime soon. He is actually still wearing a couple 0 - 3 sleepers, most of the 3-6 ones are still pretty long on him and his feet get lost.
I love how he sleeps. He either rolls over on his left side (which I need to get a picture of) or clasps his hands and puts them over his eyes, like this:
He's doing such a great job holding up his head. Although again, I need to take a picture. This one is from a couple weeks ago on the boppy. He can hold it up while flat on the floor, and hold it up pretty high. He still isn't pushing up with his arms but he'll get there. He's made such improvements, I'm so pleased. I'm still stretching out his neck as the head tilt hasn't improved yet.
He's a rolling-over machine. Front to back; back to front; just no front to back to front. He often will cry out for someone to come rescue him when he gets stuck on his belly with his arm pinned under him. This has happened a few times when I've put him down to nap.
He's all about his hands and feet and toes. I just love watching him grab his feet, he likes to put his toes in his mouth. He waves his hands around and watches them and eats those, too. And the tongue. His tongue is constantly out of his mouth. It's the funniest thing.
I love when I go in to get him after a nap or in the morning, he always has the biggest grin on his face when he sees me. He gets so excited he starts flapping his arms and kicking his legs.
He's napping three times a day: around 10 am, 1 -2 pm and in the evening around 6. He's in bed by 8:30 usually and sleeps until 8 or so. He's woken up at 4am a few times recently, thinking it's morning but goes back to sleep pretty easily. No crying, he's just talking and moving around. He's still eating 4 times a day: when he wakes up, around noon, 4ish then before bed. Still 32oz/day, but acts like he could eat more and since we're at the limit for formula, we've started the rice cereal.
Speaking of the rice cereal. He's not a fan. He wants to eat. He wants what is on that spoon. Until what's on that spoon is in his mouth. Then he changes his mind. It's just not good. I don't blame him. Also, it doesn't help that he likes to stick his tongue out. He can swallow the rice cereal, it's just more fun to push it out on his tongue. I'd forgotten how messy feeding rice cereal is.
He loves his Daddy.
He's laughing all the time. Especially at Emma. She does the best job making him laugh, sometimes it's by jumping and stomping in front of him, other times it's the random words and sounds she says to him. He loves it.
My sweet sleeping baby boy. He's always turned towards the rain forest toy. He always lays on his left side so he can watch it, touch it, turn it on when it goes off. He's started turning around in his crib, so sometimes I'll find him turned every which way after naps and in the morning.
He still likes the exersaucer. He can move around in it now. Michael got down the jumperoo, and he wasn't quite sure of it at first, but likes it now.
No clue what he weighs right now. I'm guessing about 13 1/2 pounds. He's fitting nicely into his 3 - 6 month clothes but still has plenty of room to grow in them. I don't see him outgrowing them anytime soon. He is actually still wearing a couple 0 - 3 sleepers, most of the 3-6 ones are still pretty long on him and his feet get lost.
I love how he sleeps. He either rolls over on his left side (which I need to get a picture of) or clasps his hands and puts them over his eyes, like this:
He's doing such a great job holding up his head. Although again, I need to take a picture. This one is from a couple weeks ago on the boppy. He can hold it up while flat on the floor, and hold it up pretty high. He still isn't pushing up with his arms but he'll get there. He's made such improvements, I'm so pleased. I'm still stretching out his neck as the head tilt hasn't improved yet.
He's a rolling-over machine. Front to back; back to front; just no front to back to front. He often will cry out for someone to come rescue him when he gets stuck on his belly with his arm pinned under him. This has happened a few times when I've put him down to nap.
He's all about his hands and feet and toes. I just love watching him grab his feet, he likes to put his toes in his mouth. He waves his hands around and watches them and eats those, too. And the tongue. His tongue is constantly out of his mouth. It's the funniest thing.
I love when I go in to get him after a nap or in the morning, he always has the biggest grin on his face when he sees me. He gets so excited he starts flapping his arms and kicking his legs.
