12 Months!
Birdie had her one year checkup on Tuesday. She weighed in at 21 pounds 3 ounces, which isn't that much bigger than she was at nine months but the pediatrician said she was right smack dab on the normal growth curve. The same was true for her length, which measured in at 31 inches, and her head circumference. She's got nine teeth, with a tenth about to break the surface of her gums.
In addition to getting three vaccinations, Birdie also got gave blood to get tested for anemia. She was not thrilled about any of these needles, but bounced back admirably. As at 9 months, she's got a bit of baby eczema on her ankles which we've been treating with some lotions. Other than that, she's in great shape.
As proof of her robust health, Birdie has started climbing the stairs as habit. She first climbed them back in November, but after an initial couple of climbs completely lost interest. That changed this past weekend, when she charged up the stairs to the landing and then all the way to the top repeatedly. The incentive that first time was to get a vacuum cleaner attachment that she was angry we'd taken away from her. Once she figured out (or remembered) she could do it, she kept doing it. We're going to install a baby gate across the bottom this weekend. This is less because we're afraid she's going to fall - we've barely had to spot her at all - but because it's exhausting to go up the stairs over and over again just because she wants to!
In other news, we've started mixing whole milk into her bottles, and anticipate that she'll be done with formula when our current supply is exhausted. That should take a few weeks. We actually have as much formula on hand as we ever have because a few weeks ago we couldn't find it anywhere. This is the only supply chain problem (note to future readers: the Omicron variant of covid is demolishing supply chains by getting a lot of the people in those chains sick) that has impacted us personally, so M bought up all the bottles of formula that she could find, just in case. This involved driving to several different Targets all over the far west side. We'll have plenty of time to mix milk and formula to transition her.
She's also eating a lot more solid food. Yesterday she enjoyed refried beans, and she's had avocado, eggs and a whole bunch of other foods. Graham crackers are still her personal favorite.
In addition to getting three vaccinations, Birdie also got gave blood to get tested for anemia. She was not thrilled about any of these needles, but bounced back admirably. As at 9 months, she's got a bit of baby eczema on her ankles which we've been treating with some lotions. Other than that, she's in great shape.
As proof of her robust health, Birdie has started climbing the stairs as habit. She first climbed them back in November, but after an initial couple of climbs completely lost interest. That changed this past weekend, when she charged up the stairs to the landing and then all the way to the top repeatedly. The incentive that first time was to get a vacuum cleaner attachment that she was angry we'd taken away from her. Once she figured out (or remembered) she could do it, she kept doing it. We're going to install a baby gate across the bottom this weekend. This is less because we're afraid she's going to fall - we've barely had to spot her at all - but because it's exhausting to go up the stairs over and over again just because she wants to!
In other news, we've started mixing whole milk into her bottles, and anticipate that she'll be done with formula when our current supply is exhausted. That should take a few weeks. We actually have as much formula on hand as we ever have because a few weeks ago we couldn't find it anywhere. This is the only supply chain problem (note to future readers: the Omicron variant of covid is demolishing supply chains by getting a lot of the people in those chains sick) that has impacted us personally, so M bought up all the bottles of formula that she could find, just in case. This involved driving to several different Targets all over the far west side. We'll have plenty of time to mix milk and formula to transition her.
She's also eating a lot more solid food. Yesterday she enjoyed refried beans, and she's had avocado, eggs and a whole bunch of other foods. Graham crackers are still her personal favorite.