May 17th, 2006.
Dear Dad,
It has been a little over a month since I wrote to you. I am getting very big! I am now 23.5 inches long, and I weigh 12 pounds and 10 ounces. Both measurements are almost exactly at the 90th percentile for a two month old baby girl. My head circumference is between the 50th and 75th, but just because it's a smaller percentile, that doesn't mean my brain is too small! Also, just because my weight is at the 90th percentile, that doesn't mean that I am fat or eating too much! (Silly Mom, she worries about these things and checked with Dr. Alexander.)
I have been showing you a lot of my personality since I was first born, and I thought I would refresh your memory since there are a few things I don't even do anymore.
Ever since I was born, and, in fact, even during gestation, as evidenced by my ultrasound pictures, I have loved to have my hands near my face and curl my fingers. When I am a calm baby, you and Mom, refer to this curling as "Kitten Hands". I also still like to lie in the "Sprinkler Dance" position, with one arm out, and one by my head. One thing I did when I was first born but that I no longer do is to wrinkle up my forehead. I used to have so many wrinkles in my forehead, Mom thought I needed "Baby Botox". Plus, I believe you actually thought I resembled an old man! There are no more wrinkles and creases in my forehead, thank you very much! Another stage that I went through was "Baby Shark", which has not been seen since Easter. This is when I was eating, when I would shake my head back and forth like a shark tearing up its prey - Mom is glad this is over. I never have sucked my thumb, although I have lately been seen sucking on part of my hand when I am very hungry. My newest movement is my "Bicycle Kick". I can kick violently, first my left foot, then my right, and so on for minutes at a time, often against Mom's hands. You can't keep a blanket over my feet when I am awake! I have very strong legs and may compete in the Tour de France someday! I love to show off my kicks in my bouncer and also in my bathtub, so, if I'm not a biker, I may be a swimmer when I grow up.
All the reading that Mom does and conversation that I have with you and Mom has helped my language develop, too. First, I just cried, of course; I still do this. However, my "waa-aa" cry has disappeared. Now, when I am desperate for a feeding or diaper change, such as when I am in the car for a long time and you can't find a place to pull over, I make a "ralph" cry. It goes, "raa-alph", and only occurs when I am very worked up! When I was a few weeks old, I started grunting ("eh", "uh") sounds. I still make these, especially when I am waking up. Grandma Patty calls them my tractor noises. Nowadays, I also like to make "ahh" and "ooo" sounds, especially in the morning. I like playing the game where you say "ah" and I reply with "ooo". There are some other sounds I have made a couple times; don't worry, I will make them more often as I grow older! My newest sound occurred purely by accident, in Williamsburg. There, I was very worked up since so many people were around, and I was hungry. By some means, the cry came out sounding like "Mom"! There was a definite "m" in there, but I don't know what that word means yet.
That is about it, Dad. I am very conked out today. I don't know if it was the 4 shots I had this morning when I visited the doctor, or the screaming that ensued, but I have been sleepy all day. I look forward to seeing you tonight around 9:30.
Love always,
Sleepy Chipi (Gretchen)
Dear Dad,
It has been a little over a month since I wrote to you. I am getting very big! I am now 23.5 inches long, and I weigh 12 pounds and 10 ounces. Both measurements are almost exactly at the 90th percentile for a two month old baby girl. My head circumference is between the 50th and 75th, but just because it's a smaller percentile, that doesn't mean my brain is too small! Also, just because my weight is at the 90th percentile, that doesn't mean that I am fat or eating too much! (Silly Mom, she worries about these things and checked with Dr. Alexander.)
I have been showing you a lot of my personality since I was first born, and I thought I would refresh your memory since there are a few things I don't even do anymore.
Ever since I was born, and, in fact, even during gestation, as evidenced by my ultrasound pictures, I have loved to have my hands near my face and curl my fingers. When I am a calm baby, you and Mom, refer to this curling as "Kitten Hands". I also still like to lie in the "Sprinkler Dance" position, with one arm out, and one by my head. One thing I did when I was first born but that I no longer do is to wrinkle up my forehead. I used to have so many wrinkles in my forehead, Mom thought I needed "Baby Botox". Plus, I believe you actually thought I resembled an old man! There are no more wrinkles and creases in my forehead, thank you very much! Another stage that I went through was "Baby Shark", which has not been seen since Easter. This is when I was eating, when I would shake my head back and forth like a shark tearing up its prey - Mom is glad this is over. I never have sucked my thumb, although I have lately been seen sucking on part of my hand when I am very hungry. My newest movement is my "Bicycle Kick". I can kick violently, first my left foot, then my right, and so on for minutes at a time, often against Mom's hands. You can't keep a blanket over my feet when I am awake! I have very strong legs and may compete in the Tour de France someday! I love to show off my kicks in my bouncer and also in my bathtub, so, if I'm not a biker, I may be a swimmer when I grow up.
All the reading that Mom does and conversation that I have with you and Mom has helped my language develop, too. First, I just cried, of course; I still do this. However, my "waa-aa" cry has disappeared. Now, when I am desperate for a feeding or diaper change, such as when I am in the car for a long time and you can't find a place to pull over, I make a "ralph" cry. It goes, "raa-alph", and only occurs when I am very worked up! When I was a few weeks old, I started grunting ("eh", "uh") sounds. I still make these, especially when I am waking up. Grandma Patty calls them my tractor noises. Nowadays, I also like to make "ahh" and "ooo" sounds, especially in the morning. I like playing the game where you say "ah" and I reply with "ooo". There are some other sounds I have made a couple times; don't worry, I will make them more often as I grow older! My newest sound occurred purely by accident, in Williamsburg. There, I was very worked up since so many people were around, and I was hungry. By some means, the cry came out sounding like "Mom"! There was a definite "m" in there, but I don't know what that word means yet.
That is about it, Dad. I am very conked out today. I don't know if it was the 4 shots I had this morning when I visited the doctor, or the screaming that ensued, but I have been sleepy all day. I look forward to seeing you tonight around 9:30.
Love always,
Sleepy Chipi (Gretchen)
posted by Kris at 12:08 AM
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