He's napping three times a day: around 10 am, 1 -2 pm and in the evening around 6. He's in bed by 8:30 usually and sleeps until 8 or so. He's woken up at 4am a few times recently, thinking it's morning but goes back to sleep pretty easily. No crying, he's just talking and moving around. He's still eating 4 times a day: when he wakes up, around noon, 4ish then before bed. Still 32oz/day, but acts like he could eat more and since we're at the limit for formula, we've started the rice cereal.
Speaking of the rice cereal. He's not a fan. He wants to eat. He wants what is on that spoon. Until what's on that spoon is in his mouth. Then he changes his mind. It's just not good. I don't blame him. Also, it doesn't help that he likes to stick his tongue out. He can swallow the rice cereal, it's just more fun to push it out on his tongue. I'd forgotten how messy feeding rice cereal is.
He loves his Daddy.
He's laughing all the time. Especially at Emma. She does the best job making him laugh, sometimes it's by jumping and stomping in front of him, other times it's the random words and sounds she says to him. He loves it.
My sweet sleeping baby boy. He's always turned towards the rain forest toy. He always lays on his left side so he can watch it, touch it, turn it on when it goes off. He's started turning around in his crib, so sometimes I'll find him turned every which way after naps and in the morning.
He still likes the exersaucer. He can move around in it now. Michael got down the jumperoo, and he wasn't quite sure of it at first, but likes it now.
And I think that's it. He's just an amazing baby. Super easy. And happy. And loveable, huggable, kissable, snuggleable, just wonderful.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Photo 365: 1/10/11 - 1/16/11
1/10: Mackenzie's first swim lesson. She loved it. She was so excited to finally be big enough to take lessons. The girls lessons are back to back, so we're there from 7 - 8:30 by the time we shower them and get them in their PJs.
1/11: Playing the Cat in the Hat game Emma got for Christmas. I put my camera on the floor and set the timer.
1/12: I knew when I left this morning without snowblowing I was going to get stuck in the driveway. And I did. So I had to snowblow around my car, move it in to the garage, then finish the driveway.
1/13: We met my mom at the mall so the girls could use their Disney Store gift cards she gave them for Christmas. It was so fun watching them check everything out. Emma kept asking, "can I get this?" and if I said she could but only that and then there'd be nothing left, she'd put the item back. She wanted to be sure she could get two things. Their final purchases were exactly the same, of course - princess art kits in a zip around case and stickers. They were so excited.
1/11: Playing the Cat in the Hat game Emma got for Christmas. I put my camera on the floor and set the timer.
1/12: I knew when I left this morning without snowblowing I was going to get stuck in the driveway. And I did. So I had to snowblow around my car, move it in to the garage, then finish the driveway.
1/13: We met my mom at the mall so the girls could use their Disney Store gift cards she gave them for Christmas. It was so fun watching them check everything out. Emma kept asking, "can I get this?" and if I said she could but only that and then there'd be nothing left, she'd put the item back. She wanted to be sure she could get two things. Their final purchases were exactly the same, of course - princess art kits in a zip around case and stickers. They were so excited.
1/14: Poor Ryan, already being dressed up in tutu skirts. And he's already perfected the, "Are you serious?" look.
1/15: Date night. We went out to dinner with my workout girls and spouses. Twenty-two of us in all, which meant we needed a room to ourselves. It was fun to hang out, chat, eat and then play a few games before heading home.
1/16: Shelby and Angie stayed the night after babysitting for us, so we took them to lunch after church. Not that we need an excuse to go to Bob Evans, we go so often after church that the girls expect us to go to "the pancake place" every Sunday.
Friday, February 04, 2011
Five on Friday
1. So when Bloglines changed ownership, not all feeds transferred over and mine was one of them. I know because it stopped showing up for me, and according to Marie, for her as well. So if you usually read through Bloglines and aren't getting it anymore, hopefully it'll start showing up if you re-subscribe. Unless it was just us. Although I'm going to go with all the people that used to read this aren't getting it anymore and that's why I've got about five people following right now. ;)
2 I got my new zoom lens (Merry Christmas from my husband) two weeks ago. I love it. I love that I was able to zoom in on Emma and get this:
3. Made me laugh when I saw it in the mailbox though. I think the mailman was determined to make the box fit no matter if the door didn't close.
