Week 40 (9 Months)

Age today: 40 weeks

Age Being Posted: Weeks 39-40

Date: September 22 - 28

Diaper Size: 2 or Medium

Clothing Size: 3-6, 6, 6-9

Size: Weight: 13lbs 11 oz
         Height: 66 cm

         Head C.: 42.5 cm
   

Photo of the Week: 

Milestones: Understand the word no, sit up from laying down

Development:You've reached a lot of milestones this week. You know exactly when I don't want you to do something (though it doesn't always mean you listen) and you can sit up from you stomach. It's adorable. You are on the move completely now and you just don't stop. You know people very well now and still don't like to be around many that you don't know. I was shy too so I'm not worried about that at all

Concerns: weight... like always. It seems like she only gained an ounce from 8 months but she lost 180 grams and then gained again. So in two weeks she gained 280 grams which is actually a lot more than what shes supposed to at the age... but shes lower on her chart because of the lost weight when she was sick. So still worried. Ugh.

Eating Habits: Breastmilk every 3 hours, rice cereal, fruit, veggies, and/or meat 4-5 times a day.

Sleeping Habits: 2 Naps at 8:40am and 1pm, asleep for the night at 7pm

Health: Healthy once again!

Special Moments-
Best: A grill with the borja family... though you had your ups and downs!
Worst: Freak out crying at said grill when trying to get you to sleep

Other Observations/Activities: Next week (well actually Monday night) we are going to Kansas where you'll get to meet my side of the family. Everyone is soooo excited to meet you... but because of this we've been packing up, making lists, and we had a grill because we are leaving so everyone had a chance to see you before you gone (we'll be gone 2 whole months!). We had a good time but it was also super sad because even though I can't wait to see my family and can't wait for you to meet them you are just so used to everyone here and your routine here and plus dadas has to stay : (  but either way we have to go!

Also noticed on Saturday you're getting teeth! 3 at one time. Of course it had to happen right before our trip!

Pictures From This Week: 

Air Travel with Baby

Next week, Tuesday morning at 12am to be exact, I will be getting on a plane with Em and flying home to Kansas to see my family.

There are SO many great things about this statement. Like how she finally gets to meet her family from that side, which in just immediate family is 2 uncles, 1 aunt, 6 cousins, 3 grandparents, and 3 great grandparents. All of which are SO excited to meet her as well. The lower altitude helps growth and there is so many things, finger foods at least, that just don't exist here in Quito. And a million other things.

But there are bad things too. One, we're leaving dadas here for two and a half months! We'll be back before Christmas and her birthday but still, it's a LONG time.

Two, I hate flying. I'm afraid of it. As in, shaking in my seat and praying the whole time until we touch down terrified.  And I'm going with my 9 month old.

I don't want to go just because of this.

I'm not sure what happened. I used to love flying and then one time I just got on the plane and became a shaking pile of goo, tapping my seat, holding onto an old woman hand for comfort as she promised it was all going to be just fine. Yeah, that was me. So, yeah, not looking forward to the plane ride.

But in order to go home and see my family and have them meet Em, it's a necessary evil.

I'm trying not to worry but hello? I'm a mom. And I worry, even more than I did before. But I'm going to try anyway.

Anyway, even though I am afraid I have started packing because when you worry it's always best to get something done. Time goes faster and the worry isn't right there on the surface. Still there but not as noticeable.

So I decided to make a list. I don't want to take a lot of stuff aboard the place. That's just too much to worry about. I want to go with light and easy. This is what I've come up with... just for Em. For me, I used the one page packing list but am going to go ahead and check my bag anyway.

• Diapering Supplies
• 7 diapers (other websites say 1 for each hour plus extras. WHAT? I'm sorry but that's just plain ridiculous. I didn't use a diaper every hour when she was a newborn, and I'm not going to use that now. I picked 7 because I usually change her diaper about 6 times in 24 hours. We'll be traveling for about 12 hours)
• Travel wipes - package comes with about 48 wipes. Can't see us needing more than that
• Plastic bags - this could go in any section because it works for dirty clothes, spoons, diapers, and so on. A must have!
• Can't Live Without
• Bunny bear - Em's bear she sleeps with. CANNOT. LEAVE. WITHOUT.
• Small toy - for distracting
• Wrap - For Em to sleep in during the plane and to carry while going everywhere else
• Clothes
•  2 extra outfits. I'm going to Kansas and I have no idea what the weather will do. That's the beauty of Kansas! So I'm taking one for warm weather and one for colder weather.
• 1 pair of socks
• Pajamas - I think these are actually called rompers. Either way they are these footed pajama like things. I don't think I'll feel like unloading everything when I get home.
• Jacket - Just in case its on the chilly side
• Food/Drink
• 2 bibs
• 2 spoons
• Measured rice cereal
• Measured formula
• 2 bottles for mixing
• 2 food bowls with lids
• 4 baby food jars (1 meat, 1 veggie, 2 fruits) 
•  Miscellaneous
• Fever reducer
• Thermometer

