Our First Trip to the Zoo...

Billy took his first trip to the zoo this week. We live in Florida, so the zoo is a year round event. Its still a bit warm this time of year (about low to mid 90's with the heat index), so the zoo is a morning event for the family. We decided about a week ago we were going to get Billy up to the zoo and buy one of these zoo passes. The deal is $70 for a year for one adult who can bring one friend and kids under 3 are free. So instead of paying $26 a visit, in three zoo visits, the pass would pay for itself. That works out well since we have a nice zoo, live about 15 minutes away from it, and both Antoinette and I enjoy it. We figured we'd make it to the zoo about 10-15 times a year, even if its just to go for a walk there. That's $250-$400 worth of zoo trips for $70. Can't beat it.

Anyway, we took Billy there on Sunday morning, but we didn't leave until 11 AM. Well, by the time we got there, got our passes, and got into the zoo, it was packed and it was hot. People everywhere, combined with a sweaty uncomfortable baby was too much. So after 30 minutes or so, we left and went home figuring we'd come back again on Monday (holiday). The next morning at 8:45 AM, we were out the door, at the zoo by 9 AM (when it opened), and pulling into an empty parking lot. We went right through the gate and straight to the back of the zoo where everyone else would get to last. Next thing you know, we're half way through the zoo coming back before we see the first people. It was great and we had a blast. Little Billy seems to be partial to the giraffes, but in all fairness, the giraffes at this zoo are allowed to stick their heads into area where people are so that you can feed them by hand and touch them. Its a great zoo.

Anyway, the little guy liked the animals he could see up close, provided they were moving and not just laying down. If they were laying down, he didn't seem to realize what he was looking at. He was also equally interested in the trees, plants, and water fountains, especially when we dipped him into them. The zoo was a hit and we'll be back at least once a month...

As for Billy, he's rolling all over the place. You can't keep him one spot now. Leave him on his mat and walk into the other room to grab a new onsie for 5 seconds and when you come back, he's three feet to the left after two barrel rolls toward the door. This is most apparent in his crib at night where once we put him down, we have to check on him 15 minutes later to flip him back over to his back. I'm sure he's fine now since if he can flip himself to his stomach, he can likely flip himself back over if need be, but it makes me feel better to start the night on his back. Once he's out cold, you can flip him with ease and he just stays asleep. Sleeps like a rock like his Daddy.

Billy has also noticed his feet and his knees a bit more. He's grabbing at them quite a bit now. On his play mat, he's reaching for everything, grabbing, manipulating, pulling and hitting things, etc. He's much more interactive with the mat now than he was a month ago. Tummy Time is interesting as he can now easily stay on his stomach for 20-30 minutes at a time with his head up and looking around. If he sees you, he'll definitely smile from this position and seems to really enjoy it.

Billy's eye sight is improving. He is better able to break down bold colors now and while his eyes will continue to develop, in most ways, he can see pretty much everything that we can see now. You can see additional development in his ability to turn toward sounds, such as his name, which he seems to be recognizing a little better these days. He's also expanding his sense of taste with his first dabble into some rice cereal this week. His Mother tried it and he basically pushed 90% of it out of his mouth. This is clearly going to be a work in progress, but what part of parenting isn't, right? I guess practice makes perfect when it comes to eating solid foods, too.

Looking forward to next week, our primary goals are to continue working on eating solid foods and to practice sitting up. Billy has done very well developmentally so far and we think a lot of that has to do with us practicing and structuring many of the games we play with him around our goal for the week. This week, he'll get plenty of time in a sitting position with his hands out in front of him to help strengthen that upper body and that midsection. His lack of balance is no longer in his neck, but now in his abdominal wall, lower back, and shoulder/arm muscles. On the solid food front, he'll finish this week with the rice cereal and then we'll transition him to barley cereal. Enjoy the pics.

Nothing Like a Good Book...

Is anyone really surprised to see my kid in his position? Seriously? Antoinette was playing with him and reading to him, at which point she handed him the book. He then took hold, crossed his legs, and began intently looking at the pictures ("reading" in an infant's mind). Where's that set of Britannica's when you need them?

Anyway, I spent this past weekend in North Central Ohio visiting some friends on Lake Erie. Because of that, this week's blog is coming to you all a bit late. And worst of all, this blog is absolutely loaded with information and changes that the little guy is going through, so it will take quite a bit to get through the whole thing. I apologize for the delay to all of you that have emailed me asking for this update, but finally, here it is...

