Vaccinations, Acid Reflux and all things less than fun at the Doctor's Office...

Cyanne had her "2 month" check-up this morning (even though technically she's actually 9 1/2 weeks old now.)
The 2 month visit - as most of you know - brings shots. 4 of them! And two oral doses.
However, one of the oral ones was Infant Tylenol so that one was okay. Cyanne really wasn't sure what she thought of the cherry flavor. Quite different than milk, that's for sure!

Here's the update:
Weight: 10 lb, 1 oz.
Height: 21 1/2 inches (she grew 1 1/2 inches since the last visit)


The Ped. gave her an "A++" for this visit. =) Everything looked great.

We also then discussed some of our difficulties when feeding her as of late and he determined that she is experiencing some "acid reflux." Poor girl.
So, we are now equipped with some Zantac in liquid form that we're going to try and see if that helps her upset tummy.

Then... the nurse came in... bearing a tray of shots (4!! as I said above...) and the oral doses.
Cyanne was a trooper.
She was a very good little girl - she did cry - but stopped right away once the ordeal was over.
I did okay... =) (as did Tom). I didn't cry though it was hard and I had to fight it off as I was holding her, staring down into her little face and eyes as they filled with a look of shock followed rapidly by pain as she got each shot. I just felt so bad because she had no idea what was going to happen, what was happening, and why it was happening.
And we get to do it again in 2 months time.

She's been okay so far - we have the Infant Tylenol close at hand to give it to her if she gets fussy - but she seems to be handling it all well at the moment. Perhaps I shouldn't say that until we get past a couple of days so as not to jinx myself.

Just wanted to post this so you could have the update.

I will post several posts w/photos this weekend - we've had several "blog-worthy" events happen recently.
Plus she's getting pretty darn cute and that's reason enough, right?

Walk along the ocean

We grabbed "the BOB" and took Cyanne for her first walk along the ocean.
We ventured down to Cabrillo Blvd. and walked along the ocean first from the wharf down to East Beach and the back up all the way to the Harbor and then back to the car.
It started out sunny with blue skies and then turned dark with approaching clouds from the mountains.
Lucky had a fantastic time as an entirely new world of smells was his for the sniffing...
There were lots of people - we passed kids, bikes, Rollerbladers, a massive drum circle with all sorts of um, shall we say... eclectic dancers embracing the beats, families, dogs of all sizes, and a few other baby strollers.

Update with the Ped.

We went to the Pediatrician today as we had a question about 2 red spots Cyanne has been developing.
We got our questions answered (nothing bad - just 2 clusters of capillaries which are supposedly common in babies; they grow until 9 mos. and disappear by 2-3 years or so) but even better yet, we had another official weigh-in!

Currently:
8lbs, 9 oz. !!

She almost gave us 10 oz but said for today, 9 was a tad more accurate. =)

We're very happy with Cyanne's weight gain... it's what we like to see!

Next Ped. appt. and weigh-in: Nov. 30th.
We're gunning for the upper 9 lb. range.
Go Cyanne! (or in addition, I should say - go mom's milk production! =))

Recent Baby Shots

A few recents shots. She's definitely getting bigger!
And more alert... This is a shot post-burping... Ah, the relief =)


We're experimenting with the bottle. Another way in which Tom gets to lend a hand =).

A few shots in the evening when she's more awake... All clean post-bath. Or as some of you I know would say: "alive, alert, awake and enthusiastic!"

Sleeping...

Ah, the wonders of sleep. Even better yet, sleeping on Daddy's/Papa's chest...

The clothes are still a wee big - note the risque off-the-shoulder look she has going.








Sleeping with her hands up by her head is a favorite position these days...

Santa Barbara Grandparents

The other night, my parents brought us dinner and spent the evening hanging out with the three of us. We took some of the first photos of the two of them and Cyanne.

Cyanne was doing her "fight the power" arm move... But we got a quick face shot =).

Showers

There are things in life that I've always enjoyed.
Since having Cyanne, there are things that I've always enjoyed but prior to her birth, never really thought all that much about.
One of those things is showers.

I can't even tell you how much I now treasure taking a shower. It is such a luxury. Only when Tom is watching Cyanne can I run and hop in the shower.
I mean sure, before, I enjoyed taking showers - especially at night to help me fall asleep. (Falling asleep is not an issue now either... but that's another entry.)

But now... it is 10-15 minutes when I can close my eyes, try and relax, inhale the steam, and realize that for a few quiet minutes, I'm all by myself. It is a brief period during my day but one to which I very much look forward. Those of you with children (or those of you soon to have kids) I am sure know what I mean.

At this point in life, few things are better than hot hot water where the only sound is water pounding on the walls. That is - aside from watching Cyanne sleep on my chest seeing her breathe in and out softly. That is pretty amazing too.

Fall comes to Santa Barbara

We have had some very neat autumnal weather of late.
Tom spent Sunday afternoon reliving living on the East Coast by raking our lawn area -

we had enough leaves to make two pretty good sized piles. I had vivid flashbacks of opening up the Lake House and creating pile after pile of leaves and pine needles... =)
Lucky then enjoyed digging for the ball in the pile!
The weather has been very clear, cool, breezy, and sunny. The only thing we're missing are leaves with lots of color - we've got yellows and browns all covered!
Here are a few shots of our "fall colors..."

