Pediatrician's Visit

Charlotte and I went to the pediatrician's office yesterday for her 12 month visit. It was interesting.

On the up side, Charlotte's head and height still fall in the 75th percentile, at 17.75" and 29.75" respectively, on the down side, she's gained less than a lb in three months, falling to the 25th percentile for weight (the kid who once fell in the over 100th percentile). The docs seemed not worried, because she does not stop running around these days and is otherwise growing well.

Charlotte's usual doctor is on maternity leave, so we saw a doctor new to the practice. First I got a funny look, but an oh, that's great, about still breastfeeding. Maybe the look was funny just because its pretty uncommon to nurse for so long these days. Charlotte has (finally!) started taking dairy (yogurt) without any apparent reaction, but hates milk, so I think the switch is going to take even still longer than I'd hoped. Amazing how I went from going to breastfeed only if it was easy, to avoiding introducing expensive, hypoallergenic formula, to tying to figure out how to get her to drink cow's milk at a year old.

I also got scolded because Charlotte still wakes up once during the night (usually she nurses and goes right back down). The doctor seemed confused that I'd take five minutes a night to get up with her rather than "letting her cry a bit." Its just easier to get up five minutes a night than listen to her cry. Some people get up every night to use the restroom or have a drink of water, why is this so different? Sometimes she wakes up more often, and then I do let her cry, because, well, at that point she usually wants to play.

They carefully examined and asked about her bum toe - which she managed to get when I allowed her to walk around barefoot (gasp) on the driveway. The doctor looked at the bug bites on her head and told me that I could use bug spray. Even after I told her, "I know," and how I'd forgotten it on our trip to the zoo, she proceeded to tell me which kinds I could use, and to put it on when we went outside. She must think I'm a dim whit.

My other big no-no? Looking at the vaccines she was supposed to get at 12 months and deciding that none of them are necessary right now. While I think she should get all of her vacs eventually, she's a low risk for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR - though I may decide to have measles only at our next appointment), Chickenpox (Varicella) only mildly affects very young children, and Hepatitis A (1) is uncommon in Texas and (2) presents NO danger for children under 5 - most never show symptoms. Interesting tidbit about Hepatitis A - in countries that don't vaccinate for this, most children get Hep A, building a life-long immunity, something the vaccine doesn't provide.

Up until this point, I've spaced her vaccines, but kept her in line with the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations, aside from Hepatitis B. Dr. Sears voices concerns over the Aluminum content in vaccines, which seems a valid issue, but my "Mommy gut" just doesn't like the idea of pumping my baby full of vaccines without giving her brain and immune system the chance to develop. I don't see enough evidence to link MMR to Autism definitively, but seeing that most kids go through one year of life without contracting measles, what's the harm in waiting another year? We'll catch up on the shots over the next couple of years, since the AAP's schedule doesn't include anything other than a flu vaccine for years 2, 3, or 4.

Another food for thought on vaccines - most don't provide life long protection, so I would guess that most adults are way out of date on all of their vaccines.

I also managed to say something about how the polio vaccine uses aborted human fetal cells, and managed to get the doctor to grab the insert from the box to prove me wrong. One more chance to look dumb...

EXCEPT

I did little research on polio beyond Dr. Sears' book prior to her receiving her shots, and apparently the brand Poliovax (polio-E-IPV) manufactured by Pasteur Merieux Conaught Labs USA DIDuse a fetal cell line, but this version is no longer used in the USA(to my relief).

So I was partly right, but still managed to look uneducated about my Vaccination decisions. Great.

Whew, enough fun for one day, or what?

Uh-Oh

Charlotte says a new word - yup, "uh-oh." While I think initially she understood the correct useage of the word, I think things have gone a little wrong.

Now she shows off her ability to say "uh-oh" by saying it right before or just as she throws something to the floor.

What a mess!

(Will post a birthday post soon...I promise, I know I'm behind!)

Monday Smiles

Mondays are never much fun, and, as I finally uploaded some video from our Padre Island trip, I'm including some Charlotte smiles to brighten your day!

Hanging Out on a Sunday Afternoon

Charlotte, where is your nose?