Some maybe wondering what about a blanket? Well, I have a jacket for her and the wrap she'll be in will keep us both plenty warm. Not taking a car seat or stroller because we have those waiting for us when we arrive and I didn't buy her a ticket. Plus my car seat that we bought here isn't approved for air travel... or at least it doesn't have a sticker saying so. But as for everything else... Have I forgotten anything? Please let me know if you think so!

Also any advice??

Week Thirty Nine

Age today: 39 weeks

Age Being Posted: Weeks 38-39

Date: September 15 - 21

Diaper Size: 2 or Medium

Clothing Size: 3-6, 6, 6-9
   

Photo of the Week: 

Milestones: Cruising! You can now not only pull yourself up onto something but also you can "walk" around the furniture while holding on! It is just too much... I can't believe it

Development: Like I mentioned above, you are now cruising (walking while holding onto furniture) but that's not the only new things. When you get hurt or don't like something you say "ooooo" and scrunch up your  mouth. I'll have to post a short video of it. When you get mad you scrunch up your face and breathe in really fast like a little pig. When your happy you clap and giggle. When you want to go somewhere or show me something, you point at it. When I'm wrong you get mad and do face mentioned above, and when I'm right your happy. I guess what I'm trying to say is your communicating really well. I can read you easily now. It's wonderful, for both of us.

Concerns: weight - we'll see next week how it's going

Eating Habits: Breastmilk every 3 hours, rice cereal, fruit, veggies, and/or meat 4-5 times a day. Milk supply is back up and so no longer with formula - just a mixer for cereal

Foods Tried: nothing new this week

Sleeping Habits: 2 Naps at 8:40am and 1pm, asleep for the night at 7pm

Health: Healthy once again!

Special Moments-
Best: Another trip to calacali! We had a blast
Worst:Nothing!

Other Observations/Activities: We went to Calacali and stayed there Saturday night. You saw your family here and passed most of the time outside which you LOVE. You saw horses and cows and puppies. You showed everyone how great of a little crawler you are. You may be on the smaller side, but everyone comments about how fast you seem to do things. You are all better from being sick but for a couple days at the beginning of the week you had a rash and we did oatmeal baths for a few days. Definitely not a bath I felt clean after giving : )

Pictures From This Week: 

Week Thirty Eight

Age today: 38 weeks

Age Being Posted: Weeks 37-38

Date: September 8 - 14

Diaper Size: 2 or Medium

Clothing Size: 3-6, 6, 6-9

Size: Weight- 13lbs 8oz
   

Photo of the Week: 

Milestones: Little Em can actually crawl now. She's been army crawling for a while now but now she gets up on all fours and actually crawls!

Development:While growing in size is not what we expect it to be, you are growing in all other ways. You examine everything and take your time with your food, squishing and smashing and then finally eating it. You don't liked to be rushed whatsoever. It seems you've passed another wonder week and your learning about everything now. You may not be able to talk but you don't have to cry to get what you want. You point to something, or you hold something up for me to see. And you understand so much. I say "give that to me" and you do. I say clap and you do. You scream when people are talking like you want your chance in the conversation. It's so cute... but so loud!

Concerns:Weight and Being sick.

Eating Habits: Breastmilk every 3 hours, rice cereal, fruit, veggies, and/or meat 4-5 times a daytrying to introduce formula

Foods Tried:Nothing new this week

Sleeping Habits: 2 Naps at 8:40am and 1pm, asleep for the night at 7pm sometimes if you haven't eaten well we still do a dream feed.... just in case.

Health: Sick with a virus!

Special Moments-
Best: The little things, like screaming and laughing. I definitely missed them while you were sick!
Worst: You getting sick and having a fever!

Doctor's Appointment: We called the doctor on Thursday because you had a fever she said to call back in 24 hours to see if it was still present because you had no other symptoms. It was still there so we made an appointment for Friday. We did a urine test and it came back with nothing but she saw some redness in your through and some like, little balls of water (what are those called?).  She said it was some kind of virus going around and all we had to do was be on the lookout for other symptoms and keep the fever under control and the fever should be gone by sunday morning.  I hated you being sick but through all of it, it wasn't really what I was worried about. Babies get sick. It was the weight. It seems you lost 2 whole ounces!The doctor said it was because of being sick but I think that's a lot of weight for a baby to lose. So now I'm stressing out again. I've decided to add formula. I'm not giving up breastfeeding but I am going to add some formula because you need to gain weight and apparently I'm not enough. I mean I know you are eating other foods too, but milk is more important than solid foods during the first year so if you're not getting enough of that, its not okay. So we'll see how it goes...

