Long & Lean....and a Superstar!

That's my little man!

We just got back from Jack's 9 month appointment and he did great. Hitting all his milestones, etc. And the doctor reminds me about the blood draw they like to do between 9 & 12 months to test lead & iron levels. This time I was prepared. With Sam, not so much.

See, when I had Samantha I skipped away from the doctor's office after her 6 month appointment when they told me there wouldn't be any shots at her 9 month appointment. And they were right, there weren't any. However they neglected to tell me they would be doing a blood draw instead. A what? That's worse than shots. I've since made it my mission to warn all parents who see this doctor about this because getting caught off guard like that sucks. But with Lu and again this time, I was ready.

And then he gently reminds me that the first flu shot for a baby is given in two doses. Shit, I forgot that. So he needed one today, in addition to the blood draw, and he'll get the second at Lu's 4 year appt. next month. And yes, our whole family needs & gets them because Samantha is still considered high risk and her doctors recommend it. Jury is still out on us getting the H1N1 vaccine. Their doctor recommends it for all 3 of the kids, but was honest that he's not sure there will be much left over after all the high risk groups (as per the CDC) get it.

So, here comes the shot. I'm expecting tears if for no other reason than it's naptime. But nope, nothing. Hmm...pretty cool. I pick him up, gather up our stuff and go out to get Lu the sticker I promised her. But the sticker basket is empty. Oh crap. Thankfully she is a go with the flow type of girl, sometimes, and tells me she'll just use the ones that are in the playroom. So off we had down to the lab. They tell me to hold Jack in a bear hug away from me (not high on the list for a baby going through seperation anxiety). The tech finds a vein, needle in and....

Wait. No tears!! Not a flinch. No squirming. He's just sitting there watching what they're doing. When they're done, he smiles at them. Everybody in the lab is shocked and I'm giddy. This is the one part I don't like being about a SAHM. All these doctors appointments and resulting tears always fall on me. But he was a superstar! And the lab tech saved the day by giving Lu two sheets of stickers, bless her heart! And I have give the lab techs today props. One stick. That's huge, especially for a baby. I remember when Sam had to have a blood draw after her seizure and they must have stuck her 6 times. She was a human pin cushion. After a week of being one in the hospital.

But anyways, back to Jack. Superstar. And his stats:

20lbs 1oz (37%)
29.1 inches long (75%)
18.74 head circ (95% - well duh*)
* my kids all have HUGE heads. Nothing to be worried about, but they're big!

So he's lighter than his sisters were at this age, but longer!

And on a side note, when I pulled out the girls' baby books today I noticed that Lu is as tall now (at just under 4 years) as Sam was at her 5 year appointment! Lu is going to be tall I think. Which should be obvious to me as I just had to pack away 3/4 of her closet because everything is too short for her.

Long & lean - those are my kids! Better than the other way around, right?