I took Annabel to her 18 month “well” check-up yesterday and here is a short list of what I learned:
1. Annabel is in the 98th percentile for her height and weight. She is basically the size of a 30 month old. Or a “2 and 1/2 year old” the pediatrician explained after she saw me quizzically trying to do the math in my head.
2. Always bring my personal notebook that has the records from every office visit JUST IN CASE the nurse tries to argue that my daughter is “about 6 months behind in her shots” only to find out later that “Yes, Ma’am, You were right. She is all caught up. Thank goodness you had a copy of her records.” (What???)
3. Yes, my daughter will MOVE HER LEG when you try and jab her with a vaccination shot.
4. Do not put daughter in a brand new WHITE Gymboree shirt when you take her to the pediatrician’s office. (She might MOVE HER LEG during the vaccinations and BLEED on said shirt.)
5. After the series of vaccination shots, the nurse will give you a strange look when you turn down a CANDY BAR that she wants to give your 18 MONTH OLD.
6. I can amuse Annabel for about 25 minutes in a small isolated room with the following items:
- This purse
- A Ziploc bag of snack food which includes baby goldfish crackers, Cheerios and Gerber yogurt drops
- Her sandals
- My blackberry
- The crinkly white paper on the exam table
7. Bring cash just in case the one credit card machine in the office is acting up and my check out process “will just take a few more minutes.”
8. Bring additional Ziploc bag of snack food to entertain daughter (See #7).
9. Annabel ROCKS at the pediatrician’s office. She was happy, cooperative, and amazing.
10. See #9
