One Year Check Up

I took Ivan for his 1 year check up yesterday. He weighs 21 lbs and 4.7 oz and is 29 in tall. Both of these measurements still put him in the 25th percentile. His head circumference is however, in the 25-50 percentile. So I guess, he continues to grow just as he should. I guess he event plumped a bit because at the 9th month appointement he had dipped down to 10-25th percentile.

I'm a bit surprised because he's seems so big and heavy, I thought he was going to be bigger, percentile-wise, but actually I really don't care. The doctor again said he's gorgeous, which I'm sure she says to everyone but is still good to hear.

He was shy at first and then while we were talking to the doctor he extended his finger and started babling at her. She extended her finger too, so they had a bit of an E.T. moment. Really cute.

Then the non-so-fun part started. They had to draw his blood to check for lead and anemia and give him three shots. The blood letting part was hard. They pricked his finger and then had to wait for the droplets of blood to accummulate in a vial. It took some time and Ivan didn't like he. He was crying.

Then the shot came. Just the thought of those breaks my heart. It breaks my heart because I know it's going to hurt and he's still so trusting and carefree that there is still that moment of disbelief on his face when something painful, like a shot, happens to him. It's just awful to see his face processing the info, the pain.

He got two shots in one arm and the third in the other arm. It was funny because after the doctor left I dressed him back up but didn't put his pants up thinking the shots would be to his tights. But apparently after babies turn one, they get their shots in their arms, just like adults.

It took a long time for him to calm down. I felt so bad for him. A part of me wished someone else took him to get the shots not me. I don't want him to associate that pain and that unpleasant experience with me. But I am his mom and, I hope, that I'm the one who can soothe him and calm him down the best. I just hate it when he cries. It causes such a feeling of unsettleness, panic and utter helplessness. I would do anything to make him stop crying.

I assume all moms feels the same -- doing anything and everything to aleviate a baby's pain. And then experts say to let him cry it out at night so the baby learns to sleep. How is that possible? It goes against every grain of being a mom. And nobody I know has actually let their child cry it out at night. Everyone I've asked says that they go in and soothe the baby.

I'm beginning to think that this crying it out business is just one big myth.