Seven Months Old

Another month has flown by!

Stats: When Matilda had her cast change a couple of weeks ago, they weighed her prior to the cast change and then weighed her cast once it was cut off.  Based on that, we'd estimate she weighed between 14-14.5 pounds and is around the 10% percentile for weight.

 

Sleep: No change in sleep habits this month.  She's waking twice during the night to eat and takes at least two good naps during the day.  She's still being swaddled, although we know we need to kick the habit before the cast comes off.  We tried to go cold turkey one day, but quickly rethought that strategy since she was only sleeping 30-40 minutes at a time. 

Eat: No big changes here either.  She nurses 6x in a 24 hour period.  The doctor said we could try to cut out the night feeds, but with her only being able to nurse 4x during the day (before work, lunch, quick snack in the afternoon, and then before bed), I rather just keep the night feeds for now to make sure she's eating enough. 

We're still testing out solids.  So far she's had banana, sweet potatoes, avocado, apples, carrots, and peas.  She likes bananas and hates apples and has been ok with the rest.  Lately she just wants to blow raspberries with food in her mouth instead of swallowing, so she really hasn't been eating that much.

 
Play/ Milestones: Matilda's nickname this month has been "Miss Grabby Hands".  She gets bored with her toys and instead just wants anything and everything she shouldn't have.  If you have a cup in your hands, she will grab it and try to drink from it.  You have to watch your jewelry, or it will end up in her mouth.  Phones and remotes and junk mail are all fair game in her book.  Even when she was coming out of anesthesia for her cast change, she wanted to grab and chew all the wires she was hooked up to. 

We've done a ton of fun fall events this month.  We went to the pumpkin patch, our neighborhood fall festival, dressed up for Halloween, and went to the Renaissance festival.  We even camped for a night at the Renaissance festival.  She did great!  She especially loved walking around the festival and seeing all the people dressed up.  We might try to go back in the next few weekends since she had such a great time.

Hip Dysplasia/ Leg Update: Matilda had her cast change a couple of weeks ago which was a good thing since her original cast had gotten so tight.  The surgeon said her hip still felt good, and she only needs to be in her new cast for 6 weeks followed by the rhino cruiser brace at night.  She is scheduled to have her cast removed on Dec. 9th - her 8th month birthday!  I'm excited but nervous at the same time because I've heard she might be really sore for a few weeks once the cast comes off.  It will take some time for her to regain muscle tone in that leg.  Depending on her mobility and progress, I guess we'll see if her pediatrician recommends doing physical therapy.