First, we'll begin with Billy's doctor visit. He's 4 months old now, so an additional checkup was required. This visit was action packed, and it all began with a quick Q&A between Antoinette and the doctor about Billy's general condition while the doctor gave him a quick once over. First topic was a touch of some coughing and sneezing that he's been going through. Of course, that little sickness came from his Daddy who not only gave it to him, but handed it to his Mother, as well. Oops. Doc says that as long as his breathing is not affected, then the coughing and sneezing are not a big issue, but that until he's a couple months older, we should avoid cough medicine and he'll just have to tough it out.

The next subject was his thumb sucking. Billy has developed a little lip blister from sucking his thumb and the doctor basically told us that we are going to want to break him of this thumb sucking habit sooner rather than later. He thinks we should give him a pacifier instead since down the road, you can take it from him, where his thumb you'll never be able to confiscate. We're skeptical because both Antoinette and her little sister were thumb suckers as children and neither developed any long standing issue or long term need for their thumb because of it. I guess its a bridge we'll have to cross down the road, but for now, he'll continue to suck his thumb to calm himself when he's sleepy.

Billy then received a thorough physical exam, beginning with his length and weight. He's about 15.65 lbs according to the doctor, which is in the 50th percentile for a 4 month old boy. His height came in at 26", which is in the 85th percentile for a 4 month old boy. In other words, he's quite long, although he looks chubbier to us. During the entire examination, the doctor felt his extremity control, neck control, general motor function, and vocalization were all progressing exceptionally well. He said Billy is ahead of schedule from a general developmental perspective.

Next up were his additional immunizations. It was time for the second dose of DTaP, H. Influenza, Polio, and Pneumococcal. Once again he didn't enjoy these shots much, but he did tolerate them much better than the last time. Afterward, he was a bit under the weather from his shots, but Antoinette took really good care of him and made sure he got some Tylenol here and there when necessary to keep him in good spirits. He also slept his butt off for quite awhile afterward.

The doctor then began some additional discussions with Antoinette about his general care, beginning with his diet. At 4 months, Billy had begun knocking down stored breast milk faster than his Mother could replace it. Because of that, during the past couple weeks, we have been supplementing two parts breast milk with one part formula to make sure we can spread out the "stockpile" we have left. The doc said this is not necessary and that Billy can transition to solid food now. First up will be the ever so tasty rice cereal. He wants us to work with Billy with rice cereal in slightly increasing concentrations for at least one week, at which point we can add another food into the mix. Most likely Barley. Sounds great. After that, the Barley is followed by Oatmeal, followed by a various fruit, then a vegetable, then a fruit, then a vegetable, etc. Within a couple months, Billy should have a pretty extensive diet of foods to supplement his regular feedings. The doc says we can also begin giving him small portions of fruit juice as an afternoon snack. This will require a sippy cup with a valve, which our two existing sippy cups do not have. We should get everything we need this weekend and then the food flinging and spitting can begin. All the while, we are to continue getting him his daily vitamins via an eye dropper, which he doesn't seem to like at all.

The last major development at the doctor's office is the realization that Billy has a toe deformity. Its really the same thing that I have and nobody really notices it, but the doctor said Billy can go to an Orthopedic Specialist if we want to get it taken care of. Ready for this? His 2nd and 3rd toe are fused together up to the first knuckle. I have the same deal, but you wouldn't know it unless I showed you. Funny stuff. We haven't decided if we are going to take him to get it taken care of or not. Another decision for a later time.

Another major milestone was reached a couple days ago when Billy rolled from his back to his front. He then did it again a few hours later and now seems to be rolling around his crib with regularity. Typically the major rolling happens in the first 10-15 minutes after he goes down, so we pop in to check on him and roll him back over if need be. We try to keep him on his back as much as possible when he's sleeping, but the kid does 360's in his crib while he sleeps, so its not really that easy. Next major step is sitting up on his own and maybe getting on his hands and knees soon after that.

Because of the little guy's increased neck control, for his 4 month birthday, his Mother and I went out and bought him a bouncer/play ring that doesn't hang from the door frame. Instead, it has three flexible poles that stick up in the air with three bungees that extend down from that to his bouncer. That allows him to bounce around, spin around, and play around. It has lights and music and he seems to like it for awhile. Then he seems to get tired and fusses a bit. 10-15 minutes at a time now is all you're getting out of him.

Billy's next doctor visit is in 6 months, but I'm sure plenty will happen before that. Especially since his Mother bought him a pool floaty that she's already tested out in the jacuzzi tub. That should be fun!!! Anyway, I'll get back to you all soon...