Elle's four-month stats

Elle had her four-month well-baby visit today.

Weight: 13 pounds, 14.5 ounces (60th percentile)

Height: 24.75 inches (75th percentile)

Head: The nurse said 17 inches. That seems a bit insane to me. I don't know how we went from centimeters to inches, either. But whatever the measurement is, she's in the 75th percentile, which is a good thing - her head was large to begin with, and now her body is starting to catch up to it.

*Someone* apparently had some not-so-fond memories of the office, and as soon as I put her down on the crinkly paper, she stuck the pouty lip out and started flailing and kicking, preparing for a full-blown cry. I rescued her before she completely lost it, but when we tried again, putting her back on the table but down on a blanket, and she launched in to a wail of epic proportions. It's a good thing we chatted with the doctor before the exam actually started because there is no way we'd be able to talk over Elle's cries :(

Everything is looking great with Elle - her development is still all on or ahead of schedule. She's growing slowly but steadily, and aside from her understandable terror at being in the place where she got her first vaccines two months ago, she is generally a happy, healthy baby. She spits up, but she's a "happy spitter," and it is within the realms of normal for a baby of her age.

Some pediatricians recommend that parents start solids with their babies between 4-6 months, and after doing some research, I really didn't want to start until after six months unless there was a medical reason to do so. Luckily, the doctor seems to be completely on the same page as us on that issue and told us to continue with her on breastmilk only unless she stops gaining weight or she seems to be constantly hungry. At her next appointment, we'll discuss introducing solids.

Elle's been drooling more lately and shoves everything in her mouth, so we asked what we might be looking at in terms of teething. The doctor said her gums are thickening, so things are progressing toward teeth, but we've got some time still before anything white shows up or pops out.

After the questions, examination and crying, it was time for the vaccines. She got one less than last time, and we had a different nurse this time who suggested that Tim hold Elle since she was already upset. The shots went a lot better this time - yeah, she was extremely upset and cried tears and screamed screams I never want to hear again, but she was quickly comforted and things went faster for her.

She's been great all day - fussed a little more than usual if I wasn't able to hold her (I tried to explain that Mommy and Daddy needed to eat dinner, too, but she wasn't up for logic) and has been running a slight fever, but she was cheerful and chatty tonight and alert and talkative on a walk earlier. I even got some laughs from her tonight. I'm hoping her reaction is mild like last time, but I'm grateful that Tim is off tomorrow and will be with her all day to monitor things.