WOW Amelia!

Amelia's got all kinds of things happening with her right now!

Baby teeth

Baby pushups (if you look carefully, her belly is entirely off the ground)

Sweet baby cheeks. I could just kiss them all day... (in a dress from grandma!)

Evidence

You think these two are related?

Sprinkling Fun

These pictures are from July! Sorting pictures takes a long time - I guess I've been procrastinating!

Swimming Wrap Up

We've been busy. And sick. And a little crazy. Swimming lessons have been over for a few weeks now and I'm finally going through the pictures and video. I'll let the pictures/video do most of the talking...

Summer Checklist

Someone asked me about my summer checklist. Every summer, there are some things that just need to be done. It isn't summer if you don't. We don't always get everything on the list completed, but the best summers have it all. So here is my list, off the top of my head:

1. Watch fireworks outside
2. Go to the zoo
3. Take swimming lessons
4. Go to North Dakota
5. Play in the sprinkler
6. Eat a tomato you grew yourself
7. Eat corn on the cob from a farm stand or you grew yourself (we don't have space for corn, sadly)
8. Grill. A lot.
9. Eat a popsicle/ice cream cone outside
10. Ride the Tilt-a-whirl
11. Eat molasses cake
12. Eat watermelon outside on a hot day
13. Swim at a beach with sand
14. Have a picnic. The kind where you bring a blanket to sit on.
15. Ride bikes until the bugs come out
16. Go barefoot. All the time.
17. Make strawberry jam with berries you picked yourself.
18. S'mores, over a real fire. Need I say s'more?
19. Camping in a tent.
20. Hiking a trail.


What makes your summer?

*PS I'm noticing a lot of mine are food related. Hmm...

Amelia's 4 month Appointment

We had Amelia's 4 month appointment with our pediatrician today. It went very well, so I won't bore you with all the details. Amelia is doing what she is supposed to be doing and a little ahead, especially in the physical motor skills area.

Her growth is also right on track as well:

Weight: 16 lbs 7.75 oz (90th percentile)
Up almost 8 pounds since birth 4 months ago!

Height: 26.5 inches (100th percentile)
Up 5 inches since birth!

Head Circumference: 43.5 cm (95th percentile)
Up 6 cm (roughly 2.5 inches) since birth!

We also got the go ahead to start out with the cereal, although right now we are planning to wait awhile before starting this. I was anticipating some disagreement with our doctor on this point and was shocked when she told me it was fine to start when I thought she was ready. For the record, I think Amelia is ready. However, I've done a lot of reading lately regarding the health benefits of delaying the start of solid food for babies. So, we're going to wait for awhile.

Another battle I thought we were going to fight was in regard to Amelia's shots. At this particular appointment, Amelia was scheduled to receive 6 different immunizations. She was scheduled for the same number at her 2 month appointment as well. Although the research is showing that immunizations are not the cause of autism, 6 different ones on one day is too many in my mind. So, we split it up. Amelia received 2 shots and one oral vaccine at this appointment and we'll return for a "quick stick" appointment in another month for the rest of them. We requested the same thing at our 2 month appointment and met a lot of resistance from our doctor. I'm not sure what changed her mind, but this time she actually offered to do shots the same as last time without us having to request it. I have several theories, but none of them are really that interesting (unless your name is Jenn Hawn, and then I think you'll want to hear this).

The News

I'm sick with a summer cold. We're busy with end of summer parties and WAIT! how can summer be almost over? We had things to do this summer! I'll be back with more later. When my nose stops running all over the place without me and my TO DO list for the summer has been completed.