March 31, 2007

Mealtimes, Mullets and Monkey Business

The past couple of weeks have been a challenge around here. KT is going through some changes in her schedule (what little schedule she actually had before). Perhaps it would be better to say, she's been changing her routine. She had regressed back to eating every 90 minutes and hardly naps at all during the day. When she does nap, she wants to be held to go to sleep and will only sleep for 15 or 20 minutes. I had gotten to the point where I felt like she was always nursing or sleeping in my arms. She also will NOT go to C at all. If he has her she screams like no ones business and struggles to find me.

An appointment with my midwife last week -- for thrush and a clogged duct, major ouch -- brought us to a decision. Susan recommended that we try to start KT on cereal to help space out her feedings. At this point, she should be spacing her nursing sessions to every 2-3 hours. I was hesitant to start her on any solids until she was 6 months old. Maybe it was for selfish reasons, I'm not entirely sure. After some contemplation we decided to go ahead and give it a try. Sunday afternoon was the first attempt at it. At first she was unsure of what we were putting in her mouth, but after a couple of spoonfuls she began to gobble it down. She now grabs at your hand and pulls the spoon to her mouth! The feedings are spacing to 2 to 2.5 hours so either the cereal is working or we're doing a better job of figuring out her new routine!

Much to the chagrin of many, Miss KT got her first haircut the other night. Over the last couple of months her hair has been growing in really unevenly. There is a two inch patch on the top of her head that is really long -- like 3 to 3.5 inches long. But around that patch the hair is only about 1/2 an inch long. The left side was growing faster than the right and thicker too. But the worst offender was the mullet that was sneaking its way into our lives. She's got the typical bald spot that most babies do, and some "fuzzy" hair around it, The very bottom of her hairline, at the nape of her neck though was a good 2 inches longer than any of the other hair on the back of her head. Total redneck mullet. Although somewhat cute (and rather hilarious) it was starting to look shaggy overall. So after her bath on Wednesday, C held her on his lap and I went to town with the scissors. I just trimmed the sides so the left one was the same length as the right and cut the mullet off. Bad news was that we didn't get any pictures to commemorate the event as both of us had our hands full. Good news was that we did remember to save some of what I cut off for her baby book. In my opinion she looks so much better now!

She's also picked up on two new "habits" this week. She found her feet sometime this week and she's now fascinated with them. If they're not straight up in the air for her to stare at they're in her mouth being used as chew toys. It's a help when changing diapers because she keeps her feet up out of the mess, but is a challenge when trying to get her dressed. Her other new habit is her shreaking. She just makes these random shreaks, at nothing in particular but all the time. I think it's because she like to hear herself. For the first few minutes it's quite cute, but after 15 or 20 minutes it begins to lose the cuteness. Perhaps that's why I've been dealing with these headaches all week!

3 comments:

Nickie said...

at first I was concerned about introducing cereal this early, but sounds like she's ready for it! My son didn't gobble up solids for a few weeks when we started. Glad to hear this might be the right solution for KT.

Did you at least get pics of the mullet before the amputation? DS has this thin, dark hair that was about 1-1.5 in long all over and at about 2mo it started falling out from the top back and he ended up looking like a little old man with a bald top. Very cute, but glad it didn't last forever. Then the blonde stuff that replaced it took FOREVER to grow and he didn't get a haircut until after his 1st bday. Ok for a boy, but if he was a girl, it would have been tougher. Be glad that her hair seems to be growing fast.

Too funny on the shrieking! You can probably expect that she'll be a very vocal little girl - lucky you!! LOL

Sorry about the headaches - no fun.

Kristen said...

Darn mullet cutters! Nothing like a baby with a good mullet. :>) You'll have to post us some before and after pics.

It sounds to me like that little girl needed more food in her belly. Maybe she is just a bigger eater than the average baby. I hope this really helps even out her routine a little better. Sorry to hear about the headaches, that makes two of us this weeks. It sucks to be pg or bfing b/c all the good drugs are off limits.

Marz said...

My son was that clingy too at around 3 months of age. It lasted a few weeks. Someone said to try a sling but by the time I got he was out of the stage.
I started my son on cereal at 4 months as well. I know some parents wait till 6 months but he did fine with it. I'm going to do the same with my daughter too.
AWww... the first haircut. Hope you can post pics of "after"
I love it when they find their feet. I have a few pics of my son too with them in him mouth,so so cute!!!