Week 19

We have a pterodactyl in our house (yes, I did have to look up the spelling). Hayden has discovered his voice. And it's in the form of high-pitched dinosaur-sounding squeals. It's cute now... sometimes. Luckily, he was quiet as a mouse during Tony & Michelle's wedding this weekend.

Hayden has also discovered his toes. Especially how good they taste. I am surprised that he can even get into that position - especially with those chunky thighs! Yoga masters would be envious!

Phil took this week off work to hang out with us and relax before he gets into the crazy Holiday season at work. It was so nice to have him home all week - I even got to sleep in a few mornings while Phil played with Hayden downstairs! The week has gone too quickly, though.

It feels like we took a giant leap backward with regard to night sleeping. There was one day where his late afternoon nap went so long it interfered with his bedtime and then since Phil was out at Tony's bachelor party, Hayden didn't get his usual bedtime routine with Daddy. So after he was up EVERY 45 MINUTES from 8pm on, I decided to bring him into bed with me around 1:30am and then he slept a little better, but I didn't. His lower right front tooth did pop through the other day, so I'm hoping that was the cause and maybe he'll go back to sleeping better soon.

We had Hayden's portraits taken a couple weeks ago. We purchased a "1 -year Baby Plan" at the studio so he'll get portraits taken every 3 months, all with one sitting fee. Other than him peeing on their drop cloth (that's what you get for wanting naked baby photos!) everything went really well! I was surprised how great he did since ususally when I point a camera at him, he gets a serious, worried look on his face. Even the flash didn't seem to bother him. He loved showing off his dimples for the photographer. We tried getting cute close-ups of his hands and feet, but those didn't turn out so great. I think we'll try again at his next session.

You can view the whole sitting here: http://www.linnea.photoreflect.com You may have to search for "Jacquelyn Lott" on "09/13/07" Password: LottJ
But do not order from that site. If you want to order prints, call me.

Here are some of the photos:

Week 18

For Hayden's 4 month birthday this week (09/20), we had his pediatrician appt, went on a walk, and had a bath:

Here are the official stats from Hayden's 4-month "Well-Baby" Check-up:
Weight: 17 lbs, 14 oz. (93rd percentile)
Height: 27 inches (97th percentile)
Head Circumference: 17.25 inches (90th percentile)

So when I keep saying Hayden is getting SO BIG, there's the proof!

He also had to get his 2nd round of immunizations. He started crying after the 3rd shot (the nurse was fast!) and stopped crying when I nursed him right after. Not so bad! We went home, took a good nap, and he had no side-effects whatsoever. :)

Unfortunately, Hayden has caught his first little cold. He has a cough and mild congestion in his nose. The pediatrician said around 4 months is about when babies tend to get their first cold, so he's right on schedule. Plus, it's now fall weather and becoming cold season. He seems to be handling it fine. His nose isn't too stuffy to nurse normally. That is the kind of congestion I am not looking forward to.

The pediatrician also said that what I thought was his first tooth on his lower right side is not a tooth. But he is definitely teething, as evidenced by the constant flow of drool (so much it has given him a chin rash!) and wanting to bite on every toy or finger he can get his hands on.

We got Hayden a Rainforest Jumparoo yesterday. He hasn't figured out that he can jump, but is VERY fascinated by all the toys and loves that the seat swivels around. He gave us big smiles when we first put him in it. I think it's going to be a big hit!


He is easily rolling over from his back to his tummy now, but for some reason seems to have forgotten how to roll from his tummy to his back, leaving him grunting and squealing in frustration when he's sick of being on his tummy. Funny kid.

I officially started my No Dairy diet this week. It can take 2-3 weeks for cow's milk protein to leave my system so if Hayden still has blood in his stool after 3 weeks, we have to look into other causes. If that seems to clear it up, then no dairy for me until he's a year old, then we can try to re-introduce it and see if he's outgrown the allergy.

Week 17

Hayden now weighs a whopping 18 pounds!

