Talking Baby

Obviously Adeline must think it's hilarious to watch herself on video.  Here she is watching herself on video on my phone.  My guess is that she's so excited to have finally found someone who speaks her language!

Fashionista

Because every girl needs a little frill in her life...

Growing Girl

Like all moms I found myself putting away Adeline's clothes that are too small for her all the while reminiscing over the days when she wore them.  Now I'm a math person so I clearly know that my child is only four months old so "those days" really weren't that long ago.  But she's had a jam-packed four months and has come so far.  Being the petite thing that she is (by the way, weight check today and she's up 9 ounces in 11 days!), I thought I'd just have a few things to pack away, especially since we didn't have many newborn things for her since she spent a month in the hospital.  Oh but I was wrong.  I filled an entire box of clothes that are too small for her - maybe it's a girl thing and having too many clothes??  As I packed away each outfit, I thought of the first time she wore many of her clothes.  I was most sentimental over the clothes she first wore in the hospital, especially since she didn't wear any clothes for weeks.  It was such a big deal for me to finally be able to put her in clothes.  To me that was a sign that we were close to going home.  Looking at those tiny newborn clothes, I couldn't believe that she ever actually fit into them.  And now that she's moving into 6 month clothes, it seems like just yesterday that I was looking at them thinking she'd never grow into them.  I'm sure this is one of countless mommy sentimental moments.

I know every mother says it, but I still can't believe she's growing so quickly and becoming her own little person.  Just today Andrew peeked in on her while she was napping and made that comment that she's getting so big.  Adeline has such a fun personality and is a very easy baby (minus the rough nights we've had lately).  In just the past week she is grabbing EVERYTHING - my glass, hair, phone, any toy in front of her, you name it.  Quite a few times she's managed to smack herself in the face with a toy, but I'm not so sure that's something to brag about :)  She's become a professional bubble blower and is making all kinds of new noises.  And just like her mama, she's nosey and doesn't want to miss a thing.  Before I know it, she's going to be chasing Cooper around the house!

And for the record, I hate reflux, but that's all I need to say about that.

Chillin in her high chair - no food yet - just playing with toys

She LOVES to shake this ball

Pulling the sunglasses back out, but she didn't want to keep them on!

Not sure what this looks means...

We were playing dress up with her bow

And the tongue...always out

4 Months and Double Digits

It's hard to believe that Adeline is four months old!  It's so exciting to watch her learn new things and explore the world around her, but at the same time I keep telling her to slow down.  She may be a tiny little thing, but she is getting so big!  Adeline has finally hit double digits - at her appointment yesterday she was 10 lb 4 oz!  That would put her in the 1st percentile on the growth chart.  I was just excited that she was actually on the chart because I was worried she wouldn't be.  Some days I worry about her weight, but her pediatrician reassured me that she's very healthy and not to worry - she's just petite :)

Here are some things Adeline's up to at 4 months...
- she loves sitting in her bumbo and playing with toys
- everything goes straight to her mouth
- she has given us a few giggles, but she's pretty stingy on them compared to how readily she gives out smiles
- she'll roll from her tummy to back
- she'll roll to her side when trying to reach a toy she wants
- stares at Cooper all the time (I think they're both trying to figure out what the other one is)
- is very observant
- "talks" to us and gets upset if we don't understand her
- started going to story time at the library this week and so far I think she likes it

She's the best thing to happen to us!

And of course, lots of pictures...

Love that smile :)

With her new dog that she got from Santa

Can't help but laugh at this one.  It was a little cold so we brought the hat back!

Having a little cuddle time with Cooper

Sharing secrets maybe?

Petting Cooper's ear

Checking out her new doll - almost as big as she is!

Firsts

There have been lots of firsts around here lately...

First time in the bumbo...I think the verdict is still out on this one

Finally pushing up, and she rolled 3 times the other day - not a fluke in my book!

Happy girl seeing Santa for the first time!  Obviously she loved the big guy!  I'm sure next year's picture will be one of a screaming Adeline

Wearing her Christmas tutu...yes I know it's a little much, but it came as part of the outfit!  (Notice Cooper had to get in the picture as well)

First neighborhood Christmas party 

Doing her leg exercises with her leg warmers on, but her legs are too skinny to keep them up :)

And our Christmas tree fell yesterday...that was a first...but sadly no pictures to document.  We still have to redecorate it or at least enough to make it look good in pictures.  I'm assuming next year Andrew will have it rigged up and tied to the walls.  

