4 month checkup

First, the good news:

*Shiloh is apparently as healthy as a horse

*She is right on the money with her developmental milestones

*She was able to have her shots, which is preferred, of course, b/c her reaction last time was only topical

*she took her shots like a champ, and didn't even cry until we got to the fourth, and final, one.

*BEST OF ALL: we will have to go to the pediatric cariologist to confirm, but her pediatrician could find NO sign of Shiloh's heart murmur. This is a big deal to me.

Now, the thing that has thrown me for a loop:

My baby is 19 lbs, 2 oz. yes, you read that right. I was mildly fussed at and told to feed her no more than 36 oz. in a day, and to give her water between feedings, and to NOT start her on solids. When I asked about percentile, all I was told was she is off the charts for a baby her age, that she was about the weight of a 10 month old baby.

BUT, that's not the whole story, folks. I believe this requires a closer look. So, here's my take:

*As you may or may not recall, Shiloh was in the 90th percentile for both height and weight at her 2 month checkup. They didn't say a word about this being a problem.

*Today, Shiloh's height was in the 98th percentile.

Okay, follow my logic here, b/c I promise I have some. If Shiloh grew in HEIGHT to the point that she went up 8 percentage points, and is now taller than all but 2% of babies her age, (think in terms of proportionality with me, here), would it not be natural for her to also move up in percentage points for weight? I was not told HOW MUCH she was off the chart,or anything like that. I don't think that this is as big a deal as it would be, if, say, she was in the 50th percentile for height, and off the chart for weight. I mean, a bigger baby weighs more, yes? Please comment and tell me I'm not losing my mind!

(oh, and btw, she was only getting about 40 oz of formula a day, only 4 more than the recommended)

FYI: OPSEC

Have you noticed that I don't post very much about how or what Tyrone is up to? I am sooo proud of him, and am just bursting at the seams with pride. I would LOVE to brag about everything I know. There is a good reason that I don't.

It's called OPSEC or Operational Security. It is so very important to keep pertinent information out of the wrong hands. REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT.

I am posting this for two reasons. The first is so that no one thinks I have forgotten my poor husband. The second is I would love for you to pass this on to ANYONE you know that has access to this kind of information. Please don't assume that the military families you know have this information, you would be amazed at how many have never heard the phrase OPSEC.

I am putting a link here that can explain it much better than I can. PLEASE, PLEASE for our troops safety, give this to anyone that can use it. It really is becoming an issue. There have been many warnings coming from rear detachment about this lately. Not to long ago, they actually caught some Al-Quaida operatives sifting through blogs, myspace pages, posts on message boards, ect., piecing together sensitive information that can be used against our service men and women.

Can you tell that I feel strongly about this!? Good! Help me pass the word!!!

http://www.militarywives.com/index.php/component/option,com_content/task,view/id,2297/Itemid,621/

just some pics

We've been pretty boring these past couple of days, due to me hurting my back (no worries, i'm on the mend, with much help from my mom!) so, here are just a few cute moments from around the house. oh, and guess what?! I finally have a webcam, and Tyrone was able to get to a computer today, so he was able to see us! He was so happy, it was very cool.

ok, yes, maybe i should have put a bib on her...but, other than the abundance of slober, isn't she doing well pushing up?!

riding the "smart cycles" my mom got them for Christmas...these are awesome. gets in physical activity when there is no getting outside, and is educational to boot!

silly silly

too cool!!

this is some serious concentrating!! she is a pro at making that thing spin around now!

okie dokey

sooo....i got "tagged" by Suzanne, so here it is!

On Marriage...

How long have you been together?
5 1/2 years...married 2 years in March!!

How old is he?
27

Who eats more?
him....boys eat ALOT...it's a gender trait, i think

Who said I love you first?
that would be me!

Who is taller?
he is

Who sings better?
sadly, there is not one iota of talent in this department between the 2 of us :)

Who is smarter?
depends on what you're talking about...i'm the "bookish" one, and he is a genius with making things work!

Who does the laundry?
*sigh* right now, we're each doing our own, but when he's home, we do it together :)

Who does the dishes?
me. tyrone is wonderful about helping me with anything i ask...but dishes are NOT his thing!

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
it's not about right or left....it's about where the wall is!! i MUST sleep by the wall!

Who pays the bills?
the army...

Who mows the lawn?
no lawn....but when we've had one, we split the job

Who cooks dinner?
me, mostly, but Tyrone was a cook when we met, and he makes a mean breakfast!!

Who drives when you are together?
HIM!! always him!

Who is more stubborn?
i would say tyrone, but he would read this and call me out, so i might as well confess. it's me :)

Who kissed who first?
he kissed me <3

Who asked who out?
it didn't really happen like that, our first "date" was me keeping him company while he did prep work at the restaurant we worked at, and i made him hot chocolate :)

Who proposed?
he did!! i called my mom at 4 am to tell her!

