Growth Spurt?

Alecia - posted on 12/16/2008

Hi! I'm a Christian too! So no worries! We go to a Catholic church just half a block away from our house! Which is very nice walking distance. I love music! I used to play the Clarinet in junior high for 4 years! Then I started taking paino lessons, but stopped; not sure why either. I think because I ddin't have a keyboard to practice on at the time, and then for Christmas after I kinda quit lessons, my boyfriend at the time (now my husband) bought me a keyboard. So I feel bad for not using it now. But maybe someday I'll learn again. I can play the top notes, just not the top and bottom together! LOL!



My daughter has figured out that little trick about crying and then we come and pick her up. Unfortunatly I do try and not do that too much, but I hate listening to the crying. So after about 10-15 minutes I just give up, sometimes it's sooner than that. It's heartbreaking to hear, and then I think well maybe she's got a stomach ache, or is hungry or needs to be cuddled to sleep. It's a mom thing I think =) We're just programed to pick up and comfort our children when they're crying or hurt. I do hope it is just a phase though. It doesn't matter where Rebekah is at, could be in the swing, on the floor playing or on my bed and she still cries if she wants to be picked up or wants something. It does get frustrating at times; I just want to scream! But then I try and calm myself down and things get better. I know your own mom makes comments, mine does too (plenty); I know where you're coming from on that. But the fact is, is that your the mom now and you just do what's best for you no matter what anyone else says. That's what I have to do, or else I just end up feeling like a bad mom. It's hard being a first time mom, not knowing everything and all. It just takes trial and error; sometimes more error but that's how we learn! With the pacifier, I got lucky and Rebekah used to use them, and now she doesn't at all anymore. She doesn't like them at all anymore. I don't know why, but one time I tried it when she was like a month old or so and she didn't want it. But recently she has found her thumb! Her left thumb to be exact! So I think she may be a lefty. I have heard from other moms that the pacifer is actually easier because once you take it away it's gone forever! And if she sucks her thumb then it's always there! So take your pick of lesser evils i guess. I was a thumb sucker til i was 3 and i have a cousin who sucked her thumb til she was 5! My mom tried everything too; putting different things on my thumb to try to get me to stop but I didn't. What my aunt did for my cousin was instead of having her suck her thumb she had her take her thumb and first finger and make an O shape and put it around her mouth. That way you still got the sensations without sucking the thumb and that's what worked. So I hope I don't have that problem with Rebekah; but we shall see about that. Maybe slowly take away the pacifier; like use it only when she naps or just to help go to sleep and then when she is asleep take it out of her mouth. You know like use it for just "certain" times. Maybe that will wean her off of it. But you can talk to your docotor about that too. Those are just some ideas.



I hope your daughter doesn't have an ear infection. I've heard that the ears get red, they tug on them, and everytime you lay them down they scream! Does she do any of that? If so I'd talk to your doctor. Lately my daughter has still been very crabby. She has her good days and bad. Let me know what your doctor says about the solids. I wonder if my daughter is ready. A couple days ago she had red cheeks and then yesterday I notice that she had red splotches under her knees, on her arms, legs, and back. Not sure if this is a reaction to food, shots, or the new lotion I decided to try (huggies, scented). What do you think?



My husbands family lives just a couple blocks from us. So just a hop, skip and a jump away you could say. And the same distance from where my mom and sister live. My parents are divorced and have been since 2004. My dad lives in Hays, MT and my brother is going to college in Havre, MT which is 90 miles away from Hays. My husband is 27 going on 28 in March. So we have an age gap too. Five years. So I know what you mean, we don't notice it either. I met him when I was 13 going on 14. And you could say we sort of "dated". But my dad and his parents had a cow about it, so for awhile we weren't allowed to see each other; which was very hard and heartbreaking. But after about 6 months to a year, things got a little better and I was older by then and so it worked out. My husbands parents also split about two years after my folks did. So that's been interesting. We got married July 1, 2006 right when his mom left 3 days before my bridal shower. That's how I remember =( What about you? When did you get married?



I hope Rebekah will be able to handle the early Christmas with my husbands relatives too. Rebekah is the 6th grandchild on my husbands side and the 1ston my side. She kinda made history in my husbands family becasue all of my husband's dad's sisters all had boys first and even his dad himself had boys first before a girl. And even the two sister in laws had boys first. So when I had a girl, she was the first Ellerkamp girl to be born first! There is currently only 2 Ellerkamp girl cousins so far. We shall see what the other two have in May! I think they would both like girls =)



Well talk to you later!

Tiffany - posted on 12/15/2008

Let's see...where to start. Currently it is 10pm and I just put my daughter down for the night. She is fussing in bed. She doesn't want to sleep now. Most night she goes right down. Not sure what is up tonight. I am nervous that she might have an ear infection. She tugs on her right ear alot. I read in the book that it could be one of three things, either an ear infection, teething or a bad habbit. I might call the doctor in the morning. So question that i was wondering...i read in books that it says at this stage to go to your child when they are crying but my mom (you know makes her comments) and says that if you go to them all the time they will start to know that they just have to cry to get their way. What is your opionion(sp)? Also do you use a pacifer with Rebekah? Tessa uses it alot. She loves it. Sometimes I feel like we give it to her too much. I don't want it to wreck her gums or for her get so attached to it that she uses it for years. Any ideas?

