Happy 6.5 months!

GORGEOUS green eyes!

Our little peanut is 6.5 months old. We had her six month wellness visit on December 19th. We drove to the pediatrician with high hopes that Kara had grown to at least 14 lbs. She was eating like a champ and she seemed "bigger" to us, but our hopes were quickly crushed when I placed her on the scale. Instead the scale read 12.3 lbs. A gain of only 4 ounces (she was 11.15 at 4 months old). I couldn't keep my emotions in as I walked back to the room. Chris took one look at my face and knew it wasn't good. The nurse confirmed it with the dreaded words, "her weight is off the curve." She walked out the room and I broke down in tears. How is this possible? I feed her ALL the time! Chris got me somewhat calmed down by the time the doctor came in, but there was no hiding the fact that I was upset and the doctor could tell as soon as she sat down. I again broke down into tears and she quickly read the chart.

She looked up, smiled and said. "Don't worry, mom. Kara is fine. She grew over an inch in length and her head circumference grew as well. She is just petite." But how is it possible to only gain 4 ounces when I feed her every 2 to 3 hours all day long? The doctor explained that some babies are just built smaller then others. We need to stop comparing. Which is something I think we are all guilty of doing from time to time. With Kara being our second child, we often compare her to what Ryan was doing at her age. For example, he was 16 lbs at six months old. I also feel pressure from family members concerning Kara's feeding schedule. It frustrates me that I get questioned as to why she eats so many times during the day, why is she so small, why haven't you started her on solids yet, you should have started cereal by now, when are going to give her a bottle already, etc., etc. I don't need the extra stress and sadly the constant questions add that stress. Anyone who has nursed their children will tell you that nursing the second time around is stressful enough. I am doing the best that I can and feel my child is getting the best nutrition by being breastfed exclusively for now. Thankfully the doctor agreed with me.

The doctor then proceeded to do the exam and told us that Kara was in perfect health. She is sitting in a tri-pod stance, she rolls, she babbles, she grabs objects and bangs them together. All in all, she is doing what she should be developmentally at this age. Kara was also in a great mood so the doctor got to see her "happy side". We agreed that starting Kara on cereal (which we had always intended to do at six months...there are many reasons why you should wait...allergies being the main reason to wait until after 6 months old) would be a good thing to start now and maybe it will help her put on a little more weight. She told us to keep trying the bottle, that eventually Kara will accept it. This baby is VERY stubborn! I wonder where she gets that trait from? :) Just to ease our minds, we go back for weight check in mid January.

Stats for six months are:

Weight: 12.3 lbs (gained 4 oz.)

Height: 25 1/4 (grew over an inch in length)

As far as the shots, I took Ryan to the bathroom and missed the crying. Chris said she screamed at first but calmed down even faster then last time. Good Job Kara!

We decided to wait until after the holidays to start a new routine that included cereal. Chris is home all this week so I was happy to have him there to help document her first cereal feeding. Yesterday (12.29), was the big day! We mixed some rice cereal and sat her in her bumbo. Snapped on the cute "K" for Kara bib that my aunt Geneva got her and....

She HATED it!

She took the first bite or two just fine....but then she started to freak out! She was seriously spitting it out as fast I was trying to get it in her mouth. Ugh. Well after a few spoonfuls of cereal that ended up either on her chin or bib, we gave up and decided to wait a day or two before trying again.


Kara has the craziest HAIR! Pictures do not do it justice. You need to see it in person to understand the color and thickness...or lack there of. It comes up like a dark brown or even reddish color in pictures but when you take a closer look at it, there is a combination of brown, red and blond?! She has very FINE hair but it is long. Just check out this photo of her "tail"....

Kara showing off her "sitting up" skills!

(and yes those are 6 month jammies that are still too big on her!)

Kara just being Kara...silly!

She may be petite but she has a BIG personality!

Christmas 2008 post coming tomorrow!