Vital stats:
39 weeks, 5 days old
18 lbs.
28.5″ tall
Only one shot today, which wasn’t too traumatic. Gone are the days when vaccinations meant a whole day of napping – today after Carrie’s appointment she played with her cousins, went swimming and played some more. For once we didn’t have many questions for the doctor, either.
After Carrie’s appointment Denis had to get an allergy shot, and we managed to get in and out of two doctors’ offices and back home in 2 hours, which may be a record!
Vital stats:
27 weeks, 2 days old
16 lbs.
26.75″ tall
Yet more shots today, which Carrie handed very well. (I’d cry too if someone stuck me twice in each thigh!) Somehow, even though her weight is tracking along the 50th percentile line perfectly, she’s been jumping into higher brackets for height at every appointment. At the last one she was in the 75th, now she’s in the 90th! I’d be very excited for Carrie if she ends up average height. She wouldn’t need to shorten every pair of pants she buys!
Based on the last appointment and all the things she learned to do immediately after we told the pediatrician she didn’t yet, I’m expecting her to accomplish the following this week: crawl, cut a tooth, and start saying “mama” and “dada”. (Actually, if she says “mama” for mothers day, I think my heart might just melt!)
Vital stats:
18 weeks, 2 days old
13 lbs. 15 oz.
25″ tall
Round number 2 of shots today. They weren’t nearly so traumatic as last time, apparently – just a few tears instead of screaming bloody murder. Carolyn’s still in the 50th percentile for weight, but she jumped to the 75th for height! Maybe she got Denis’ tall genes instead of my short ones?
We got to talk about starting solids today. On the one hand I can’t wait, but on the other, I don’t think Carrie’s quite ready yet and I – yes, me, Carrie’s Mommy – think it would be better to wait. Unless she starts signaling that she needs solids before then, I’m planning to wait until after the musical is over – so another 5 or 6 weeks. I’m sure people will think I’m cruel, because she watches us intently and drools when we eat, so of course she must be starving. In fact, I get comments about it from family, friends, and complete strangers already. But she also watches intently and drools when I knit, fold clothes and talk on the phone. So obviously I ought to give her some knitting needles, the laundry detergent and a calling card. (Oops, was that as sarcastic as it sounds?)
The other thing I don’t get (as long as I’m on an “I’m the mommy so I know best” rant) is why there seems to be this prevailing attitude that babies are out to get their parents. It’s not just the pediatrician, it’s also (well-meaning, I’m sure) family, friends, and the ever-present complete strangers. The general gist is that if you respond to your crying baby in the middle of the night, she’s training you to respond to her when she cries. This is a Bad Thing, because then she learns that she can get what she wants out of you by crying long enough or hard enough. I believe that if I don’t respond to my crying baby in the middle of the night, all she learns is that when she needs me most I won’t come. We’ll work the sleep thing out eventually, I’m sure, and in the meantime I’m just going to lie to people and say through a sweet smile, “why, yes, she sleeps through the night like a perfect angel!” when they ask.
Wow. Apparently, I needed to get that off my chest. Now I need to go check on Carrie, since she’s been sleeping since we left the pediatrician’s office two hours ago. I guess getting shots is hard work!
Dear Carolyn,
This morning I put away your 0-3 month clothes. You won’t be 3 months old for another three weeks, but they were getting too small – especially length-wise. I’m very sad, because I loved your pink puppy outfit, your flower-power outfit, and your ducky pajamas. You do have some awfully cute 3-6 month clothes, though. And you have a lot of them! I think, once we do the laundry tonight, that you might have more outfits than Daddy and I have together…
The other thing that happened today was that you somehow managed to put your binky in your mouth all by yourself. I put you in your crib so I could take care of a couple of things, and I know you didn’t have your binky when I left because you were smiling at me. I came back, and you were happily sucking away at it. How did you do it?!? You’re barely grabbing at things, and I’ve never seen you put anything in your mouth on purpose yet – except maybe your hands.
You’re growing much too fast, baby girl…
Love, Mommy
Vital stats:
7 weeks, 2 days old
10 lbs. 9 oz.
22.5″ tall
Today Carolyn got her first round of shots. The look on her face and the screams that followed were heartbreaking. She’s still quite grumpy about them, too. She’s been sleeping all afternoon and evening; I have a feeling we’re in for a long night!
Other than that, she’s right on target with weight gain and length: she’s in the 50th percentile for both. I would have sworn she was over 11 pounds, close to 12 maybe, but she’s still a little peanut. This doesn’t change the fact that she’s starting to outgrow her 0-3 month clothes. I’d say another couple of weeks and we’ll have to start rotating in the 3-6 month sizes. We’ll see, though – maybe she will manage to wear them a bit longer.
We don’t have to go back until the end of February, when she’ll have more shots – oh, goody…
Vital stats:
13 days old
7 lbs. 11 oz.
20.5″ tall
Your doctor, Dr. Bloom, thinks you’re awfully cute. Of course, we totally agree! I hate to embarrass you like this, but we had to change your diaper three times before we left the doctor’s office. Apparently, you’re very comfortable there. We also got a bunch of scary pamphlets about the vaccinations they’ll be giving you at your next appointment in six weeks. I know they’re important, but if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not watch, ok?
Oh, and today was your first lunch out – we stopped at Wendy’s before your appointment, but you slept right through the whole thing. Too bad, I would have shared my fries with you…
Vital stats:
6 days old
6 lbs. 12 oz. – only 1 ounce from birth weight!
(Discharge weight from hospital 2 days ago: 6 lbs. 5 oz.)