This past Friday, we went to the pediatrician for H’s 6 month checkup! In a nutshell, everything went great…she’s growing and developing just as she should be. A fun thing that happened at this appointment for H was the discovery of the joy of the crinkly paper on the exam table! She had a ball grabbing it and crinkling it while we waited for the doctor until she spit up all over it.

 Here are her official stats as of 6 months:

• Weight: 17 lbs, 4.5 ounces (68th percentile, down from 87th percentile at 4 months)
• Length: 26 3/4 inches long (76th percentile, up from 59th percentile at 4 months)
• Head circumference: 16 3/4 inches (45th percentile, up from 29th percentile at 4 months)

So, what this means is that she is starting to finally lengthen out! She’s grown over 2 inches in two months. I asked the pediatrician if we should be concerned about her weight percentile dropping, but she said that with as active as H already is, it is completely normal. She also showed me her growth chart curve, which she said was “textbook”, smooth and climbing just like it should be. We had noticed that H was starting to look a little longer and has been losing just a little of her chubbiness (trust, she is still plenty chunky, ha!), and I guess her stats just confirmed that. The pediatrician also said that they usually see the biggest weight jump at the 4 month mark (check) and the biggest length jump at the 6 month mark (check). She also said that H will probably continue to “even out” the more active she gets, which is happening more and more every day!

Most of my questions for the doctor revolved around feeding… how much solids/how often, how many ounces to give her in bottles when I went back to work, etc… but to be honest, I didn’t really get any concrete answers that I was hoping for. The doctor told me that there aren’t really any concrete answers to those questions, since each baby is different… but she did give me some tips/general guidelines to follow with her feedings (i.e., the only solids H actually needs now is cereal, in order to get extra iron, and the other fruits/veggies she is getting are really just to teach her how to eat real food). I told the doctor that we have been giving H cereal and fruit in the mornings and veggies in the afternoon/evenings, and she said that sounded perfect, so I suppose that is what we will keep doing! I did mean to ask about when to introduce a sippy cup and also when/if to start giving her water to drink, but I totally forgot (so if anyone has suggestions on that, I’d love to hear!).

The doctor did several little exercises to test H’s development (talking to her from different sides of the room to see if H followed her voice, holding out things for H to grasp, having H sit up, laying her on her tummy to see her pushing up/head and neck control/having her grab things, etc.) and the doctor said she was right on track with everything. She was smiling at the doctor and grabbing for her stethoscope the whole appointment…such a ham. ;) After the exam, the doctor let her have the tongue depressor, which H particularly loved…I couldn’t stop laughing because she kept putting it in her mouth and I guess she did NOT like the taste of it, because she would make a terrible face, take it out…wait a minute, then put it back in and make the terrible face again.

She got 3 shots at the end of the appointment, and I think her crying was even more pitiful than the previous times this time…completely broke my heart. She was ok in just about a minute after they were over, though, thank goodness! And she got some super cute bandaids (I have got to find some of the heart ones to buy!):

That is really all I can think of to report from her checkup. The doctor ended the appointment by saying that she thought H was as perfect as could be, and that she was thrilled at her development and with the way she is growing. Yay, sweet H! :)

-S

Dear Hadley,

Well baby girl, here we are, you are SIX MONTHS OLD today! Half a year! I’m not sure how it’s possible that six months have gone by already. What a ride it has been! An amazing, exciting, exhilarating, FUN ride.

You are…so many things. You are laid back, go with the flow, happy as can be. You like everyone and will give that little grin (your Daddy pointed out recently that your grins all start with you crinkling your nose) to anyone who talks to you. You are impatient (definitely an inherited trait, sorry about that), and you like to be (and sometimes demand to be) entertained. You are difficult at times, because you get bored very easily. There are times when nothing is really “wrong”, you just want 100% of my attention in order for you to be happy. You are SO smart already. I love watching those little wheels spinning as you take in everything around you. You are quite chunky—it’s mostly in your thighs—but don’t worry, so was I back in the day and I grew out of it. ;) You are extremely independent, and don’t seem to be scared of anything—I think we may have a little daredevil/thrill seeker on our hands. You also have the sweetest disposition, which I’m so glad you inherited from your Daddy. You are so many things all rolled into that cute little body…it’s crazy to me the things I can pick out that I know you got from me or from your Daddy, and I can’t wait to see how those things change and develop over the next months and years.

You are passing all your milestones with flying colors—you’re sitting up, rolling over in both directions, eating solids while still nursing like a champ, repeating sounds, sleeping 12-13 hours a night and napping great, and giving us great big belly laughs pretty much on demand. I never thought that so many seemingly small things would bring me so much pride and joy, but they do! I am enamored by your every move, and could not be more proud of all you’ve accomplished and how you have grown in these first six months. I tell you all the time to “stop being so big!!”. As cliche as it sounds, I just can’t believe that my “baby” is growing up so fast. Before we know it, the milestones I’m writing about will be starting school, your first boyfriend (Daddy says not til you’re 30!), getting your license, going to prom…ahhh. I just want to press pause!

You continue to light up our lives. Everything we do revolves around you, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Your Daddy and I wonder what we ever did before you were here—it’s hard to remember a time when you weren’t around. I know one thing is for sure, our days are so much brighter because of you.

You have taught me so much in just six short months, Hadley. Aside from the general parenting knowledge/skills, you have taught me to be patient (at least more than I was before!). You have taught me that things will happen in your time and not to rush things or wish any time away. I have learned to slow down and enjoy every minute. Most importantly, you have taught me what it means to love unconditionally, and to put someone else’s needs before my own 100% of the time (those who know me well may have thought that would never be possible!). I actually am not sure who has grown more in this six months, you or me!

So, thank you, Sweet Pea, for an awesome six months. Thank you for being you, for brightening every day, and for helping me to strive to be a better person, one who is worthy to be your mom. I thank God for you, your sweet Daddy, and this amazing life every day!

Love,
Mommy