It has been a big week for Eliza: a visit from Nana and cousin Parker, lots of playing with Aunt Chrysty, hanging out on the porch in the warm weather, and several outings for lunch. She’s feeling a lot better, playing more, and working on rolling over every chance she gets. We might get some more visitors later this weekend, if Aunt Kimberly and cousins decide to make the trip from Kentucky.
I guess the ear problems are gone…or she’s outgrowing her fussiness. Or she just LOVES our friend Chrysty, who is in town for a visit. Whatever the cause, Eliza has been a bundle of sunshine lately. Happy, happy, happy. Giggling, smiling, cooing, thrilled to be alive. That’s not to say she doesn’t still get upset when she’s tired, but when she’s awake, she is like a new baby. And she is napping like an absolute champ, in her crib, and for 30 minutes or more at a time. No more little cat naps while in the swing or bouncy chair! Nope, real, honest-to-goodness naps. Aaaaahhhh. Mom breathes a sigh of relief. For now, at least.
Eliza has been uncharacteristically grumpy for about two weeks (maybe a little more). We thought it was a bit strange, since everything we read and everyone we talked to said babies tend to get less fussy when they’re around 3 months old. Instead, our normally happy girl has been getting progressively fussier. As I started to observe more and more spit up (including some of the projectile variety), I decided to call the doctor.
She suggested we try gas drops. We did, with no change. Then she suggested switching to soy formula. Eliza turned into exorcist-baby: the worst spit-up ever and a very strange two hour crying spell that could not be stopped.
In a panic, I called the doctor and begged for an appointment. Turns out she has some reflux, but not enough to make the doctor want to try medicine. And she is against putting rice in the bottle, which is a common treatment for reflux. So I’m somewhat frustrated that it isn’t being treated. And in addition to the reflux (or maybe because of it??) she has some fluid in one of her ears. We think that’s the reason for the grumpiness…pain and pressure. We noticed she had been pulling on that ear, but figured it was just because she had discovered it. We’re trying eardrops and baby Tylenol, and we’ll see how it goes. So far her mood has improved a little bit, although she still prefers to be held. It’s been a tough week for everybody.
ElizaCast for March 2007: Eliza Rolls Over!
Is it even possible that Parker is 4 days younger than Eliza? He looks like a damn toddler sitting next to her!
Eliza has a little chair with things that hang down to amuse her while she sits there and vibrates. Not only has she learned to bat at them, she is also now grabbing them. Yesterday she managed to pull this little bee down all by herself and then held onto it for a while. She even carried it with her to the changing table and held it while we changed her diaper. I’d also like to point out which hand she is using for most of her newfound dexterity. Just like mom! Lefties rule!
I realize I’m biased, but occasionally I look at Eliza and she’s just ludicrously, absurdly cute.
It’s wrong, I tell you.
Gorgeous day for a walk around campus yesterday. Eliza slept through most of it. Note the chubby cheeks in this picture and how small this hat is getting (it used to swallow her entire head). She is growing like crazy this week. And drooling like you would not believe (thus the bib). She’s also starting to coo a bit more. We’ve even heard a few small giggles. She seems to be particularly enamored with her dad right now…she lights up when he gets near her.
Eliza has been a bit grumpy the last couple of days…we think it may be a little early 3 month growth spurt. During her 3 week and 6 week growth spurts, she got grumpy as hell, and just wasn’t her normal happy self.
She’s happy when she wakes up (when this was taken) but over the course of the day she’s more fussy than normal. More fussy for her is still pretty chill, though.
Well, after griping about little girls’ clothes, I was somewhat successful in shopping for Eliza this weekend. She’s outgrowing everything faster than we can put her in it. I had to stay strong, though, since I went with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, both of whom want to put Eliza in frilly little outfits with bows and ruffles. But I prevailed. Some jeans, a few comfy gender-neutral outfits like this one, and some new sleepers, and she’s good for what…the next few weeks!?!?
