My baby’s got metrics

At some point over the last two years, I’ve noticed that in the business world, the word ‘statistics’ is steadily being replaced by ‘metrics’. I don’t like the word ‘metrics’. To me, it sounds pretentious.

Lately, however, I’ve noted that the word has worked its way into my vocabulary. First it popped out at a staff meeting. As soon as I said it, my internal monologue went into alarm mode: Metrics? Who do you think you are dropping that word, fancy boy? Unfortunately, the word continues to claim its space in my lexicon, slowly pushing out poor old ‘statistics’.

Anyway, enough blather. My baby’s got metrics!

• At her two-year check-up, Reilly weighed 25lbs, 3oz, which put her in the 29th percentile for weight.
• She was 33½in tall, which put her in the 37th percentile for height.

She remains thinner than she is tall, and though they didn’t measure her head this time, she is still a bit top-heavy, owing to her big brain and all. Of course, all these metrics just confirm what we already know. We didn’t need a doctor’s visit to realize that our little baby is growing to be more and more like a girl every day.

The Eighteen Month Check-up

Yes, our sweet little bean is now officially a year and a half old! Yesterday, Shawn took her for her check-up at the pediatrician, and came away with the following stats:

Weight: 22 pounds, 6 ounces = 21st percentile
Height: 32 inces = 55th percentile
Head Circumference: 47.6 cm = 77th percentile

(As always, her percentiles were generated using this percentile calculator. )

Her stats as a whole showed an increase, especially in the height category. And it is still no surprise that she is a child with a big head, as she constantly uses that big brain of hers to blind me with her brilliance.

If you want to compare this visit to previous check-ups, click on the label at the bottom of the post that says "Check-ups."

As a final note, I have to give a shout-out to Shawn, who had to restrain the baby during her three shots yesterday. Not fun!

The Fifteen Month Check-up

This morning, Reilly had her fifteen month check-up at the doctor's. Of all the changes that we have gone through since moving back to Florida, our transition to a new pediatrician has been the smoothest. Not only did they accomodate us for our emergency visit, but they also happen to be the nicest, most professional office I've ever been in.

Our old pediatrician, West 11th Pediatrics, was a dream--great doctors, great sick policy, and a wonderful nurse, named Doris. To say that our new pediatrician, (Pediatric Health Care Alliance) is better, is quite a statement. Everything at PHCA is electronic: the nurse took Reilly's stats on a laptop, and gave us a quick survey from the same machine. Later, the doctor came in with the results of that survey and used it to help qualify where Reilly stands developmentally.

For example, she said, "I see that Reilly is walking and says over fifteen words and drinks from a sippy cup. Can you tell me a little more about her diet?" I was blown away by the effectiveness of this sort of communication. Whereas normally you repeat the same spiel with the nurse, and then with the doctor, in this case it was as if they were the same person. As I talked to the doctor about Reilly, she took notes on her laptop. When I mentioned that I had brought in Reilly's paper medical records, she said, "I know, I scanned them in and am viewing them now."

I wanted to hug her.

Today Reilly had to have two vaccinations and a flu shot. She was seriously pissed off. What was calming was that at the end of the visit, the nurse handed me sheets describing each shot, the reason for the shot, and any side effects that the vaccinations might cause in Reilly. When I asked the nurse to write down Reilly's stats so that I could share them with the internet, she said, "Oh, I've already printed them at the bottom of your daughter's 12-18 month information sheet." I looked at the sheet. So she had.

I'll make you wait no longer. Here are Reilly's stats, according to this percentile calculator:

20.19 lbs = 10th percentile
2 feet, 6 inches = 30th percentile
18.5 inches head circumference = 77th percentile

For the most part, these stats show that Reilly is still on her own growth curve, and is in line to be a top heavy child, prone to falling over at the slightest breeze.

To review her past stats, click here for her one year check-up, and here for her nine month check-up. (I can't seem to find her six month check-up and three month check-up. Sorry!)

The One Year Check-up

Yesterday in the late morning, I was giving Reilly her lunch when the phone rang. It was Shawn's mom, Donna.

"Whatcha doin', Brian?"

