Journal
DECEMBER 13TH, 1997
Reflections as Julia approaches 3 months...
Julia is almost 3 months old. It has gone by sooooo quickly. So many things that I want
to remember and cherish. So I made myself stop what I was doing (making bottles) and
start on this Journal. Julia is playing very contentedly in her cradle. She is laying on her
back and playing with a toy bar that stretches across and hooks onto both sides of the
cradle with Velcro. I am utterly amazed at how long her attention span is. She played
with it last night, very contentedly for a long time. And is now too while I make bottles.
This is the first time I didn't make bottles at night. I usually do it right after she finally
goes to bed. But I had enough for this morning and was so tired last night and didn't have
to go anywhere this morning so I went on to bed last night and saved them for this
morning. Julia slept from about 12 midnight last night until 8 a.m. this morning! New
record I think. And she has been waking up in such a good mood the last couple of weeks
which is such a switch from the past when she would be screaming usually at 3 am and
again at 6 a.m. and Mark and I would fly around like crazy people getting her changed and
fed while she continued to scream at the top of her lungs. She is soooo much calmer now.
The two nights before last she went to bed at 10:00 with no fuss. Amazing. Used to be
she would scream and fuss for hours. And she would fall asleep while I was holding her
only to awaken screaming the minute I tried to lay her down in her bed.
She started a little fussing just now and I checked her and she had a wet diaper. Another
major transformation. She used to scream at the top of her lungs every time she was wet.
Now only a little fussing. She is now in her wind up swing. She didn't like it too much at
first but she does now. Sometimes it will rock her to sleep. I think she is a little sleepy
right now.
She is really growing. Most of the 3/6 month outfits fit her perfect now. Also, some 6/9 month fit too. I like her in pink the most. Also, like the outfits with feet in them especially at night as she sometimes kicks off her socks and covers.
Talked to Mom on ICQ while nursing. Starting to think about packing for trip north.
Can't believe it's only one more week. Considering how to maybe pack Julia's cradle. If it
will fit in van or on top, I think we could put other things in it and it wouldn't take up
much space. Julia really likes to sleep in it as well as play in it. She is sleeping in it now.
I finished the bottle making and now on to the laundry.
Mark is working at the studio today. Wonder if this will be one of his last sittings. Think
he is seriously considering finding a new job come January. I'll really miss the studio, but
it is just too much work for the modest income. Especially since I am too tied up to help
him much. It is really too much for one person, but not enough revenue to hire help. A
dilemma.
Julia is soooo beautiful to me. I could just spend hours and hours watching her.
Particularly when she is asleep, she looks like a little angel. Even when she pouts or cries
it is fascinating to me. I got some of that on video this week. I want to remember it too.
Especially the face she makes when she first starts to get upset. She pokes her bottom lip
out and it is soooo precious. Her little hands fascinate me too. She held my finger
moments after she was born and continues to do so every day since, especially when I'm
feeding her. I love it. Her little fingers are so tiny but perfect and surprisingly strong.
Julia still is not on the "four hour" feeding schedule that I always heard/read about. She
usually is hungry about every 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 hours during the day with a long stretch at
night. In the beginning when I was breast feeding exclusively it was every 1 - 2 hours day
and night. I felt like I was feeding her continuously. I supplement with breast feeding
now about 3 times a day and more often on the weekend although many times she will
only want to breast feed for a few minutes and then still want her bottle. I told Mark
yesterday whoever writes some of those manuals is full of it. We still laugh about how I
thought breast feeding would be soooo easy. One book said you could just roll over and
nurse, not even wake up really. Right.
Julia has an appointment with the Pediatrician Monday - 3 month check up. Visiting Dr.
Smith has been quite an experience. Mark and I liked him a lot when we interviewed him
when I was about 6 months pregnant. He was recommended to us by my O.B. Dr.
Ricketson, who I now consider to be a Saint. (Sideline: I need to go back and write a
summary of Julia's birth too sometime soon. I have notes, but not complete story written
down.) Anyway, back to Dr. Smith. We paid him $140.00 after the interview to book
him to check Julia after her birth at the hospital. He came to see her the day she was born
and he checked her out - up one side and down the other. He seemed VERY rough to
me. Since then it has been sort of up and down with him. Last month visit was sort of
strange. He suggested that we paint Julia's fingernails different colors. Goal to help her
play with her hands more. Well we didn't but did put ribbons and rattles on sometimes.
Insurance does not cover any "well baby" check ups. So we are not sure we want to pay
the $60.00 Monday to have him tell us things we're not going to do anyway. He also
advocates letting babies cry a good bit more than I. So we didn't take his advice on that
either and everything turned out fine. ( i.e. Julia is sleeping through the night like a pro
which he led us to believe would never happen unless we let her cry.) Do like to keep up
with Julia's weight, etc. so guess we will continue. Last month she received 4
immunizations (3 shots, one in each thigh and one in the behind, and one oral) We both
cried. Next immunizations aren't until 4 month visit I think.
Dr. Smith also suggested something called Swooping, which we do. It is lifting Julia up in the air and swaying her all around. She loves it. Supposed to help development of coordination. So maybe he does have some good ideas. Who knows.
Vivian at work is pregnant. So I hope I will be able to be as helpful and supportive for her
as she was for me during my pregnancy. She is 30 and has two boys. The youngest is 8
years old the other 10 years old. She'll have her hands full.
I think Julia will be it for me. It will be all we can do physically and financially to keep up with her and Thomas.
Thomas turned 15 years old this week (December 8th). He has his learner's driving liscense. Scares me to death. He continues to do well in school and church youth group. We look forward to hearing him sing in the upcoming church Christmas program.
Julia loves music. We have a Winnie the Pooh sing along cassette and a book with all the classic songs. She loves Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and The Einsey Winsey Spider most so far. Also, she has just become more interested in looking at books. I have been reading to her since birth, but she never showed much interest until this week. We were reading a Precious Moments Book and she was fascinated with all the children in it. Also she likes the babies in Anne Geddes books. I guess Beatrix Potter's drawings might be a little advanced for her still because she doesn't look at them as much. She seems to really like children and babies. She is also discovering her hands and feet. And likes looking at herself in the mirror. Oh, if only she and Annie could talk to me for a day. I wonder so much what is going through their minds.
Looking forward to Christmas at Mom and Dad's and introducing Julia to her Great Grandma Dalrymple, Great Grandpa Newton, Uncle Jon and Aunt Kellie, Aunt Lisa, Uncle Scott, Great Uncle Jim, Great Uncle David and Great Great Aunt Jo. Wow.
PLANS FOR UPCOMING WEEK (December 15-21)
MONDAY 12-15...
Julia - 2:00 - Dr. Appointment - 3 month Check up.
No shots scheduled :-)
Wonder if Dr. Smith will chew us out for not
painting Julia's fingernails???
TUESDAY 12-16...
Annie and Pam Visit Nursing Home with group
from our Vets office. Annie will be dressed as Santa Paws.
This will be our 3rd annual visit. They call it Pet Therapy.
FRIDAY 12-19...
Office Party at Pelham Board of Education and Last day of work for me until Jan. 5th!!
SATURDAY 12-20...
Take Julia to see Santa Claus at the Albany Mall. Pictures and video.
Pack Van for trip to Indiana!
SUNDAY 12-21...Christmas with Harris Family
More Packing