4. Had snow and ice and cold temps this week, which meant snow days for Michael and Emma, a cancelled class for Emma and Mackenzie and a cancelled play group for Mackenzie and Ryan. Now the weather is fine but we're still at home because Mackenzie is sick. Although due to the miracle drug Motrin, she's acting just fine right now.
5. I ordered the girls swimsuits from Land's End. The ones I posted about on FB as being the best girls bathing suits ever. And then they came and they've changed the cut and I was disappointed. I've reordered Mac's in a size up, and am going to order Emma a completely different suit and hope they'll work.
Bonus picture just because he's so cute.
Happy Friday!
2 I got my new zoom lens (Merry Christmas from my husband) two weeks ago. I love it. I love that I was able to zoom in on Emma and get this:
3. Made me laugh when I saw it in the mailbox though. I think the mailman was determined to make the box fit no matter if the door didn't close.
4. Had snow and ice and cold temps this week, which meant snow days for Michael and Emma, a cancelled class for Emma and Mackenzie and a cancelled play group for Mackenzie and Ryan. Now the weather is fine but we're still at home because Mackenzie is sick. Although due to the miracle drug Motrin, she's acting just fine right now.
5. I ordered the girls swimsuits from Land's End. The ones I posted about on FB as being the best girls bathing suits ever. And then they came and they've changed the cut and I was disappointed. I've reordered Mac's in a size up, and am going to order Emma a completely different suit and hope they'll work.
Bonus picture just because he's so cute.
Happy Friday!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Ryan @ 4 months
Ryan turned four-months-old on January 19th. And if nothing else, I'm going to at least blog his monthly updates. Whenever I get around to scrapbooking, I'm going to need the info.
So, what's Ryan up to...he loves his playmat. He can now grab all the toys and he's moving all around on it. He rolls up on his side often, and he tries to roll over but so far he can't. He is good at turning around though. I'll put him down on his back with his head pointing one way, and ten minutes later he's turned 180 degrees with his head pointed the opposite way. Yet somehow, I've never seen it happen. It's magic.
He also grabs his binky out of his mouth and bats at the toys to trigger the music in his bouncy seat. He doesn't have to use a head positioner anymore, not in his car seat or the bouncy seat. We can actually easily buckle his car seat now that he's grown and we've lengthened the straps.
He's such a happy and content baby. That hasn't changed. He doesn't cry unless he's super hungry and you haven't fed him fast enough, or when he has a messy diaper. While there are exceptions, they don't occur very often. He just likes to be held, watch people and things, and play. I love it when he coos, especially when it's in reply to something I say or do to him.
Ryan had his check-up this past Friday. He's still a peanut - 12lbs 8oz, 10 - 25%; 23 1/4 inches, 3 - 10%; head - 16 1/2 inches, 3-10%. His eczema has gottten much better. I love the Cerave cream. His cradle cap is almost gone. His acne is completely gone, too.
While he might be a peanut, he doesn't eat like one. He's eating 28 - 32 oz per 24 hours. He eats pretty regularly which is amazing to me. (It's nothing like it was with the girls. I love it!) He's like clockwork: 8-8:30 am, 12-12:30pm, 4-4:30pm, 8-8:30pm. He's still in the bouncy seat in the crib, but sleeps from 9:30pm to 8 or 8:30am. Again, amazing. Although not so much on the naps. Those are hit or miss. But with sleeping like that at night I can live with the non-napping.
He's facing forward in the carrier now. Which means I need to figure out a new way to wrap the Moby. But he likes the Baby Bjorn, even if it does get a bit slobbery at times.
(1/19/11)
He's starting to wear 3-6 month clothes, although they're long on him. He can wear some 0-3 month sleepers, bust most have gotten too short. He's in size 1 diapers but I put a size 2 on him at night since he sleeps for so long.
