Teething!

     Well, the time has come for us to travel down the teething road.  These past few weeks have been so very exciting.  Leland has been a drooling mess.  He puts everything he possibly can into his mouth!  He whines more than ever before and wants to be held constantly.  
     The drooling and whining started about 10 days-2 weeks before his first tooth came through on the 4th of July.  We couldn't see or feel his tooth until the day before it popped through.  I could just tell he was uncomfortable and in a little bit of pain.  As we were heading out to go see the fire works I felt his gums again and there it was.  A needle sharp tooth poking through his gums.  A wave of anxiety passed over me.  I was super nervous of him biting me while I was nursing him.  I have read that many people stopped nursing because their babies would bite them while nursing and the pain was too much.  But, my baby got his teeth before he was even 4 months!  I was no where near ready to stop nursing.  My nursing goal keeps getting extended even longer and 4 months was not it.  I have read about what people suggest you're supposed to do if your baby bites you so I felt somewhat prepared. 

I was suggested to buy these from so many friends who have had the experience of teething babies! They have worked for us....I think. 

This has been great too.  He loves chewing on this when it has ice chips in it.  The water from the ice leaks out and he sucks it down! This has also worked for us....I think.

 

Carrots.  Cold carrots.  These are awesome!  Most people and restaurants have carrots in their refrigerator and are usually willing to part with one to help sooth an adorable baby.  Leland likes chewing on these a lot.  The sweetness helps!  And, when Leland is finished with it and throws it on the ground, Linus eats it for a snack.  Win win! 

 

Baltic Amber.  I bought Leland's necklace at The Plaid Rabbit in Green Hills in Nashville.  There are so many websites that sweat by these gems! They are not for chewing.  You place them around the baby's neck and the warmth of the baby's body helps release oil from the amber that can be a natural anti-inflammatory.  Leland wears his a lot.  Many people allow their baby to sleep in them but I am still a little nervous.  He has never touched it and I don't think he even knows it's there.  Does it work for us? I think so....

So, these are the teething solutions that we use in our home.  Do they work?  I'm not 100% sure, which is why I said 'I think' for the items I listed above.  Maybe he's just an easy baby and teething doesn't bother him terribly. Or, maybe these items have helped.  I can't say for sure but, we haven't had to use any Tylenol or medication to help with his pain and he hasn't been in so much pain that he is up all night or cries all day.  So, we will stick with these methods until we need to add another to our list! Good luck to parents of teething babies!

Weeks 18, 19, & 20!

Age: 18 weeks, July 15, 2013

Weight & Height: My mom and Dad think that I weigh about 15 pounds, but I haven't been to the pediatrician in a while! I am definitely getting taller because Mom has had to put all of my 0-3month clothes away and now I am wearing 3-6 month clothes!

Tough Times: I have still been a little bit out of sorts with my teeth coming in. 

Exciting Events: We celebrated Mommy's birthday yesterday!  Dad stamped my feet in white paint and then cut out my footprints to put into a card for Mom.  How cute! Mom loved it.  Dad also gave Mommy some gift cards because Mommy wants to buy new clothes.  We went to church and I was an angel baby in Sunday School and then Dad and Mom and I all went to Opry Mills mall so Mom could try to find some clothes.  She only bought a pair of shoes.  I think that she wants to go shopping all by herself for some peace and quiet instead of with Dad and me!  We also went to have coffee at the Red Bicycle with her friends Nao, and Katie Bingeman.  Mom was so happy to see old friends! On Sunday night for Mommy's birthday we all went to Nacho's Mexican restaurant and then came back to our house for ice cream sandwich cake that Daddy made for Mommy.  On Monday, Mom and I went to have lunch with Keri (Mommy's old friend), her Mom, sister in law, and two kids.  It was a blast and Mom is always glad when she gets to see old friends.  

Looking forward to...  I can't wait for my two cousins, Lily and Madelyne and my Aunt Kristen to come visit for the week! Mom has so many fun events planned for when they are here.  Next week is Princess & Pirate camp at Aunt Annies house!  I'm so excited to go.  Mom is nervous about bringing me.  She has a plan, but she is learning more and more that the best laid plans can be ruined very easily when you have a 4 month old!

 Age: 19 weeks

Weight & Height: Still about 15 pounds according to our scale at home!

Tough Times: Well, I am still teething but no new teeth have come in.  I am a drooling mess and now Mom understands why some babies wear bibs 24 hours a day!

Exciting Events:  I had such a fun time with my cousins.  Lily held me and entertained me every second that I was awake.  Madelyne is so grown up and would help supervise Lily.  Madelyne was so patient with her little sister and was so good with talking to me and making sure Lily was holding me correctly.  On Friday night, July 19th we all went to the Full Moon Pickin' Party at Edwin Warner Park.  Uncle Robbie, Anna Claire, Laurel, Frances, Margaret, Aunt Kristen, Madelyne, Lily, and Sarah and Daron were all there.  We brought a picnic dinner and Mom and Dad drank some beer and we listened to some great music.  It was a lot of fun.  Mom and Dad had a blast and there were plenty of people there to hold me!  On Saturday we went to Cumberland Park and played in the fountains.  All of my cousins wanted to hold me while I was in the water.  I was such a good boy.  This week was also the first week of Princess & Pirate Camp.  Dad watches me in the morning and brings me to camp around 9:45am and I sleep until about 12:00.  The kids absolutely LOVED having me there.  I even met some of the students who are going to be in the Purple Room with Mom this year.  I wore a bandana and played pirates with the kids.  By the end of the day Mommy is absolutely exhausted.  We came home and took naps a couple of times. 

Looking forward to...

 Age: 20 weeks.  July 29, 2013. 

Weight & Height: 15.1 pounds. 

Tough Times:  I got sick for the first time this week.  On Tuesday, Mom and I came home from Princess & Pirate Camp and I was acting a little off.  Mom was calm at first.  I was sleeping a lot and eating fine and when we got home I was a little fussy so Mom took me upstairs to change my diaper and I was acting constipated and feeling very warm.  She took my temperature and it was 100.9*.  She didn't panic at first but then I was not putting any pressure on my legs when she was holding me on her lap and as she describes, I was acting like I was fainting.  Then she started freaking out and called Dad.  She couldn't get a hold of the pediatricians office so she called her friend Keven and he calmed her down a little bit.  Dad finally got a hold of Old Harding Pediatrics and they suggested that we come in for a check up to make sure that I was ok.  When we got there I was laughing and giggling and drooling and spitting.  They took my temperature and it was 102.6*.  Mom was glad that we came to the pediatricians office.  I was feeling better and they told her to nurse me a lot and give me some Motrin if I was very fussy and couldn't sleep.  When we got home from the doctor's office I slept for about 3 hours.  I snuggled with Dad a lot that first night.  Wednesday I was feeling better and Aunt Brittany took care of me at Princess & Pirate Camp so Mom would be able to focus her attention on the campers.  Wednesday night Mom and I snuggled and slept together in the twin bed in my room.  I nursed a lot that night and still had a fever.  Dad stayed home from work on Thursday and took care of me.  We went for car rides together and he brought me to Princess & Pirate Camp so I could eat a couple of times. 

Exciting Events:  On Thursday afternoon on August 1st Mom and Dad and I all went to my new school, Harpeth Heights Weekday to meet my new teachers.  Mom was so excited and I was a maniac.  I was screaming and yelling up a storm.  I guess I was trying to convey that I was so excited about going to school!

Looking forward to...  more Princess & Pirate Camp!