Charlize - chunky monkey update
18 month check up this morning, hearing - check, eyes straight - check (unless very tired, then they go wonky), talking - check check, climbing stairs - up and down and up and down and again check, how much milk, 3-4 bottles....
and then the doctor starts. I think I heard the equivalent of Charlie Brown's teacher voice "waa, waaaa, waa, waaaa, waaah." I know without having to hear it "what do you mean she's still on a bottle, throw them out, then she'll drink when she's thirsty".
I should have made a follow up appointment in 4 days time, I think it's about that much time before dehydration sets in right?
Anyways, in terms of height she's moved up on her curve a bit and is 50-75th percentile. Weight she's still 25-50 and 23.3lbs. Still tiny for me, seeing as Kyle was nearing the 30lbs at that age. Important thing, she's healthy.
I guess the thing is... well that gets to me...is the social awkwardness. Not mine, the docs. She 1st thing she says "so Charlize here is...uhm, oh ya 18 months." Then says something along the lines of (and no I didn't misunderstand her) "Wow, she's lucky to have made it to that age".
So really, when Mike walks in and I'm all pissy and I can't quite put my finger on it, it's probably those comments that get me. I KNOW she was sick, the doctor knows she was sick, why keep making suggestive comments that imply that she (being the doc) didn't expect her to make it that far. I can't say get over it, because yes, from the way people still treat my baby differently, it's something they can't get over. Even last week I realize when I had her vaccinated, it's always the same 'weird moment' for the nurses or whomever who sees her bare chested for the first time. Shit I'm realizing there's the same thing in the dressing room at the pool. People just stare. And not a glance for a few seconds, but like a deer in a headlight look. I just keep going about my business but they won't look away. Now for nurses, some have no tact, last week she was nice about and asked about she had, but I realize I've gotten really passive about it and usually answer, "bah, it was complicated, she's good now". It's all I can really say. But what usually ends up happening, people always give her something more for "having gone through tough time" stickers, a toy, etc... It's a REALLY bad habit if you think about having a spoiled kid. she doesn't remember what happened, she just knows that with a right smile people melt and give her anything she wants.
As for the pool, I don't want to shelter her and keep her hidden, I'd love for her to be herself, but holy cow, you'd think she was a monster the way people look at her. Like she had a 3rd eye!
Sure in retrospect, it's a zipper and all things considering it's nothing in the grand scheme of things, but it's something that in the next year she'll start being self aware and ask me why she has that. Anyone want to be a fly on the wall when that day comes, anyone want to feel the pain in my heart that I still feel trying to explain.
Bah. Let's move on.
In terms of languages, she's learning 3, understands all 3 of them (like Kyle does) says about 5-6 words, Mama, Dada/Papa, Up, Again/Encore, Outside, suce, uh-oh. She's on that curve where she's about to explode in language, I can tell 1 new word every couple of days...soon she'll be talking in sentences. The doc asked how she communicates, and I laugh because she babbles our ears off usually, and when she wants something she's the Queen of charades. For example, she wants music she'll walk up to me, pound my leg in a demanding way, take a step back and wiggle her bottom and a few cha-cha steps, sing any song, and point to the radio. And then repeat until I listen to her. So no, I'm not worried about lack of communication, she's makes herself understood quite well. :)
She knows her body parts, hair, toes, nose, mouth, belly button basics :)
She's got the same beautiful blue eyes, and blond curls that Kyle had, in fact I think she's bluer, and blonder and curlier than he was. She's a real doll face squirt. :) I was asked if she can understand complex instructions, and I laughed, sure she does, that's if she listens though!
Swimming is going great, this is her 2nd session and she's a little fish, Mike seriously has a hard time holding on to her as she tries to swim and take off in the water, no fear that child, just darts like a little torpedo after the ducks and laughs her little baby belly off when Mike tosses her way up in the air and she splashes back down in the water.
Other Charlize things, she loves to read, her favorite book is "Blue Hat, Green Hat", Hey Wake UP!", and "The Going To Bed Book". She's sit in her chair and just read/babble to herself and giggle at the funny parts. It's adorable!
Not so favorite things, her real pet peeves, her brother not sharing or getting in her space pisses the girl right off, wearing her hat in the car, she'll scream until you take it off her (even in -33C weather) hates putting on her jacket it's a fight EVERY time (can't wait until spring). Gets annoyed when we take the soother out of her mouth in the morning, and gets ticked at the dog when she's eating something but being at her height the dog usually runs off with it (prime example - piece of turkey the other day, even the cookie, come to think, the dog always swipes her food). I'm surprised that we haven't had to interfere, with her strong character the dog will likely get a kick to the butt some day soon. We can usually tell there's going to be a fight because it's always preceded with baby girl running and squealing with food in hand, followed closely by white ball of fur and tongue hanging out, a few laps around the kitchen and then the dog makes her move and then Charlize comes to tattle "MAMA!!! MAMA, MAMA, blah blah bah,blah blah bah, blah blah bah, blah blah bah, blah blah bah, blah blah bah, blah blah bah, CAKI!!!!" I think I prefer this scenario rather than finding my daughter (who isn't always so innocent) sitting in the corner sharing her snacks with the dog on her lap, it's not gross when it's separate, but when I realize they take turns sharing licking it that totally gets me going.
