High Maintenance Sensitivity

First, just remember how sweet and cute Emersen is....because the below pics are slightly...icky and sad and scarier than the situation actually is. So I've mentioned that we found out Emersen is allergic to cow's milk protein. Therefore, if we're going to give her any formula, it has to be a hypoallergenic one (hypoallergenic = expensive and gross). We've been using Similac Alimentum, adding about 1 to 1.5 oz to every bottle to supplement enough to take the pressure off me pumping and producing enough. She wouldn't really drink very much more of it, even in a bottle of milk. The doctor told me that if things cleared up/improved with the hypoallergenic, we could try Soy, but also warned that sometimes, babies with the cow's milk protein sensitivity also can't do Soy either. Well of course Emersen can't do Soy either. I bought the premixed stuff and gave her 2 oz at 7am and again at 10:30am. We gave her a bath around 11am or so and she didn't have any new rash/irritation like she had previously on the regular formula (this sign that she's allergic). I left for baby shower and came back (she had only eaten one more time) and she had this redness around her neck/collar bone area. I thought it was just her drooling issues. But I looked down her shirt and the red blotchy dry stuff had flared back up. COME ON - I need a break on the sensitivity stuff here....we've switched to Aveeno soap-free oatmeal stuff for baths for soap and shampoo, only Aquafor for lotions...so "baby smell" here. And of course she can't switch to the cheaper, more easily available formula either. Well, when I went to change her for bed, I REALLY saw the extent of the reaction to the Soy formula and it was so quick and bad right away....it had been pretty progressive with the original formula we had her on. I felt so bad, it looked so awful. But she's slept well today and played well today - been laughing a lot, etc so it's not bothering her, just so ya know. I took some pictures just to show you and educate you on what it looks like. Especially for new mom's out there so they can just be aware. I LOVE Googling stuff and would love to come upon actual pictures of something rather than description. So anyway, see below for rash-y Emersen pictures. And we know from experience that it will also get better on its own just by stopping the Soy formula. AND if you hear of a sale/good deal on Similac anywhere, let me know!



She isn't scared, she's just staring at the camera. She laughed through the whole photo shoot, promise.

A day later and it's clearing up - a lot less red

Grandma Fischer got Emersen this cute little outfit. Wes calls it psychedelic. Whatever, it's cute especially because it's different colors than most girl stuff comes in. I DID see the CUTEST little dresses at Babies R Us that were light gray and yellow - but I resisted. They're Carter's, just fyi. Anyway, Mom did this photo shoot of Em. She's simply getting ridiculous with her tongue these days. I mean, she leaves it in place, half sticking out, the whole time she's awake sometimes. Wes, by the way, got her doing this, haha.

Can we say CRAZY eyes!? She's hilarious with her facial expressions. It's like she's just recently learned that she can use her eyebrows to express herself. And she'll laugh or frown, all the while sticking out her tongue. Mom and I have had one or two go-to-pieces in laughter over it. And she sucks on her arm or hands a lot these days. Mostly when she's tired or going to sleep. Her cute-ness, to us, has not worn off. We still can't get over her!



I have more pictures to post. I'm playing catch up again! I LOVE hearing from all the people who check out the blog. My philosophy is 1. I'm keeping a "scrapbook" of Emersen as we go and 2. It's an easy way to provide a way for people to see her if they want, and not see her if they don't want to...and 3. Babies are just so cute and can cheer you up any day!

Big hat or little head?

Funny Girl

This is Emersen hanging out with Grandpa. You can't see how cute her little outfit is - I'll try to remember to take a full body pic. Sharon Jenkins gave Emersen this sleeper - the feet on it are like ballet slippers. So sweet!

Emersen loves sticking out her tongue! At this time, she had just finished eating a little while earlier - her happiest moments of course. She's sleeping through the night from about 9:30pm - 7am and I usually wake her up at 7am. I'm still enjoying her sleeping a lot throughout the day, I know the day will come when she just doesn't stop during the day at all. And everyone else will need a nap!

3 months

This is the face we make when we realize Emersen is 3 months old! I am not exaggerating when I say that I daily thank God that she is hear live, in person rather that in my belly. While the time has flown by and I've gotten by body back to myself for the most part, it is still something I can't believe that it's been 3 months.