We're so excited to be celebrating Adeline's first Christmas as she is such an amazing gift.  Merry Christmas!!  

The Week of Doctors Appointments

I'm sure that Adeline is happy to know her week of doctors appointments is over!  On Tuesday, we drove to Charleston for her repeat swallow study and to see ENT.  As we made the drive into Charleston, parked in the parking garage, and walked in the hospital, I felt like I had made that walk the day before.  But this time was different as I pushed Adeline in her stroller knowing that we would be leaving that afternoon.  Even the soap in the bathroom brought back so many memories.  It's crazy how your senses kick in with memories.  As we walked in, we ran into the cardiac PA on the step-down unit.  It was good to talk to her and for her to see Adeline.

Adeline passed her swallow study with flying colors so she is now able to have thin liquids.  This means no more rice cereal in her bottles!  She is able to have regular breastmilk, and I'm allowed to breastfeed but that's a story for another day...let's just say lots of little baby steps in that effort.  Instead of 20-30 minutes, feedings now only take about 10.

Between appointments we enjoyed a nice lunch, and even though Andrew wanted to eat in the cafeteria, I convinced him to eat at a restaurant across the street :)  Much of life at MUSC appears the same except that the large tree in the horseshoe is now decorated for Christmas.

ENT rescoped Adeline to check on her left vocal chord paralysis.  She screamed of course proving to him that she's much louder than she previously was :)  He wasn't able to see her left vocal chord moving, but he was able to see the muscle that moves the vocal chord moving so that was very encouraging.  Clinically, all the doctors are concerned with is her ability to swallow thin liquids.  He said she's compensating well and is probably 50% of the way recovered.  Adeline does not have to see ENT again unless something comes up, yay!  He did mention that she might not have that great of pitch distinction, but it's not like we expected her to have much musical talent when you consider her genes. 

Yesterday, Adeline saw her cardiologist, and he said she looks great!  She won't have to see him again for 3 months!  After that, she had to have a repeat hearing screening because she's considered at-risk because of spending weeks in the hospital and being on heart-lung bypass during surgery.  She passed the screening and will have screenings about every six months for a few years.  If she's like me, she'll have great ears though and hear everything.

Hopefully no more doctors appointments for Adeline in 2011 and no more visits to MUSC even though we are very thankful for it.  She's learned to be quite leery of any doctors office.  Now it's time to finally get the house all decorated for Christmas and start new holiday traditions for little Adeline.

Not quite sure what this face is 

Can you tell she was mad after being scoped by ENT??  She had this look on her face for a good 30 minutes.  

Big tree in the MUSC horseshoe decorated for Christmas

All Smiles

I'm a little late on posting Adeline's 2 month stats from her last visit to the pediatrician - she's up to 9 pounds 3 ounces (but even more now)!  Yes I know that many babies are born this big, but considering the little peanut she was and what all she went through, her weight is fantastic!  She might only be in the 4th percentile, but she's a growing girl :)  She makes up for it in her height - 55th percentile!  Don't know where that height comes from at all!  She was a brave little girl during her shots but then screamed for a good few hours.  She was back to her happy self the next day.

Adeline's latest trick is that she's turned into a little Houdini.  She somehow manages to either move all the way down her crib or turn 90 degrees at night.  We're not sure how she does this, especially considering she's swaddled, but I'm not willing to sit up all night and watch her to figure out how.

Having Adeline in our lives has blessed us with more than we could have ever imagined.  We are incredibly thankful to have a happy, healthy baby girl.  Seriously, she smiles ALL the time, and I can't ever get enough of it.  Sometimes she gives a little smile, but more often she gives a huge smile with her whole face and ends up shaking her head back and forth with excitement.

Daddy's girl sportin her rattles (Andrew calls them her workout bands)

 And a series of pictures with her many expressions...

We are looking forward to a Thanksgiving week spent with lots of family, where I'm sure she will be spoiled.  According to Andrew's grandma, she's not even sure why she's concerned about food because  she knows no one will care about the food - they'll just be happy to see Adeline!  I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!