My husband currently works for a company called Ferguson. They are a wholesale plumbling company. He is the front desk manager. However, he is looking for a different job at the moment. He has a degree in music and a passion to be a worship pastor. We are Christians. Currently we attend a church called Northshore where he sings on the worship team. He also plays the saxophone and has for 19 years. He is an incredible musician and singer. Do you guys go to church or anything like that? If not, we don't have to talk about it if you don't want. Otherwise, if you do I love to talk about God!

Anyways, by way of family, I have a brother and sister that are both younger then me. My sister is 22 and my brother is 20. My brother has down syndrome and i care for hime part time. He is just a bundle of joy to be around. and he is great with Tessa. We live about 5 minutes away from my family. My husband's family lives in Portland, OR. That is where we met and he is from. We met at college there. He has an older brother. My husband is actually 31 years old. I know, six years apart. But we don't even notice it.

For Christmas we are having about 13 people over to our house. Both sets of families and some of my extended family members. It will be busy around here. Hopefully Tessa can handle it. she got a bit overwhelmed at thanksgivng with everyone wanting to hold her. Cause you know, she is the first grandchild on both sides.

Well, i think i have let her scream enough now. I'm going to use the pacifer. hopefully she will fall asleep. talk to you later, tiff

Alecia - posted on 12/15/2008

My doctor told me I could start feeding her solids now. When she went in for her 4month check up she weighed 15lbs 2oz. I don't know what she is on the percent tile scale becasue I never got one of those things and they've never told me. Maybe next time I need to ask them about that. I'm not exactly sure when you're supposed to "feed" them solids. I just try to do it 2-3 times a day.She told me I cold feed her rice cereal, and orange and yellow fruits. I've also got a baby food grinder so that will help in the future; but I also bought some baby food so I could reuse the jars.



We havn't usually gotten too much snow over the past couple years. This is the first time in a while it's actually snowed and stayed! I think we got about 6 inches or so; can't tell though because my husband shoveled it off the porch and used the skidster to clear the roadway. So I'm not exactly sure. It would be nice for you to have a white christmas! It's now in the below zero's here. I hate that part of winter! It was like -20 below zero without windchill today I think. I had to bundle Rebekah up in her thick snowsuit just to go outside! She usually hates it, but lately she's deciding that she likes it now at least.



No I wouldn't trade my birth experience either; though I do hope in the future I will have a little easier delivery. I love hearing birth stories also! It's nice to be able to share and get to know someone that way! Speaking of which I have two sister in laws who are due in May! One due May 7th and the other May 18th! Not kidding! Nope I'm not going to be next! That would be too much to handle!



So what are your plan for Christmas? I'm just going to be staying home. My husbands family is going to be coming this weekend since some have to work before and after Christmas. My husband comes from a family of five including him! He's the middle child! He's got three brothers and one sister. The sister is the youngest! So 4 boys and then 1 girl! What about you? How big is your family? I have two other siblings and i'm the oldest! I have a younger brother who is three years younger and a sister who is 11 years younger! My husband is a construction worker in his family business. What about yours?



Sounds like your daughter may be a typer! LOL! Well I'm glad she let you type what she did! Thank you for replying, it sure makes it more fun! Talk to you later!

Tiffany - posted on 12/15/2008

Hey. Thanks for sharing your delivery story. I love hearing people's stories. I also had back labor and actually the epideral didn't help the back labor part. they were going to give me more medicine but decided it was time to push and they wanted me to feel the contractions. bummer for me. :) oh well...i wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

Do you get alot of snow in montana? We barely get snow here. That is why it is so exciting when it comes. We are supposed to get more on Wed. :) I hope so. I love it. I had Tessa feel it for the first time and she liked it too. So when are you going to start solid foods? My doctor told me to wait till 6 months with Tessa b/c she is in the 90% for her weight. At four months she weighed 15 lbs 13 oz. I'm nervous to start feeding her solids. Questions come to my mind like how much solid food verses forumla do I give her? I'm trying to write down all my questions as they come to me to ask the doctor. well it is har dto type with ehr in my lap and she is trying to touch all the keys. once she already hit the control button while i was typing and made me delete everyhting i already typed. so better go. later.

