Father-Daughter

 

Weighing in on Weight

I always knew Zoe was going to be a small baby,  her size has never been a surprise to me.  I was a small baby, in fact smaller than her.   Zach and I are not huge people, so then why is her size such a huge concern?

I've really grown aggravated with the percentile charts.  At Zoe's two month doctors appointment she had gained the appropriate amount of weight, yet the doctor commented on how thin she looked.  Stating that most babies are chubby.   Well she's not most babies!!  Genetically I don't think this girl is ever going to be big.  But do I think she is healthy...YES!

Fortunately at the most recent, 4 month visit, the doctor took mine and my husbands size into consideration.  She also commented on how active Zoe is for her age, which can also affect weight gain.   She informed me that babies gain the most weight during the first six months of life because that is when they are the most sedentary, which Zoe has never really been.  As my father-in-law likes to point out Zoe's arms are always moving.

However despite Zoe seeming to be a perfectly healthy active baby who is gaining weight at her own pace, and growing up rather than out the doctor wants me to work on fattening her up. So that she doesn't fall off the percentile charts.  First of all in this generation of obese children why are they trying to fatten up a perfectly healthy baby!!  And Zoe is the not the first baby that I've heard doctors say this about.  My cousin has also be told the same thing about her daughter.  I also have several co-workers who told me that doctors said the same thing to them, and their children are still small but perfectly healthy.

At the doctors office the other day my doctor suggested that I start feeding Zoe rice cereal in two weeks.  But not only did she want me to start feeding her rice cereal she wanted me to add BUTTER to the cereal to fatten her up.  I mentioned to the doctor my allergy concern because my husband has a lot of food allergies, and I also mentioned that I have never been fully convinced that Zoe doesn't have a dairy intolerance.   Instead of butter she suggested olive oil.  After talking this over with several people, and my husband we both decided we were definitely not comfortable with feeding solids at this point, and especially not butter. I don't want to start clogging her arteries with butter already.  In addition, all the current allergy research strongly suggest not to feed solids until 6 months, and to breastfeed until that time if you are concerned at all about allergies.  Which we are!  So now I'm in a dilemma go ahead and feed my daughter cereal with BUTTER, and risk her having allergies or wait until six months and potentially avoid the allergy concern.  ( I say potentially, I know nothing is guaranteed)

Further more, this is what I find really funny...I was reading over the packet of information that my doctor gave me about feeding solids, and it discussed teaching healthy habits now; don't force your child to eat if they are no longer hungry.   It also said that a 4 to 6 month old baby should be eating/drinking anywhere from four to seven times a day.  Zoe gets four, 5oz bottles at day care plus she eats from me once in the morning and anywhere from two to three times in the evening, so a total of eight times a day.  Zoe is content with six meals a day. However, I have been waking up my good sleeper and adding other meals in just to give her more calories.  I am feeding her without her asking/wanting to already.   I am fine with waking her up a few extra times.  I understand that she is small, and that 12 hours is a long time for her to go without eating.  But my little girl sure does love sleep.  She will let you know when she is tired, and hates to be kept up past her bed time.  She also hates being woken up, but I wake her to make sure she has a few extra calories.

I do a lot of things for Zoe's health.  Breastfeeding is definitely not easy, and trying to keep up a pumped supply is even harder.  Pumps are not as efficient as babies. I feel fortunate to be working at a middle school this year, because of all the planning time I actually get.  If it wasn't for the planning time I don't know how I would be able to keep this up. I miss working at the elementary school, but I would not have had this luxury there. I had little or no planning time last year, and from talking to my old coworkers it sounds as though there is even less this year. I am glad that my doctor at least understand the importance of breastfeeding, and isn't trying to talk me into formula feeding like so many others.   The way I see it formula is a food based product because most formulas are either dairy based or soy based.  Two of the most common food allergies in this country are dairy and soy.   I'm just not ready to introduce those to Zoe's diet yet.  I'd rather let her body build up a tolerance (hopefully)  to those substances through the natural milk that my bodies creates specifically for HER.  And hopefully once her digestion has matured her body will handle them on her own.