Cyanne's 4 Week Pediatrician Visit

Today we went to Cyanne's 4 week "wellness visit."
He was "extremely pleased" with her weight gain. She's now up to....
7 lbs 6 ounces!!
Yeah!

Tom & I were very happy to hear that she'd put on this much weight in the last 18 days (she'd been 5 lbs 9 oz at the last visit). Some of her preemie clothes are even seeming small - we might be able to progress into the 0-3 months clothes soon!

She grew an inch to 20". Her head also grew... not sure on those measurements.
All else looked okay which is good!
He also gave us the booklet on vaccinations - poor girl... which will happen at our next visit at the end of November.

She was very well behaved as he examined her. Good little girl she is =).
We apparently have a smile to look forward to within the next 2 weeks or so.
We also have an intense period of gassiness and fussiness for the next 2 weeks which we have been experiencing the last few days.
It's amazing the change really - since Friday she's been super gassy, upset, harder to soothe and the least fun part of all for Mom & Dad - doesn't sleep much at all. Two hours in a row is considered long these days... So we're feeling a bit tired, to say the least...

But - sleep deprivation aside - i'll take the excellent MD visit!

Her next visit - November 3oth - seems so far away. Post-Thanksgiving!
I'm sure though that if the upcoming weeks pass as quickly as the last four, it'll be here before we know it.

World Series Champs!!!!

Whoo-Hoooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Red Sox are the 2007 World Series Champions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Very very exciting!!!!!!

Tom & I just finished watching game 4.

It was quite a different experience than the 2004 World Series win where Tom & I were at John Harvards Brew Pub in Harvard Square surrounded by screaming fans who then poured out into Harvard Square - people everywhere, impromptu bands playing, cops watching with grins from ear to ear as people ran through the streets and the square...
Flash forward to our scene tonight as the final out was recorded -
Me nursing Cyanne on the couch with Tom sitting next to me, our glasses of water in front of us...
It was still very exciting... just, well, different. =)

I knew she'd be a Red Sox World Series baby. Her due date was Sat. the 27th - and in 2004, that's when the Sox won the WS... I had envisioned us at the hospital during the Series but I'll take nursing on the couch =)...

Again - YEAH!! Very exciting!!
Now they just need to resign Mike Lowell and NOT sign A-Rod!

I'm honestly very sad that now we have to wait until next spring to watch another baseball game. Watching ESPN SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight at 3 AM (among other times) while breastfeeding is not going to be nearly as much fun... At least the Patriots are kicking some serious ass!

Fires in Southern California

As I'm sure you've all seen on the news lately, Southern California has been experiencing lots of wildfires. We had a few days with really poor air quality - air filled with ash, smoke - generally gray and unhealthy to breathe. We kept the windows closed and tried to keep Cyanne out of it - especially since she was battling her first cold (not fun... but that's another story entirely).
However, due to the smoke in the air, the sunsets have been pretty incredible.
Here's a shot from our back porch - it doesn't nearly do it justice.

A few recent baby photos

For many years, friends who know me well have said "wow Kristen, I can't imagine how many photos you'll take when you have kids if you take THIS many now."
Well friends...
I hate to disappoint.

So... Here are a few recent shots of Cyanne.
Some sleeping. Some awake.

She's started to make lots of fun expressions (intentional and not), funny noises and sounds, and to look pretty darn precious when she's sleeping. (I love the side sleeping pose - ankles crossed, hands up by her face).

And a few shots from this morning...

Cyanne's meets part of her French family

Cyanne met her "first cousin once removed" (thanks Tom, for the family relation lingo) Louie Marie. He's promised to speak french to her... starting her French education early =).
She looks so small compared to him!

One shot of the two of them and one shot of Louie and Cyanne's great-grandmother, Lillian/Nanny!

Baby's First Bath

Cyanne had her first bath on October 12th.
An interesting time was had by all!


The water/bath experience was a little new and surprising at first, eliciting a few cries and vocal protests... but then she decided that it wasn't so bad.
Tom, Anne & I just took a little too long!
A few photos during the bath process... and one at the end with Tom holding her that cracks me up.
It's quite the look from her... as in "Daddy, what did you just put me through? You think this is fun?! You can't fool me..."

Visit from Cyanne's Grandparents!

We had a wonderful visit with Anne & Richard who flew out from Cooperstown to see their new (and 1st!) grandchild two weeks ago. They had to buy tickets quite a bit sooner than they (and we!) thought they would...
I suppose it's a
good thing they didn't already have tickets to come at the end of October!
It was so special and helpful to have them here with us. Richard was here for a long weekend while we were lucky enough to have Anne stay with us for 10 whole days!!! I'll say it here and again later, we were all very sad to see her go and want them to come back soon!
We enjoyed their company, love, and support - as well as their help. So helpful those Blabeys! Tom recruited Richard to help with some curtain hanging, the staining of a huge armoire... Anne was roped into baby diapering, laundry, cooking, cleaning, and a few hours of baby rocking and soothing =).

Cyanne loved meeting her grandparents - even though most of the time she had her eyes closed. It was really interesting to see how much more alert she became as the week went on. Amazing what getting rid of some jaundice and upping the food intake will do!
As I said above, we loved having Tom's parents visit and cannot wait for them to come back. Anne & Richard - if you're reading this... we miss you!! Cyanne asks each and every day when you're going to come back and visit. She'd like to put on a request for another visit & promises the airlines and weather will cooperate this next trip!!
Here are a few shots of the new grandparents with the newest Blabey Baby.