Alexander had his one-year well-baby visit this morning. The nurse warned me that it would be a tough appointment because he needed shots and labs done today but it ended up being extra tough because his labs didn't go well, which meant she had to repeat them three times.
So the poor boy ended up with four shots (two in each leg) and two finger pricks. The first time his iron level was 9.4, which is too low, so the nurse came back and squeezed his poor little thumb again. This time his iron level was 9.7, which is still too low, so the doctor poked his head in and said we could either try another finger prick, but in a different location, or we could do a complete blood count (which is a lot more involved than a quick jab to the thumb). This third finger prick worked like a charm and he passed his iron test. The doctor seemed to think that third test was the most accurate because Alexander is growing so well.
He is 21 lbs. 1 oz. and 29 inches tall and is the picture of health.
We just have to wait around for him to walk and talk now. And when I mentioned that he still insists on being swaddled in order to sleep soundly the doctor assured me that wasn't a problem because if he really wanted to break out of the swaddle, he could. He assured me that eventually Alexander would give up swaddling (but that if it comes down to it we can always give his roommates a tutorial when we send him off to college—"just wrap him up real tight").
I'm sure he'll eventually decide that walking is a necessary thing as well, but so far he's perfectly content to crawl, climb, and be carried.
For my interest, here's what all my babies weighed at their one-year visits:
Rachel: 19 lbs 12 oz
Miriam: 19 lbs 2 oz (from her Egyptian immunization card)
Benjamin: 18 lbs, even
Zoë: 20 lbs 15 oz (from her Duke MyChart)
Alexander: 21 lbs 1 oz
And here's when they took their first steps:
Rachel: April/May 2008 (9/10 months)
Miriam: November 1, 2010 (12 months and 1 week)
Benjamin: August 5, 2013 (14 months)
Zoë: May 15, 2016 (11 months and 3 weeks)
There is no video of Zoë taking her first steps. Instead there are many videos of me coaxing her to walk while she stares me down. She still does this. She has to be in the right mood to be recorded (or has to be appropriately bribed). So while I feel badly that I don't have much footage of her first little wobbly steps it's kinda, sorta, maybe entirely her fault. She's just a little strong-willed (and we love her for it).
Alexander, of course, has yet to take his first steps.
We'll see if he manages to beat out Benjamin for the title of Longest Crawler.
Their sisters sure put them to shame when it came to taking their first steps (and "they say" boys tend to develop gross motor skills faster than girls—ha)!
(And since I know my mom will want to comment about how long I took to walk: Yes, I was slow to walk as well. I took my first steps at 14 months but didn't really walk until 16 months (I looked it up). To be fair, though, I was only 18 lbs. 10 ounces at a year old and although Alexander started life at 6 lbs. 10 oz (the very same as me) he's somewhat bulkier to be carrying around all day long).
(Also, I don't think I'm really in that much of a rush for my baby to learn how to walk. He's sweet and cuddly (and rather squirmy) and I often feel like I can't get enough of him (though there are moments when I also just want him to leave me alone for two seconds). My friend's baby just learned to walk—at 18 months old—and he's not a dainty baby at all. I don't know how she managed to carry him around that long. He's huge!)
So the poor boy ended up with four shots (two in each leg) and two finger pricks. The first time his iron level was 9.4, which is too low, so the nurse came back and squeezed his poor little thumb again. This time his iron level was 9.7, which is still too low, so the doctor poked his head in and said we could either try another finger prick, but in a different location, or we could do a complete blood count (which is a lot more involved than a quick jab to the thumb). This third finger prick worked like a charm and he passed his iron test. The doctor seemed to think that third test was the most accurate because Alexander is growing so well.
He is 21 lbs. 1 oz. and 29 inches tall and is the picture of health.
We just have to wait around for him to walk and talk now. And when I mentioned that he still insists on being swaddled in order to sleep soundly the doctor assured me that wasn't a problem because if he really wanted to break out of the swaddle, he could. He assured me that eventually Alexander would give up swaddling (but that if it comes down to it we can always give his roommates a tutorial when we send him off to college—"just wrap him up real tight").
I'm sure he'll eventually decide that walking is a necessary thing as well, but so far he's perfectly content to crawl, climb, and be carried.
For my interest, here's what all my babies weighed at their one-year visits:
Rachel: 19 lbs 12 oz
Miriam: 19 lbs 2 oz (from her Egyptian immunization card)
Benjamin: 18 lbs, even
Zoë: 20 lbs 15 oz (from her Duke MyChart)
Alexander: 21 lbs 1 oz
And here's when they took their first steps:
Rachel: April/May 2008 (9/10 months)
Miriam: November 1, 2010 (12 months and 1 week)
Benjamin: August 5, 2013 (14 months)
Zoë: May 15, 2016 (11 months and 3 weeks)
There is no video of Zoë taking her first steps. Instead there are many videos of me coaxing her to walk while she stares me down. She still does this. She has to be in the right mood to be recorded (or has to be appropriately bribed). So while I feel badly that I don't have much footage of her first little wobbly steps it's kinda, sorta, maybe entirely her fault. She's just a little strong-willed (and we love her for it).
Alexander, of course, has yet to take his first steps.
We'll see if he manages to beat out Benjamin for the title of Longest Crawler.
Their sisters sure put them to shame when it came to taking their first steps (and "they say" boys tend to develop gross motor skills faster than girls—ha)!
(And since I know my mom will want to comment about how long I took to walk: Yes, I was slow to walk as well. I took my first steps at 14 months but didn't really walk until 16 months (I looked it up). To be fair, though, I was only 18 lbs. 10 ounces at a year old and although Alexander started life at 6 lbs. 10 oz (the very same as me) he's somewhat bulkier to be carrying around all day long).
(Also, I don't think I'm really in that much of a rush for my baby to learn how to walk. He's sweet and cuddly (and rather squirmy) and I often feel like I can't get enough of him (though there are moments when I also just want him to leave me alone for two seconds). My friend's baby just learned to walk—at 18 months old—and he's not a dainty baby at all. I don't know how she managed to carry him around that long. He's huge!)
You were a slow walker because there was something wrong with one of your legs. It obviously hurt for you to put weight on it--you were a bit of a flamingo, standing on one leg. So Dr. Steed arranged for you to see a specialist in Calgary, but you started walking before the appointment.
ReplyDeletefun stats! Michael walked around 10 months, but Zach and Sophie were about 14 months. And those two didn't get teeth until after 12 months if I remember correctly. I can't remember about Michael and teeth. Maybe my sister remembers.
ReplyDeleteSince I don't have children of my own, I have to give you my niece and nephews' stats. :)
I wonder what made your leg hurt so you couldn't walk...that's sad, but I guess you got over it! :)
That's cute that Alexander still likes to be swaddled! I'm glad his iron level was OK after the third prick.
Maren is the same way. She won't do anything for a camera unless she's in the right mood. I also don't have a video of her taking her fist steps. They are alike in many ways.
ReplyDelete