We have one issue we're dealing with right now. And I must warn you, this is about to get wordy and likely confusing. I keep editing it trying to make it more coherent, but it's not helping so I'm just leaving it.
Ryan cannot yet hold himself up when on his tummy. Like most babies, he does not care for tummy time but instead of pushing himself up, he just gives up and lays there crying. Or, sometimes, just turns his head to the side and goes to sleep. Over the last few weeks I'd been thinking about it a lot, as it's usually something that babies can do easily by four-months-old. He was also still a bit wobbly when held and when sitting. We'd tried the Bumbo but weren't using it because he would end up leaning to the side and didn't really like it. We hadn't gotten out the exersaucer for that very reason.
I was discussing all this with Ryan's doctor - not pushing himself up, that I'd noticed his left eye was bigger than the right, the head tilt, the wobbly head, how I wasn't ready to start cereal yet because of this.
Ryan's a bit delayed with his gross motor skills and trunk strength. For example: If you hold a baby in front of you, their back to your chest, and tilt them at a 45 degree angle they should lift their head up to look forward. Ryan just looked down. Poor little guy. The doctor recommended the exersaucer because while I wasn't using it since I didn't feel he could do it yet, that's the very reason I should put him in it. It will force him to strengthen his core/trunk. He'll have to work at staying upright. First time I put him in it, he just slumped forward with his head on the seat. It's was so sad...yet kind of funny, I'll be honest. But, he got better quickly and now seems to like it. Same as the Bumbo. The more we put him in it, the better he's getting. Seems me avoiding the things he couldn't do was doing more harm than good. Of course, I didn't know that at the time when I was avoiding them.
While we're making progress with the wobbly head/staying upright, not so much with the tummy time. He still cries and still just gives up and turns to the side. But with time, practice and the strengthening coming form the Bumbo and exersaucer, it will get easier and better. Which brings me to the head tilt.
We'd actually discussed this with the doctor previously, at his 1 and 2 month checkup. Ryan's head is always tilted to the right. He showed me how to stretch our his neck and I thought the issue had gone away. We weren't noticing it anoymore. But I think we had just gotten used to it. When I mentioned how one eye was bigger than the other, I expected our pediatrician to tell me it was normal and the small eye would catch up with the bigger one. Nope. Turns out the head tilt (that we knew about) had led to the flat spot on the right side of his head (which we also knew about but I thought had gotten better) and that had caused his forehead to push forward and make his right eye smaller (that we certainly did not know about). I hadn't noticed it until he pointed it out to me, but the right side of his forehead is actually bigger than the left. Thankfully, this is fixable.
When we'd been discussing the flat spot back at his two-month appt, he wasn't concerned because we'd be starting tummy time, and with less time on his side/back the flat spot would correct itself. Except there's not a lot of tummy time therefore no correcting.
I'm now to stretch out his neck 3x a day for 30 seconds at a time. I'm not sure if you know this, but when fighting your four-month-old to stretch his neck which he most certainly does not like, 30 seconds is a really long time. And it's hard. Hard because he fights it. Hard because it hurts him. Hard because he cries and looks at me like, "Why are you doing this to me?" But I have to. Because if I don't, and we can't fix this, the next step is physical therapy. And while it would easier to let a stranger do this, I don't want this to go on any longer than necessary.
So our goals are: to get his neck muscle straightened out and strengthen his trunk so he can sit up with out wobbling. Those in turn should alleviate the the flat side of his head, let his right eye grow and catch up with his left, and hopefully he'll soon start holding himself up during tummy time. As Michael said, no one goes to Kindergarten without holding themselves up when on their stomach.
I was googling tonight, and found this Congenital Muscular Torticollis. Now, my pediatrician did not give me this diagnosis for Ryan, but this certainly seems this could be what Ryan has. I'll ask him about it at his six-month check up.
I know that was confusing and I was rambling, so if you've stuck with me and made it through, thanks. I know that this isn't a life-threatening condition, it's fixable. It could certainly be worse. And it's not as if he's months and months behind where he should be, it's slight delay. He's not nine-months-old and unable to push himself up. It's a physical issue (something I asked) and there's nothing wrong with his brain developmentally-wise. His fine-motor skills are good; he can grab toys and necklaces and hair. He smiles and laughs and coos and loves to watch people. It's a minor thing. Just a bit worrisome and makes this mama concerned.
Now enough about that.
There's something very cute about lions on baby butts.
Even cuter? This.
(1/17/11)
Mackenzie's already started dressing him up in tutus. He's got the "are you seriously doing this to me?" look down pat.
And I love his eyes here. I'm not sure what was so shocking, I was just changing his diaper at the basketball game.
(1/14/11)
I don't care what anyone says, but dressing baby boys is just as fun as baby girls. He was looking mighty cute for church.
(1/9/11)
Looking very cute in the "r" shirt and matching hat from Missy. I love it, Mis!
(1/8/11)
And with that, he's four months and a week and a half old and growing way too fast.
So, what's Ryan up to...he loves his playmat. He can now grab all the toys and he's moving all around on it. He rolls up on his side often, and he tries to roll over but so far he can't. He is good at turning around though. I'll put him down on his back with his head pointing one way, and ten minutes later he's turned 180 degrees with his head pointed the opposite way. Yet somehow, I've never seen it happen. It's magic.
He also grabs his binky out of his mouth and bats at the toys to trigger the music in his bouncy seat. He doesn't have to use a head positioner anymore, not in his car seat or the bouncy seat. We can actually easily buckle his car seat now that he's grown and we've lengthened the straps.
He's such a happy and content baby. That hasn't changed. He doesn't cry unless he's super hungry and you haven't fed him fast enough, or when he has a messy diaper. While there are exceptions, they don't occur very often. He just likes to be held, watch people and things, and play. I love it when he coos, especially when it's in reply to something I say or do to him.
Ryan had his check-up this past Friday. He's still a peanut - 12lbs 8oz, 10 - 25%; 23 1/4 inches, 3 - 10%; head - 16 1/2 inches, 3-10%. His eczema has gottten much better. I love the Cerave cream. His cradle cap is almost gone. His acne is completely gone, too.
While he might be a peanut, he doesn't eat like one. He's eating 28 - 32 oz per 24 hours. He eats pretty regularly which is amazing to me. (It's nothing like it was with the girls. I love it!) He's like clockwork: 8-8:30 am, 12-12:30pm, 4-4:30pm, 8-8:30pm. He's still in the bouncy seat in the crib, but sleeps from 9:30pm to 8 or 8:30am. Again, amazing. Although not so much on the naps. Those are hit or miss. But with sleeping like that at night I can live with the non-napping.
He's facing forward in the carrier now. Which means I need to figure out a new way to wrap the Moby. But he likes the Baby Bjorn, even if it does get a bit slobbery at times.
(1/19/11)
He's starting to wear 3-6 month clothes, although they're long on him. He can wear some 0-3 month sleepers, bust most have gotten too short. He's in size 1 diapers but I put a size 2 on him at night since he sleeps for so long.
We have one issue we're dealing with right now. And I must warn you, this is about to get wordy and likely confusing. I keep editing it trying to make it more coherent, but it's not helping so I'm just leaving it.
Ryan cannot yet hold himself up when on his tummy. Like most babies, he does not care for tummy time but instead of pushing himself up, he just gives up and lays there crying. Or, sometimes, just turns his head to the side and goes to sleep. Over the last few weeks I'd been thinking about it a lot, as it's usually something that babies can do easily by four-months-old. He was also still a bit wobbly when held and when sitting. We'd tried the Bumbo but weren't using it because he would end up leaning to the side and didn't really like it. We hadn't gotten out the exersaucer for that very reason.
I was discussing all this with Ryan's doctor - not pushing himself up, that I'd noticed his left eye was bigger than the right, the head tilt, the wobbly head, how I wasn't ready to start cereal yet because of this.
