Happy 11 Month Birthday!

Miss Melanie Grace was born 11 months ago today ~ can you believe it?? Time certainly does go fast!

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Melanie is wearing 6-9 month clothing (some pants are a little loose in the waist, but we all wish we had that problem!) She is learning and exploring new things every day. Her memory is improving, and it's fun to watch it - for instance, if she gets a toy out and it doesn't have all the parts with it, she will search for them so they're all intact (so she can then throw them all over the room). She puts toys into buckets, she now puts the rings on the stand from that classic toy with the five different-sized/color rings, she LOVES to take Daddy's glasses off his face and giggle about it, she likes to dance, play in her kitchen (well, throw the kitchen parts into the next room), TORMENT the cat, and smile and laugh a lot. She has six teeth and lots of hair. She still loves her "silky" - she has to have it with her whenever she's sleepy, cranky, or hungry. She averages about 20-25 ounces of formula a day, along with an ever-growing assortment of table foods (she does better with table foods at daycare). We also still give her oatmeal and baby fruits and veggies each day. According to daycare, she feeds herself each of her bottles - but she's also coming home in different clothes every day because of this endeavor, so I won't put that "W" in the win column just yet. She "talks" a LOT, but "dada" and "baba" are the only things recognizable. She giggles when asked to say "mama" - leading me to believe she's got her mommy's stubborn streak and knows how to say it, just won't! She still loves bathtime, despite her little antics last week - she even blew bubbles last night! It was probably a fluke. She loves to cuddle, and will come over and give hugs even when you're not expecting it.

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I can't believe we're just a month away from my baby's one-year birthday! We are very blessed!

Now that I've figured out how to post videos......

Since Central Indiana got its first big snow yesterday/last night/this morning, Melanie and I had a SNOW DAY! Now, don't get me wrong; this didn't involve TOUCHING any snow by either of us! Daycare was closed, so that was the perfect opportunity to NOT drive downtown in this mess! It's almost noon and we're still in our pajamas (although I have showered!) Mel is doing great, "talking" a loto, and entertaining everyone around her!

The above video is from last night; Mel's new "trick" is to put her ball - okay, Charlie's baseball - into a (broken) plastic container over and over and over again. Her pants are a little short - but they were the "backup pants" at daycare :)

Somersaults!

Melanie has discovered somersaults! She has done one every now and then, but on Tuesday night, we weren't sure she would let us stop with this newfound trick! I was dizzy, so I really don't know how she was able to keep her wits about her. She slept like a rock last night, so it must have gotten to her!
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Mel is also feeling much better from her "sinus infection" - I almost didn't even start the meds because she seemed better on Monday, but whether it's the Amoxycillian or just the natural course of the infection, she's clearing up a lot each day - and the snot is less and less, thank goodness! She has been eating a ton of table food at daycare the last two days, and even held her own bottle the entire time today for one of the feedings.

16 pounds, prominent ears, and a sinus infection

The best news of the day is that Melanie's pediatrician, Dr. Megremis, is back to work full time!! Yippee! I'm not just excited about this for selfish reasons, I am thrilled that it seems he has beaten the cancer, and is feeling great!

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Mel went to the doc this morning because this cold of hers just doesn't seem to be going away. Also, it seemed she might be getting an ear infection. Based on everything I told him, Dr. McG decided it sounded like a sinus infection, which could go away on its own, or we could treat it with antibiotics. So, meds, here we come! Good news that there is no ear infection; he even deep-cleaned the gunk out of her ears for her! (which she was NOT very appreciative of!!) She weighed 16 pounds even!

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As I was checking in, I saw the letter from Mel's new Pedi GI in her patient folder, so of course I looked through it. He was reporting on the fact she's underweight, etc, etc., and then said that upon physical examination, he could find nothing wrong with her except for being underweight and that she has "prominent ears." I'm so glad we got a medical diagnosis on that :) So of course I asked Dr. McG about it - and he said that there was nothing to worry about - that if she had other physical deformities, or was developmentally delayed, we may be looking at something chromosomal..... but that in this case, she just has big ears! I thought it was funny!

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After our doctor's appointment, Mel and I did a bit of shopping and met Laura & Lily Haeberle for lunch; Mel was still quite exhausted from the doctor's, so was not her usual happy self. We had a good three-day weekend; Saturday Grandma & Grandpa Doan babysat Mel while Jeff & I went to lunch, a movie, and did some errands. Jeff wasn't feeling very well, but luckily it hasn't hit him like it has Melanie! Sunday after church we met Suzi, Ernie, Wyatt, Cameron, Jim & Shirley for lunch, and then today I got to see Laura & Lily. Food, food, food!

15lbs, 14oz

Yes, that's the same that Jeff weighed her the other day, but this weight, yesterday at the follow-up GI appointment, was significant. Dr. Fitzgerald told us that the rate at which she's gaining is on the 75% for kids her age! So she's actually "thriving" versus the 'failure to thrive' they may have previously classifed her as. (Actually, he said that she used to be "malnourished...") She's now ON the charts, at 3% for her weight, and 3% for her weight/height ratio. She is 27.5 inches. Dr. F was VERY pleased with her progress, and we don't have to see him for five weeks. Mel is fighting a bit of a cold this week - manifesting in a river of snot - but is doing great!

New room at daycare

Yesterday was Melanie's official first day in the next room up at daycare! Typically, babies don't move up until they're a year. However, at our daycare, they changed the structure, and they move babies up at 6 months. Yes, Melanie is 10 months old. She wasn't "held back," they just determined that she was too little and they didn't want the bigger kids to fall on her :) Her friend Courtney is older than her and is just now making the move too. So bottom line, the reason for the restructuring is to get a higher weekly rate until the kids are 18 months old! In any event.....Mel did great, took some good naps, had THREE bottles, and played hard. She was pretty cashed last night; she is definitely getting back into the swing of things as far as playing with all of her friends
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Edited to add: Tuesday, upon pickup, I was even more pleased with the progress Mel is making in the "big kids" room. She ate beef stew and a roll (and a few bites of a banana and didn't have a reaction) - she is learning sign language, held her own bottle, is sleeping on a cot (2, two-hour naps!!), and is doing great! Her reaction when I walk in in the evening is priceless, but I know she's having a great time! Miss Sandra was shocked to learn that Melanie sucks her thumb! She said "well, I guess it's only been two days" - but I assured her she should have known in the first two hours. Not sure what's going on there, but maybe Mel is trying to act older to impress her new friends :)

Happy Birthday, Grandma Doan!

Monday, January 5 is Grandma Doan's birthday, and Melanie wanted to wish her a VERY happy birthday!! Melanie is sooooo lucky to have all of her grandparents in her life; Grandma Doan gets to do all kinds of fun things like take Mel to the doctor, hang out with her on overnight visits, go shopping with her, and see her fairly frequently. Grandma Doan also teaches Mel new fun tricks every time they're together; and sometimes Mommy & Daddy use the following days to un-learn these tricks (such as the deep-throated "monster" noises:) Melanie is so lucky to have her in her life, and wanted to give her lots of (open-mouthed, wet) kisses on her very special day!

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Happy Birthday Mom!! I hope your day is as special as you are!