“She is off the chart”, after examining numbers on her chart, the doctor told us.
At week 18, DD was 15.5 pounds and 27 inches long, falling into the 90th percentile in weight and 100th percentile in height. She is a big girl!
“We need to buy another car seat for her”, I told M, “very soon she will outgrow that infant car seat.”
I checked online and soon focused my research on Britax Decathlon Convertible Car Seat
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During the weekend, I found out one fabric pattern, Cappuccino style, was much cheaper than other patterns of Britax Decathlon: Cappuccino is $199, while others are all $294.
First I got very excited and was ready to purchase it. Then a question popped up in my mind: why this particular pattern is almost $100 less than others?
The next thing I did, as usual, was that I went to Yahoo Answers and posted my question: Why Britax Decathlon Convertible Car Seat- Cappuccino is much cheaper than other patterns? ?
Here is my question: I notice Britax Decathlon Car Seat - Cappuccino style is much cheaper than others, like Hungtinton, Onyx, Sahara and Tiffany. In some websites, Cappuccino is not even listed as Britax Decathlon Car Seat styles, only the other four. Any particular reason that this pattern is cheaper?
Soon one lady named Tina gave me an answer: The pattern / fabric has probably been discontinued. At this point of the year, most baby manufacturers are releasing new patterns and versions of their products.
There is also the possibility that it did not sell as well as the other styles and that the brown tones are similar to the Huntington colors which may sell better.
Then my favorite community member littleangelfire81 posted her idea: Usually when any Britax seat is cheaper and it is not one of their annual sales (Sept and Feb) It is b/c that cover has been discontinued. It means that you are getting an older seat, most likely, though not always. It is a toss up. My guess is the date of manufacture will be at least 1 year old, but can’t be sure b/c occasionally Britax will put a few random left over discontinued covers on brand new of the line seats. But the case usually is that’s its cheaper b/c it is older.
The reason this is important is b/c car seats are only good for 6 years from the date of manufacture. It doesn’t matter when you buy it - only when it was made. So if you get a 1 year old car seat brand new, you’ve already lost 1 year of its life before you even open it! Make sure the price is discounted enough to make it worth it to you. Or call the site you’re ordering from and ask for a DOM before ordering so you will know for sure.
DOM of car seat?! I have never thought about it! Certainly I don’t want to trade one year of valid usage time with $100, especially as this rate DD is growing.
Therefore, my fellow new mothers, if you find a good deal of baby car seat, check its DOM. Don’t just see the lowered price.
During month four, DD’s fingers were getting more and more flexible. She began to reach for an object and grasp things. She had no problem raising up on her arms. And she began to develop self-awareness about herself.
Week 14: DD cried when she saw grandpa and grandma. She worked hard to flip herself onto her tummy and kept doing it in spite of failures. She still yelled for help when she couldn’t flip back by herself. She still signed deeply when she was bored.
She held hands together and began to play with them. This week she even ventured to put two fists into her mouth. Of course, it failed.
She didn’t cry at her own reflection in the mirror. Instead she smiled at her image and began to like it!
On stomach, she could lift head up 90 degrees. Sometimes she pushed her feet against the bars of her crib to avoid her feet getting stuck between bars.
She sucked M’s index finger when he held her. M said it was ticklish!
Week 15: DD said “hi” to me when she saw me in the morning. Of course, she didn’t understand “hi” means greetings between two human beings. Some days she woke up early in the morning (another early bird?!)
This week DD began to want more attention. She complained loudly when left alone. She enjoyed being held and liked putting her head on my shoulder.
She could hold her toes with her fingers, one foot in one hand. She could flip over easily and enjoyed doing that over and over again.
Week 16: DD liked playing her own fingers. She could raise chest up with her arms. She found it fascinating to yell loudly, probably testing her vocal system. She tried six times to bat the hanging mouth toy when lying on her side, since she couldn’t touch it when lying on the back.
Week 17: DD could reach out to grasp the rattle and drew it closer and licked it. She could hold her head stead when upright for quite a while. She became sociable again and giggled when seeing grandpa and grandma.
She turned 270 degrees in her play pan. When lying on her tummy, she pushed her legs and tried to move. She felt frustrated when she couldn’t move yet.
This weekend she hit her head against the crib so hard that we heard the sound on the other room. We checked her carefully to make sure she was ok. She didn’t cry. But we decided to buy a crib bumper immediately to prevent her from hurting herself.
I am not that kind of person who is thrilled by Halloween. A lot of years I simply forgot this holiday. But this year’s Halloween means different to me, because I have DD.
This morning I dressed DD with the cute Halloween costume with a lovely pumpkin and “my first Halloween” on the front. Today is DD’s first Halloween and also the first to me with her.
I am wondering, how many Halloweens I will spend with her?
No matter how many Halloweens I am going to spend with her, I will do my best to make each time a fond memory. And the same with each Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year Eve…
Life is a journey, and DD is going to accompany me for at least the next 20 years. Twenty years, it sounds like a pretty long time, actually will fly within a blinking of eyes. Before I even notice the change, DD will turn to be a beautiful, graceful, and kind young lady!
Whether DD wants to stay with me longer than 20 years is totally up to her. But no matter what, I want this 20-year period to be happy, enjoyable, meaningful and worthy recalling to her and to me.
My life is a journey that I am the only one who goes through from the very beginning to the final end.
There are always people joining and leaving the trip, except for few who stay for years, such as parents, brothers and sisters, husband and children.
Therefore, why not treat nicely to those friends who happen to join my trip? Why not love those limited numbers of people who accompany my trip and become a part of my life?
It is my pleasure to have DD join my life and add another layer of meaning to it. I appreciate this opportunity to spend the first Halloween with her.
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