Lots of news to share!!

First, Annika had her 4 month well baby check up yesterday. She weighed in at a whopping 15 pounds, 7 ounces. I had to actually check the scale myself because I couldn't believe it. Wow - she's big! She's also 25 1/2 inches tall. That puts her in about the 70% category for both. She had her 5 vaccinations (in 3 shots). She was most unhappy about that. She didn't seem to be affected by the shots last evening though. There was no tenderness in her legs, she wasn't running a fever and she laughed and played like normal. However, whenever I laid her down to change her diaper or clothes, she would start to fuss and cry. She had to lay down (with me holding her there - yuck!) while she was getting her shots. Hopefully she'll forget that today. My poor baby. The doctor kept saying how advanced Annika was. Ah, words every mother loves to hear! She was impressed that Annika can roll both ways (front to back and back to front). She said a lot of babies these days can't roll from tummy to back at 4 months because they're always laid on their backs to sleep now. She was also impressed with Annika's head and body control and by how alert she was. She gave us the okay to start cereal when we're ready and gave us a pamphlet on foods, how to start them and when. She also gave us more information on sleeping.

More milestones! Last night, when putting Annika to bed, her pacifier fell out of her mouth as it usually does when she's falling asleep. Usually, when she fusses for it, I just put it back in her mouth. Last night, I put it in her hand instead. She immediately put it back in her mouth herself! Yay baby girl! Maybe now she can learn to find it herself too and put it back in. That would be key in her staying in her crib all night and learning to put herself back to sleep without me there helping her.

Also, Annika fell asleep in her crib for the first time last night. Usually she sleeps with me so of course she falls asleep with me next to her. Or, if I'm putting her in her crib, she would fall asleep while I was nursing or rocking her. Last night, I nursed her, rocked her a little bit and then when she was drowsy, put her in her crib. Of course, her eyes poppoed wide open then, but she settled back down and fell asleep. Yeah, she had a hold of my hand and wouldn't let go but she did fall asleep in her crib. She didn't stay asleep for long (1o minutes maybe) but then I soothed her and she fell asleep again in her crib. I didn't want to leave the room until she was good and out so I sat down in the rocking chair in her room and promptly fell asleep myself. An hour later, when she woke up, I did too and we both ended up going to bed together. Maybe this weekend (like Friday night) I can get her to sleep in her crib the whole night, even if that means repeatedly going to her room (every hour if needed) to soothe her back to sleep, teach her to soothe herself, and give up my sleep in the process. Since I don't have to get up early for anything Saturday and Sunday, I think those nights will be the best time to start this process. Monday, Tuesday and maybe all of next week, I might be a walking zombie but I do have to teach her to sleep in her crib and to soothe herself. The doctor said now is the perfect time to do it. That before 6 months of age is the perfect time to teach good sleeping habits. So, teach and not sleep, I will! :)