Julia made her 18 month check-up visit to the doctor. Our regular pediatrician was out due to an injury, so we saw a different doctor in our group. She was really kind and good with the girls. My favorite thing from the visit was that she involved Emily to make Julia feel comfortable. Basically all the checks that the doctor did, she did first to Emily and then to Julia. This was especially great given that both girls had a cold.

I was pleased to learn that Julia now weighs 20 lbs. At 18 months and now 20 pounds, she can now sit facing forward in the car. I have no complaints about her in the car, but I think she will really enjoy looking at where we are going. This is a 2-1/2 lbs increase since her last checkup three months ago. As far as weight goes, we are at the 3rd percentile – she is one skinny kid. She is now 30-1/4 inches long and her head and chest both measured 17-3/4 inches. Julia was agreeable for the exam and only was offended when she had to receive three shots at the end.

Emily made her annual visit to the doctor for her well checkup. It is amazing to think about how old she is now!

At this visit she had her first eye chart test. The nurse quizzed her about the shapes so that they could eliminate the confusion over shapes from the ability to see. When she saw the cup shape she announced that it was a ‘coffee cup’. The nurse almost lost it laughing – I guess Daddy’s drink choices have influenced Emily a little. The eye test went really well along with all the other tests. She didn’t quite have the communication skills for the hearing test at this visit, but it is pretty unusual for three year olds to get that one. I’m pretty sure her hearing is fine though – she has me turn the volume down on her TV shows because they are too loud.

Her weight at this visit was 28-1/4 lbs (an increase of 2-1/4 lbs) and height of 37-3/4 (an increase of 3-1/4 inches). She has remained around the 50th percentile for height. The doctor was pleased to hear that Emily had recently given up her pacifier and was working on potty training. Big steps for a big girl. She is off the hook for another visit for a year and no more shots until it is time for school.

Julia was a little under the weather and was due a re-weigh so we had a visit to the pediatrician. She just had a bad cold, and thankfully it had not turned into anything like the other colds in the house had. As far as her weight, the doctor was pleased that her weight gain had begun again. She gained almost 2 lbs in three months (now 17 lbs 6 oz) and grown to a length of 28 3/4 inches. Her height percentile has remained around 25%. It doesn’t appear that she is going to outgrow Emily and is remaining just a little smaller than Emily at this age. We will wait and see if she is able to pick up steam and surpass her at some point.

Julia will return for another checkup at 18 months to see how she is doing. We are keeping her diet and milk the same for the time being. It is good to see her continue to thrive and explore around her little world.

Today was Julia’s one year checkup. She has been pretty fussy lately and the appointment wasn’t any different. She didn’t cry the whole time, but wasn’t her usual happy girl. Julia was not interested in showing off the teeth still hiding in her gums, didn’t like having her finger held or bandaged after the finger prick, and she was simply distraught after having her two injections. And if this wasn’t enough for the Mommy to keep up with – Emily was a bit trying also. I think at one point I was speaking loudly talking to the doctor over two crying voices. We all survived the visit, but maybe next time I will take Julia when Emily is not with us.

The doctor was pleased with how Julia looked and was doing, but noted that she has had a very slight weight gain since her last well visit. Today she weighed 15 lbs 10 oz and was measured at 28 inches long. This amounts to a half a pound weight increase and 3/4 inch longer. We discussed how Julia has become very active in the last three months, teething, still nursing, and how Emily had a similar dip in weight at this age. We decided to put Julia on whole milk and keep her foods the same and see in a month if her weight picks up. It is funny what the difference a second child is to the first. When I learned of Emily’s weight loss I worried and thought a lot about it. This time, it seems like I almost expected it and had a course of action ready. There just isn’t the need to worry and this time I know it.

I took Julia for her 9 month checkup today. She is actually almost 10 months, but that is what happens with vacations and busy doctor offices. She was really good and only gave the doctor a hard time when he tried to look in her mouth. He came up with the same observation that I had – no teeth yet. As soon as I sat her back on the exam table she clapped and giggled. The giggling stopped for the flu shot, but even after that she was quick to calm down.

The doctor and I discussed allergies, given a reaction she had to either yogurt or strawberries. He said to wait on strawberries until one year and try yogurt again at any point. Other things still on the do-not-eat-yet list are nuts, egg, wheat, and chocolate. Too bad for her, those are some of my favorite foods. Her next visit will be at 12 months.

At this visit she weighed 15 lbs 3.5 oz. This is a 1 lb 7.5 oz increase since the 6 month visit. She also measured 27 1/4 inches long, an increase of an inch and a quarter. She has fallen to the 3rd percentile for weight and 25 percentile for length. The doctor said it was common for kids to have periods of faster growth followed by slower growth. In general, Julia is smaller than Emily was at this point Given the weight loss that Emily had between her 9 and 12 month visit I’m betting that Julia will catch up in compairson.

No really funny stories from this visit, but our nurse’s name was Emily which was interesting for our Emily who came for the visit. Emily not only snagged a sticker today, but a measuring tape for her doctor kit. There are perks for hanging out with your sister.

We had Julia’s 6 week checkup today. It was good and uneventful. Julia was a pretty good sport for most of the appointment. She wasn’t interested in looking at the doctor’s light when he checked her eyes. She also wasn’t interested in bending her legs when he did her hip exam. I don’t blame her for trying to foil the exam. Visiting the doctor can’t be fun when you are cold, exposed, poked, and overall uncomfortable.

Julia weighed in at 13 lbs -8 oz an increase of about a 1-1/2 lbs. Her length is 26 inches and increase of 1-3/4 inch increase. She is maintaining her 10th percentile weight and 50th percentile height. We discussed Julia’s feeding schedule and he said that based on her growth and weight gain that the feeding schedule and quantities are fine. She has cut herself back to 6, maybe, 7 feedings a day and they are not long feedings, this just didn’t seem like enough to me. But I guess she knows what she is doing. We will be starting cereal with Julia soon.

We finished off our appointment with a few shots and a lot of tears. Our next appointment is at 9 months. On our way home Emily announced to me that we should call Daddy. I asked her what we should tell Daddy. This was her review of the appointment: 1. Sister went to doctor, 2. Sister got shot, 3. Sister sad. This was pretty accurate. I guess the only thing she forgot was that the Doctor had given Emily a sticker.