I Love Bananas!

On Tuesday, Palmer had her first taste of bananas…they were a huge hit!

When she was born, I thought I wanted to follow everything “by the book.” You soon find out that that rarely happens and the child will lead you (in everything!!!) We learned through baby class, books, and the public health nurses that “babies aren’t to have solids until 6 months.” And I was told numerous times that we should be waiting the extra month (because she was a preemie) to introduce solids until one doctor told me otherwise, and it made so much sense! Why start formula at 5 months if they are showing interest in food or look hungry when you can start solids?

Eagerly awaiting my first taste of bananas!

Palmer met a lot of the criteria for starting solids, so I figured why not? If she wasn’t ready, she would let us know. She was staring at our food as we ate, she was between 4-6 months, and she had more than doubled her birth weight.

She loves bananas! Avacados are next on the list!

Positional Plagiocephaly: Part I

We have been struggling with Palmer’s Positional Plagiocephaly for a few months now.  Positional Plagiocephaly is that flattening of the head due to positioning of the head, whether in utero or after birth. Palmer’s started after birth. A combination of decreased neck muscle strength and torticollis (tightness of neck muscles on one side of neck making it difficult to turn head opposite way) and being premature (therefore having softer bone structure) is likely the cause of her Plagiocephaly. They say Plagio is strictly cosmetic and there is no need to worry about any type of brain or head development issues.

I can’t recall exactly when we started to notice it, but I know it was around 2 months because the public health nurse made a mention of it. We started seeing a physiotherapist about it but it wasn’t really what I expected. There were no exercises being done by her (I thought she would try doing some neck ROM exercises or something to loosen up the muscles). Instead, she was just giving us suggestions of things we could be doing at home – which I was already doing. Her main ideas were:

-          Keep her off her head (no kidding?)

-          Try to do side play and side sleeping for naps on a hard surface (how well do you like to sleep on a hardwood floor?)

So, as you can see, her main suggestions were things anyone could figure out.  So our last appointment with her was Monday. We have now started something called Craniosacral Therapy (CST) and Chiropractic work. CST an alternate therapy that focuses on regulating the flow of cerebrospinal fluid by using gentle touch and massage to manipulate the joints of the skill. After doing some research about it (and one of the girls from my Baby Group suggested it as her mom is a Craniosacral therapist) we thought we would give it a try. There is nothing more that can be done until Palmer is 6 months anyways, when the next step would be to wear a helmet (which we are strongly trying to avoid due to cost and really, who wants their kid wearing a helmet 23 hours a day??)

So, we have had one treatment of the craniosacral therapy and I have already noticed a difference in Palmer's neck strength. She still favors looking left but I notice she is able to more easily turn her head to the right and when she sleeps now, it’s not always pointed left either! Huge steps! So, we are going to give this a try for awhile and see how we do. If we decide to go the helmet route, its best to get one on around 6 months because the bones are still malleable. 

April 26, 2013




June 17, 2013.
I think it has gotten slightly worse over time due to the fact she
is sleeping 10-12 hours at a time and she is lying on the flat spot nearly the whole time.

Trip to Ontario

We made a trip out to Ontario back in May to visit Mitchell’s family and pick up a car for his dad. This meant we flew there and drove back. I really was thinking to worst – who is crazy enough o drive 30 hours with a not-quite 4 month old?  WE WERE! I was crazily surprised at how well she did. Only 1 meltdown the whole 30 hour drive back, and of course it was when mom was driving!

This was Palmer’s first time to Calgary to see Aunty Candice’s condo. We had to spend the night because our flight was at 6:00am. I was a little worried about the plane ride but got some good advice before we left. If she cries, who cares? She’s a baby. Don’t let what other people think bother you. If you need to walk up and down the aisle a few times, do it. Luckily, Palmer was such a good little flyer, we didn’t have to. We were lucky enough to have 3 seats in a row and put her car seat in the seat next to the window. She slept nearly the whole flight until about 45 min left when she got hungry!

First airplane ride

We spent about a week in Ontario, visiting family, shopping, and went to a Jays game. Palmer had many firsts this trip: first plane ride, first train ride, first baseball game, first time meeting great-grandparents.

Palmer and Nanny

Palmer and Papa

Nanny, Papa, Daddy, and Palmer

First train ride

Blue Jay's game

                                

Then, after a week of visiting, came the dreaded over 3000km drive home. But, to be honest, as far as Palmer was concerned, it really wasn’t that bad! Ya, it sucked being in a car for that long, but the first couple days, the drive went by reasonably quick! We did a stopover in Chicago to do some shopping - wasn’t great though, and were back on the road before noon. Did another stopover in Fargo, ND and one final stop in Swift Current, SK to stay with Grandma and Grandpa for the night! Seriously though, it wasn’t that bad! Palmer did great!



Map of oour 3000km drive





Palmer with Uncle Troy at Grandma and Grandpa's house

4 Months: Palmer's Life

Palmer had a busy busy 4^th month. Lots of new skills, did a TON of travelling, and slept some more!

4 months

4 months old, 13lbs 13 oz, 23.6 inches

Sleep:

At 15.5 weeks old, Palmer first started sleeping through the night and since then has almost consistently slept 10-12 hours a night! We couldn’t be happier! We have a good bedtime routine now: about 7:30 or so we do bath time, put our bedtime lotion on, read a story or two, eat and by 8:00pm-8:30pm, Palmer is in bed. No fuss. No crying. Maybe plays with her feet for a minute or two, but is often out for the night and doesn’t wake until between 6-7am. Some days we get lucky and she sleeps until 9:00am. Who wouldn’t love that?? And, she wakes up every morning with huge smiles!

We usually get a morning nap in about 10:30 for an hour and an afternoon nap around 1:30 for an hour. Let me tell you, she doesn’t just take after daddy with her looks. This girl loves to sleep!

New Skills and Development:

One thing that really sticks out during this time is sucking her thumb! This girl can’t get enough of it, but I know it’s been our lifesaver during the night. No soother to find. No rocking her back to sleep. She soothes herself with her thumb and is sleeping again in no time!!

Our little thumb sucker!

Palmer found her toes this past month too! She forever has them up in the air, waving them around, like she just don’t care.

Palmer is putting EVERYTHING in her mouth! Her hands. Her blankets. Her toys. My hair. Anything she can get her little paws on! With this, comes drool! Lots and lots of drool!

She makes all kinds of noises too. Gah’s, ooohs, and everything in between. I love listening to her just go on and on, making absolutely no sense to us, but it sure makes her happy!

Palmer’s Favorites:

Palmer enjoys watching TV. She will sit with daddy and just watch a hockey game. I think it’s all the flashy lights and fast movements.

She loves being in her jumparoo. She was a little small for it up until 4 months, but now she is just mesmerized the by noise-making zebra on the front. She squeals and talks to it the whole time she’s in it! 

Her little personality really is starting to emerge. For the most part, she is a happy, content little girl but if she’s unhappy, she sure lets you know it!!!

3 Month Pictures

Our little bean at 3 months old. 13lbs (in the 50th percentile - all caught up!!!!)