Traveling with a Baby

It is over, the holiday trip to Oklahoma was a success, and so am I! I traveled alone with a 4 month old and survived to blog about it. The airport was not as busy as I thought, but I still arrived over 2 hours early. No one was in line at the ticket counter, nor the security line while leaving Las Vegas. I did not know what to expect, but I had to put everything through the security screening, the diaper bag, the car seat, the stroller, my jacket and shoes (I forgot to take my shoes off). I wasn't allowed to bring the bottled water for formula, but I had premade formula with me and I could buy water once I was past security. Summer was outstanding on the plane, she slept for the first hour, woke up and ate, and didn't cry. It was only a 2 hour flight so it really wasn't that bad. She had no issues with the pressure, I made sure she was sucking on the pacifier during take off and landing. Once we arrived in Oklahoma it was FREEZING! Summer slept on the ride from the city to Lawton (a little over an hour) and we arrived at grandma's house around 6:00 pm. Everyone was happy to see her and meet her for the first time, in fact they took Summer and ignored me, which was a first! I really didn't mind. Summer got to meet a whole bunch of people, family, friends: (Frannie, Pop, Bobby, Mande, Jordyn, Alex, Charlie, Kali, Matthew, Roe, Timmy, Joshua, Charity, Leah, Ariel, Shawn, Grandma Bobbie, Aunt Patty, Ann, Arianna, Shanesia, Olivia, and some people I can't remember names) We spend the weekend in Lawton, had a great busy Saturday and Sunday, and I returned to 65 degree Las Vegas weather today. It feels great to be home, daddy and grandpa really missed this little girl. So far today I unpacked everything, started laundry, downloaded some pictures, and here I am on the computer. I am glad it was a great trip, now time to get back to work and recover.
This picture of Summer is from the Las Vegas airport sitting at the window. Our next trip will probably be in the spring when we go see the other great grandparents in the Texas panhandle, but daddy will accompany us on that trip.

4 Month Check-Up

Well Summer had her 4 month check up today. Last Tuesday I weighed her on the bathroom scale and she was 15 1/2 pounds, and in fact she was today at the hospital! I also measured her with a tape at home and figured she was 26 inches and she was! I am glad to know my measurements are the same as the hospital. Her weight and height are well above average, and her head circumference is also right on with all her other measurements. She is also not too fat, her chunky thighs are normal.

I had to fill out a 4 months evaluation, and Summer seems to be doing exactly what she should. She could be rolling more, but I wonder if she isn't because we don't put her down enough. She has rolled from back to front, but rarely, so maybe I will work with her some more and let her lay on her own longer.

The doctor also said she needs to move to her crib soon and get out of the co-sleeper. I really don't even want to think about her going into her own room, upstairs, all alone. We have the baby monitor, and it works great, it has the monitor, but I love having her sleep at the end of our bed. I guess it has to be done, but I do not have to like it!

I asked about food and the doctor said to wait as long as I could, and agreed it was better to wait until 6 months because of the allergies and weight issues. I am glad the doctor agreed because it is hard to wait, I can't wait to give Summer food.

I also asked about shots, and all the concern over autism, and the doctor said there is no proof about vaccines being linked to autism, and even said there was something that recently happened in the courts that proved there wasn't, so I felt better about getting her shots, until she got them...

I really tried not to cry, I told myself I could do it, shots are necessary and do not really hurt, but as soon as I heard my baby cry (I had my face up to hers telling her to please not cry) I started crying myself. The three shots were so quick, but I couldn't see if they were done to know when I could comfort her because my eyes were blurry. She really calmed down quickly, and I stopped crying right after. Poor baby, that kills me.

Next appointment is in two months, hopefully I will be recovered by then.

4 Months!

Summer is four months old! She is getting so big and doing new things. Just today she really started to reach out and grab, and of course everything she grabs goes right into her mouth. I keep checking for teeth but I don't really feel anything yet. She still isn't sleeping all night, usually 4-6 hours, but with time I am sure she will. Still satisfied with 6 ounces every four hours, maybe in another month we will introduce cereal with a spoon and let the dogs clean up the mess. As I am typing this, one handed, holding Summer with my other arm, I am finding my left hand to be completely slimed with drool ... ewwww! I will be glad when this phase passes.
I took this video tonight, Summer was in her usual happy self, hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Down Hill

This picture of Summer was taken last night, using all natural lighting. I know you are only here for the pictures!

