One Year Appointment & Stats

At Camden's one year check-up, it was reinforced to me once again how important it is to truly like your child's pediatrician. It's such a relief to know that we've found the right fit for us. This well child check-up was the first one in a very long time that I left feeling encouraged instead of discouraged. Yes, I am still smitten with Dr. Wonderful.

First thing's first: weight. Camden is (still) a skinny thing. Or, as his pediatrician described him, lean & muscular. He's just over 19 pounds, which puts him in the 5th percentile for weight. Instead of telling me to force feed him butter & sour cream like Dr. Obsessive frequently suggested, he simply said, "Well, look at you & look at your husband. What do you expect?" He told me that Camden is active, healthy, & thriving and that's what's important. (Side note, because I found this funny: Matt & I used an online calculator to determine our own weight percentiles. Guess what Matt's is? Yep. He's also in the 5th percentile.)

We also talked a lot about food. He told me that Camden should be eating primarily table food now, which I knew. I'll be honest, though: prior to this doctor's appointment, I had still been feeding him some pureed baby food. My reasoning? It was easier for me to monitor how much he was eating this way (because Dr. Obsessive had drilled it into my brain that Camden was too skinny). Dr. Wonderful told me that if I try to count every bite he takes, I'll drive myself insane. Clearly, it didn't take long for him to peg me as the Type A control freak that I am. He told me that children Camden's age rarely sit down and eat what we would consider a full meal; that they actually just "graze" and snack a lot throughout the day. So, it's my job to offer him healthy foods throughout the day & it's Camden's job to tell me when he's full. Even when I don't agree with him.

We've also begun the weaning process over here. I've cut out one feeding so far, and will cut out an additional feeding every 2 or 3 weeks. I'm guessing that the middle of the night nursing session & the very early morning session will be the most difficult to cut. And if they take a little longer to get rid of? Oh well. I'm going into this weaning process totally relaxed and with an open mind. Giving myself a deadline seems silly and needlessly stressful.

So, obviously, we've introduced cow's milk. I would not call the inital introduction a smashing success; Camden would take a sip and then pull the cup out of his mouth and stare at it in disgust. Sometimes he'd throw the cup across the room. One time he even opened his mouth and just let the milk come rolling back out of it. But Day Two went much more smoothly & things have continued to improve since then. Apparently milk is an acquired taste. At least Camden seems to think so.

Now, for the fun stuff!

At 12 months, Camden:

• Is constantly on the go. He walks, he runs, he climbs-- he's basically unstoppable.
• Talks in his sleep. We've heard lots of "ba" and "ma" while he's sleeping.
• Is nursing 4 times in a 24 hour period (5am, 2:30pm, 8:30pm, 12:30am).
• Is starting to drink cow's milk.
• Is eating more table food. His favorite foods are: peas, pasta, Gerber cheese puffs, American cheese, banana pieces, avocado pieces, Honey Nut Cheerios, & chocolate pudding.
• Loves to dance! He dances to everything-- commercials with music, his toys that play music, his Daddy's singing. If it has a beat, he will stop whatever he's doing & dance.
• Claps his hands.
• Will point to things in books, ornaments on the Christmas tree, parts of my face, etc. (If we ask him where something is, though, he'll turn & look but will not yet point to it)
• Will look down at his shirt if we tell him "Camden, your shirt has a ___ on it."
• Smacks his lips when someone else is eating or drinking something he wants.
• Still only has 2 teeth (bottom) but is currently working on the top two.
• Weighs 19 lbs, 1 oz and is 30 inches tall.
• Loves to kick & throw balls around.
• Says "Mama". He still says "Dadada" (though not TO Matt yet) & we think he's trying to say "ball" and "byebye".
• Is completely obsessed with Special Agent Oso.
• Continues to be my awesome napper & terrible night sleeper (though nighttime sleep is, thankfully, improving).
• Enjoys Story Time at the local library.
• Is so much fun & such a blessing to us.