About Us Friends: 12 Month Report

So here is Claire's 12 month report, well actually it is a 12.5 month report as we couldn't get into the doctor earlier.

Height: 29 3/4in (50-75%)

Weight 19lbs, 9oz (25-50%)

Head Circumference 45.5 cm (50-75%)

Our baby is tall and skinny with a big head! :) She doesn't seem that tall to me because she is about the same height or shorter than many of the boys she plays with who are younger than her. The 12 month appointment was kinda rough because Claire got 5 shots, 4 of them immunizations and 1 flu shot. I think it is so scary as a parent in deciding what shots you should consent to, I want to do the best for my baby so she won't get a preventable illness, but in the back of my mind I'm worrying about the mercury/autism connection. I know what the doctors say about there being no measurable link between the two, but I wonder, what if?! I feel I am putting a lot of faith in the American Academy of Pediatrics in following their recommendations. The other difficult part about the 12 month appointment was they took a blood sample from her arm vein to check her hemoglobin and lead levels. This is not standard in every pediatric practice as it is in my office, so I decided to have it done because I was worried about the lead levels in the water we drink. Thankfully everything came back fine, so the water must not be a problem. Claire was a trooper, she cried through the shots and blood sample, but she got over it all quickly.

Claire's mind is still growing and expanding everyday. Here a few new things she does:

Says "ruff, ruff" when asked what a puppy dog says.
Will bring me books to read to her on her own volition.
Climbing on anything she can get her knees up on.
Loves to climb on me and laugh when I pretend she is too heavy.

The few difficulties we are facing mostly revolve around food. I am weaning Claire from her noon bottle, to just feed her solids at lunch. She will eat, but not very much, she will sign "all done" (which I feel I need to respect so I don't create a control issue and so she learns that is really what it means), but she will end up being hungry soon after. Claire also will not drink much whole milk from her sippy cup (she will drink water no problem). Hopefully as I keep giving it to her, she will learn to drink it. I also find it difficult in deciding what to feed her because she still doesn't have her molars so she can't chew food well yet. I think I still need to give her food that is easily dissolved in the mouth. I also have not let Claire use a spoon much to self-feed because our dining room is carpeted and I didn't want to deal with the mess, but now I am thinking that may have been a mistake because I read she should be completely self-feeding around 15 months. Uh oh, we are no where close to that milestone... I know I stress about this all too much and that this is all just a phase, it will pass, but I am just trying to do my best so Claire will be happy, healthy, and independent.

Here are a few super cute 1-year old pictures!