100 (Attempted) Ways to Entertain a Young Toddler, Day 55: Doctor Oliver

Oliver's not feeling well today. We've been cuddling a lot this afternoon and watching a lot of Sesame Street music videos.

I decided to let Oliver play the part if the doctor. I gave him his ear thermometer and demonstrated for him how to work it. He insisted on doing each step every time: making sure the plastic cap was on the ear piece, turning it on, putting it in (or next to) his ear or mine, and pressing "start." He did a pretty good job and got a couple accurate readings!

Not everyone has an ear thermometer, but I imagine children would also like to play with the mouth thermometers. I thought it would also be fun to give Oliver a band-aid to put on, but he wasn't interested.

"Doctor" was a fairly enjoyable game for both of us. Oliver enjoyed learning something new, and there really wasn't any clean up or set up. He was occupied for about 10 minutes from this activity. It made him a lot more open to getting his temperature taken, so it was useful, too. I give "Doctor" a B.

18 Month Doctor Visit

Oliver turned 19 months old yesterday, but I wasn't able to get him in for his 18-month check up until today. Poor Oliver had a meltdown that lasted the entire time we were in the exam room. He wanted me to pick him up and carry him, but I couldn't do that. I just wanted to cry, I felt so bad, but instead I tried to cuddle him and distract him and then I tried being stern. Nothing worked. The moment we left the office, he stopped shrieking and crying.

Oliver's height is 32.5", which puts him in the 46th percentile. His weight is 22 pounds, 11 ounces, which puts him in the 9th percentile for weight. His head circumference is 19", which is the 60th percentile.

The doctor asked me if we'd started potty training yet. I was happy that her question seemed to indicate that it's perfectly acceptable to start teaching now. I told her we've started, but we haven't started working on it seriously yet. She told me that's good and gave me a little handout with a few tips (nothing really new). I decided that I want to start seriously working with Oliver on potty training after our trip to Chicago in June (since I think travel will just mess him up while he's learning).

6th Month Well Visit & the Crying Baby

Let me begin by saying that Oliver almost never cries anymore. He cries on occasion when I lay him down in his crib, and that's it. If he's ever unhappy about something, he lets me know by grunting or making other "protest" noises. However, any time I leave him with a "stranger" (i.e., grandparents), he freaks out and doesn't stop crying.

Today, we went to the doctor for his 6 month well visit. It was our first time to this pediatrician's office, and I loved it there. They had separate offices for well visits and for sick kid visits. Sweet!

Anyway, Oliver was his usual curious, content self. Then the doctor came in. She turned him towards her, and he started shrieking. He didn't stop until she was done and he was "safe" in my arms. Then, every time she's start talking to him, he'd start flipping out again. I'm so out of practice with calming him when he's crying that I got flustered and didn't know what to do. I didn't feel in control until she finally left and it was just Ollie & me.

In other news, she cleared him to start some basic finger foods like Cheerios, peas, small peach pieces and small banana pieces. She asked me how he does with grasping very small objects like those, and I told her I didn't know because he's never had anything small before. She told me to try it. Also, she told me I can increase his food feedings to twice a day!

I have Cheerios at home, so as soon as we walked in the door, I put him in his high chair and set Cheerios out in front of him. Yeah... he couldn't grab those. He smashed them and flung them on the floor. I put one in his mouth, and he loved it. He mashed it all around until it was soft. How cute! I gave him another and another. When I held one out on my hand, he didn't try to reach for it himself. Instead, he just opened his mouth and tried to get it that way. Ha! This is fun and new, though, and I'm very excited to try finger foods once a day.

Blah

Life's challenging at times. Bailey isn't OK, which is why I haven't been updating my blog. I don't feel like addressing that issue yet. In other news, Oliver went to his 4th month appointment today. He's in the 90th percentile for height, the 48th percentile for weight (I figure that all his weight is in his cheeks), and the 30th percentile for head circumference.

Doctor's Appointment Today!

I have my first doctor's appointment for the pending baby today at 3pm. I'm so excited and nervous for it. Andrew's getting off work early to meet me there; we're hoping that everything we hear is positive (nothing scary!).

My appetite has been next to nothing this week. I keep forcing myself to eat because I know I need to, but that's about it. Food will sound good, but as soon as I sit down to eat anything, I don't want it anymore. I've lost 2 pounds this week, and I know that's bad news. My doctor will probably tell me I shouldn't lose any weight while pregnant... I'll have to try to finish my meals.

Right now I'm trying to at least eat a grapefruit. It tastes good, but I don't seem to want anymore :( I've only eaten half of one. Is this complete loss of appetite normal?