We know this because unfortunately we had to make a little visit to the pediatrician this week. He has streaks of blood in his poopy diapers. The most common cause of blood in the stool of infants is food allergies, especially cow's milk in the mother's diet (read more). So after they test a stool sample (fun to collect, let me tell you!) to rule some other more serious causes, I may need to stop eating dairy products for a while (2-3 weeks). If that clears up the bleeding, then we know that is the cause. We can re-introduce dairy in my diet later and see if he's outgrown the allergy, and most babies outgrow dairy allergies by 12-18 months. If going to a dairy-free diet doesn't eliminate the bleeding, then we will be referred to a Gastroenterologist to try to figure out what is going on. The pediatrician assured us that blood in a baby's stool is not that uncommon and not to be too alarmed. But the thought of not getting to eat ice cream for a while is definitely a tragedy! ;)

In more pleasant news, I am amazed at how well Hayden is developing. He can grasp objects with both hands (really good grip, too!), bring things to his mouth, push himself up on his forearms, sit assisted for a minute or so, bear his own weight in a standing position for a few seconds, roll over from his tummy to his back, and every-once-in-a-while roll from his back to his tummy. He is quite a talker (babbles and squeals) and has an adorable giggle, especially at peek-a-boo, flying, and tickle games. He is drooling CONSTANTLY and always wanting to put something - anything! - in his mouth to soothe his gums. He is also going through a "stranger anxiety" stage where he gets a little freaked out when someone other than Mommy or Daddy holds him.

We had PEPS at our home this week. This is what our living room looks like with 10 babies in it!!


Phil and I also started another "support group" for new parents of babies (ages 2-8 mos.) that meets in our home every-other Saturday evening. There are 2 couples from church and 3 from our childbirth class. It's neat because it's both moms AND dads.

On Saturday, Phil's older brother Jim got married. Phil was a co-bestman with his twin Adam. Hayden was an angel and adorable in his buttoned-down shirt and khakis! Here are some photos of the wedding.





Hayden is napping and sleeping pretty well. I think we are getting the hang of things with a routine and schedule. Of course the wedding festivities this weekend kind of threw us off a bit, but I think we should be able to get back on track this week.

Week 16

Life is good.

Week 15

What an up and down week this has been.

On Wednesday, Phil took the day off so I could go to an appointment with a Thyroid Specialist. I have a lump in my right thyroid about the size of an avocado pit. The doctor did an Ultrasound on the lump and as I suspected, the prognosis is "wait and see". I will go back in 4 months for another Ultrasound and if it is smaller, they will just continue to monitor it periodically until it's gone. But if it hasn't changed, has gotten bigger, or has more solid in it, they will do a biopsy to test for cancer. He said 95% of the time, a lump like this is benign, so I have good odds. My blood test results show that my thyroid is functioning completely normally, so I don't have any thyroid disorder. (I guess I can chalk up my insatiable appetite and fatigue to being a breastfeeding mom!) But it was nice spending the rest of the day with Phil.

Thursday was my 27th birthday. I went to see "Hairspray" at the Moms at the Movies show at Lincoln Square with my friend Rachel, whose son Taylor is almost 2 months old. I discovered Hayden no longer sleeps soundly through movies so I think those days are now over for me. :( But it was a cute movie and I enjoyed spending time with Rachel and Taylor.

Later that evening we went out to dinner with my dad and his wife to celebrate.




And on Friday, I had another party at my sister's house with more family. Even though it was my birthday, Hayden is of course the star (I'm already used to it! What can ya do?!)

Here he is with my Grandma Ruth:


Hayden having an intense conversation with my Aunt Kathy (same day, different outfit - Guess why??!!):


And with all these people wanting to hold Hayden, Phil and I actually get to have a minute together!


With regards to sleeping this week, my friend Jen says it seems sometimes that your baby can sense that just when you're at the end of your rope and about to lose it, he gives you a break and sleeps like an angel. And the opposite seems true too. Just when you think things are going well and you have a good routine, you have a terrible day/night. Hayden slept amazingly well last night: bed at 7:30pm, awake at 2:30am to feed, fell right back asleep. Briefly awake at 4:30. Phil soothed him back to sleep. Woke up at 6:30. Snoozed together in our bed until 7:30am. Not bad! All other nights this week have been AWFUL! Up at least every 2 hours. (Didn't Hayden get the memo that it was my birthday??!!)

I was so sleep-deprived this week that when I did a load of laundry, I opened the dryer to get out the clothes, but it was empty! I had forgotten to transfer the clothes from the washer to the dryer before running the dryer!

Silly Mommy.