Like most of you know, Emersen arrived large and in charge. She remains the same today. I took her to the doctor last week because her baby eczema had really flared up and spread all over. The pediatrician said she probably had a cow's milk protein allergy and recommended hypoallergenic formula. We only were feeding her one formula bottle, at night, per day so it didn't seem like it would be a big deal. Except that Alimentum or whatever from Similac, smells like Cheez-Its. She didn't like it and didn't want to drink it. So, we tried several different options but to this point, the best we can do is about 1 oz of formula per bottle. This allows us to supplement and be able to provide enough breast milk too. Since she's eating more, and has an allergy, I've started taking fenugreek to help increase my milk supply. It's worked thus far and I'm back ahead of the game, not pumping to feed. And, by the way, I'll take as many prayers as possible for my endurance in pumping. I've wanted to quit several times, but it almost seems like we won't ever be able to since she has this allergy and won't drink the formula. Her eczema had cleared up some, but then I put an unwashed onesie on her and flared it back up. So, the allergy doesn't cause the eczema for her, just makes it really bad. We're using Aveeno soap-free wash and shampoo - I have used soap-free body wash for awhile now - and an oatmeal soak sometimes too...high maintenance! Aquafor has been our best friend as well - it really seems to help.

Through this doctor's appointment, we learned of Emersen's weight, which was up to 15 lbs. So sticking with the 2-2.5 oz milk to every pound of weight per day, Emersen drinks 30 - 32.5 oz per day. She's just moved up to size 3 diaper now - big belly and long body. I think we've decided to switch to the Huggies movers. Her diapers tend to slide down below her belly and the Huggies have the elastic band. Finally, I just replaced all her sleepers with new ones size 6m; if it has feet in it, she's 6m size. Onesies she can still do most 3m. By the way - Gerber's and Carter's are drastically different sizes! She can wear a 3m onesie from Carter's but has to do 6-9m in Gerber's...that's a little annoying.

Wes and Emersen have quite a special relationship. He's the best as getting her to laugh and "talk," which she's doing more and louder every day. She even occasionally will mimic him when he sticks out his tongue. Plus, he sucks her out with her bulb syringe and strangely it seems like that's brought them closer...

Her favorite toys are her jungle themed activity mat - LOVES it, love the giraffe on there, has secret conversations with it and kicks her heart out - a floppy monkey that she flops around on her mat, and Jacques the Peacock, which I've mentioned before. She got a caterpillar sound and light thing that attaches to the crib - she likes the classical music on it for sure. We can't wait for get to get big enough for a bouncy saucer thingy.

Well, that's where we are at 3 months. I think I've covered most of it. All of these pics my mom took while watching her. Thanks again to my mom and father-in-law for giving up some of their free time to watch baby Emersen - it's such a blessing! Thanks to mom and Jess for the cute outfits she's in too!

Snow Baby

Don't know if I've already posted this picture, but I just love it. And it's appropriate for the frigid weather around Lexington. I could NOT get warm today.

We found out on Friday that Emersen is allergic to cow's milk protein, which she's been exposed to through the formula bottle we give her before bed. It's what has caused the awful baby eczema all over her body. Once it spread to her belly and back, I had her looked at by the doctor. She felt leather-y and dry. Now, we have to give her a hypoallergenic formula instead - more expensive of course, but since she only drinks one bottle per day, that's alright. Giving her one bottle of formula helped with sleeping through the night, until recently when she's been waking up earlier and "sleep crying". But we also have started feeding her earlier too...she'll catch on eventually. And this helps me to be able to continue her on breast milk as well; I can stay ahead if I supplement.

I haven't taken her 3 month pic yet, and I didn't do it at 2 months either. I'll think of something to make up for that...and those pics will come this week hopefully. But she's 12 weeks old, so basically 3 months...technically, I guess it would be Jan 16th for 3 months. She weighs 15 lbs, has moved up to size 3 diapers and is the length of a 6 month old....this all makes for fun in finding clothes to fit. Such is life, she might as well get used to it, right ladies?

Every Day with Rachael Ray

My mom subscribed me to Rachel Ray's magazine. In the magazine, there is a weekly menu as well as a grocery list for the items needed. This past week I tried the weekly menu in the February issue of the magazine. It's been interesting to say the least. We've tried several items that we've never had before and some combinations that were out of our comfort zones. But it's been fun and made it more interesting to actually cook dinner. Most of them are within the 30 minutes or less time frame that Rachel Ray typically sticks to. Just thought I'd share with others!

Go Big Blue!

Strength Training Camp

We're working on her holding our head up, sometimes her chest, and rolling over on her sides. Here are some of her attempts. Yes, her hair appears reddish here and she has Wes' baby blues.