Who is more sensitive?
me, by like, 1000 times

Who has more friends?
oh, him, definately. he's a serious people person!!

Who has more siblings?
tyrone!! he has 4 sisters, 2 older than him, and 2 younger. i have my sis, jeanie!

Who wears the pants in the family?
we both do....but his are camo!! hehe

and...i am tagging nobody! lol...i just don't have anyone that would do this :)

couple of things

Lest you think that the Christmas cups went away just because it wasn't Christmas time anymore....here you go! They are VERY MUCH still around! Look how many there are! (and this wasn't all of them!) maybe I should buy some themed for each holiday?!


And, this is just some random cuteness I thought I'd throw in. My sweet girl has discovered the many joys of playing with her spit!! hehe

sleep = good

This is a very pleased mommy! After exactly 4 months and 1 week of waking up one to two times a night for feeding, little missy has slept straight through the night four nights in a row now!!! And, I'm not talking about going to bed at midnight, and waking up at 5 or 6, either. She eats around 7 or 8, plays and is her usual happy self, and then goes to sleep at 9 or 10 (she puts herself to sleep!!) and....that is the last I hear from her until 7:30 or 8:00 the next morning! AND....she wakes up happy, and not demanding a bottle right away! She has officially started eating 8 oz at every feeding, and has scooted her feedings a bit closer together during the day, but that is no big deal, compared to her sleeping all night!!! Any parent reading this knows how HUGE this milestone is! I am just so excited!

shiloh's 'fro

ok, so the background and her hair are the same color, but if you look close, my baby girl is sporting a nice 'fro! this is one of the handbands Grandmother and Grandfather gave her when they were down. she was being silly in this pic, she kept blinking her eyes and sticking her tounge out at me, it's how she flirts!

Figaro the Fire-Bellied Toad

One of Kaleb's Christmas presents from Santa was a frog habitat, and today, we went and acquired an awesome fire-bellied toad named Figaro. We like him alot, and he has a hearty appetite for the crickets that make up his meals! He is very active and has delighted us all!

"Grandmother and Grandfather"

We got to spend a good bit of time with Grandma and Grandpa today! We went downtown and walked on riverstreet and had a picnic in the park, and then later on, we went to their hotel room for a little while, so, now, i have pics!! and....here they are!

Jeanie bought the boys candy from riverstreet sweets (why?!) and we had sat down to let them eat in and so that I could feed Shiloh.

My mommy and her daddy

Watching the container ships going by

sitting on the steps, being silly!

I love this pic. To me, this looks like classic Savannah. There are always people playing music on the river, or in the squares, and, more often than not they are very talented. This man was in the square where we had our picnic, and Gabe and I walked over and listened to him. When he saw that a small child was listening, he changed what he was playing to the theme from Popeye. Later, Grandma walked over and had him come play happy birthday to Grandpa. It was alot of fun, and I just can't tell you how much this pic embodies the "feel" of downtown that I've always loved, since I was a small child.

Grandfather and Shiloh (great picture!)

watching cartoons with Grandmother

Look at this! 4 generations of girls!

Please excuse my allergy eyes!

Grandmother and Shiloh

4 months old

Shiloh is 4 months old, today! Unfortunately, that is accompanied by alot of teething unhappiness, so these pics are not her normally smiling self. But, 4 months is 4 months, and i thought i should commemorate it.

My grandparents are here for a visit, it is the first time they have met Gabe and Shiloh, and tonight is a birthday dinner for Grandpa at my sister's house. I really wish that we could go, but Shiloh is just too unhappy. She has only slept a grand total of maybe 40 min. since 7 am, and it is now almost 4:30. I was planning on getting good pics of everyone tonight, but, maybe tomorrow.

Here is an update on Shiloh:

*Laughing is now an all the time thing for little missy (well, except for today, maybe!) she laughs, even when you think she wasn't paying attention. Kaleb and Gabe can always elicit giggles with their antics, and mommy normally can get some good laughs with lots of kisses or silly noises.

*She now grabs stuff purposefully, wanting to see what it is. She even has this puppy-it's a crib toy-tied to her playpen, and yesterday she grabbed the handle on it and pulled. Everytime you do this , it plays music and barks at you. She would pull it and laugh, and pull it and laugh. I just had to sit down and watch and laugh with her.

*We are ALMOST able to roll from back to stomach, but not quite yet!

