Height: 29 inches (23rd percentile)
Weight: 23 lbs 12 oz (53rd percentile*)
Head circumference: 47.1 cm (70th percentile)

So basically I have a troll baby – short and fat with a huge head.

We saw a doctor I hadn’t seen before and while she was very nice she asked ALL the questions I had been dreading and offered a lot of advice I have no interest in following. For example, she said Baby Evan “shouldn’t” eat at night anymore. Since he’s not really eating solids yet, I don’t mind getting up with him for a few minutes once or twice a night so I asked if the no night feedings rule was for him or for me. She amended her statement to “Well, he really needs to be able to put himself to sleep.” Ok, well since we’ve got that one down, the night feedings aren’t really an issue. Thanks for the advice.

Then she wanted to know how long I planned to keep nursing and I was unable to form a complete sentence. “Uh, er, well, I was going to nurse for a year but since I can’t really stop right now, maybe 2 years? But if he starts eating maybe just a few more months? But if he’s not eating then definitely until he does unless that’s like when he’s 12 because THAT’S not going to happen I mean unless he might DIE. Because I don’t want him to starve to death. So, uh, um, probably for a while.” Luckily she didn’t seem worried about the food thing and just suggested we continue to offer him whatever we’re eating.

I asked the doctor if I should be concerned about Baby Evan’s tendency to break out in HORRIBLE RED RASHES every time he’s exposed to dirt, eggs, fruit, dogs, sunshine, fabric and a lot of other stuff. Basically, LIFE. She wasn’t worried. So no officially diagnosis of eczema or dermatitis or…horrible red rash disease. I guess I’ll be buying a lot more Aquaphor.

Baby Evan also had the last of his Pneumococcal vaccines, the Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine, an iron level check and, MOST HORRIBLE OF ALL, his lead levels checked. Since they don’t want to do an IV draw on a baby the nurse just used the finger prick from the iron test to squeeze out a baby-sized vial of blood. She was very gentle about it, even when Evan kicked her in the face. Nurses are such amazing people.

Next check-up is in 3 months. I hope by then I can report LOTS of eating and LOTS of sleeping to the doctor.

*Based on the chart my pediatrician uses. Based on the WHO growth chart for breastfed boys, he’s closer to the 65th percentile