Happy Father's Day!

Kate & I took Nick to the Dallas Arboretum for a picnic lunch. We enjoyed the musical talents of a Frank Sinatra singer under the shade of a huge tree. Camera in tow, I snapped about a million shots of Kate and Daddy. (Are you surprised?!)

Happy first Father's Day, Nick!

Quick Update

Took Kate to the doctor today for another weight check. She weighed 15 pounds, 1 ounce. Thanks to formula/bottle feeding, she's almost back up to her original growth curve! When I expressed concern over how little she eats total each day, he didn't seem worried since she's growing well now.

He did give her a prescription for Zantac for possible reflux and an Epi pen (yikes!) for her milk protein allergy (confirmed).

Feeling somewhat better about it all...

Kate is 5 months old

Dear Kate,

I can't believe that it was 5 months ago that you arrived on the scene. Time sure flies, doesn't it? You're developing your own little personality a little more each day - both sunny and laid back, a great combo! You rarely get truly upset, so I typically know exactly what's wrong when you do. Even today, when your nap had to come late because of church, and you were fussy in the car, I could still make you laugh and smile in the midst of your cries! You're very flexible with your schedule, and you don't mind being out of your normal routine. (That's just like your 'go-with-the-flow' daddy!)

Now that I will stay home with you, we're going to work on changing your schedule a bit. I'm hoping you'll learn to sleep in a bit later now that we don't have to get going so early in the morning. Most nights you sleep very well. You may start to toss and turn, but you can get yourself back to sleep without us coming up to replace your pacifier. Speaking of the paci, enjoy your last month with it. It won't be long before we try to phase it out. (We'll see how well Mama and Daddy stick to that!)

Here's a list of the things you've been doing this month:

* You cried real tears the other morning... you were hungry and ready to get out of your crib, and you had actual tears coming out of your eyes, and your eyelashes were wet. It broke my heart!

* You found your thumb a few days ago. You always have loved sticking your whole fist or a few fingers in your mouth, but you finally figured out how to make a fist and just keep your thumb out. You enjoy practicing your new talent. Let's just hope you ditch the habit sooner than your mama did (age 7!).

* You rolled over a few weeks ago! You actually did it for the first time over with Aunt Mindy and cousin Chase. You were having some tummy time and flipped right over. Aunt Mindy said it looked like you were already a rolling pro - she didn't realize that was your first time. You showed Mama your new talent that night, and the next day you even rolled from back to tummy. Wow!

* Speaking of tummy time, you don't hate it quite so much as you used to. You tolerate it for a few minutes before you get mad now. You get really mad if you can't remember how to roll over.

* You are beginning to experiment with your voice more. It's so cute to hear you carry on and on with little squeals and gurgles.

* Your seahorse toy is one of your faves. It is absolutely adorable when you hug and cuddle it when you're trying to go to sleep. It plays very relaxing classical music that even makes me close my eyes.

* Two other toys you are big enough to enjoy now are your exer-saucer and jumper. You love to reach out and bat at all the toys on your exer-saucer, and you are all smiles and giggles when you get in your jumper. It's one of your favorite things for sure.

* At nap times and bedtime you're still getting swaddled in your Miracle Blanket. It's getting too small for you, and you're able to get your legs free most of the time now. It's hard to stop using it, though, because if we don't use it, you wake yourself up with flailing arms. I think it will just take some practice for you to get used to sleeping without it. We will miss our little Kate burrito! (Must post picture/video of the Kate burrito soon!)

* One new thing you're doing is stuffing towels, bibs, clothes and anything fabric in your mouth. Yum!

* You're becoming more interactive with the games we can play with you. Just yesterday, Daddy was holding you, and I played game where you looked at me to one side, then you'd turn your head to the other side as I popped over there. You kept turning from side to side as I popped back and forth. I thought it was pretty advanced for a 5 month old!

* We've tried rice cereal using a spoon a few times now. You have no clue what to do with the spoon or the food. You spit it all out and make funny faces. It's a good thing we still have time before you have to start eating solids. You'll get the hang of it soon!

* You don't like to eat. Sometimes you'll just take an ounce at a feeding and call it quits. Please cooperate, sweet girl!

* You just starting arching back much of the time. You're obviously uncomfortable. Is it reflux? Even in the bathtub or in your little chair, you push back. You prefer being flat on the floor.

I count myself so blessed to be your mama. Daddy and I love you SO much!

