Next Time Won't You Sing with Me? (By Mommy)

How many lullabies do you remember from your childhood?  When Sophia was born, Chris and I wracked our brains trying to remember songs from our childhood so we could sing to her.   We were only able to come up with a handful and even those were only partially committed to memory.  'Itsy Bitsy Spider' topped the charts.  

Both of us are book enthusiasts, so one day while perusing our favorite bookstore we came across a wonderful book that every new parent should have on their bookshelf (and in their CD player for it comes with audio).  It is called Humpty Who? A Crash Couse in 80 Nursery Rhymes for Clueless Moms and Dads  As it says on the back of the book cover, "HUMPTY WHO? is a crash course in Mother Goose (and more) featuring 80 classic poems, songs, lullabies, rounds and riddles." Plus a "Bonus Feature 35-song CD starring a rollicking mom's ensemble."  Now whenever we are at a loss for song lyrics, all we have to do is pull out this book for a little reminder.  

To our repertoire we have added the ABC Song, Alice the Camel, and Skip to My Lou which we sing on a daily basis.  These songs seem to calm Sophia down if she is in a particularly fussy mood (as Nee Nee and Pappy witnessed in the car while we were visiting them).  We even know the words to Pop Goes the Weasel and did you know that London Bridge has more than just one verse?  Some versions have up to 8!  

Now whenever we hear the ice cream truck driving around our neighborhood, we can sing along to the tune, "Do your ears hang low?  Do they wobble to and fro?  Can you tie them in a knot?  Can you tie them in a bow? Can  you throw them over your shoulder like a continental soldier? Do your ears hang low?"  Where do they come up with this stuff?

First Foods

Yummy, rice cereal and carrots!

All Clean!

Since my four month check up, I have been expanding my horizons by trying different kinds of foods.  I started out with rice cereal and sweet potatoes.  Then I tried prunes and pears which were both really good.  Most recently I have eaten carrots and found that I really like them, but they don't like me so much.  I will have to wait a while and reintroduce them to my diet once I get a little older.  Next I will try peas and applesauce.  Every evening I sit in my little booster seat and have fun getting messy.  Each evening I eat a little more than I did the night before.  It is exciting to find out what flavor will hit my tongue next.  

Family

Family:  What a blessing!  We are back from our wonderful trip visiting both Mommy's family in Kansas and Daddy's family in Tennessee.  I tried to sit down and compose some stories to describe what a great time we had while we were there, but it was hard to find the words.  Like the saying goes, 'a picture is worth a thousand words,' so I hope that a few pictures are worth even more.  I have posted some of my favorite pictures that we took along the way.  Enjoy!

Action Packed Adventure

The last couple of weeks have been action packed.  I took my first, second, third and fourth plane ride.  I have visited four of the 50 states: Washington, Colorado, Kansas and Tennessee.  And I have seen so many new faces...  Who knew that there are so many people out there that love me like they do: Great Grandmas, Gramma and Grampa, Great Aunts and Uncles, Pappy and Nee Nee, Mee Mee, Aunts, Uncles and cousins.  And I didn't even get to meet everyone.  Where do I start with my stories?  I suppose I will start from the beginning.  Stay tuned -- I can only write so much between my naps.  (btw:  this picture was taken in my Great Grandma W's front yard in Kansas.  The grass is my favorite color.  Isn't it pretty?)

I am four months old!

I had my four-month wellness exam with my pediatrician yesterday.  I weigh 16 pounds 2 ounces (95%) and am 26 1/2" tall (>97%).  My head circumference is 16 1/4" (70% - I was only 50% at my two month check-up).  While my doctor was examining me, I kept trying to stand up.  He thought it was cute that I would rather stand up and "see the world" than lay back and relax.  He told us that my legs are quite bowed, but my early standing ability has NOT caused this.  He checked my ankle bones and they are at the correct angle so he has no worries that my legs will straighten out on their own as I grow.  

He asked if I have been showing any interest in foods.  Mommy told him that I have.  Daddy let me lick an apple the other day and I have even tried a peach.   The apple was yummy and I liked the peach too, but it made me make a funny face because it was a little sour.  Since I am holding my head up and I can sit supported, the doctor gave me the go to start trying solid foods.  For dinner tonight mommy made me some whole grain rice cereal.  I liked it, but I was more interested in trying to hold the spoon myself.  After I took a few bites of the cereal, daddy mixed in a little bit of sweet potatoes for me to try.  I took a few bites of that too.  I gagged on one of the last bites.  I don't know if it was because I got a tiny chunk in my mouth or if it was the taste.  I guess I will have to give them one more try to see if I like them.  Mommy and daddy took a video of me eating.  They forgot to take a still shot of me and the mess I made, but if they can pull one from the video, I will post that picture later.  

The last part of my doctor's appointment was the worst.  They always catch me off guard with this part.  The mean nurse came in and stuck me three times with needles; twice in one leg and once in the other.  They say it's for my own good, but I'm not sure that I agree with them.  Mommy said that I was a brave little girl though because I hardly cried.  I cried a little once it registered that I had just been 'shot', but then mommy picked me up off the table and held me and I forgot all about the pokes.  I didn't even have to take any tylenol until after daddy got home last night.  My muscles were a little sore by then.  

Success with a sippy cup (by mommy)

As our avid readers are aware, Sophie has an aversion to bottles.  Today we had success with a sippy cup!  Well, at least a half success:  The cup was filled with two ounces of milk and she drank half of it without any drama.  It actually seems that she asked me to try it.  

We were playing and I paused to take a drink of water from my water bottle.  Her face was near mine and I looked at her while I was drinking and she was watching me, very interested in what I was doing.  I took the bottle away from my mouth and she opened her mouth like she wanted me to let her have a drink.  I moved the bottle near her mouth and she moved her mouth towards it.  Since she is still too little to drink water, I decided to make her a sippy cup of milk and she drank out of it.  Now we will have to try it again to make sure it wasn't just a fluke.  Good job Sophie!