I believe denial is healthy from time to time. For the last two weeks I have been trying to forget that JSL is now 18 months old. It is hard for me to believe that my baby has been here for a year and a half already. The time has gone by way too quickly.

Today I took JSL for his 18 month well baby visit. His stats for this visit:  26 pounds (50th percentile), 30 3/4 inches (10th percentile), and head was 51 cm (95th percentile). So basically as the doctor put it he’s a little short in stature with a good sized head! Clearly the poor kid got my short genes. Mommy is the classic recessive short gene in action. I am only 5’3" with two parents that were 6′.

The doctor is not concerned, although I wonder about the small amount of height growth. I guess we will see what happens over the next six months. I have a feeling we are due for a growth spurt since he’s been really restless and tired lately. Developmentally he is right on track with motor and fine motor skills, and talking more than a typical 18 month old.

We discussed the ear wax issue and how it seems to alter the way he hears. Her theory is it may not have been the wax and could very well have been the fluid from the infection.  I have been told what to do to try to help that. For now we just have to watch the ears, especially the one that was just infected and still has some fluid in it. Since he is just getting over antibiotics and a high fever less than ten days ago, the doctor opted to only give him one of the three immunizations that he is due for. Today he had the DTaP and will go back in a month for the Hib and HepA.

I also asked the doctor about milk and how we should approach introducing it to him given big brother’s allergy at this age. She said it was completely up to us. JSL is still nursing and shows no interest in stopping yet (this shocks me, but I am perfectly fine with it). We may try some little sips of pure cows milk here and there to see how it goes. The main concern is making sure JSL is getting enough protein. We are practically vegetarians (thanks to the obscene price of kosher meat) and she is worried that we do not know how much milk JSL is getting when he nurses. She is fine with him still nursing, but wants to increase meat/fish in his diet. Of course since I am back home I found that the grams of protein in the fake burger patties is almost identical to the chicken nuggets that she suggested. Thanks to that I am not too worried.

The poor little guy was tired after his shot and a quick trip to Target. We went there to get a new part of our family. Here it is with an explanation on JL’s blog. 

We shall see how it goes when we try it out later, perhaps when I go sneaker shopping.  For now I shall let the little monkey rest after a stressful morning that included a rough immunization. 

Our next well  visit is not until May when the little guy will be two. On that note I am going back to my own little world away from the reality of my baby growing up.