Love,

Mama

Clothes: a smattering of 3-6 months, 6 months, and 6-12 months - anything to fit your length!

Weight: 14 pounds, 8 ounces (June 3rd)

Length: close to 26 inches by my measurement

Diaper size: 2

Sleep: 8:30pm - 6 am

Naps: 8-10/10:30, 12:00-2:00, & one late afternoon doze

5 month pose with elephant

...compared to the 4 month pic

...compared to the 3 month pic

And this one's just for fun because it warms Mama's heart!

Our Skinny Minnie

Kate is on the whole a happy girl... except when it’s time to eat. I was breastfeeding exclusively, and Kate would scream after just a few minutes. (This was the case from the beginning, before she ever got a bottle. It got worse after I came back to work and she was getting 2 bottles a day.) I knew she wasn’t getting enough when I nursed her, but she seemed to have cute little baby fat rolls and was growing, so I tried not to worry about it. Boy was I wrong. When we went to the doctor for her 4 month appointment, she had only gained 1 pound in two months! She had dropped two growth curves on the weight chart. For length, she continued to be in the 95th percentile. Tall and skinny – she takes after Nick! The doctor said to try supplementing to see if her hunger was satisfied or not. Or not was right. I was bottle feeding her another 4 ounces at least after attempted feedings. She continued to scream while I nursed her, and would calm down as soon as I gave her the bottle. The bottle was easier, and I didn’t want to battle anymore. I stopped breastfeeding. I feel like such a failure, but it’s what seemed right. It hasn’t turned out to be the magic answer, but at least she's eating more. I took her back in for a quick weight check a couple of weeks later, and she had gained 2 pounds, 4 ounces! Yea, Kate!

We experimented a little with formula. She got a rash after having a little of it one day. I told the doctor, and he said to have some Benadryl on hand when I tried it again. I figured it was just a skin irritation from the formula, though, because it was only around her mouth. Ooooh, no – wrong again. A few nights ago Kate took her first full bottle of formula. 8 entire ounces down the hatch. She got the rash around her mouth again, and I figured it was fine. I try so hard not to be that mom who is worried about every little thing. I guess I should have worried, because when I went to get her from her nap, she was covered head to toe with hives. As I lifted her out of her crib she proceeded to vomit her entire feeding. (Well, almost the entire feeding. She saved some to vomit the next hour.) We gave her the Benadryl and listened to her breathing really closely. She seemed fine. She slept with us that night, and by morning, all her hives were gone. I was so thankful that Nick was home that night – he’s been out of town a ton. I would have been really freaked out if he weren’t there. All this to say Kate has a milk protein allergy.

Now we're trying to figure out if we should use the Nutramigen (the ultra expensive hypoallergenic stuff) or soy. The N. seems to cause discomfort - she arches back all the time now. The soy is much cheaper, but she doesn't like the taste very well. If we can go with the soy, so much the better, but we might be able to get insurance to cover the cost of the N.

Pray for us as we try and figure all of this out. Can you tell this is weighing on my mind constantly? I just wish there was a magic answer! The positive thing is that she's now gaining weight, even if she still doesn't have the best appetite. I'll probably go back next week sometime for another weight check.

It all boils down to this...

My "Smile File"

Well, today was my last day of work. It's bittersweet - more sweet than bitter, though. Maybe like semi-sweet chocolate chips. :) I know I'll be back one day, but today I'm feeling sentimental, so just bear with me.

After 6 years in education, I hung up my hat today. Although, I think it's fair to say "hats" plural. In this profession I have worn so many: guide, mediator, manager, entertainer, salesman, and even mother. I have laughed with many students, prayed with several, cried with a few, and rocked and held one so tightly as I thought my heart would burst for her. They've had attention deficit disorders and potty problems, anger issues and family hangups. Add in a kleptomaniac, and it was quite a circus at times!

In one of my interviews the principal asked, "Which is more important in the teaching profession: the art of teaching or the heart of it?" Without hesitation, I answered, "The heart." Even though I love keeping current in my field and continually learning the best ways to teach, at the end of the day it's all about the kids. It's the relationships that matter. It's about helping them become whomever it is they're going to be.

I stopped and prayed as I turned out the library lights when I left this afternoon. I praised the Lord for providing me the job as librarian this past year. I thanked Him that I now get to stay home with Kate. I prayed for "my" kids. I hope that I'm remembered.