"Feeding Reilly."

"Want some help?"

"Ha-ha-ha."

"No, really, I'm downstairs now. Buzz me in."

"Seriously?"

"Yessssssssss."

So, I buzzed in Donna, and Reilly was able to spend a surprise day with her grandma. Reilly was a little shy at first, but warmed up to her grandma by the time we had to leave for her doctor's appointment.

Let's cut to the chase, shall we? Reilly's 12 month check-up went exceedingly well. She was pronounced healthy, both cognitively and physically, and as nurse Doris said, "Is growing on her own curve."

To that end, here are her statistics, as generated by this percentile calculator:

17lbs, 13oz = 4th percentile
2 feet, 4.5 inches = 24th percentile
46cm head circumference= 73rd percentile

These stats match up pretty well to those of her 9 month check up. You can review them by clicking here.

***

Since we're leaving for a week of vacation out on Cape Cod tomorrow, I'm posting Reilly's Week 52 pictures a day early. Check back tomorrow for a special "From the Archives" post.

This week's pictures feature two kids stuffed in a swing and Reilly's first cupcake. Please click here to view.

Cupcakes taste good!

If you're happy and you know it...

At our nine-month pediatrician visit a few weeks ago, Dr. Zullo asked me if Reilly had learned to knock two blocks together. Now, I know from our daycare progress report that this is a major milestone for a nine-month-old. In fact, if your child can’t knock two blocks together, this failure is to be demarcated in a bold and highlighted box at the bottom of the sheet, a box accompanied by other behavioral bad omens such as “Rocks incessantly” and “Avoids eye contact.”

Not wanting to get a check in that foreboding box, I did what every parent would do. I lied.

I said, “Well, she does slap her hands on the table sometimes.”

To which Dr. Zullo said, “But does she clap her hands together?”

Pause.

“Oh, you mean together! Of course. Yes. I misunderstood. Next question.”

Since that day, I’ve been anxiously awaiting the knocking of the blocks. Today, I was rewarded. This afternoon after I picked up Reilly from daycare, we set up on the carpet at home and started playing. (I should mention that the den is now a thing of the past. Reilly will not be contained.) I chose two of Reilly’s stacking rings, and started clapping them together. In response, Reilly picked up the two rings I had placed before her, and clapped together her rings, leaning her head back and swaying around like Stevie Wonder. We clapped back and forth like this until Reilly got bored and crawled away, skidding her rings across the floor.

Not wanting to let her escape, I swept her up into the air and let out a whoo!—a victory cry in lieu of applause.

The 9-month checkup

Today Reilly and I headed out to West 11th Pediatrics for her 9-month appointment.

When we got in the door, a five-year-old boy approached me and said, “Don’t let them give your baby a blood test.”

I told him not to worry, and that Reilly wouldn’t be getting a blood test, though she might need a vaccination.

“What’s that?” the boy asked.

“A shot,” I said.

He wrinkled his nose at me and walked back to his mother. Clearly, I was one of them.

When we got into the examination room, the first thing that Doris the Nurse said was, “Okay, no shots today, but we will be taking Reilly’s blood to test for anemia and lead.” I had to laugh. Damn that little kid.

The taking of the blood from the baby went as you might imagine it would. Doris the Nurse was apologetic, but Reilly was screaming too loud to hear anything anyone was saying. Doris the Nurse got out of there fast. Unfortunately, I had to stay and comfort a baby that was looking at me with betrayal in her eyes.

By the time I calmed her down, Dr. Zullo came in for the checkup. Reilly broke into tears the second she came in the door, no doubt recalling the ear cleaning she received last time she saw the doctor.

The stats, generated by this percentile calculator:
15 lbs, 14 oz = 4th percentile
2 ft, 3 inches = 23rd percentile
44 cm head circumference = 35th percentile

So, she continues to live up to her nickname, “Pippy” (short for “Pipsqueak”). Also, she has real potential to end up a tall, skinny girl with a big head.

The doctor also gave me a lecture about our lax sleep training, overuse of the pacifier, and slow introduction of the sippy cup.

Prepare yourself for some lamentable blog entries in the very near future.