9 Month Check-Up

    Yesterday was Jr.'s 9 month check-up. Hallelujah, we made it to 9 months! I still remember the week or so after she was born, going to visit my in-laws. My grandmother-in-law said that things don't really settle with a new baby until the 40 day mark. She was right, things did get a little better at that point but things really didn't settle until she was 7, almost 8 months old. If someone had told me that's how long it would take to get a decent night's sleep I don't know what I would have done. But maybe it would have made me feel better to know there was a light at the end of the tunnel. The not knowing when the sleepless nights would end, the not knowing when her screaming fits would end, the not knowing... it contributes so much to one's frame of mind.

    Anyhow, Jr. is now 17 pounds (7.7 kg) and 71 cm (28 inches). I told the pediatrician I was no longer breastfeeding and he raised an eyebrow. I'm not making this up, I didn't imagine it, my hubby can vouch for me. This was my exact fear when I decided to stop nursing. I was worried people would judge me, particularly the pediatrician because the medical community agrees that breast is best at least until 1 year. But by this point I hadn't been nursing since Jr. was 8 months old so I had a month to get used to the idea. So when he did give me that look I was a little embarrassed but not overly so. 

    He also told us to start brushing her two teeth. My sister's father-in-law is a retired dentist so my niece, Jelly Bean, has had dental care since before she had teeth. It's not that I think taking care of you teeth isn't important but at this juncture it's not on my high list of priorities for Jr. On the other hand, getting started early will hopefully get her used to it as a part of her routine.

    I wrote awhile back that Jr. still had a runny nose. It turns out she has a mild virus. Since there is no fever or cough, there's nothing we can do but let it run its course. I was a bit frustrated but I understand. I just wish it would go away already. Jr. now HATES having her nose wiped. She knows as soon as I take a tissue from the box and walk over to her what's going to happen. She cries, she fusses, she tries to get away, turn her head away. Mostly though, I just feel bad for her when it's time to sleep. You can hear the congestion when she sucks on her suess or on her bottle.

    We also got her flu shot. I wasn't sure she could get one if she was sick but the doctor said it wasn't a problem. Poor Jr., she cried and cried. Thankfully it didn't take long to calm her down. Unfortunately for her there is another round in 4 weeks.

    Hubby and I also asked the doctor about her odd habits, like grabbing the back of her neck, scratching the insides of her ears, pulling her hair and not wanting anyone (mommy and papa included) touching her hands. The pediatrician just kind of shrugged and said it was her personality. What makes infants do these things? What makes Jr. give up so quickly when she's trying to crawl, whereas her playmates at Belles Mamans would simply drag themselves around on their stomachs if they couldn't crawl on their hands and knees? What makes Jr. so affectionate and sometimes needy? Was it something I did while pregnant? Is it a personality combination of my husband and I? It's just amazing that while environment and genetics do play a big role, temperament often appears to be random.

     Anyhow, we came home from her appointment and put her down for a nap. She woke up at 5pm crying. We tried to give her supper but she just laid her head on the tray of her high chair and cried. So we decided to give her  a bath, one of her favorite pastimes. No luck. She cried and cried. We put her to bed at 5:45 and she woke up once at 1:30am and didn't wake up after that until 7:15! I guess the doctor's visit took a lot out of her! She seems to be back to normal today.