Beachy Goodness!

Sorry for the hiatus in posting, but our internet connection at the beach was pretty sketchy. Besides that, who wants to sit inside posting blogs while at the beach!?

One of my very best friends, Jill, and her family, invited us to stay with them at the beach on North Padre Island. We packed everything up on Tuesday night and met them Wednesday afternoon. We spent our time eating wonderful food that Jill's parents cooked, playing games, watching the Olympics, swimming in the pool, and, of course, at the beach!

Charlotte had a wonderful time both in and out of the water. As always, she has no fear and did not even mind the occasional wave crashing over her head.

Fred uploaded these photos to facebook last week. More to come when I get to it. For now, back to work!

Daddy and Charlotte at the beach:

"Let me know what you need me to shovel, Daddy"

A peaceful morning on the beach. Did I mention that Charlotte has all but stopped crawling?
Total entertainment all the time for the bug!

What's the deal?

So this morning Charlotte and I had to run into Randalls to pick up ONE item that I'd forgotten to ask Fred to get yesterday in his grocery trip.

There was only regular lane and 4 self-checkout lanes open. Two of the self lanes were free, so thought, "Easy." I also chuckled to myself about Dad's dislike of the self-check out system, because, really, its easy.

So I stood Charlotte on the floor next to me, typed in my phone number, scanned my item, and dropped it in the bag. I looked down at Charlotte for a second as I reached for my purse to pull out my credit card when the attendee came hovering over, "Are you having trouble?"

"What? No. Thanks. "

My card out, I hit the "debit card" option, and the machine says, "Unaccounted item in shopping bag." I look over and of course, Charlotte is leaning on the weight sensor. Before I can gently pull her aside a different attendant (SERIOUSLY, how many do you need?) says in a sharp voice, "Little One, don't lean on the sensor."

What the heck? As if she is going to step away now because she totally understands what you just said. As if she knows that she's holding onto something that she shouldn't.

I take her hand and pull her back a couple of feet. As I turn back to the screen, I hear the guy say, "The self-checkout really isn't for young children."

I just ignored him, swiped my card, collected my bag and receipt, and left.

Really though, you'd think she'd been throwing a fit while I tried to buy a basket full of items with half a dozen people waiting on us. Really, I would have been MAYBE 30 seconds faster if Charlotte hadn't been with me, and still standing in line if I'd gone "full service."

I think perhaps Dad is right, and I will avoid the self checkout lane from now on.

Happy Feet!

I just wanted to post this video of Charlotte WALKING that I've been promising! I shot this video today, but Aunt Michele has some of her VERY FIRST STEPS on video that I don't have access to, yet!

Charlotte Life

It has been quite a busy week for the Sanchez family! Yesterday we went to a wedding and took the opportunity to take a family shot! Too bad Charlotte doesn't yet know that she is supposed to smile at the camera.


Charlotte has been quite a blast lately, as she seems to pick up new stuff faster than Fred and I can blink. Every day she walks more and more, delighting in her new skill. Of course, when something calls for speed, she still crawls faster than lightning!

This morning she picked up her PJs (oops, Mommy let them fall to the floor) and decided that they were better than any toy. When not wearing them over her shoulders (like some funny pink footed wrap), the PJs made a great prop for a game of peek-a-boo.



These days she flips through her books like a pro, sometimes turning pages faster than I can read them! She delivers slobery, wide mouth baby kisses accompanied by a "MWAAH" sound both when asked and often unprompted. She also likes to sit in mommy's lap and pretend to use the mouse. Her favorite word is "maa maa." No, not "Mama," think ma as in Maddie! She chases after the poor dog , pointing and crying, "maa maa." It seems my theory that Maddie would be her first word was pretty good! Maddie still puts up with Charlotte very well, especially as Charlotte learns how to be a little more gentle.

There's lots more, I just don't think I've recaped in a while. I can't believe how big she's getting - she's almost a year old! We hardly remember our life without her - such beautiful threads she weaves in fabric of our family!

Why you shouldn't let your 11 month old dress herself

She could actually see through the fabric enough to crawl and walk around without bumping into anything. Let's hope she's not practicing for a career in armed robbery.