6 month pediatrician appointment

Here are Katen's new stats:

16lbs, 3oz - 50th percentile
26 1/4 inches tall - 75th percentile!!! wow!
Head circumference is 17 in - 50th percentile

Lots of people say she has a big head, but she's normal. :)

The pediatrician says she's right on target for milestones - laughing, smiling, rolling, practicing crawling, sitting, eating solids, and sleeping.

She said that Katen is just not going to require a lot of sleep. She's a curious child and a go getter and probably will never require much sleep. She also believes that Katen truly is hungry every three hours at night (which I can tell also by the way she wolfs down a bottle like they're going out of style). This is happening because Katen drinks only 4oz at a time instead of the typical 8oz other kids her age are taking down. She drinks less to manage the reflux. The pediatrician also increased our Zantac dose and said to continue with Zirtec (antihistamine) as needed before bed.

Katen was a good sport when she got her DTaP shot and Rotovirus serum. On the regular schedule Katen would also get the Hep B and Polio vaccine but we've chosen to delay both until 1 year. Her next poke will be at 9 mos and it's just a finger prick to check hemoglobin. Maaaaybe we can stay out of the pediatrician's office until then. Let's hope.

After her appointment, Katen got to visit Mommy's office and then have lunch with Grandma Deb. Then it was back to daycare for a while.

A rolling stone gathers no moss

Last week, the trick of the moment was to blow raspberries. THIS week Katen figured out that she can get around by a combination of rolling, scooting, and combat crawling. Usually the target is the cat who she is fascinated with. Just wait until she crawls. The cat is in for a treat. Ha! So far, Katen can push up on her arms, and she can get her knees under her but not both at the same time. If she does manage both at the same time, she doesn't go anywhere... yet. Real crawling is just around the corner though. I can feel it!







She's also rediscovered her voice and has been "singing" to us. Especially when she's tired she'll babble on and on. I heard her having a conversation with the monkeys on her Jumparoo this morning as I got ready for work. It sounded pretty intense!









We're working on the next level of motor skills too. I gave Katen a sippy cup during our play time this morning just to see what she would do with it. Much to my surprise, after showing her how to get it in her mouth, she caught the hang of it. She's still a little akward using both hands together and still bonks herself on the head with it if she gets one hand free, but she gets the concept and can get the nipple part to her mouth. She's also good at passing it from hand to hand but really needs both to ease it into her mouth. Such a smart cookie! (Of course I'm not biased...)

The zoo

Happy 6 month birthday Katen!


It was a very busy day today. Katen and I started off the early morning by going out for breakfast. A friend had told us about this great little bakery nearby that makes specialty muffins. Oh wow! They were sooo good. We got a cherry cheesecake muffin for Daddy, a strawberry cheesecake muffin for Mommy, and Katen picked out a Pumpkin spice muffin with cream cheese frosting on top. Nice choice! Mommy and Daddy ended up splitting it. :) We're definitely going back! Especially since Katen has turned mommy into a morning person.


After muffins, a bottle, a nap, and tons of sunscreen, we all set out for the zoo. Katen had a blast looking at the "Big Kitty" (aka the tiger), the sealions,







the monkeys,















and the elephants. Katen wanted to share this picture from her point of view. (Note the adorable pudgy toes we're sporting!)
















On the way home it was time for another nap, and then after a few stops at Lowe's and the grocery store, we headed off to a BBQ.

Katen had a good time being passed from person to person for a while. Some of the people at the BBQ hadn't met her yet and others just missed her I guess. :) Amazingly, she decided not to be scared of strangers for a change, so it worked out okay.


Even the little kids got in on the action. Our friend Abby reminded me that I promised her she could hold Katen tonight at daddy's football game last Wednesday. Isn't she a doll!?














...and Cadence and her Daddy gave Katen some love as well. She's practicing for her little brother who is due any day now.

Home show

We all went to the home show last night. Katen was SO well behaved!! We were blown away!!

I carried her in her moby wrap and she had a great time flirting with all of the men and smiling at all of the ladies and kids. She loves to people watch, and I had no idea how much attention we would attract when wearing a baby. :) Ha!

Daddy was so great too. When you enter the houses you have to wear these booties on your feet. They're similar to what surgeons wear with their scrubs. However they're hard to put on and take off when you're wearing a baby so before we entered a house, Mike knelt down and put my booties on for me. Then when we finished touring the house he took them off for me. Then we walked to the next house and he got back down and put them on me again. There were eight houses. What a guy! He deserves some brownie points. Don't you think?

I know some of you are now curious what a Moby is. Here's a picture of the most amazing (and comfy) baby wrap ever created.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Katen is helping Daddy play his online game.