Jason Griffey

IMG_2133.JPG, originally uploaded by griffey.

Here is Eliza with her cousins Kelsi and Drevin, whom she met for the first time a few days ago. Everyone fell in love with “little E,” as my family calls her. She seemed to have a great time, too, but was totally exhausted by the time they left!

IMG_2084.JPG, originally uploaded by griffey.

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.

IMG_2002.JPG, originally uploaded by griffey.

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!