18 Month Checkup

Carter had his 18 month appointment today. He's doing great!

Here are his stats for 18 months:

• Weight: 23 lbs, 1 oz (14th percentile)
• Height: 31.5 inches (26th percentile)
• Head Circumference: 49 cm (82nd percentile)

And here were his numbers from 15 months:

• Weight: 21 lbs, 6.5 oz (11th percentile)
• Height: 30.5 inches (31st percentile)
• Head Circumference: 47.7 cm (66th percentile)

I really thought Carter had grown more than an inch in the last 3 months. Either one of the measurements was off (which is very easy to do since they still lay him down to measure his height) or I really shrunk all of Carter's pants (he was looking like he was wearing capris before it got warm enough for shorts all the time). I may try to measure him myself just to see.

Carter got 3 shots today. Another DTaP vaccine, his first Hep A vaccine, and the new and improved pneumococcal booster. We were expecting the first two, but not the third. Carter completed the 4 pneumococcal shots at 1 year. However, that was with the PCV7 (it protected against 7 strains) which has been replaced with the PCV13 (protects against 13 strains). The booster shot Carter got today will cover him for those additional 6 strains. PCV13 has completely replaced PCV7 (they don't even offer this one anymore).

As usual, Carter HATED getting the shots. Poor guy knows they are coming. Even though the nurse administers them after the doctor leaves, Carter started freaking out as soon as the doctor showed up. He did not want to let go of me. He screamed through the part of the exam where he had to lay on the exam table. Luckily our doctor lets me hold Carter for as much of the exam as possible. When I was able to hold him again, Carter clung to me so tight with his head on my shoulder not moving at all. As soon as the doctor left, Carter was happy to be put down and explore around the room again. But then the nurse showed up. As soon as I picked him up, he started crying. The nurses have pretty much always done a good job of being completely prepared with the syringes and bandages so it goes quick. Carter got over it all after about a minute.

As far as the exam went, Carter appears completely normal. He's staying on his curve for growth so no worries there. He's doing what he should developmentally as well. His next checkup will be at 2 years.