Bethany's 6 Month Check-Up

We finally got Bethany in for her 6 month check-up and here are her stats:

Weight: 13.16 lbs     (3rd percentile)
Length: 25.0 in     (14th percentile)
Head Circ: 16.2 in     (11th percentile)

She did very well and passed her exam with flying colors! She didn't even cry very much after her shots and was extremely brave. The only red flag that came up was that our little munchkin is STILL not babbling. She coos every once in a while, but even that isn't very often. The doctor said that if she doesn't start to babble consonant sounds within four weeks we'll have to take her back in and get her meeting with some specialists for "early intervention". I don't know what that means exactly. What can you do for a baby who just doesn't babble? Hopefully we don't have to find out. We're a little nervous and spend a lot of time talking to her in baby talk trying to get her to respond. She is very interactive with smiles and the occasional giggle, however, so we are reassured by that. She definitely knows we're here, is interested in observing us, cries when we leave the room, and kicks her legs with excitement and smiles when we come back. And I know her hearing is perfect-- just try to sneak into her room when she is sleeping. If you breathe loudly she'll wake up and catch you. Hopefully she just doesn't feel like she has much to say at the moment and the babbling will come in time.

Also, Bethany has started waking up more and more in the night, and we were warned that if I keep getting up and letting her nurse each time she wakes then by the time she is 9 months old she will have it so ingrained as a pattern that she won't sleep through the night for at least a year or more. This thought fills me with terror! I've been back to getting up with her 3-4 times each night and it's exhausting. The doctor said to just let her scream at night when she wakes up so that she learns to put herself back to sleep and reassured me that she won't starve. He called her a little "butter-ball" with all her fat reserves on her legs and tummy and said that if she keeps the whole family up all night long, we are still not to feed her, and then the next day we can't let her nap either. Everyone else gets nap, but the baby doesn't that day, so that by the time night comes she is beyond exhausted. He said after two days she should be able to self-soothe at night and we'll all be sleeping better. It sounds miserable, but I think we're going to have to try it. Cross your fingers that it works! 

And last but not least, here's a cute little video of Bethany doing what she does best (besides pooping and crying): sucking her lower lip. When she's content and happy she sucks her lower lip in and out and spits all over herself. It is so funny! It's even more funny to see Casey imitating her. :)