Summer continued to sleep good for about three nights, it was 8.5 hours, 8 hours, 7 hours, but last night it was maybe 5 hours. I guess eventually her sleeping will get consistent, for now she can sleep how she wants.
Summer is still blowing bubbled, slobbering, chewing on her tongue, drooling, but she still has nothing to show for it. She has not been cranky either so I don't think she is cutting any teeth yet, maybe she is just doing all of the prep work.
Daddy has enjoyed having a new camera, and has taken a lot of pictures this week. We are going to take our own holiday picture, do some editing, and get cards printed to save money and to get some picture we really like. We attempted a few photos this morning, after an hour of getting ready, fixing my hair, putting on make-up, putting on a green sweatshirt when it is in the 70's outside, we took a few shots but it isn't going to be as easy as I had hoped. Summer was really hungry so she was not in the mood to begin with, and it is really hard to get her to smile or look at the camera when we are both sitting next to her. Maybe when Grampa gets home we can try again to get that magical shot I envision in my mind.
Summer will be 4 whole months on Tuesday. Each month on the 13th she has a birthday where we take pictures and recap the milestones for the past month. I am really glad I bought a baby book because I do enjoy filling it out.
I guess not much else new happened this week. Oh I almost forgot, last Friday I took Summer to work with me. The ladies at work loved her, and I really didn't get to see her very much. She did great all day, didn't cry, hung out, looked around, and was her normal cute self. I will have to do that again one day.

Too Much?

Last night Summer slept from 9 pm to 5 am. I woke up around 2 am wondering why she was still asleep. I woke up again at 5 am and woke up Kris and asked if she had been up, thinking maybe I had slept through it, but she had not. Not 1 minute later she starts to stir, so either I woke her, which I doubt, or she might have been making noises, which could have woken me up, which is more plausible. I guess it is ok for new babies to sleep all the way through the night, but I really do not like it. If she continues to do it - it might get better, but randomly picking nights to sleep all the way through is going to give me a panic attack! Otherwise Summer is doing great! This has been a week of slobbering, spitting, drooling, and getting everything nice and wet. The hands have been discovered and go right into the mouth, where they quickly become soaked with baby drool. This is all normal, yet very unpleasant and wet. This could mean teeth very soon, but so far I do not feel anything that I think should not be there, and she is really good about letting me feel. Summer has also mastered (I swear she did it overnight) the amazing ability to enjoy tummy time. She hated it one day, would not even attempt to get up on her arms, and just like it was nothing she is up and smiling away. Babies are great, I am so glad I had one :o)

Noises

Girls Day Out

Summer and I met Casey and Anastasia for lunch today, it was a perfect girls day out and everyone had a blast. It was a lot of fun seeing another baby (Anastasia was born on the 26th) and comparing notes. We are going to try to meet monthly if we can, you know how it is being a mom though - busy busy busy!
Remember those leaves I got, they made an excellent picture! I can't believe how colorful they were, and Summer was happy and cooperative. It may not really feel like the fall yet, but it is November and the pictures turned out better than I expected. Time change this weekend, I wonder how it will be with a baby. We really don't have Summer on any schedule, so I don't think it will really matter much, but I will enjoy going to bed later and getting up later!

Dr. Seuss

Today I bought Summer her first Dr. Seuss book! Actually it was a set of three books, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, The Cat in the Hat Comes Back and Hooper Humperdink ...? Not Him! So far I read her the first two and I cannot believe how weird these books are. I know I have read them before a long time ago but I must have forgot how they went. Next time I am at the store I will get the pack that has the Green Eggs and Ham, I think I remember how it goes. I also picked up three things of formula and spent $75.00 ~ ouch formula is expensive, but it should last a month, hopefully a little longer.
Summer had a great Halloween, I took her to the door to see some of the trick or treaters and she just looked around with her normal amazed at life expression. Now, what do I do with her costumes, all three of them.
Today is November 1st, I asked a lady at work if she could pick up some a bag of some fake fall leaves from the craft store (she was going anyway) so I can take some fall pictures of Summer. It does not look anything like fall yet in Las Vegas, my grass is still full and green, so the leaves should set the mood. I will hopefully get some good fall pictures this weekend.