Monday we had Fiona’s 6 month check up. I can’t believe she’s already 6 months old! Because we didn’t bring her home until the end of July, I still think of her as being a 4 months old. Her pediatrician is very pleased with her progress. She weighs 13 1/2 pounds and is 24 1/2 inches long. Her head is 16 1/4 inches around. She is a very average sized 4 months old, or a very small 6 months old. He considers her 6 months and is not adjusting her age because he thinks her small size is not due to prematurity, but to the small stature of her mother. He also feels her movements and behaviors (she took hold of his stethoscope while he was listening to her breathe) are more like those of a 6 months than a 4 months old baby.
She has really good head strength and control and mouth movements. She is a rolling fool, and I can no longer leave her lying on her mat while I make dinner because she will roll onto her tummy and stay there and then whine. She is also trying to crawl. She moves around and tries to get to things she cannot reach and has started playing with toys while on her tummy. She likes to touch everything, and scratch things with her nails (I think it’s her way of exploring texture). She becomes easily fascinated with very small details and patterns, such as the weave of our couch or the little paisleys on her burp cloth. I am finished wearing earrings or necklaces around her because she will pull on them, especially if they dangle. She also likes pulling on my hair (I am not so fond of that development). The other day, she grabbed her foot and held onto it while I changed her diaper.
She grabs things, plays with toys, likes to explore my face, and has started reaching for me and following me when I move across a room. She vocalizes and gives us lots of wonderful gummy grins. She laughs. She chews on her hands and is showing interest in what I eat.
We discussed solids and I will probably start her sometime this month. First I have to buy a spoon for her and then we have to make sure she can sit in her high chair.
She also has begun teething. Her gums are puffy, she drools puddles, and she chews on everything.
She received her 6 month vaccinations and a flu shot. She was such a champ, very little crying, got over it fast. Later in the afternoon it must have hit her because she began screaming and didn’t stop for two hours! Nothing seemed to help her; we tried a bath, rocking, nursing, going outside, different rooms, lights on, lights off, cold things in the mouth, etc. At the same time I was trying to work on a final exam that was due today. I felt so badly for her, at last I gave her half a dose of baby acetaminophen and some Gripe Water. She eventually fell asleep, and slept really well last night, but when John brought her in for me to feed at 4:30 in the morning (it was her first meal of the day, she basically slept through the night), she felt really hot.
We took her temperature and indeed, she had a fever. 104 degrees Fahrenheit. I gave her baby acetaminophen. She slept all day, only waking to nurse. She still had quite the temperature a few hours later so I gave her another dose. By evening, she was fine. The whole time she had a fever, she still smiled at me and played, but was more sluggish than usual. It was odd, having a baby with a fever who was not sick. Her doctor’s office told me she was having a perfectly normal reaction to the shots she received yesterday and to bring her for a visit only if the fever persists for more than two days. I am glad we are weathering this little storm. I feel proud of the way I reacted both yesterday and today. I did not freak out or get really anxious. I simply dealt with the situation. I also finished the final exam on time.
Here are some recent photos of her:
Right before I took this photo, she spit up into the middle of this rattle. I think it and the mat have been washed almost as many times as Fiona has.
She still looks so serious sometimes. I’ve decided that I am not ready for her to teeth or have teeth. The teething could last for months, so I can live without it, but I am not ready to lose those grins of hers. I love the big, ear to ear gum filled smiles. They make me so happy. She smiles at me first thing in the morning or after a nap. She opens her eyes, looks at me, and smiles. And it melts my heart. Or when she is having fun, splashing in the bath and laughing. I am not ready to lose that. She is growing up so fast. I can’t believe one day she will be walking and talking.
At least she still likes to sleep on her Daddy. I think they’ve really bonded lately.
