We've had a busy week so I've got some catching up to do in a longer post!
I've wondered for a while about the possibility that Sara has some
infant reflux, so over the past few days I've done some research...and I'm thinking my instinct is right. She is a happy baby overall but has many of the signs, such as frequent spit up (the last couple of days she has been a little fountain, especially while burping - oh, the laundry!), persistent hiccuping, arching back and crying after eating, some gagging/sputtering episodes while lying on her back -- but she doesn't have any trouble sleeping or eating or gaining weight, so there are no complications.
I've been surprised to learn how common it is in babies, and the vast majority get over it between six and 12 months. Until then, I'm going to speak to the doc at our three month checkup next week about maybe trying her on the version of her formula that is thickened with rice starch, which may help, as we already keep her upright during and after eating. If I'm right, talk about like mommy like daughter... fortunately she won't remember it to blame me when she grows up!
Speaking of eating, Sara is starting to put things in her mouth -- and she doesn't mess around! Today she decided that at least one of her toys must taste good. One by one she grabbed whatever I handed her and promptly smushed it into her face with a little snort. A few seconds later came "the face" - and she spat it out realizing it didn't taste quite as good as she thought it would! She was determined though, and this went on for a while before she settled back down with Soos (her pacifier). Maybe her discriminating taste will continue, so that I don't turn around one day to see my child happily sucking on a dust bunny off the floor....
Also, last weekend we had our first milestone as parents... our first night away from our baby! We went up north to a cottage, and we were originally planning to bring Sara until Ian's parents offered to babysit at their house. Thank goodness! I had never been to this cottage, and it's very tight quarters plus it had been cold so all 9 people were hanging out and sleeping inside instead of in tents... combine that with poker and loud music on until 3am, and we would have had one screaming baby. We didn't get much sleep either, ironically, but we had fun. It was great to let our guard down and just hang out chatting, swimming, dancing on the deck with the girls, and playing a round of 'frolf' - a makeshift golf course played with frisbees. I was ok until I was lying in bed, unable to sleep through the noise, and then I started really missing Sara. I would have given anything at that moment to see her and give her a kiss. It's funny how you look forward to a taste of your old life, but then you can't wait to get back to your baby. For me, it was reassuring that we really do want to be parents and that it has added so much more to our lives. Sara had a great time and slept well, which was also reassuring because she has two more nights with Grandma and Grandpa coming up for M&D's Jack & Jill and their wedding!
Sara has found her feet! Her favourite thing to do right now is hold her toes at any opportunity... before/after a nap, during diaper change, or while just lying on her mat. Adorable! I call it her yoga pose, upward-facing baby.
Spot the sleeping baby...
We explored the maze of trails, and it's not for the rookie stroller pusher - the terrain is gravel and there are hills. Sara smiled happily as I huffed and puffed us along!
I felt great afterwards, and it's beautiful - we'll be going back often. It will be spectacular in the fall!
I introduced Sara to her Bumbo chair this week, because she has been pushing her head forward to sit up almost anywhere else I put her! She's getting used to it in small spurts. At first she has fun, then she straightens her legs and uses all of her superbaby strength to push back and up...supposedly babies can't get out of these things, but if anyone can it's Sara... so we don't leave her unattended in it! Another new thing is how she thumps her feet in her crib. When falling asleep at night she lifts one leg and thumps it down, then both legs, and she's asleep... it's hilarious. She does the same thing to shimmy herself backward in the crib. We put her to sleep at one end, and find her almost at the other end in the morning! Getting good nap time during the day is still tough with her sleeping only 30-45 mins at a time, but I'm relieved to learn that another babe did the same thing at this age... and it got better at around 4 1/2 months. I much prefer her sleeping through the night if I have to pick one right now!
Sara is just big enough now to wear this adorable sunhat and matching shades, which we tried out the other day. She wasn't too happy getting them on, but then she liked her new look -- doesn't she look ready for going on a secret baby spy mission? This picture cracks me up every time I look at it.
We just returned from our first family vacation, to the cottage on Mackie Lake, and it was a success! Sara slept for most of the 3 1/2 hour car ride up, and though she was not a fan of having her life jacket put on for the boat ride over, the lull of the ride calmed her down. The first day was an adjustment period for her, and for us too! Babies do not travel light... our Rav4 was packed, how do people travel with small cars?? It was a bit cool and I had packed mostly summer clothes for her - oops - but less sun meant more time outdoors for Sara.
We were sad to leave, but Sara liked her life jacket on the way back and fell asleep in the boat. It feels like a huge accomplishment for us, and really boosted my confidence too!
I can hardly believe our little girl turned three months old on Sunday. Here we are at Grandma and Grandpa's, unfortunately with this wooden bird above us! This milestone has come with some surprises over the past few days. First, her crying during burping has suddenly started to decrease (just in time for our upcoming cottage trip on Thursday). Second, she asks to be pulled up to a sitting position, which she loves despite being a little wobbly still. Then yesterday morning came the biggest surprise. Sara peed while I was changing her, so I had to lift her up and use a wipe on her back. This made for a slippery babe, so I had to put her down on her side... and she immediately rolled over onto her tummy! I sat there for a minute, my jaw dropped, before grabbing the camera. Here she is, doing little bare bum push ups! (I'm not sure why her bum looks pink in the pic, it's not)
Another oddity of the past few days is more perplexing and frustrating. Sara has suddenly decided she's not down with her daytime napping. Today she napped for a grand total of 45 minutes from 7:30 am until now, I think she finally passed out and her mommy is not far behind her! She has bounced between happy and cranky, I've been getting nothing done, and despite showing all signs of being tired her eyes keep popping open every time I think I've finally gotten her to drift off. Yesterday I took her to the mall and she slept in her stroller, but with this heat wave we've spent enough time at the mall for now. The good side is that she is going to bed even earlier because of this -- I know, who am I to complain about a baby who sleeps from 8:30pm - 7:30-8am?! I don't want that to change, I just don't know what's going on during the day at the moment. Is this normal, or could it be part of a growth spurt? I do know that we both need her to take her daytime naps again soon! And... yep, she just woke up - only whole 15 minutes of sleep...
Sara just looked like she was taking it all in, listening to the music and watching us all in the mirror. She loves music and songs with actions, like 'the wheels on the bus', and I've been making up some silly songs. This morning she was fully laughing and giggling away, my new favourite sound!
