1 Month Check Up

Good report from Dr. Morrison! Yeah!!!

9 lbs 15 oz
22.5 inches long

Ok, at birth she supposedly was 21.5". At her one week she was 19 3/4". Someone mismeasured. I think 3" would be a significant amount of growth for 3 weeks, that's an inch a week. So maybe she was 21.5" long at birth?!

She's gained almost 2 lbs since our last visit (when she was a week old). He said she's just perfectly healthy & looks good. The baby acne is perfectly normal & does better left untouched. The cradle cap we're going to try some Selsum Blue but just be EXTRA careful that it doesn't get in her eyes. They have prescription stuff but he said the SB is effective & cheaper.

The best thing about the appointment...wasn't him saying she was the perfect patient. It was how happy she was when we were there. We had a better experience at the scale this time. She really got into the talking and she did lots of cooing!! She was smiling and just happy as could be. I SO wish I would have taken my camera!!! I'm hoping she'll have some coo/talk time with Brian soon so he can see it. It's so sweet when babies do that!!!!

Our friend Hollie was in the waiting room as we were leaving. She was dressed up as a Punk Rock Girl (something at the High School). Carmen really looked her over, she had some pretty pink hair and candy striped fake eyelashes.

Next month's checkup...shots. : I think Dad needs to take her to that checkup!!!

Little Miss is completely sacked out in my arms which is making it pretty hard to type. I think we'll go outside to greet Daddy who should be home any minute!

October 9, 2008

Lilly seems to be more comfortable with Carmen and more sensitive. The other night we gave Carmen a shower (I mean bath, I've got to start proof reading what I TYPE!) It was a little too close to feeding time for Carmen to have a good time in the bath. Her focus was on eating, not bathing so she was vocalizing her opinion. We had the door shut to the bathroom. Lilly was standing outside the door crying too, as soon as I opened the door she ran in & looked around, checking things out. Then she followed us into Carmen's room, still crying (I mean the cat, but Carmen was a little too). Maybe it was just coincidence, but sure seemed like Lilly was concerned with Carmen's cry (which did sound a little elevated compared to normal).

I just realized that I DO have a way to get video onto Carmen's page easily!

Every morning after she eats, to keep her awake after eating she watches the mobile. I am not the world's best videographer yet but hope you enjoy!

Last night she slept from about 9:30 to 3:30 then 4:30ish to 7:30 so just one feeding during the night! Wahoo! :) I'm anxious for her one month checkup today! She has cradle cap now also so I've been researching home remedies for that & the baby acne...just to see if there's something simple we can do that doesn't risk it being worse. Sometimes it's better to just leave these things alone.

I'll update later with Dr. info. :)

October 7, 2008

CORRECTION to the coffee story. Brian said that the cup was actually in his opposite hand, not laying in her seat. So it slopped out of the cup onto her. Last place I saw the cup was laying in her seat...and he decided that wasn't a good idea. He thought the story needed to be corrected. :)

Carmen likes to watch TV. I was watching Dancing With the Stars (2nd time in one week that I've watched TV! Only for about 20 minutes but hey - it's improvement!) She was talking to the TV. Now the debate is on and I hear crying. So she either got bored with the TV (which happens, she likes changes to her environment) or there just isn't enough flashy colors in the boring ole debate!!

October 7, 2008

Night night routine. Dad feeds her a bottle about 9 pm, then reads her a book. She is usually sleeping by the end of the book. Pretty cute, Dad & Carmen! :)

We started listening to the lullabye's from Anna & Alaina around naptime. We're hoping that it helps cut down on the "fighting sleep" that we go through sometimes during the day. She seems to understand the nighttime routine & that it's time to sleep. But she just doesn't want to miss a thing during the day! It is so obvious when she does it (fight) because she's fussing and has the drunken sailor look going on. I'm just thankful she is a good sleeper & eater...you hear horror stories of babies that sleep 1-2 hours at a time. I think routine is the key!!!

October 6, 2008

Thanks Laura of the cute pic from church Sunday! Sunny's onesie has a story to tell...read on.

Let me start by saying that the coffee was cold.

We went to Life Group Sunday evening. We've been trying to not let Carmen take more than an hour to 1.5 hour nap before her bedtime (9 pm). She'd been asleep a while and we decided to try to wake her - lost cause. She was totally zonked out. When we arrived at home, Brian brought in his coffee mug from Sunday morning church with Carmen - meaning he laid the mug in her car seat. (k, I have to make fun of him at this point and say that most people at this point would either know that the mug was empty or check to be sure it was empty before laying it down). When we walked in the door I made the comment that her eyes were open. About 30 seconds later I heard laughing & he called me downstairs to show me WHY her eyes were open.


Silly Daddy!!! Spilled coffee all over her (which her car seat smells like now...it needs a bath too). So Sunny, your onesie came clean but sorry if it smells like coffee. :)


Here's a picture from today. We had a good day - relaxing. This was taken while we were talking. She's so alert when she's awake. We took a nap together (mine was quite short, but worth it!), took a very short walk (then it started raining), watched some Dr. Phil, and I got to change 2 majorly poopy diapers!!!!

Simon still pretty much ignores Carmen, he hardly ever goes into her room. He does; however, get spooked at her things that are on the floor. He approaches with much caution. Lilly seems to be doing better, I've been trying to get back to giving her more attention. She pretends that the glider (in Carmen's room) was bought solely for her to lay on. Silly cat!

October 5, 2008

Carmen has been doing super at night. The last 2 nights she's gone 6 hours between feedings, then the second stretch was 4 hours. Good baby for letting Mom & Dad sleep!!! :)

We went to church today, Laura & Sunny sat with us. Laura wanted to see her so Brian got her out of the carseat. He said she smelled, so of course assumed it was a dirty diaper. No dirty diaper, but the cold air did make Carmen pee all over Daddy, and all over her clothes. So there we are (after church), changing her diaper. I had not gone prepared with all of the proper equipment, so we had to borrow things from Laura. Like her changing pad and a onesie (since Carmen's clothes were soaked!) She did that twice (peed). A funny moment & a learning lesson for Mom & Dad (take all equipment everywhere always).

My Aunt Suzie made this set for her, it's made of silk so it's super soft. She will look darling!

The terrible crying face. Thankfully she doesn't make it very often. Isn't it pathetic?

My friend Daphne gave her this monkey outfit, hat, blanket & stuffed monkey. It's been a favorite of mine, and Daddy's!

This little bonnett cracks me up. It's Carmen's walking bonnett. Too big but keeps the sun out of the eyes!

See how good Carmen is doing holding up her head during tummy time?!? She works so hard! She really isn't cross eyed, just looks like it here. :)

I swear she smiled back at me this morning. She is really starting to get into it when you talk to her, she likes it. She goes back for her one month check up on the 9th. I'll be anxious to see how much she weighs! Her baby acne seems to have flared up a lot more, I know it's normal but I'll still ask the Doc. Some of the red marks I think are scratch marks, she's gotten me a few times & it hurts! I try to file her nails every few days...I hope they don't always grow this fast!!!

She isn't very happy at the moment. She's so close to feeding time & I'd bet Daddy sat down with her vs. walking around (he blames me for that...since I was always walking, running, biking, etc.) So I better go see how I can help out!

October 2, 2008

Not much going on at the Link house. Carmen will be going to stay with my friend Kristy for a few hours today. I have a dentist appointment and didn't figure the hygenist would much care for that distraction while trying to get my teeth cleaned. :) Later we're going to walk over to Tracy Bates, a friend from church, for a delivery and then Leslie & Tracy are to visit tonight. It will be a busy day but adult interaction is good. :)

Carmen has had some fussy times over the last several days, we think it's her tummy. Why don't babies come with a manual? It'd make it easier!!! We gave her a bath last night...other than shivering because the little thing was cold she seemed to enjoy herself.

Time to get back to bed!

Today has been MUCH better for Little Miss! She did good with Kristy...and may have even gotten a little spoiled. She gets to go back to see Kristy on Monday as Mommy has to have a cavity repaired. :( Kristy's husband Scott told me it was dangerous for Carmen to be there...they both commented on what a sweet baby she is. I think Tracy enjoyed our visit...Carmen slept most of the time there. And of course did her normal 'pee right when I'm putting on the new diaper', I swear she only does that when I'm changing her at someone else's house! Thank goodness for the puppy pad under her bum!

Her eyelashes are growing. Yeah! As you can probably tell in the photos, so are her cheeks. She likes music a lot, unless she's just really frustrated she normally quiets down to music. We listen to all kinds...country, christian, rock, and whatever her toys play. I need to get video of her with her mobile especially when she's talking to it...and when she eats. It's funny. She makes all kinds of noises...just ask Tracy who asked if I had not fed her for two days! :)

I ran last night for the first time in months...needed to burn off some energy. Just went 3.5 miles to start but it was great! And beautiful weather! I can hardly wait to take her with me.

Daddy will be happy to hear a good report when he gets home...especially since the last two days I've met him at the door for the hand off!