Firsts...

Well, I had been updating my pregnancy blog with Ryanne's milestones and early achievements. That blog, though, had been to keep my dad up-to-date and I just have a hard time finding the motivation to post to it anymore. Thus, I am starting with a clean slate. This is a new journal that's dedicated to recording her life, not her time in utero. She's an amazing little girl and I want to remember as many of these events as I can. Hopefully this will help.

I have little chance of remembering the dates for most of the firsts. I must confess that Chrys and I have mostly fudged the dates in her calendar. They're in the right week, but since all of the days kind of blur together, they may not be on the right day. Hopefully she can forgive us.

Let's start with the story of rolling over. It was my brother's spring break and he was "working" down at the office with us. He had decided to come in and play with Ryanne. All of a sudden he says, "She rolled over." I look up and sure enough, she's on her tummy instead of her back. I started quizzing him - not quite trusting this story. He assures me that he didn't help her at all, except to keep moving her music block away from her, so I flip her back over. I put the toy just out of reach and within a few moments she was back on her tummy playing with it again. It was the coolest thing to watch. It took her a few days to let Dada see her new trick, but eventually she caved. It only took a few weeks for her to master tummy to back in the same direction (to her left when on her back). I'd guess she had the other direction (her right) down about 6 weeks later.

Unfortunately, with this new trick came some new independence. No longer was she satisfied being strapped down in one place. She knew she could roll her way out of most things. This meant that she thought she could roll her way out of her car seat. It being a 3-point harness, infant seat, it didn't offer sufficient restraint for our roller. Once we found her strapped down by her knee (instead of her pelvis), we ordered her new 5-point harness seat. There were a few days of intense frustration at being that confined in the car. Eventually, though, Ryanne realized that she was now higher and could see more things outside that in her previous seat and the yelling and screaming in the car came to an end.

6 month appointment

Backdated. Copied from FTM to fill in historical data in one location.

She's 1oz shy of 17lbs (should have nursed her first - hee) and 25 3/4" long. She's no longer 90%, 75% for weight, height - down to 75% and 50%, I think the dr said. The dr was very impressed by her sitting up by herself and surprised when Ryanne was trying to take steps when she stood her up. She smiled at us and said, "She'll be walking by 9months...hope you're babyproofed." YIKES! I certainly won't be disappointed if she proves the dr wrong on THAT one.

The dr took a look at a rash on her back and said it was probably related to her sniffles (viral rash) combined with a little eczema and gave me some ointment to try on some spots and see if it helps more than just lotion alone.

Also, her vaginal adhesion was gone. We mentioned that it had opened up and closed back up and opened again in the time since her last appointment. We had to use the cream again. She said that was the right thing to do and just keep an eye on it and use the cream to keep it open as necessary.

When we got home, she was playing on the floor (a huge relief after 6 hours in the car) and pushed herself from her tummy to sitting. I'm not sure she knows how to replicate it, but she was SO happy to have figured it out that time.

I picked up a pamphlet on donating milk to the bank in Austin - www.mmbaustin.org. The website doesn't have many specifics on the mechanics of the actual donation, just the requirements for the mom. I think I'll call and figure out how it works. Has anyone here donated?

4 month appointment

Copied from FTM and backdated for data consolidation.

Ryanne had her 4 month appointment today. Yikes, where does the time go?

She's 14lbs 13.9oz and 25". Finally got her pneumococcal vaccine and is a bit crankier than she was after her 2 month vaccines. Her vaginal adhesion is still there, but with everything that's going on, we haven't actually used her cream for 2 solid weeks so we get another shot. The dr said to keep watch for breast tissue and as long as that doesn't show up, we can keep using the cream and see if it will open up on its own.

Also, the dr wants me to start her on solids. She's supposed to be up to 3 meals a day by her 6 month appointment. Considering she just started really watching us eat this week, we'll be taking it slow, but keeping an eye out for her really showing interest.

All that and our second whirlwind trip to Austin in 2 weeks...ugh! Oh well, hopefully life will now be a little calmer so I can catch up on the board. I've missed SO much!

2 week check-up

Ryanne was 20.25" long, and weighed 7lbs 10.6oz (beat her birth weight - YAY!). Her head circumference was 34.6cm. She didn't get any vaccines. She was pronounced healthy.

It's been one week

Ryanne had her 1 week check up (at 5 days old). She weighed 7lbs 5.2oz. Go breastmilk! We don't need to supplement. She's already surpassed her birth weight.