The cutest thing though (not a food note) is her love for her BIG BIG brother James. She obviously loves all her siblings, but James is something exceptional, she goes nuts for him when he's around, Saturday morning he was walking down the stairs and she starts jumping up and down and all around like a monkey and SUPER excited to see him. She'll just hang onto him and follow him around all day if she could. She sits beside him at the table and bugs him constantly, but you can see she has it bad for her BIG BIG brother.
and then the doctor starts. I think I heard the equivalent of Charlie Brown's teacher voice "waa, waaaa, waa, waaaa, waaah." I know without having to hear it "what do you mean she's still on a bottle, throw them out, then she'll drink when she's thirsty".
I should have made a follow up appointment in 4 days time, I think it's about that much time before dehydration sets in right?
Anyways, in terms of height she's moved up on her curve a bit and is 50-75th percentile. Weight she's still 25-50 and 23.3lbs. Still tiny for me, seeing as Kyle was nearing the 30lbs at that age. Important thing, she's healthy.
I guess the thing is... well that gets to me...is the social awkwardness. Not mine, the docs. She 1st thing she says "so Charlize here is...uhm, oh ya 18 months." Then says something along the lines of (and no I didn't misunderstand her) "Wow, she's lucky to have made it to that age".
So really, when Mike walks in and I'm all pissy and I can't quite put my finger on it, it's probably those comments that get me. I KNOW she was sick, the doctor knows she was sick, why keep making suggestive comments that imply that she (being the doc) didn't expect her to make it that far. I can't say get over it, because yes, from the way people still treat my baby differently, it's something they can't get over. Even last week I realize when I had her vaccinated, it's always the same 'weird moment' for the nurses or whomever who sees her bare chested for the first time. Shit I'm realizing there's the same thing in the dressing room at the pool. People just stare. And not a glance for a few seconds, but like a deer in a headlight look. I just keep going about my business but they won't look away. Now for nurses, some have no tact, last week she was nice about and asked about she had, but I realize I've gotten really passive about it and usually answer, "bah, it was complicated, she's good now". It's all I can really say. But what usually ends up happening, people always give her something more for "having gone through tough time" stickers, a toy, etc... It's a REALLY bad habit if you think about having a spoiled kid. she doesn't remember what happened, she just knows that with a right smile people melt and give her anything she wants.
As for the pool, I don't want to shelter her and keep her hidden, I'd love for her to be herself, but holy cow, you'd think she was a monster the way people look at her. Like she had a 3rd eye!
Sure in retrospect, it's a zipper and all things considering it's nothing in the grand scheme of things, but it's something that in the next year she'll start being self aware and ask me why she has that. Anyone want to be a fly on the wall when that day comes, anyone want to feel the pain in my heart that I still feel trying to explain.
Bah. Let's move on.
In terms of languages, she's learning 3, understands all 3 of them (like Kyle does) says about 5-6 words, Mama, Dada/Papa, Up, Again/Encore, Outside, suce, uh-oh. She's on that curve where she's about to explode in language, I can tell 1 new word every couple of days...soon she'll be talking in sentences. The doc asked how she communicates, and I laugh because she babbles our ears off usually, and when she wants something she's the Queen of charades. For example, she wants music she'll walk up to me, pound my leg in a demanding way, take a step back and wiggle her bottom and a few cha-cha steps, sing any song, and point to the radio. And then repeat until I listen to her. So no, I'm not worried about lack of communication, she's makes herself understood quite well. :)
She knows her body parts, hair, toes, nose, mouth, belly button basics :)
She's got the same beautiful blue eyes, and blond curls that Kyle had, in fact I think she's bluer, and blonder and curlier than he was. She's a real doll face squirt. :) I was asked if she can understand complex instructions, and I laughed, sure she does, that's if she listens though!
Swimming is going great, this is her 2nd session and she's a little fish, Mike seriously has a hard time holding on to her as she tries to swim and take off in the water, no fear that child, just darts like a little torpedo after the ducks and laughs her little baby belly off when Mike tosses her way up in the air and she splashes back down in the water.
Other Charlize things, she loves to read, her favorite book is "Blue Hat, Green Hat", Hey Wake UP!", and "The Going To Bed Book". She's sit in her chair and just read/babble to herself and giggle at the funny parts. It's adorable!
Not so favorite things, her real pet peeves, her brother not sharing or getting in her space pisses the girl right off, wearing her hat in the car, she'll scream until you take it off her (even in -33C weather) hates putting on her jacket it's a fight EVERY time (can't wait until spring). Gets annoyed when we take the soother out of her mouth in the morning, and gets ticked at the dog when she's eating something but being at her height the dog usually runs off with it (prime example - piece of turkey the other day, even the cookie, come to think, the dog always swipes her food). I'm surprised that we haven't had to interfere, with her strong character the dog will likely get a kick to the butt some day soon. We can usually tell there's going to be a fight because it's always preceded with baby girl running and squealing with food in hand, followed closely by white ball of fur and tongue hanging out, a few laps around the kitchen and then the dog makes her move and then Charlize comes to tattle "MAMA!!! MAMA, MAMA, blah blah bah,blah blah bah, blah blah bah, blah blah bah, blah blah bah, blah blah bah, blah blah bah, CAKI!!!!" I think I prefer this scenario rather than finding my daughter (who isn't always so innocent) sitting in the corner sharing her snacks with the dog on her lap, it's not gross when it's separate, but when I realize they take turns sharing licking it that totally gets me going.
The cutest thing though (not a food note) is her love for her BIG BIG brother James. She obviously loves all her siblings, but James is something exceptional, she goes nuts for him when he's around, Saturday morning he was walking down the stairs and she starts jumping up and down and all around like a monkey and SUPER excited to see him. She'll just hang onto him and follow him around all day if she could. She sits beside him at the table and bugs him constantly, but you can see she has it bad for her BIG BIG brother.