Other Observations/Activities: We went to your god father last Sunday then dadas went to say bye to one of his friends from high school who is going to live the UK for a year. We didn't go, it was only boys, plus you were asleep : ) so mom stayed home with you and got some cleaning and writing done. Then, like I said before, you got sick on thursday so we didn't do much the rest of the week or the weekend.

Pictures From This Week: 

Week Thirty Seven

Age today: 37 weeks

Age Being Posted: Weeks 36-37

Date:  September 1 - 7

Diaper Size: 2 or Medium

Clothing Size: 3-6, 6, 6-9

Photo of the Week: Lounging Pool Side!

Milestones: No new milestones this week. Check out milestones for already passed.

Development:  You are obsessed with clapping and waving and pointing and it's all so cute! It amazes me how when you were first born just a little over 8 months ago you didn't even have control over your hands and feet and now your clapping! I think it's crazy. I bet every parent who watches a little one grow up does though. Your hair is finally all grown in, you no longer have a bald spot though it's still pretty thin in places. You've also gotten rid of the craddle cap. Finally! You sit, you crawl, you pull yourself up. Pretty soon your going to be walking around. I can't believe it!

Concerns: None

Eating Habits: Breastmilk every 3 hours, rice cereal, fruit, veggies, and/or meat 4-5 times a day

Foods Tried: Eggs, bread

Sleeping Habits: 2 Naps at 8:40am and 1pm, asleep for the night at 7pm with a quick waking at 11 for a dream feed sometimes! Sometimes mom goes to sleep to early for that but you'll still sleep until at least 530 it seems.

Health: Healthy

Special Moments-
Best: You sent kisses to grandpa!
Worst:Nothing really!

Other Observations/Activities:  We stayed in the house most of the week because dadas had a test today so he studied all week. We went to see your grandparents, of course, but other than that just around the house. We decided it would be better to buy our fruits/veggies for your food ever 3 days or so because we ended up throwing out alot of stuff so we found a nice little fruit store close by that we can go to if we need anything. It's much better that way.

Pictures From This Week: 

Week Thirty Six

Age today: 36 weeks

Age Being Posted: Weeks 35-36

Date: August 25-31

Diaper Size: 2 or Medium

Clothing Size: 3-6, 6, 6-9

Size: Weight- 13lbs10lbs
         Height- 65 cm
         Head C.: 42cm

Photo of the Week: 

Milestones: Clap hands

Development: You've always been your own little person, I know that, but now you are letting your wants known, quite loudly. There is no more picking you up and putting you in front of something new. You can remember things that you've left behind and still want. We get into little fights about it. You eat great most of the time. You aren't really distracted when nursing anymore but you get really distracted during meals. You grab the spoon and put it in your mouth. I can't just take the spoon away either to put more food on it. You have to give it back. Your pincher grasp is great is the getting the food to the mouth that needs work. More often than not you play with it instead of eating it. EVERYTHING else you pick up like that goes to your mouth though. Go figure. You're clapping now! I don't even have to clap for you to do it. I say "Em, clap." and you do and it's so freaking adorable!

Concerns: None

Eating Habits: Breastmilk every 3 hours, rice cereal, fruit, veggies, and/or meat 4-5 times a day

Foods Tried: Crackers

Sleeping Habits: 2 Naps at 8:40am and 1pm, asleep for the night at 7pm with a quick waking at 11 for a dream feed sometimes! Sometimes mom goes to sleep to early for that but you'll still sleep until at least 530 it seems.

Health: Healthy

Special Moments-
Best: Shopping! We went to pelileo and bought clothes and boots and everything. We all had a great time
Worst: Nothing I can think of. Some bad times, yes, but eh, nothing comes to mind as really bad

Doctor's Appointment: The doctor says she's gaining weight fine now but I'm still a little worried only because she's still not going up in percentiles. But she says its fine... I mean she's the doctor right? And I'm not worried about Em because she obviously is just fine but I don't know. I want her to gain more weight. She's out of three month clothes but still in 6 months and she's almost 9 months. Ugh. Anyway other than that everything was great. She can do everything she asked about and more. So obviously she's passing milestones like nothing.

Other Observations/Activities: like I said above we went to pelileo. We went with your grandparents and you got a pair of jeans and a jacket and some cute little gloves! The place is about three hours from here because of traffic and what not. Nursing wasn't the problem it was the other food. We brought everything except spoons! Dad had to go find some in a store. Oops!

Pictures From This Week: