A few weeks ago I was wasting time on the computer, when I should have been doing something productive. I clicked through the online paper and saw an article about a doctor needing to be retrained. I clicked through and discovered it was the doctor we have been seeing for the baby's hip dysplasia. Awesome.
Of course, the husband and I were a little worried, so we booked an appointment with the pediatrician, so we could see if we should get a referral to someone else. The appointment wasn't until almost two months after we called in, but then I got a call this afternoon giving me one hours notice to bring the baby in for a cancelled appointment.
The pediatrician went around in circles a few times, but we decided that we would wait another 6 months before we take any more action. He said that her results and her hips are good for her age. Not great, but good. He said that another xray at 18 months would give us more of an idea on how she is going. When we told him we were relieved that we would get the check then, he explained that that was always his plan - he always xrays babies at 18 months. We didn't have another appointment or an xray referral from him, and the orthopedic surgeon also hadn't said anything about an 18 month check, so that's a little confusing, but either way it's a good result.
If we were to take her to Sydney, it is unlikely they would do anything apart from tell us to come back in 6 months. As it is, the pediatrician said that if the baby needed surgery, he would go through Sydney anyway, so we're no worse off. So at this stage, we will be taking the baby in for an xray in early January, with a follow up appointment with our pediatrician, and a referral to Sydney if we want.
Hopefully, the next few months of walking will do her hips some good.
Of course, he did ask questions about the shape of her head towards the end of the appointment, but he didn't explain what he was talking about and he took it back once he saw I was confused. So that's not great.
But he did weigh and measure her and go through a quick check. I did visit the nurse yesterday to have the same check completed, but she marked her on the charts as as 12 month old, not an almost 14 month old. So while I thought she was >90% for height, 50-75% for weight and 50% for head, she is actually spot on 50% for all three.
Thursday 30 August 2012
Monday 27 August 2012
First steps
Hooray! She did it!
I went out for lunch with some work friends and the baby was particularly squirmy - she just wanted to crawl everywhere, and had zero interest in sitting still or sitting in the stroller.
We mucked around the house for a bit and after her afternoon tea (she has taken to pointing at the fruit bowl and saying 'dat dat dat', so she had a banana), I was sitting on the couch with her. She was alternating between pulling up her shirt so I could see her belly, and then saying "bup bup" - which I took to mean 'up', so I'd pick her up and then say "down" and put her down.
I put her down an arms length away from me, and rather than dropping to the floor and crawling back (like she has been), she took one step, then another! After a practice round I got her to do four in a row and managed to film it for the husband.
She has just gone down for a nap - I can't wait to practice this some more once she wakes up!
I went out for lunch with some work friends and the baby was particularly squirmy - she just wanted to crawl everywhere, and had zero interest in sitting still or sitting in the stroller.
We mucked around the house for a bit and after her afternoon tea (she has taken to pointing at the fruit bowl and saying 'dat dat dat', so she had a banana), I was sitting on the couch with her. She was alternating between pulling up her shirt so I could see her belly, and then saying "bup bup" - which I took to mean 'up', so I'd pick her up and then say "down" and put her down.
I put her down an arms length away from me, and rather than dropping to the floor and crawling back (like she has been), she took one step, then another! After a practice round I got her to do four in a row and managed to film it for the husband.
She has just gone down for a nap - I can't wait to practice this some more once she wakes up!
Thursday 16 August 2012
Of baths and dogs
Bath time fun just ramped up.
The other night I forgot to close the sliding door, so the dogs were running wild up and down the hallway while the baby was in the bath.
Then, they came in to see what was going on.
Would you believe HOW funny this (apparently) is?
The baby laughs so hard I worry she will drop to her belly and laugh underwater (not for the first time).
She stands in the bath, looks at the dogs, yells her 'da da DA da' (although tonight it sounded like she was actually trying to say 'doggies' and call them in) and laaaaaaaaaaughs.
The little dog wanted to see what was going on, so he jumped up on my lap - which is seemingly twice as funny.
Want to see her laugh so hard she is almost making no noise? Blow on the little dogs head when he tries to lick the edge of the bath.
The pure joy of it all.
Simply gorgeous.
The other night I forgot to close the sliding door, so the dogs were running wild up and down the hallway while the baby was in the bath.
Then, they came in to see what was going on.
Would you believe HOW funny this (apparently) is?
The baby laughs so hard I worry she will drop to her belly and laugh underwater (not for the first time).
She stands in the bath, looks at the dogs, yells her 'da da DA da' (although tonight it sounded like she was actually trying to say 'doggies' and call them in) and laaaaaaaaaaughs.
The little dog wanted to see what was going on, so he jumped up on my lap - which is seemingly twice as funny.
Want to see her laugh so hard she is almost making no noise? Blow on the little dogs head when he tries to lick the edge of the bath.
The pure joy of it all.
Simply gorgeous.
Sunday 12 August 2012
Bonus teeth!
Sometimes I feel I should really be paying more attention...
Just after publishing yesterday's the post, the husband was tickling the baby before I took her in to get changed for a first birthday party. I stopped to watch for a minute and then saw something in her mouth.
Her top two molars have also broken through, sometime in the last week (I think?).
What a good baby! No panadol needed!!!
Just after publishing yesterday's the post, the husband was tickling the baby before I took her in to get changed for a first birthday party. I stopped to watch for a minute and then saw something in her mouth.
Her top two molars have also broken through, sometime in the last week (I think?).
What a good baby! No panadol needed!!!
Saturday 11 August 2012
Dear Baby - Thirteen months
Dear baby,
Hullo!
As I'm typing this, you're meant to be napping. You crawled in to your room, pointed to your dummy that was on your bed, said something along the lines of 'duh doh do dah', and waited for me to give it to you. Then you crawled out of your room, crawled back in, and got your teddy blanket that was next to your cot. You're making a little noise here and there (playing noises, not crying out), so I'm guessing you're tired. I did have to go in once already when you called out - you had thrown your teddy and dummy over the edge of the cot. At least this time you still had your socks and your pants on (as you know how nappies work, I dread the day I walk in to find that on the floor.....).
I've been back at work for three days a week for two weeks now - you're absolutely fine. In fact, when I come home and Pa has been looking after you, it takes you a few minutes to warm back up to me - you'd rather snuggle in to his chest and just watch me. You're usually okay once I come back out with my hair up and in my track pants. You also spent your first day with your Aunty and cousin - all reports are that you had a great day. You were in a fine mood when we got home, and we pushed dinner back half an hour or so so that you could play at home a bit before before you were off to bath and bed.
You have a fun new game for bathtime - a strange order of events which you largely put together yourself. I swish and splash my hand towards you like a shark and tickle your belly, which makes you shriek with laughter, stand up in the bath, give me a kiss on the cheek and then sit down, waiting for it to start again. Sometimes you roll on to your belly so I can't tickle it, and you watch and wait until you decide you're ready and sit up, looking expectantly at my hand. I can even see you suck your little belly in before you get tickled - so cute.
You still aren't a big fan of getting your teeth brushed. You'll stand at the edge of the bath and open your mouth for me to brush your lower teeth two or three times, then you grab it and sit down and chew on it, chucking it in the bath water every so often. Which is gross. But at least you're brushing your teeth.
Speaking of teeth, another one cracked through sometime during the week! You've had red cheeks and drool on and off for a few months, and I'd check it every so often. On Tuesday, I felt the tips of your bottom right middle molar come through, but on Wednesday it felt smooth again. This morning, I could definitely see something (in the small period of time you let me look at your teeth). No panadol needed at any stage!
The husband looked after you yesterday after having had only three hours sleep (luckily the Olympics are almost over) and you decided to wake up before 7am - a very odd occurence. In fact, you woke up after 8:30 this morning! He said that despite the migraine he had in the morning, you were lots of fun (he napped with you for an hour and a half after lunch). You're at a super cute age. You've started to squeal when we play, which is super adorable.
You're getting closer to talking - I think I heard you say 'birds' the other day as we looked at the cockatiels, but you haven't said it since. You have also started saying 'Zilla' now (our dog), but you say it without the 'i', and it ends with your voice going up. Most of your noises start with 'd', but you point at what you want. Like the hairbrush this morning, on my dresser. You 'brushed' my hair too, which was actually quite nice.
You're getting more particular about things that you do and don't like. Unfortunately, you don't like getting your pyjama buttons done up - unfortunate for you, because it has to be done. You like to reach for the picture hanging near your change table, which you think is a game. It's not.
You like to turn the lightswitches on and off - daddy taught you this one. After your bath we look in the mirror, then you get to turn the heat light off and the normal light on (so that I remember to come back and tidy it up once you're asleep). You love this game so much that you grab at the doorframe as we leave so that you can do it some more - lucky we're clued in to this, or else we'd get a bit of a shock.
Pa taught you 'round and round the garden' - we'd played it a few times with your hand, but he taught you that you get to do the circles before being tickled. Once we get to 'one step....' you stop and you wait, ready to laugh. You still love rough games - being dragged around, thrown up in the air, tipped backwards. You especially like it when Grace is nearby so that you see her upside down face - this is seemingly extra funny.
You're very close to walking, but cautious like your mummy. You walk while holding one of our fingers, but we're not really supporting you in any way. A few times I've let go of your hands to see if you'll stand, but often you realise you're standing and then slowly squat yourself down to the ground (although sometimes you get shocked and cry and I feel terrible). I can't imagine it will be too long before you realise you can stand yourself up without holding on to anything, and it will all follow from there.
You love your birthday bike - quite often toward the end of the day you'll take our hand and walk us over to your bike. Very subtle. You're happy to be pushed in laps around the loungeroom and kitchen, but you're equally as happy to be pushed back and forth, or just sit in it watching.
It's lovely to see you growing in to such a happy young girl. Your hair is getting longer, and although it's mullety, it's growing out in the back. Soon we'll be able to tie it and it will just kill me to see you looking so adorable but also so much like a girl, not a baby. You're easy going, you're social, you're happy to play alone or with us. You laugh a lot, you communicate as best you can, and you cuddle your toys up under your chin with a smile. You're cheeky, you known when you're doing wrong, and you love to imitate and chide us with a waggly finger when we say 'naughty, naughty, naughty!'.
We love you very much, thank you for all that you bring.
Hullo!
As I'm typing this, you're meant to be napping. You crawled in to your room, pointed to your dummy that was on your bed, said something along the lines of 'duh doh do dah', and waited for me to give it to you. Then you crawled out of your room, crawled back in, and got your teddy blanket that was next to your cot. You're making a little noise here and there (playing noises, not crying out), so I'm guessing you're tired. I did have to go in once already when you called out - you had thrown your teddy and dummy over the edge of the cot. At least this time you still had your socks and your pants on (as you know how nappies work, I dread the day I walk in to find that on the floor.....).
I've been back at work for three days a week for two weeks now - you're absolutely fine. In fact, when I come home and Pa has been looking after you, it takes you a few minutes to warm back up to me - you'd rather snuggle in to his chest and just watch me. You're usually okay once I come back out with my hair up and in my track pants. You also spent your first day with your Aunty and cousin - all reports are that you had a great day. You were in a fine mood when we got home, and we pushed dinner back half an hour or so so that you could play at home a bit before before you were off to bath and bed.
You have a fun new game for bathtime - a strange order of events which you largely put together yourself. I swish and splash my hand towards you like a shark and tickle your belly, which makes you shriek with laughter, stand up in the bath, give me a kiss on the cheek and then sit down, waiting for it to start again. Sometimes you roll on to your belly so I can't tickle it, and you watch and wait until you decide you're ready and sit up, looking expectantly at my hand. I can even see you suck your little belly in before you get tickled - so cute.