Alecia - posted on 12/15/2008

I'm 22. Yes I get bored at home! This site helps my bordem some. Yesterday I baked some cookies. But Rebekah keeps me busy too. I try to do some scrabbooking, but I havn't gotten a chance yet because everytime I get a "break" all I want to do is relax! But I enjoy scrapbooking, and I also like to take pictures too, I like to read (when I get the time), write down quotes and put them in my collection. I like to cook too and try new things. It's just all the things I used to do, is limited now that I have a baby =)



I had Rebekah on July 29th! She had two due dates; July 29th and Aug.1st! Well I should say the first due date they told me Aug.1st, then at my ultrasound at like 19 weeks they told me July 29th by the way she measured. She was a stubborn one to get out. My water never broke! I had contractions for 3 days! I even went to the hosptial thinking my water broke, but it didn't and I was only 3 cm dialated then. I was in active labor for 14 hours! She was face up instead of face down and I had lots of back labor. No, I didn't get an epidural. I just didn't want one because I had learned at lamaze class it can slow down your labor and I didn't watn to be in labor any more than I had to be I guess. Plus I hate needles!!! I was dialed to 6cm by the time I went to the hosptial the second time. The nurse thought I would have her by 11 pm that night! But no, she came the next morning at 7:19 am! They wanted to give me an epidural, but I wanted to try everything before that happened. And I also didn't get to have my doctor; she was away on a misson trip and thought I'd "wait" for her to get back. Yeah right, I wish! When I had tried everything, I finally said okay to the epidrual. Then while waiting for the anesethiologist, she decided to flip the right way! See what I mean by stubborn? LOL. Anyway, I was so glad she decided to come out; I was exhausted. I only pushed for 20 minutes I think. But I tore in so many little spots and it seemed like they took forever to stitch every single one up . I was getting pissed off at them after awhile. I'm like just let me rest please! I only got to hold her for a few minutes after she was born. She was okay and healthy, but they wanted me to take a bath first and get cleaned up before I fed her. I am breastfeeding her; while I was working I was doing both. I pumped for the babysitter and then tried to feed her at home. Somedays it worked and other times it wouldn't. But she hooks on good now that i'm at home. So it all works out. She's such a blessing! I wouldn't trade all the things I went through if it meant not having her.



Talk to you later!

Tiffany - posted on 12/15/2008

Sorry it has taken me awhile to write back. Weekends are when I am able to get out and do stuff b/c my husband is home and I'm not taking care of my brother (i watch him part time for my mom. he has down syndrome). Anyways, it is nice to have an online friend to talk to, especially one that just had a baby too. Your daughter is adorable. When was she born? Mine was born on July 18th. She was 3 weeks early. I ran a day camp and I was at work when my water broke. It was a feeling and story I will never forget! I was in labor for 15 1/2 hours and pushed for 3. Did you get an epideral? I got one at 3 centimeters. I guess I don't have a tolerance for pain as I thought I might. My daughter's name is Tessa Johana. We named her after our best friend, Tessa and a little girl that I took care of for 3 years named Johana. Anyway, I am rambling and now she is getting fussy. I think she might be teething. But I can't tell. She just slept thorugh the night the past 3 nights. Before she would wake up once.

Oh, I live in Washington State, North of Seattle. How old are you? I'm 25 almost 26. Do you get bored at home? What types fo stuff do you do to keep busy? I get bored easily. I did some homemade projects for Christmas. And I'm trying to cook. I'm getting into photography. I got the nice camera and I hope to take a class in Jan. I want to write more but she is really fussy now. Talk to you later, Tiffany

Alecia - posted on 12/13/2008

Your little girl is so adorable! At my daughters two month shots they didn't phase her the next day at all. I gave her tylonol a few hours after the shots and that was it. Well last night she decided to sleep from 9pm to 4 am! So I'm not sure what's going on with her. The only thing I changed was I put her in a sleep sack because she kicks off blankets; and she slept. So maybe the sleeper I put her in was too thin and she was getting cold and not sleeping well. I dont' know for sure though! Some days I wish babies would come with instructions or that they could talk to you to let you know what's wrong! Do you ever feel that way? Her tooth still hasn't popped up yet. But I hope it does soon; she's kinda crabby during the day and she's starting her "stranger anxiety" phase. She won't even go to my mom without a fight! And this Christmas we're going to have lots of relatives around so I hope she doesn't act up too much! My husbands grandma always says what's on her mind and I"m afraid she'll say something about Rebekah being a "mommy's girl' or somethig. Yes my daugher has rolled over twice! But that's it. The first time I didn't see her. But we came back into the room and she was on her stomach when she was on her back orginally. Then a few weeks later she was on her tummy and she was getting mad and didn't want to be on her tummy anymore so she rolled over onto her back. But ever since she hasn't done that. She doesn't like to be on her tummy very much though; not sure why. Does your daughter like bing on her tummy? I even put toys in front of her and play with her and she only can stand if for about 10 minutes or less.



Where do you live? I live in Montana; we're getting a blizzard as we speak! I'm a stay at home mom. I was workign and then decided tow as too hard to being a wife, mother, and an employee. And my job was stressful making up work and hours and it seemed I had a different schedule every week. Do you work outside the home?



Thanks for repsonding! Hope to talk to you again!

Tiffany - posted on 12/13/2008

How did she do with her two month shots? My daughter is almost 5 months now. At her two month shots she was a wreck for a week. She eat less and didn't sleep well. At her four month shots it barely phased her once the initial shock of being poked was gone. I would wait a few more days. I read that growth spurts happen at months 3, 6, 9. Although if she is teething then that could be why she is waking up too. I don't think my daughter is teething yet. At her 4 month the doctor said she wasn't. Has your girl rolled over yet? Mine hasn't. I keep waiting and watching. Well let me know how things go. Good luck.