doctor/4 months

Libby had her 4-month well visit with Dr. Z yesterday and got another A+. She weighs 12 pounds, 6 ounces, is 23.25 inches long, and her head is 16 inches (they measure their head to chart brain growth). So she gained a pound and a half since her 2-month visit, and gained one inch each in her length and head. She's still squarely in the 50th percentile, which is perfect. Since she's growing so well, we don't need to start her on rice cereal until 6 months. But if she starts wanting to eat more frequently or just doesn't seem to be getting full when she nurses, he said to go ahead and try it. She moved up to 7 ounces instead of 6 in her bottles this week, too.

She got four shots again but did much better afterward this time. Katie gave her a dose of Tylenol before Kevin picked her up, and the doc suggested we continue that for 24 hours. She cried when she received the injections but was an angel last night. She even slept for 9 hours straight overnight, a luxury for us!

Dr. Z gave us some diaper rash tips, including applying Maalox or Mylanta to her bum when she has broken skin, as a few of my friends had suggested. He said that because her skin is sensitive and she poops so much (still at least 6 times a day!), she's just going to be prone to diaper rash. We battle an outbreak at least once a week. He said she doesn't have eczema, but that her skin is dry and sensitive, so we'll just need to put lots of mild lotion on her. We pointed out the birth mark that has developed on her leg and he wasn't concerned. We also noticed a red "stork bite" birth mark at the nape of her neck while we were there. It's under her hair, and he said it should fade in the next few years.

Developmentally she's doing great. She's super strong, curious, happy, vocal--just an engaged and good-natured girl.