Can you believe Baby Girl is now 6 months old? I can't! There have been times in this six months where time has seemed to stand still, or even go backwards. And then there are times when I feel like time is running through my fingers to fast and I can't catch any of it to hold onto.
We had a rough start. Anna had reflux. She screamed, a lot. I was trying to breastfeed, but Anna had a super strong latch and ruined my nipples. So I started pumping. I was determined to give her the best food nature had! The doctor put Anna on baby zant.ac. It seemed to relieve some of her pain but not all of it. So I started limiting my diet. No dairy, no caffeine, no acidic fruits, no gassy vegetables. . .the list goes on and on. Eventually they only thing I was eating was toast. Dry toast. After yet another visit to her pediatrician for the reflux, he suggested I try formula. I was super hesitant, but I was also not a happy mom anymore (seriously, would you be happy eating dry toast all day?) He gave me a sample, I took it home and fed Anna a bottle, and she didn't scream. I was still pumping at this point just in case. But with every bottle of formula Anna took, she became a happier baby. I sucked up my wounded pride and Anna has been on formula ever since. I still feel so guilty that I couldn't give her what she needed.
We started Anna on baby cereal around 4 months old, and that really helped her reflux as well. Around 5 months we started her on fruits and veggies, and for the most part she loves them. She will not eat bananas or peas (even we you try to hide them with other things). I attempted to make my own baby food, but Anna is a gerber snot and won't eat my homemade food. I'm hoping that will change. We have a constant battle when I feed her solids for who gets control of the spoon. Meal time usually requires three spoons now, one for each of her hands, and one for me to feed her with. Which honestly isn't unlike bedtime when she has three binkies: one for her mouth, and one for each hand!
Anna has become such a happy little socialite. She loves people, and, at this point anyway, will let anyone hold her. I don't know what age stranger anxiety sets in, but I'm not looking forward to it. When Anna is in a particularly bad mood I load her into the car and take her to Wal-Mart. Seeing all the people, and the different colors of the products always makes her smile. One of the employees at our Wal-Mart suggested that Anna grow up to be a greeter, but I'm hoping that she has higher career plans than that!
Let's see. . . Anna is rolling over from her tummy to back, and sitting on her own. She can roll from her back to tummy, but refuses to do so. Crawling isn't happening as she will not stay on her tummy long enough to even try. She has been pulling herself up when I offer her my hands. She loves standing, and will take a few steps if you hold her upright.
I am equal parts amazed and saddened as a mom. I am amazed by how much she has learned. I am saddened that she is growing up so quickly. I want to hold on to her and make her stop growing, but I so want to see her grow and watch what she becomes.
I'll leave you with a photo catch up of Anna. I can't help it, I think she is beautiful!
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| Anna at 9 weeks old |
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| First smile caught on camera! She was 11 weeks old. |
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| Halloween 2011 |
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| My Little Angel |
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| Christmas 2011 |
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| January 2012 |
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| February 2012 |
Holy cow she's a cutie! I want to apologize because I meant to make a comment on your last post. I can't imagine how difficult it's been for you and your whole family. Your father is an extremely brave man and I think, no matter what happens from here, he'll be much happier now, which hopefully lead to much stronger relationships with those he closest too. I also heard this story http://storycorps.org/listen/stories/les-scott-thea-and-amanda-grantsmith/on NPR through story corps. Shows how strong some families really are.
ReplyDeleteShe's getting so big. Great tip on the spoons. Floyd just started cereal and is always trying to help. And I had to go to a majority of formula since Floyd got sick; there's a lot of guilt but in the end you got to do what's best. And it sounds like you did.