Happy Birthday little B.
This month we made a startling discovery about our little Bentley. At his six month check up, he was only in the 5th percentile for weight (14.2#), so our pediatrician wanted him back in a month for a weight check to make sure he was actually gaining. Five weeks later we went back to get weighed in and he had only gained five ounces. FYI, babies should be gaining a 1/2 oz to 1oz per day. So this put him at a 1oz gain per week. Ouch, that hurt my heart. Really. When I saw the numbers on the scale, my heart was literally in my stomach. But because he was fine in the height category, our doctor wasn't worried about this being an endocrinology issue, but still it was obviously necessary to get him gaining weight. So, naturally, the only thing we could try was to change what he was eating. I had been exclusively nursing up to that point, so we switched to formula. {Aaaaaand this is where I feel like I won the award for suckiest mom of the year} Within days of switching to formula, he was like a new kid. I mean, you know all the crying and screaming he's been doing since, oh well, birth? Yea, so I guess he was hungry. And now he is the happiest little fella all the time (although it appears some habits are hard to break because he still boo-hoo's over some of the smallest issues-love ya, Bentley!) And furthermore, two weeks after switching to formula, he gained (drum roll, please) 18 ounces! If you are as quick at math as I am, you will realize that is 9 ounces per week!
Oh, little B. I'm just so happy that you are gaining weight now (after dropping below the charts, you've made it up to the 3rd percentile). I do believe nursing is what's best for babies, but I guess I just couldn't keep up and regardless of where it comes from, I just want my baby to be healthy and gain weight! Whew!
Now that that's done...
Here are some highlights from this month:
You played with (or in?) new Christmas toys.
You got to watch Jack playing outside in this crazy warm weather we're having.
You hung out with your brother and daddy.
You played with your brother... a lot...
I think you love his Hot Wheels as much as he does.
You read books with Jack and Grandpa.
You sat in the grocery cart like a big boy for the first time.
(We would have done this much sooner, but I usually carry Bentley in the front carrier and Jack sits in the cart. But Jack was at school this day, so B got to have some fun)
One (of the many many many) things that I love about you is you do a lot of the classic 'baby' things... you love to blow raspberries, grab and eat your toes and love to play peek a boo.
And, really, I can't emphasize enough how much you and Jack love each other. It's so amazing. Here are just a few pictures of the brotherly love that happened this month... and this is not to say that you don't get beat up by Jack, well, pretty much every day, but you sure do love each other regardless.
Thanks for being so fun, Bentley... And happy birthday to my sweet little munchkin.