Ryan's a bit delayed with his gross motor skills and trunk strength. For example: If you hold a baby in front of you, their back to your chest, and tilt them at a 45 degree angle they should lift their head up to look forward. Ryan just looked down. Poor little guy. The doctor recommended the exersaucer because while I wasn't using it since I didn't feel he could do it yet, that's the very reason I should put him in it. It will force him to strengthen his core/trunk. He'll have to work at staying upright. First time I put him in it, he just slumped forward with his head on the seat. It's was so sad...yet kind of funny, I'll be honest. But, he got better quickly and now seems to like it. Same as the Bumbo. The more we put him in it, the better he's getting. Seems me avoiding the things he couldn't do was doing more harm than good. Of course, I didn't know that at the time when I was avoiding them.
While we're making progress with the wobbly head/staying upright, not so much with the tummy time. He still cries and still just gives up and turns to the side. But with time, practice and the strengthening coming form the Bumbo and exersaucer, it will get easier and better. Which brings me to the head tilt.
We'd actually discussed this with the doctor previously, at his 1 and 2 month checkup. Ryan's head is always tilted to the right. He showed me how to stretch our his neck and I thought the issue had gone away. We weren't noticing it anoymore. But I think we had just gotten used to it. When I mentioned how one eye was bigger than the other, I expected our pediatrician to tell me it was normal and the small eye would catch up with the bigger one. Nope. Turns out the head tilt (that we knew about) had led to the flat spot on the right side of his head (which we also knew about but I thought had gotten better) and that had caused his forehead to push forward and make his right eye smaller (that we certainly did not know about). I hadn't noticed it until he pointed it out to me, but the right side of his forehead is actually bigger than the left. Thankfully, this is fixable.
When we'd been discussing the flat spot back at his two-month appt, he wasn't concerned because we'd be starting tummy time, and with less time on his side/back the flat spot would correct itself. Except there's not a lot of tummy time therefore no correcting.
I'm now to stretch out his neck 3x a day for 30 seconds at a time. I'm not sure if you know this, but when fighting your four-month-old to stretch his neck which he most certainly does not like, 30 seconds is a really long time. And it's hard. Hard because he fights it. Hard because it hurts him. Hard because he cries and looks at me like, "Why are you doing this to me?" But I have to. Because if I don't, and we can't fix this, the next step is physical therapy. And while it would easier to let a stranger do this, I don't want this to go on any longer than necessary.
So our goals are: to get his neck muscle straightened out and strengthen his trunk so he can sit up with out wobbling. Those in turn should alleviate the the flat side of his head, let his right eye grow and catch up with his left, and hopefully he'll soon start holding himself up during tummy time. As Michael said, no one goes to Kindergarten without holding themselves up when on their stomach.
I was googling tonight, and found this Congenital Muscular Torticollis. Now, my pediatrician did not give me this diagnosis for Ryan, but this certainly seems this could be what Ryan has. I'll ask him about it at his six-month check up.
I know that was confusing and I was rambling, so if you've stuck with me and made it through, thanks. I know that this isn't a life-threatening condition, it's fixable. It could certainly be worse. And it's not as if he's months and months behind where he should be, it's slight delay. He's not nine-months-old and unable to push himself up. It's a physical issue (something I asked) and there's nothing wrong with his brain developmentally-wise. His fine-motor skills are good; he can grab toys and necklaces and hair. He smiles and laughs and coos and loves to watch people. It's a minor thing. Just a bit worrisome and makes this mama concerned.
Now enough about that.
There's something very cute about lions on baby butts.
Even cuter? This.
(1/17/11)
Mackenzie's already started dressing him up in tutus. He's got the "are you seriously doing this to me?" look down pat.
(1/14/11)
And I love his eyes here. I'm not sure what was so shocking, I was just changing his diaper at the basketball game.
(1/14/11)I don't care what anyone says, but dressing baby boys is just as fun as baby girls. He was looking mighty cute for church.
(1/9/11)Looking very cute in the "r" shirt and matching hat from Missy. I love it, Mis!
(1/8/11)And with that, he's four months and a week and a half old and growing way too fast.
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