Dear Baby K this week you turned four months old!
You can’t tell it from the grid, but this month you finally started to put on weight. Your weight went from barely putting on 3 ounces a week to putting on an ounce a day. It seems we’ve got whatever it is that was bothering your little tummy out of my breastmilk.
So far mama has removed dairy, gluten, eggs, nuts, soy, fish, peanuts, and shellfish from her diet. Your doctor doesn’t want me to test reintroduction for another two months. It’s hard to eat such a restrictive diet, but baby you’re worth it.
We are also supplementing with a hypoallergenic elemental formula that you aren’t super jazzed about, but you drink it if it’s really warm and you are rocked while someone gives it to you. I’m hoping we only need to supplement for another month or so. My milk supply seems fine, you just need a little extra so you can catch up with your weight gain.
You’re not a big fan of being carried forward facing in the carrier either. Your Great Aunt Lisa who was a pediatric physical therapist said we could do a short amount of time in the front carrier (like 10 minutes) facing outward a day and you LOVE that. Hopefully, by next month you’ll be able to hold your head up enough to hang out in the front carrier more often.
You are not a fan of walks in the stroller. You make it about 15 minutes before you are screaming bloody murder, you would much rather be carried. Your furr sister Nala gets walked at 4:30 pm while I carry you in the front carrier facing in and you fuss for about 10 minutes before you fall asleep for the rest of the walk – about 30 minutes. Mr. Hungry walks Nala while I walk and shussssshhhhh. Thank goodness it’s chilly outside and not super hot yet so you are comfortable in the carrier.
Speaking of Daddy, you love to hang out with him. You like the funny sounds he makes, and you love to grab his beard. Daddy takes over the nighttime routine during the week so Mommy can work and clean up the house. Daddy gives you a bath, bottle, and rocks you to sleep every night.
Speaking of bedtime, babe, I love you, but you are not a good sleeper. It’s not your fault sweet baby. Your little body has been through a lot since you came into this world. You had all those food allergies giving you diarrhea and preventing you from gaining weight that took us forever to figure out and right when we got that under control you started teething. Mommy spent over 100 dollars on all kinds of teething toys, but your favorite thing is to chew on either your hand or whoever is holding you, their hand.
Anyways, we had to move you out of our bedroom earlier than Mommy would have liked so that everyone can sleep a little better. You currently sleep three-ish hours in your crib in your room, then you finish the night in our room in your bassinet, and sometimes you snooze with Mommy in the early mornings if it’s been a rough night.
Oh my gosh, baby, every day is more fun with you. You are grabbing for things now which is adorable. I remember the first thing you grabbed for was a box of pumpkin seeds I was shaking in your face. You surprised me when you reached out and grabbed the box with incredible accuracy. You like to hold yourself up with one hand and “swim” with the other while you have tummy time. You’ve rolled over a handful of times but aren’t doing it consistently yet.
I think you’d rather learn to sit then roll over. Whenever you are put in a slanted seat (like the bouncer) you hunch forward using your abs to try and sit up. When you are on the floor you can hold your head up pretty good while sitting with our assistance, your working on straightening your back but aren’t quite there yet. I think you’ll get there sooner than later because you seem pretty determined!
You’ve noticed you have pets and your pets have noticed you! You reach out to Nala and Missy when they are near you. They both love you so much. Nala loves to lick you and smell you. She seems very concerned about you. Missy, likes to rub up against you.
Your laugh and smile are contagious. You love to look at faces and laugh whenever anyone makes a funny face. You melt my heart all day long every day, and I love you very much! Happy four-month birthday baby!
So Sweet Happy 4 months!! Even when they don’t sleep all night, you forget it by morning when you see those sweet smiles!
I have a one month old and am also pursuing a diet free of dairy for breastfeeding, due to severe reflux and GI upset in our little guy. I usually use plain Greek yogurt or cottage cheese as great protein sources for me and am finding it difficult to get enough protein without it (resulting in me eating more “junk” which I dislike. Do you have any recommendations on non-dairy yogurt or cottage cheese products, or non-whey protein powders that I could at least mix with frozen banana and almond milk to achieve a “yogurty smoothie”? Thank you! Very inspired to see how committed to breastfeeding you are despite challenges!
Hi Abby! Sorry to hear about the GI troubles with the little one! I’ve been doing lunch meat or jerky as an easy sub for greek yogurt and cottage cheese. Vegan protein powders can really be all about personal preference. I’ve been using the Health Warrior protein powder and I like it a lot! If you want more of that yogurty texture, I would add a frozen banana plus 1/4 teaspoon of xanthum gum. Xanthum gum is great at thickening up smoothies! Or you could try chia seeds to help you thicken up your smoothie!