I'll explain.
We took Elise to her two-month checkup today, her second with the new pediatrician. At the first visit, when Elise was just six weeks old, the doctor threw us off by sitting down and asking, "So, what's her best trick?"
She was just making conversation, using a slightly unconventional approach to put us at ease. It caught us off guard at first, but we warmed to it.
"What do you do on your birthday?" the doc asked us today. Again, she caught us off guard, but by now we were hip to her plan. "What kind of cake do you like to eat?"
I told her I'd go with carrot cake.
Well, the doc said, I should go home and celebrate (with cake) the fact that Elise made it to two months. It's a milestone for a few reasons.
First, we were told, her immune system is far more advanced at two months than it was at two weeks -- that makes sense -- so she can fight off illness more effectively.
Also, two months is significant because that is when she can handle shots.
Lastly, and here is where it gets interesting, in some cultures a baby is not named until it is two months old because, well, many don't even live that long. We're a bit more advanced than that, of course, but that was a nice little sociology lesson.
Anyway, the doctor's point was that two months is significant because Elise has endured a somewhat risky phase and is on the right track.
That's a lot to take in during the first few minutes of an 8 a.m. appointment, but we got it.
....
Not only are Elise's arms and legs pushing the bounds of her clothing, but she set a new high on a growth chart the doctor provides. At 25 inches -- yes, we're talking keeper length -- she is off the length-for-age percentile chart. Line her up with 99 other 10-week-olds and she's longer than 99 of them. I know, charts, shmarts. They don't mean much, but it's funny to see that she's at the top of the chart for length-for-age and, at this point, is at the lower end of the weight-for-length chart because, well, she's a lanky bean.
I placed her on the scale, which is not unlike the scale used to weigh ground meat at the deli, and the numbers fluttered between 12 lbs. and 13 lbs., landing at 12 lbs. 13 oz. She's gained about two pounds in the past three weeks.
Everything else checked out OK -- ears, nose, eyes, throat, leg joints, back, etc.
It's nice to hear someone with a white robe and stethoscope declare your baby healthy.
She got the liquid first, which was good for the nurse and us because Elise was in a giddy mood. She actually smiled after gulping the liquid.
But imagine her suprise when that liquid was followed by a stinging pain to the thigh. I understand why the liquid vaccination comes first, but it's still a bit deceptive.
"Hey, wasn't that liquid tasty? What's that? We just tricked you into relaxing and then we jabbed your leg, causing the most pain you've ever experienced? Yeah, sorry about that."
The first needle shot was quickly followed by two more, leaving Elise with the facial expression she would get with a piercing scream -- except she was so upset that she couldn't make noise.
Five minutes later, though, she was calm and resting. Ten minutes later she was zonked out in her car seat and we were headed for the door.
I had a content baby in my arm and carrot cake on my mind.
I placed her on the scale, which is not unlike the scale used to weigh ground meat at the deli, and the numbers fluttered between 12 lbs. and 13 lbs., landing at 12 lbs. 13 oz. She's gained about two pounds in the past three weeks.
Everything else checked out OK -- ears, nose, eyes, throat, leg joints, back, etc.
It's nice to hear someone with a white robe and stethoscope declare your baby healthy.
....
It's not as nice to watch your baby get poked with needles. Elise needed four shots, three in the leg and one via a liquid mixture.She got the liquid first, which was good for the nurse and us because Elise was in a giddy mood. She actually smiled after gulping the liquid.
But imagine her suprise when that liquid was followed by a stinging pain to the thigh. I understand why the liquid vaccination comes first, but it's still a bit deceptive.
"Hey, wasn't that liquid tasty? What's that? We just tricked you into relaxing and then we jabbed your leg, causing the most pain you've ever experienced? Yeah, sorry about that."
The first needle shot was quickly followed by two more, leaving Elise with the facial expression she would get with a piercing scream -- except she was so upset that she couldn't make noise.
Five minutes later, though, she was calm and resting. Ten minutes later she was zonked out in her car seat and we were headed for the door.
I had a content baby in my arm and carrot cake on my mind.
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