Ella-2 months

How is she 2 months already?  Ella turned 2 months on February 22, 2013 and I still can't believe that we have a 2 month old now. 

 It has seriously flown by.  She finished off her first month by going out with a bang...a trip to the emergency room!  On Monday, February 19th, after a full day at the zoo we were having dinner (and Rich was out of town) and she was sitting in her bouncy seat and coughed about 4 times and then really started gasping for air and her face turned red.  I grabbed her out of the seat and patted her on the back about 5 times and after a few more coughs she quieted down and had her breath back but I was pretty worried.  She was acting fine after and I tried to continue just to go on with the normal bedtime routine because I didn't want Joseph to worry so we did baths, stories, prayers and bed for Joseph and she seemed fine.  I then fed her and she was pretty fussy so I put her in the ring sling and she passed out for about 30 minutes-as she woke up though she did the coughing bit again and seemed to be gasping for air and then I was officially freaked out.  With Rich being gone it didn't help calm my nerves so after talking to a few friends here who thought it may be reflux and her choking on the reflux and a call to my  friend, Annie, all the way in Michigan whose daughter had bad reflux I decided to take her to the ER.  At this point she was really upset and her cough had a "eeee" sound at the end to it so I was almost thinking it was whooping cough or RSV.  Thankfully I have amazing friends and within 10 minutes I had two friends at my doorstep-one to stay with Joseph and one to come with Ella and I.  Ella was still pretty upset while we were waiting to be seen by the doctor but honestly the minute the doctor came in she was ALL smiles and was  flirting with the doctor.  I am pretty sure the dr thought I was crazy and Ella checked out perfectly.  Thankfully my friend Jamie who was with me heard her crying and coughing at home so could vouch for me that I wasn't making this all up. The dr did a pertussis (whooping cough) test as well and that came back negative.  She did say that she may have a minor cold so it was most likely mucus that got stuck and that I did the right thing of just patting her on the back to get it out...so we were sent home with instructions to saline and suction and called it a night.  Thankfully it wasn't anything more serious and of course now I feel like I totally overreacted but with Rich being gone and my mind going crazy I know I did the right thing...to at least allow me to get some sleep that night!  She's causing grey hairs already at only 2 months!

After that episode I was thankful that we had her two month appointment on THursday, the 21st, so that I could follow up with her regular pediatrician.  Ella's pediatrician said at first that it sounds like a classic case of acid reflux and often reflux babies have a lot of mucus and that at this point she isn't recommending meds since she isn't miserable all of the time but gave recommendations of having her propped up and burping her often.  However, after another appointment this past week for a yeast infection (this girl!!) and talking with the dr again she is now thinking that it may be an intolerance or allergy as well as possibly some reflux.  I have eliminated dairy from my diet but haven't seen a huge  improvement so she wants me to eliminate wheat to see if that is what is bothering her stomach and causing mucus in her stools every now and then.  Poor peanut!  We'll see what the next few weeks bring.  She does seem to be not as fussy at nights now but still pretty much just cat naps during the day and wakes up crying pretty hard as if something were bothering her.  She is definitely keeping it interesting and hoping we can figure this little one out soon.

Look at this face!  So sad!  Oh and she has the best pout which I  have to get on camera soon!

 With whatever it is that bothers her at times, she is as happy as can be the rest of the time.  She is full of smiles and has been great about just going with her brother's social schedule as long as she is fed on time.  She loves having her tongue out and the dr told us that this is actually a preverbal skill-she is going to be a talker!  She is cooing up a storm, too, and just loves it when you pay attention to her.  The minute that you look at her and smile she just lights back up and will start cooing at you.  She is definitely a flirt.

Two month photo shoot!

 

 

At her two month appointment she weighed in at 12 pounds, 13 ounces which is the 84th percentile.  And she measured 23.5 inches long which falls in the 89th percentile.  She is definitely a baby now and no longer seems like a newborn.  She has started hitting and grabbing toys in front of her and will track things in front of her.  

 

 

 She seriously lightens up when Joseph is next to her and she just smiles when he is next to her which is basically all of the time!!He is still great with her and is starting to respect her personal space a little bit more-although still prefers to be kissing her all day long and has recently been asking to give her puppy dog kisses which we try to avoid!  One cute thing that Joseph has started doing is that normally when I put her in her car seat she'll cry but once the car gets moving she quiets down so I often say while pulling out of the garage, "We're moving baby girl, we're moving" and now he says that.  It is in the cutest little voice and just makes me smile!  His favorite song to sing to her is "Row your boat" and he'll still tell her "No cry baby, no cry!"  Sweet kiddos.

Happy 2 months baby girl!  We love you!