Parents.com says that Brooke is "gaining coordination and learning to control her muscles" and that "newborn reflexes like the Moro (startle) reflex are being replaced by voluntary actions". Most of the information I have seen says the Moro reflex doesnt disappear until 3+ months ... and Brooke definitely still has it. During her third month she will be using her arms more by batting at toys and performing the "baby push-up". Generally in the third month is when babies start to roll over. Brooke is already rolling over onto her side when she thrashes about at night. Its enough that I had to stop swaddling her in order to prevent her from any sort of injury at night. As a result our nights have been even more sleepless - she isnt used to her arms being able to flail about and those flailing arms repeatedly cause the Moro relfex which furthur riles her up. In addition, the increased coordination and control that is a positive thing about her development also has a downside ... her ability to take that (now free) hand and put it in her mouth at night. Not only do we not want her sucking her thumb, but her coordination is still quite spotty. This means that she can get her hand into her mouth but cannot keep it there. My nights are filled with sounds of struggle (as she tries to get her hand near her mouth) followed by loud slurping (a few sloppy sucks) followed by screaming (as her hand falls away from her mouth). Its all good fun.
2 Month Checkup
Height:24 1/8 inches
Weight:14 lbs 15 ounces
Brooke is a BIG baby - about the size of an average 6 month old ... but also a healthy baby :) She did great at the doctors office today and showed off her strong legs by kicking the doctor and scooting herself along the examining table when the doctor put her on her tummy. She also got a bunch of vaccines today: hepatitis B; polio; DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis); Hib, to protect against meningitis; pneumococcal, to protect against severe bacterial infections, ear infections, and meningitis; and rotavirus (given by mouth), to prevent stomach flu. Watching her get shots was not fun (I didnt even look actually) but she took it like a trooper. She cried for a bit (with real tears) but soon was comforted by mommy & with her pacifier. I popped her into her carseat to leave and she was alseep by the time we got to the car. Right now we are home and she is still in her carseat, snoring away.
