Doctor Check-ups

We took all three kids into their well-baby checks. I was DREADING this appointment. It's stressful taking just one of them to the doctor! Mia was afraid of the nurse and doctor and cried whenever they touched her, but other than that, it went well. All three had their second dose of the H1N1 vaccine. There's supposed to be yet another wave of H1N1 in January and February. I feel relieved that our three our protected!

Here are Ethan's measurements:
weight: 30 pounds. This puts him in the 75th percentile.
length: 35 inches. This puts him in the 70th percentile.
head: 20.5 inches. This puts him in the 97th percentile.

Here are Mia's measurements:
weight: 21 pounds 5 ounces. This puts her in the 2nd percentile. Can we say shrimp?
length: 31.5 inches. This puts her in the 5th percentile. Can we say shortie?
head: They mismeasured her head. Maybe I'll do it myself later.

Here are Riley's measurements:
weight: 19 pounds 6 ounces. This puts her in the 60th percentile. Mia's only 2 pounds heavier!
length: 27 inches. This puts her in the 40th percentile.
head: 18 inches. This puts her in the 95th percentile.

I told the doctor that I was concerned with Ethan's speech. He asked me if he's made much progress in the last few months and I told him that he hadn't. He asked if Ethan copies words we say, and we told him that occasionally he will. The doctor said it's important for him to do that because that's how they learn. We'll be bringing him to a speech therapist. I'm not sure what they're going to do, but maybe it'll help. I also told the doctor that he's very accident prone and always trips over stuff. He checked the arches on his feet and said they could be better. Maybe as he grows, they'll get better. Other than his speech, he passed with flying colors.

Mia also passed with flying colors. Other than being a tiny shrimp, she's doing everything she's supposed to. Her speech has improved in the last few months and she's copying words that we say, so the doctor was happy with that. He said she has really dry skin, so we need to lube her up with lotion like crazy. I'm afraid she inherited my dry skin!

Riley also passed her doctor's appointment. She's doing everything a 9 month old should be. The doctor said that Riley was very vocal. (She was "talking" during their appointment.) He was happy with her weight. He said we could try a sippee cup with her. I gave her one when we got home, and she made a huge mess. I don't think I'm going to give her anymore! It's too much of a mess!! The doctor said that Riley will probably have Ethan's body type over Mia's.

The doctor said that according to their heights (you double what they are when they're 2), Mia will be 5 feet 2 inches and Ethan will be 5 feet 10 inches. They don't look like twins now, but they definitely won't look like twins when they're full grown!

The next step with Ethan and Mia is the potty training. He said you start them at 2 and hopefully they're trained by 3. I can't imagine it taking an entire year!?! The doctor suggested setting them on the potty chair after they eat because they're more likely to pee at that time. I've been doing it pretty consistently. I'm starting with Mia first, but Ethan also loves to sit on the potty chair. Neither one has peed in it. In fact, we had Ethan sit on it last night. He sat there for a minute and then ran out to the living room and immediately peed on the couch. He doesn't quite get the concept! I bought some pull-ups but they're kind of spendy, so I won't use them until we get pretty far into this potty training thing!