theBODIEblog: 4-Month Update

We entered the Arnett Health Clinic lobby on Monday, July 14 at 12:45 p.m. and said hello to an older gentleman sitting in a wheelchair waiting on the elevator with his nurse. He peered into Eden's carrier and asked, "Is it a boy or a girl?" We replied, and then he exclaimed, "Well, she's as cute as a button!" We thanked him and headed to Eden's 4-month checkup beaming with pride.

Oftentimes, I leave frustrated after visiting a doctor. He or she is usually more interested in getting to the next patient than actually listening to me. Eden's doctor, Dr. Miller, however, doesn't rush us and actually sits down and listens to our questions. Ultimately, she has been absolutely wonderful and a blessing to have especially as eager first-time parents.

During this checkup, I think Eden wanted to say "thank you" in her own special way.

Perhaps it was Eden's growth statistics or the fact that she tracked the tongue depressor the entire time Dr. Miller moved it in front of her face (apparently "most babies don't do that") or that she has the head control of a 4 month old (as opposed to her corrected age of 3 months) that inspired Dr. Miller to conclude our visit with "Well, she's perfect." Whatever it was, we agree!

At 4-months, Eden weighed in at 12 pounds! Certainly a far cry from her birth weight!!! Her weight, height, and head circumference were all in the 25th percentile (uncorrected) and the 50th percentile for her "corrected age" (comparing her to 3-month olds instead of 4-month olds because she was a month early). Ashley's mom said she never even made it that high on the charts.

At 4-months old, Eden now can push herself up on her forearms when lying on her stomach, rolls to her side from her back, pushes up on her legs when you hold her to your shoulder, and loves to "ride the horsey" sitting on her Daddy's knee. She just smiles with her whole face and laughs alot these days, even wiggling her body when I stop bouncing her as if to say "Keep going, Daddy! Keep going!"

For a few weeks now she's been sleeping through the night - one night she even slept from 9 p.m. to 7:30 the next morning! Of course, Ashley reports waking up during the night without prodding from Eden and looking over at her sleeping away. Most nights, Eden needs her Mom to give her her pacifier and a little soothing once through the night, and then she makes it til the morning.

She's also now become quite the good nurser. You may remember from previous posts that Miss Eden used to be our little "rester." Now, she'll nurse for 5 minutes and be done. She usually "drinks" every 2-3 hours, and always has to both nurse and have a bottle of breastmilk during a 24 hour period. Guess she has to mix it up some.

When we left the exam room after a quick nursing (and spitup)...

... we spotted an article from the Journal & Courier about Dr. Miller. Basically, it solidified our feelings about her - she's wonderful, and we'd recommend her to anyone in Greater Lafayette wanting a wonderful pediatrician.

After her checkup, we took a lasagna to some friends, Sherry and Troy, who were recently blessed with a baby boy. Jacob Cole is just perfect, too! At 5 weeks old, he and Eden are nearly the same size. It was fun to see them together.