*While Shiloh remains a friendly baby, and happy with pretty much anyone, there have been a few times now, mostly when she was startled, that she wanted me. She doesn't scream or anything, that's just not her way, but she starts squirming and looking for me and making unhappy little noises. When I take her, she turns all smiley. It's just nice to know I'm appreciated :)

We have her 4 month appt. scheduled on the 30th. As you may recall, we went about 3 weeks late to her 2 months, sooo...i guess that's just our new dr.'s schedule! I am a little leery about her getting her 4 month shots, because she had a skin reaction with her 2 month ones, but I'm going to talk to her doctor about that before we actually do it, so we'll see. We also have to set up an appt. to get her to the pediatric cardiologist to check her heart murmur and make sure it has closed like they expected. Lots of happenings for someone so little!

I will be sure to post her height/weight and other updates after she has her appt. Now, here are some 4 months pics, as they are....

trying to be happy

drool, much?!

chillin' on the couch w/ mommy

something Gabe was doing caught her attention

AND....the only thing that makes her really happy today....mommy rubbing her poor abused little gums (where you can feel no less than FOUR seperate teeth trying to make their entrance!)

p.s.

Oh, and, guess what?! I got to talk to Tyrone on a webcam yesterday and today. I don't have one, but one of his friends does, and so, the kids and I were able to see and hear him, and I could type what they said to him. Luckily, I'm a fast typer :) They thought that he could hear them, and he had funny face contests with Gabe, showed them his watch that we gave him for Christmas, and talked softly to Shiloh, who watched him contentedly (I am convinced that she knows his voice, he talked to her constantly when I was pregnant, and has talked to her on the phone several times a week in the 101-yes 101-days that he has been gone. She got very quiet and calm, and just listened, staring in fascination at the face that goes with that beloved voice.)



Most of all, though, I just got to look at him. Not in a picture taken a week ago. I got to tell him something and watch his response in his wonderful, expressive face. How I miss him. And how very special that we got this opportunity, and hopefully will again soon!

who's got your back?

I found this poem, and I think that it is beautiful, and touching. It makes me cry a little, but I absolutely love it, because it describes the poignant mix of pride and fear felt by all of us who love one of our brave service members. And, I truly am so very, very proud of my Tyrone. What a husband I have! Anyway, just thought I would share.

Funny Things My Boys Say

I would like to start off by saying that, sitting here, listening to Shiloh babble, coo, and happily shriek (sounds not so good, i know, but it's actually quite endearing) at me, it just occured to me that, before long, i'm going to have to change the name of this feature to Funny Things My Kids Say, as opposed to just my boys! ok, bring on the funniness!

1.) The other day, I cut Gabe's hair, and, as always, it was straight to the bathtub to wash all the hair off of him. He was quite into playing with his toys, and was pretty tired of me messing with his hair. When I told him it was time to let me wash his hair, he told me no, he didn't want me to. I asked him why not, and he responded with a patented Gabe look and, in all seriousness, "Because, Mommy, it's to toooooo dangerous."

2.) I think I've mentioned a few times what a good big brother K is :) Well, he sits in between Shiloh and Gabe in the backseat of my Tahoe, and is VERY good about giving her her pacifier or adjusting her blanket, ect., if she needs it. This morning, it was COLD, so we were all bundled up, and Shiloh had on her thick skully, which is a bit big yet, but her warmest hat. So, it slipped down in her eyes while i was driving and made her fuss. K told me he could help her, and then he started talking to her. The hat came all the way off, and he was trying to put it back on for her. He talked very softly, I had to listen closely, but this is what I heard "This hat doesn't want to go back on! It's fighting me! But, don't worry, little Shiloh, I'm fighting it back!"

3.) Mom is a witness to this one, and was as (or more so!?) amused as me........Last night, we had dinner together, and were just kind of hanging out. The boys got into a small scuffle, and I had to break it up. K got sent to his room, and Gabe got put the time-out chair. He immediately started crying, sounding truly heartbroken. I was right there, monitoring time out, setting the timer for his 3 min., ect., but what he was gasping between heart-wrenching sobs was "I....Want....My....Mommy!" Now, again, I was right there. The only thing that comes to mind is he thought I was so awful for putting him in time out that his mommy must have been replaced by an evil clone mommy who does things like put little boys in time out! Lest you think that I am indifferent to true emotional pain in my little boy, as soon as the timer went off and I said he could get up, he bounced back amazingly, I've never seen tears dry up so fast! He didn't even want a hug, he was off and running so fast!

4.) There was frost everywhere this morning. When we walked out of the door to take Kaleb to school, Gabe looked around for a minute and said "Mommy, this doesn't look good AT ALL."

the simple things

LOOK! i am soooo excited!

Shiloh rolled over for the first time this morning! Kaleb and I both got to see (I don't think Gabe was all that impressed...) So, I kept the camera handy, and so was able to capture the 2nd time she's ever rolled! You can hear K and I both cheering her in the background. What a big girl!