It seems like a minute ago that I watched the birth of my granddaughter McKenna. I mean literally. I have always known babies grow too fast for my liking. I have had many nieces and nephews as well as kids in my daycare and watched them grow up and away. But, it never felt like it was at this break neck speed, not till McKenna Elise Rose.
I guess for me, it is because I did not know my daughter as an infant since I did not meet her till she was almost a year old. So I missed seeing the daily milestones and in an infant’s life, they are daily. Lately, to me, they feel like they are by the minute.
Now I understand the true meaning of “in the blink of an eye.” One minute you are cradling a swaddling newborn after cutting the umbilical cord and the next you are trying to keep your 7 month old grandchild from climbing chairs. I have been with her every step of the way and it still feels too fast for me. Way too fast!
I am a firm believer in chronicling a child’s early years for myself, as well as the child to one day look back on because their memory will not retain most of those first few years. I do this mostly through film but I also kept a journal for my daughter, till she became a teen. I suggest this is just one of many ways to keep the memory that will one day fade—like “how old was she when she laughed”, or “when she took her first step?” You think you will remember but that is not always the case.
A few interesting facts:
- Infants double their birth weight by 5 months, triple by 12 months and generally quadruple by 2 years of age
- In the first months a newborn gains about 1 ounce a day
- Newborns grow in height about 1 and ½ inches in the first month and will be about a 25% increase
- While the breast fed baby will grow more rapidly in first 3 months, by 1 they now will weigh less than bottle fed babies
- Interaction and experience have now been proven by researchers to affect the brain of an infant “molding” what was once thought of as “hard-wired”
- Milestones are reached just as fast as an infant’s brain and synapses (neuron connections) develop
These are just a few of the scientific stages in an infant’s life. For parents the more fun stages are referred to as Milestones; face& voice recognition, grasping, rolling over, crawling, sitting, standing, talking, and finally, walking. We anxiously await each one of these milestones, coaxing, assisting and then letting them attempt on their own but we do not realize till they were accomplished, how quickly it passed.
“Fun Facts”
*Babies see in 2-D until they are between 2-4 months
*Babies recognize their own names between 5-8 months
*While babies smile at about 6 weeks (no not due to gas) they do not laugh until around 4 months
*M’s and D’s are usually the first consonant sounds a baby is able to make but around 9 months they are able to vocalize Mama and Dada for who they are
*No two infants are the same
If I can share one piece of valuable information for new parents it is this—“Cherish each and every moment of your infant’s (child’s) life because it goes so fast and in the Blink of an Eye, they will be off to college.”
"I have dedicated my life to the care and welfare of children. I feel privileged to share what I have learned with you. I am also committed to continuously learning. I will keep informed of the latest information in parenting children from newborns to teens and pass it on to all of you.” I will also use that same passion to help you create a dynasty generate increases in your business with straightforward and specialized media managing skills that guarantee your connection and scope will grow. Keep up to date reading our posts and discover valuable insights that can make parenting and succeeding in the business of the blogger– the most exciting adventure. (Debbie Twomey)
Tagged as:
babies,
birth,
breast fed,
changes,
crawling,
grow,
infants,
memory,
milestones,
parents,
sitting,
size,
walking
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh My Gosh, I just love, love this blog Debbie!! You have posted information I did not know for sure. I love love the idea of a journal. Unfortunately I did not do this and I surely regret it today. You certainly will benefit in years to come all your hard, but lovin it, work keeping the precious moments recorded of your beautiful granddaughter, McKenna:)
Kudos to you!!!
Debbie, what an incredibly and informative piece. I found that very interesting and love the data you provide…I sense we Grandparent quite similiar with an infinity amount of love for (our girls) My little Maddy and my two girls. Without them, I’d be empty…I feel that strong about that and i feel it was passed down by my Grandparents as well….Some unfortunate babies lack the post-natal love component, which, saddens me immensely…
Not to get off of the topic, I just wanted to let you know what a great post you have created Deb~
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