You still aren't a big fan of getting your teeth brushed. You'll stand at the edge of the bath and open your mouth for me to brush your lower teeth two or three times, then you grab it and sit down and chew on it, chucking it in the bath water every so often. Which is gross. But at least you're brushing your teeth.
Speaking of teeth, another one cracked through sometime during the week! You've had red cheeks and drool on and off for a few months, and I'd check it every so often. On Tuesday, I felt the tips of your bottom right middle molar come through, but on Wednesday it felt smooth again. This morning, I could definitely see something (in the small period of time you let me look at your teeth). No panadol needed at any stage!
The husband looked after you yesterday after having had only three hours sleep (luckily the Olympics are almost over) and you decided to wake up before 7am - a very odd occurence. In fact, you woke up after 8:30 this morning! He said that despite the migraine he had in the morning, you were lots of fun (he napped with you for an hour and a half after lunch). You're at a super cute age. You've started to squeal when we play, which is super adorable.
You're getting closer to talking - I think I heard you say 'birds' the other day as we looked at the cockatiels, but you haven't said it since. You have also started saying 'Zilla' now (our dog), but you say it without the 'i', and it ends with your voice going up. Most of your noises start with 'd', but you point at what you want. Like the hairbrush this morning, on my dresser. You 'brushed' my hair too, which was actually quite nice.
You're getting more particular about things that you do and don't like. Unfortunately, you don't like getting your pyjama buttons done up - unfortunate for you, because it has to be done. You like to reach for the picture hanging near your change table, which you think is a game. It's not.
You like to turn the lightswitches on and off - daddy taught you this one. After your bath we look in the mirror, then you get to turn the heat light off and the normal light on (so that I remember to come back and tidy it up once you're asleep). You love this game so much that you grab at the doorframe as we leave so that you can do it some more - lucky we're clued in to this, or else we'd get a bit of a shock.
Pa taught you 'round and round the garden' - we'd played it a few times with your hand, but he taught you that you get to do the circles before being tickled. Once we get to 'one step....' you stop and you wait, ready to laugh. You still love rough games - being dragged around, thrown up in the air, tipped backwards. You especially like it when Grace is nearby so that you see her upside down face - this is seemingly extra funny.
You're very close to walking, but cautious like your mummy. You walk while holding one of our fingers, but we're not really supporting you in any way. A few times I've let go of your hands to see if you'll stand, but often you realise you're standing and then slowly squat yourself down to the ground (although sometimes you get shocked and cry and I feel terrible). I can't imagine it will be too long before you realise you can stand yourself up without holding on to anything, and it will all follow from there.
You love your birthday bike - quite often toward the end of the day you'll take our hand and walk us over to your bike. Very subtle. You're happy to be pushed in laps around the loungeroom and kitchen, but you're equally as happy to be pushed back and forth, or just sit in it watching.
It's lovely to see you growing in to such a happy young girl. Your hair is getting longer, and although it's mullety, it's growing out in the back. Soon we'll be able to tie it and it will just kill me to see you looking so adorable but also so much like a girl, not a baby. You're easy going, you're social, you're happy to play alone or with us. You laugh a lot, you communicate as best you can, and you cuddle your toys up under your chin with a smile. You're cheeky, you known when you're doing wrong, and you love to imitate and chide us with a waggly finger when we say 'naughty, naughty, naughty!'.
We love you very much, thank you for all that you bring.
Tuesday 7 August 2012
Backwards
The husband and my father have both told me that the baby is able to climb up on to the couch now - sometimes off the giftbox we have placed so our tiny chihuahua can get up there to escape her, and sometimes not even bothering with that.
The giftbox has also been good for her as she got used to stepping up, climbing over and slithering down it. She is quite confident getting down off things headfirst. This is not actually a good thing.
We've been trying to teach her 'backwards!' so she learns to back herself off the couch or bed or anything that's too high to be leaving headfirst. However, we haven't yet worked out a term to call out to get her to work out to spin around... so she'll near the edge of the bed, hear the 'backwards' call and start reversing, usually veering to the side and getting stuck at the footboard.
