Annie's 2 Month Checkup

We took Annie to the doctor yesterday for her 2 month well-check!  The girl is as healthy as can be.  She has gained 2 more pounds and is weighing in at 11lbs and 5.8oz, which puts her in the 50th percentile!  She is also 22" long.

I have been dreading this visit all week long because she had to get some vaccines.  Being the lovely wife that I am, I made Steven go with me so that I wouldn't have to bear this alone.  He is always so great when we go to the doctor.  He seems to take charge of her from the moment we go to the back.  He gets her undressed and carries her all snuggled in her blanket to the weigh station.  He takes off her little diaper and stands right by her side while she is weighed and measured.  He puts her diaper back on, snuggles her in her blanket and carries her back into the exam room.  While we wait for the doctor he holds her tight and plays with her if she's awake, and cuddles her if she's sleepy.  This has pretty much been the scenario every time we have gone to the doctor.... so you understand now why it was important for him to be there :)

Our little butterball waiting on the doctor!

Annie has been smiling like crazy lately (which makes me melt), so while we were waiting, the girl was all smiles!  The good news is:  she wasn't cranky starting this process out!  I've had a few people tell me that after her shots it's helpful to nurse your baby.  However.. she has been frustrated lately with nursing because she's learning that the milk comes way too fast and she isnt willing to try to keep up.  SO, I brought my hand pump with me and got a bottle ready while we waited for the nurses to bring the vaccines in. (*Great idea!*).

Annie got the typical two month vaccines plus an extra one.  Since she had respiratory issues at birth, her doctor highly recommended that she receive the vaccine to help prevent RSV (which is serious business in babies!).  It has taken two months for our insurance company to approve her (apparently only select children qualify) - but alas they have!  So.  This little missy had to get 4 shots today - and one vaccine was oral.

My teary-eyed girl 

The nurses came in and had us lay her on the exam table.  We stood close by and as soon as they stuck her in the leg - that little smile turned into the saddest scream I've ever heard (actually her NICU screams were way worse).  The nurses were great in that they gave the shots back to back as fast (but gentle) as possible. She got two in each leg.  I can't tell you how helpless I felt!  As soon as they were finished I scooped my little princess up and held her, trying to assure her that everything was ok!  We immediately gave her the bottle of milk I prepared and she was quiet.  I looked down at her little face and it was wet with the biggest tears I've ever seen come out of her eyes.  I called Steven over to wipe them for her and I think it melted his heart just as much as it did mine!  We were so thankful that she calmed down so quickly.  In fact, once she finished her bottle she was all smiles again! (We took the pics on our phones and she was wiggly... so excuse the terrible quality!)

A smiling girl after her shots!

She went to sleep as soon as we got in the car and once we got home, she and I took a 2 hour nap together on the couch.  I kept thinking to myself, "wow... this seems easy."  After she woke up from her nap I fed her and then it started.   She would cry off and on and I would rock her and get her to fall asleep, but if I moved the slightest move... she would start wailing.  If I raised my eyebrows she knew it.  OR if she would move she'd wake up crying.  After about two hours of this she finally fell asleep and took a really great nap.  She was fussy off and on all night, but was great once she went to bed around 9:30.   In fact, right before she went to bed she was trying to giggle.  SO STINKIN CUTE!

Today she is all smiles and seems to be 100%!  I'm glad that we got all of her shots over with yesterday!  The bad news is:  She'll have to get the next part of her RSV vaccine in February and more in March :(  I'll be sure to schedule her appointments when her daddy is off of work!