4 Month Report

First here are the stats:

Weight:
15lb 12 oz
90% weight for age
(down from 95% at her 2 month visit, poor girl is slimming down)

Height:
24 1/4"
55% height for age
(up slightly from her 2 month appointment)


Matilda also got four more shots at her four month check up this morning. She did really well with the shots, better than last time. She was smiling again and trying to climb out of her Dad's lap within minutes. We were pleased to hear Dr. Kramer report that she is "precocious" and "chubby" and "fantastic." She also talked to us about baby proofing (while watching the lap gymnastics), sleeping issues, and starting solid foods. Dr. Kramer agreed with my preference to wait until six months to start with foods and sympathized that it may be hard to watch Matilda in the meantime, as she is so clearly interested in our plates. I expressed my interest in making Matilda's baby food and wondered whether iron supplements would be necessary if we chose not to use the boxed, iron fortified baby cereal. Dr. Kramer, bless her, encouraged me to just used the boxed powdered stuff, she said, "it is not Mc Donald's." I think many people make their own pureed baby fruit and vegetables, but it takes a special, deranged person to go so far as to make their own baby cereal too. I am glad Dr. Kramer could step in and nicely prevent me from that compulsion.

As the doctor said, four months is when the fun really begins and Matilda is showing us that already. She is so enjoyable and rewarding right now with all her new tricks and happy personality.

At four months she can: smile and laugh for any silly noises or funny faces - especially raspberries and horse lips, stand supported, sit up using her hands for balance, gather toys in with both hands, amuse herself endlessly with her hands - sucking on them, looking at them, folding them together like she is plotting something, blow bubbles in her spit or better yet Dad's water glass, grab her toes and hold them during diaper changes, roll over both ways, screech loudly with joy, and best of all she will periodically stop nursing to look up and give me a HUGE smile.