But boy does she look proud!
The giftbox has also been good for her as she got used to stepping up, climbing over and slithering down it. She is quite confident getting down off things headfirst. This is not actually a good thing.
We've been trying to teach her 'backwards!' so she learns to back herself off the couch or bed or anything that's too high to be leaving headfirst. However, we haven't yet worked out a term to call out to get her to work out to spin around... so she'll near the edge of the bed, hear the 'backwards' call and start reversing, usually veering to the side and getting stuck at the footboard.
But boy does she look proud!
Sunday 5 August 2012
Flashback
I've had this comment bookmarked for ages - as soon as I read it, it was like a lightbulb moment of "Yes! This is exactly what it was like!!!"
From a Jezebel commenter:
So much of the difficulty in the early days came from the lack of return with the baby. I remember the first time she smiled - after almost two months. And I would tell everyone who asked (and even those who didn't) that that was the start of our turnaround together - all of a sudden she realised there was something going on and there was someone helping her out.
Just have to remember it eventually gets better....!
From a Jezebel commenter:
Texting while you're breastfeeding is not going to make you tense. It's going to make you feel slightly more connected to the rest of humanity and slightly less like a milk-covered sweaty captive beast who is milked every hour for two months by an incredibly cruel and demanding tiny master who gives you no affection in return for 24 hour intensive care, and in fact actively causes you pain and attempts to cover you in his fluids at least once a day, while you cry and watch daytime television.
So much of the difficulty in the early days came from the lack of return with the baby. I remember the first time she smiled - after almost two months. And I would tell everyone who asked (and even those who didn't) that that was the start of our turnaround together - all of a sudden she realised there was something going on and there was someone helping her out.
Just have to remember it eventually gets better....!
Wednesday 1 August 2012
So it begins
I've had three full days at work now, trialling out my 8am-5pm.
Monday night, I was in bed at 9:30am.
I think it's the quick switch from a year of ho-humming around the house, to being (expected to be) a fully functioning, intelligent adult, learning a new job in a new environment. But it's great - I'm really loving it.
By the time the baby finally went down for her nap this morning, I knew I was going to have to get out of the house. We arranged to catch up with a friend after I sat at home waiting to see if mothers group was on or not. And as it was, my friend is a work friend and we sat with two other work friends for part of it.
Being back at work is probably going to give me some more momentum at home, I think. I mean, I do still like to get in and check out my facebook and my email and my RSS, but I should be using this time to be doing stuff. Today I've folded washing and hung out a load, tidied the three bedrooms, caught up with a friend, bought a new rubbish and recycling bin (with lids and pedals to stop the baby getting her hands in there - ICK), bought outdoor birdseed, changed the food of our cockatiels, made muffins for tonight and done the dishes. Once the baby is awake I'll be restocking the nappy bag, setting up her dinner for the husband to take with him tonight and getting ready for swimming.
Then, back to work tomorrow.
Monday night, I was in bed at 9:30am.
I think it's the quick switch from a year of ho-humming around the house, to being (expected to be) a fully functioning, intelligent adult, learning a new job in a new environment. But it's great - I'm really loving it.
By the time the baby finally went down for her nap this morning, I knew I was going to have to get out of the house. We arranged to catch up with a friend after I sat at home waiting to see if mothers group was on or not. And as it was, my friend is a work friend and we sat with two other work friends for part of it.
Being back at work is probably going to give me some more momentum at home, I think. I mean, I do still like to get in and check out my facebook and my email and my RSS, but I should be using this time to be doing stuff. Today I've folded washing and hung out a load, tidied the three bedrooms, caught up with a friend, bought a new rubbish and recycling bin (with lids and pedals to stop the baby getting her hands in there - ICK), bought outdoor birdseed, changed the food of our cockatiels, made muffins for tonight and done the dishes. Once the baby is awake I'll be restocking the nappy bag, setting up her dinner for the husband to take with him tonight and getting ready for swimming.
Then, back to work tomorrow.
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