Anika's Smile

This picture doesn't really do her newest/first trick justice, but it's pretty tough to coax out a smile from behind a camera. In any case, she's been smiling for us since Saturday and it's fantastic. She's reduced us to blathering idiots, but apparently I'll do most anything to see her happy.

And that spot on her eyelid is her Infantile Hemangioma. As I wrote earlier, if it doesn't cause her eyelid to droop significantly, it will go away on it's own when she's about five. However, we are feeling as though her lid is beginning to droop a little, so she may have to have it removed. We're seeing a pediatric dermatologist tomorrow to possibly diagnose the skin condition she inherited from Dad anyhow, so I think we'll ask about this eye thing also.

In other news, over the weekend Andrew and I began to suspect that Anika has a Milk Protein Intolerance. I took her to the doctor on Monday and he suggested that I try eliminating both dairy and soy from my diet. Needless to say, I'm not wild about this, but Anika does appear to be a happier and less gassy baby already. Apparently this intolerance is not all that uncommon, and kids usually outgrow it by the time they're two, so it basically just makes my life difficult. In a few weeks I can start trying to add things back into my diet. I'm really hoping that I won't have to give up soy entirely, since it's the easiest alternative to dairy and soybean oil is in everything... We'll see how it goes.

The Proud Parents

Dad enjoying a yet another leisurely breakfast.

Mom crashed out on the couch.

And I've tossed up this photo just because it's probably the most adorable thing you'll ever see.

One Month Down

It's a shock to me that a full month has past since Anika's arrival. Anika, however, is daily changed. She's gained a whopping two and a half pounds (which is above average) and grown two inches. She's spending longer periods of time awake during the day, has a surprising amount of strength (she can hold her head up during a burping), and is generally more aware of the world. Her mobile, a striped monkey toy, and our faces are fascinating. It's only a matter of time before she deliberately sends that goofy grin of hers our way.

From our visits to the doctor, it would seem that she's a very healthy little babe. She does, incidentally, appear to have inherited Andrew and Grandma Mary's skin condition (Dermatopathia Pigmentosa Reticularis) because, like her daddy, she developed blisters on her feet during her second day of life. The blisters themselves weren't all that bad, but likely condemn her to a life without fingerprints and difficulty sweating. We're going to see some hot-shot pediatric dermatologist at NYU later this month and hopefully get an official diagnosis. There are only something like 10-15 documented cases of this condition, and since Andrew and his mother are not among them, we're interested in having the three of them noted by the people who've studied it.

Also, I'm not sure if it's apparent from any of the previous photographs, but Anika developed a red spot on her right eyelid about two weeks ago. At first we thought she'd just scratched herself, but it turns out she has an Infantile Hemangioma (also known as a Strawberry Hemangioma). It's a birthmark of sorts that develops a few weeks after birth. Fortunately, it's not permanent, however it will stick around until she's 5-7 years old. We're not thrilled about it, but all things considered it's not so bad. Apparently these things often continue to grow for the first three months and then remain roughly the same size thereafter. Because it's on her eyelid there's a chance that it will cause her eyelid to droop, which could affect her vision. If this happens, she may undergo treatment to shrink or remove it, but otherwise we'll just let it disappear of its own accord.

Interestingly enough, these birthmarks seem to be estrogen fueled (they happen more to girls than boys) and often occur in children who had placental abnormalities. I haven't been able to access much information on this subject, but it might be that this mark, my endocrine problems, and her velamentous umbilical cord having something to do with one another. Weird, eh?

A whirlwind welcome from Grandma Mary and Grandpa Tom

During the last weekend in August, we were graced by a visit from Grandpa Tom and Grandma Mary. Their visit was entirely too short, but momentous and pleasant nonetheless. Here are a few photos of Grandma and Grandpa with their favorite new person.



And here Anika is enjoying a little post-bath cuddle with Dad and Grandma. Bath time is quite the spectator sport in these parts. It's quickly become a good time for all involved, though getting out is still a little traumatic.