18 month check-ups

  Yesterday, we had Ava's 18 month check-up.  My happy-go-lucky, hang-with-the-gang girl went bezerk in the office.  Not like the fun, enthusiastic crazy, but the get me out of here I am being tortured sort of crazy.

 

  Is it cruel that I took pictures?  In between her hysterical crying and slobbers, she'd repeat "Mommy" and would cling to me if the doctor made any sort of motion toward her.  When she had mostly calmed down at the end of the appointment, I snapped a quick pic.

  I was so surprised that she was like this, even after the doctor said that this is the age that they remember their associations with the doctor's office.  I was caught completely off guard and even tried having the boys model for her because she likes to do EVERYTHING her older siblings do.  I mean everything.  The littlest things like getting a kiss on the "owie" she doesn't have on her finger because she saw Joel get a kiss on his actual owie that is "blooding".  Anyway, we got some numbers on her, but the head circumference and height I would take with a large grain of salt.

 

  As the day went on and she took her time recovering, and my adrenaline levels lowered, I started thinking back to the other kids' reactions at the doctor.  You would think I would remember what each of my own children did at each age of development, or at least when they started acting out of their norm.  I know some moms remember every single detail like that, but I certainly don't.  Anyway, as the day went on, I did remember Calvin's 18 month check up.  I remember because Joel was only a couple of weeks old and so I didn't go to the check-up, Mike did, and he told me all about it.  Calvin was super clingy to Mike and sort of traumatized over the finger poke.  Like with Ava, I was so surprised because he had always done so well at the doctor's office.  I decided to do some digging for 18 month check up pics and this is what I found:

  Calvin's 18-month check-up.  Started out completely fine and normal.  My little guy was 20 lbs.  Ava was 1 oz. shy of 24 lbs. yesterday.

  Then the finger poke came.  Okay, I don't feel so bad about the pictures, Mike took some of Calvin too!  :)

 

 

  Turns out, Joel was EXACTLY like Ava at his 18-month check-up.  I didn't remember this.  When I saw the picture I started cracking up.  Maybe I let this one just slip my mind or I just clumped all of his doctor's visits together because very early on Joel did not like going to the doctor.  He would cry the second he entered the room.

  

  And it must certainly be an age thing, because at 3 years, Calvin here is doing just fine.  In fact, at this appointment, it was Calvin's 3-year check and Joel's 18-month check.

 

  Thank goodness for big brothers to show you how to get a check-up.  Calvin showing him was the only way... 

  Lastly, is our sweet Hannah.  This was before the days of all of my documenting their every move.  I don't remember her even being 18-months old, let alone her check-up.  But dang, she was cute!  I couldn't resist sharing a bunch of pics.  There were so many more!

 

 

So silly.  Exactly like Ava right now!

 

  18 months is one of my favorite stages.  Of course, all stages have their ups and downs, but at this one they are changing so much and learning new words every day.  So fun to be a part of!  Speaking of 18 months, yesterday Joel was wearing a shirt that was looking a bit small for him.  I tend to let the kids wear out their clothes until they've grown out of them (especially the cute ones!).  I asked Mike to look at the size of the shirt which I assumed was 2T.  It was 18 months.  Haha!  I did a deep clean of their drawers.  Should have done that after Joel wouldn't put on his most favorite shorts because "they're too tight!"