Four Months

Hard to believe that time has passed so quickly.  Zoe is four months old.
It really is truly amazing how quickly babies learn and how much they progress and grow in such a short amount of time.   In the last week I have seen Zoe do so many new things, and show interest in stuff that has never seemed to interest her before.

On her car seat handle I have had a toy bird that vibrates when you pull the bird.  This bird has been on her car seat since the beginning. I use to think it scared her so I usually just slid it down to the side out of her view, but would occasionally slid it up again to see if her opinion of it has changed.  The other day I took Zoe shopping so I could return some items.  Upon entering the store the store clerk said, "Hi" to Zoe which immediately made Zoe start crying.  It was one of those moments where Zoe was locked in on me, and I think the store clerk startled her.  To distract her, and keep her attention while in the store I slid the bird up into her view, and pulled on it a few times to show her how it vibrated.  A little while later, while still waiting in line I look down to see Zoe grabbing hold of the birds feet and actually pulling it down towards her.  I gasped in my amazement. That was the first time I've seen her have so much control over her hands and fingers.   I've seen her grab hold of things before, but I've never realize how much precision she actually has.  Her fine motor skills impress me daily!  Motor skills are important for a future artist ; P 

I don't recall which hand she actually grabbed the bird with, but if I haven't mentioned it before I think she is going to be a lefty.

During Zoe's third month of life she also learned how to flip herself over from back to front.  I have been expecting Zoe to achieve this skill for some time now, because she has been showing interest for months .  Yet, some how it still caught me off guard    I laid her on the floor for just a brief moment while I was getting something done, and when I looked up at her she had just flipped herself over.  She probably thought I was one crazy lady with all the hooting and hollering that I was doing.  I was just so proud of her, and wanted to let her know.

It is funny when babies learn new skills, or at lease Zoe,  it seems as though she can't stop doing something once she figures it out.  Almost every time I lay her down she flips herself over.  At Zoe's four month visit the other day she decided to show off her rolling skills to the doctor.  She flipped herself over and then raiser her head high showing off how strong she is.

I had originally planned on using this outfit for Zoe's  newborn  photos, but she was just too small.  I had to wait until she grew into it.

Zach's not very happy with the way I dressed her up for these photos.  He wants me to take more four month photos in a different outfit.  What are your thoughts?

In God's hands

Sunday, January 27th  Zoe was baptized at Sandy Springs United Methodist Church. 

Zach and I started attending Sandy Springs United Methodist a few Months before Zoe was born.  In fact I remember the first Sunday we attended the church vividly.  It was a HOT day in July, and I believe their air conditioner was broken (not fun for a pregnant women who was just getting over a heat rash). Despite the heat we felt welcomed immediately by Reverend Ken and Pastor Blair.  

Pastor Blair seen above holding Zoe was also very pregnant when we met.  She was due to have a daughter just a few short weeks after Zoe. We made and instant connection over the joy that was about to enter our lives.  Soon after Blair joined us for dinner one night.  Zach got to show off his cooking talents and made gluten free chicken parmigiana. At that time I was getting to the I'm over pregnancy stage so I was hoping Zach would have made eggplant parmigiana, but I knew  Blair still had a few weeks till she was considered full term so I decided not to risk her eating eggplant. 

Over dinner we discussed the church, and soon felt that this was the church that we wanted to begin Zoe's life with God. 

 I loved going to church while I was pregnant.  Zoe was always very active in my belly while at church.  I could tell she was happy.  Zoe was typically very calm in utero, she moved just enough for me to know she was healthy, but in general not very active.  It was always so exciting to feel her which is why I loved it at Church.  ( Zoe was so calm in the womb I  actually find in amazing how active she is now.)

Nana loves her Grand baby!!

We had to do a last minute clothing change.  I  had just finished getting Zoe all  dressed up at home, and  she immediately  soaked her gown by spitting up on it.  So I had to quickly change her wash it off throw it in the dry, and then change her back into the gown when we arrived at church.  Nana gladly took on the chore of changing Zoe.

The gown that Zoe was baptized in was the same gown that I wore when I was baptized.  

I love this photo!!  Zach is just SOOOOOO in love with Zoe.  I think there is a  Daddy - Daughter blog post coming soon.