Jacob's biology at one year
Okay, so he's a little past one year, but I'm getting there. There's a lot to say. I'll break it up into several posts over the next few days. I'll need that much to tell you how mine and Dada's genes have mingled yet again to create genius incarnate.
First we'll cover his biology.
Monday before last we took him in for his one-year check-up. I freaked a little because his weight percentile keeps dropping. This time he weighed in at 23 lbs 15 oz, which put him in the 60th-ish percentile. Remember, dude used to be up at the 95th. Dr. M said that she was not worried because he was an early walker and is very active, and is otherwise growing healthily. Indeed, he is now 31-1/2 inches long (90th percentile) and his head, I forget exactly how big it is, but it's at the 80th percentile.
The real reason I was worried about his weight is that he is no longer the champion eater monkey he used to be. It's hard to know if that's because he is over his growth spurts, or if it's because I am sick and tired of fixing three completely different plates at each meal to satisfy him and my picky toddler, and in that respect may be slacking in providing them with enough nutritious food. What, you'll BOTH eat hot dogs? Hooray! Jacob usually loves pasta, but I think Isaac may be influencing him on even that because he didn't finish his baby-sized bowl tonight. To avoid fixing another completely different plate for Isaac, Isaac and I had a standoff, where after about 20 minutes of arguing I told him I would take away his new cars for the evening if he didn't try one stupid bite of pasta with marinara sauce. It was really, really hard not to laugh when he first licked some sauce off a farfalle noodle -- the exact same sauce I use to make his English muffin pizzas -- and then made a horrific face and wiped his tongue with his hands. Under diuress, he took the tiniest possible bite off of his butterfly pasta and then gagged and choked on it, as though it was a dog turd, before spitting it out. Awesome.
Back to Jake's appointment -- this was the first doctor's visit wherein he cried. Usually he's all party, all "Go ahead, ladeez, take a good look at the Nakey Jakey", even when Dr. M is doing her stethoscope and ear-inspection thing. But from naked start to naked finish, this time he fussed. To top it off, he got two shots -- three days after I took him to get his blood drawn to test his iron and lead levels. Apparently it's a Delaware thing, in that Delawareans enjoy poking babies as much as possible. All numbers were completely wonderful, which was almost reassuring enough to drown out the memory of his horrible, plea-ful cries at the blood-draw place.
I brought up his uncooperative stance on milk-drinking, and Dr. M helpfully told me to keep trying. Right now, he drinks maybe a few ounces a day. I've decided we're going to hold off on weaning until he gets over what appears to be some sort of overlapping baby torture of sinus colds and cutting molars. He doesn't nurse that much, only when it's time for sleep. He does eat cheese cubes and yogurt, so he is not without calcium of some sort. But overall I think the problem is that he might not like sippy cups. He does drink well from sippy-less kid glasses, but his "well" is limited to an ounce, maybe two, before it just becomes irresistible to pour the rest of the cup's contents onto the nearest hard surface. Better to splash Big Brother with, don't you agree? Anyway, there is one beverage for which he appears to have a bottomless appetite, and that is unsweetened iced tea, which he will chug from a glass or through a straw. No joke. It's actually really annoying because I can't have a glass at all without him lunging for it or pointing and shrieking "EH! EH!".
If any of you out there have children who eat and who drink their milk, all I can say is that you are possibly the luckiest people alive. And that I hate you with the righteous passion of a mommy watching her boys turn into string beans.
First we'll cover his biology.
Monday before last we took him in for his one-year check-up. I freaked a little because his weight percentile keeps dropping. This time he weighed in at 23 lbs 15 oz, which put him in the 60th-ish percentile. Remember, dude used to be up at the 95th. Dr. M said that she was not worried because he was an early walker and is very active, and is otherwise growing healthily. Indeed, he is now 31-1/2 inches long (90th percentile) and his head, I forget exactly how big it is, but it's at the 80th percentile.
The real reason I was worried about his weight is that he is no longer the champion eater monkey he used to be. It's hard to know if that's because he is over his growth spurts, or if it's because I am sick and tired of fixing three completely different plates at each meal to satisfy him and my picky toddler, and in that respect may be slacking in providing them with enough nutritious food. What, you'll BOTH eat hot dogs? Hooray! Jacob usually loves pasta, but I think Isaac may be influencing him on even that because he didn't finish his baby-sized bowl tonight. To avoid fixing another completely different plate for Isaac, Isaac and I had a standoff, where after about 20 minutes of arguing I told him I would take away his new cars for the evening if he didn't try one stupid bite of pasta with marinara sauce. It was really, really hard not to laugh when he first licked some sauce off a farfalle noodle -- the exact same sauce I use to make his English muffin pizzas -- and then made a horrific face and wiped his tongue with his hands. Under diuress, he took the tiniest possible bite off of his butterfly pasta and then gagged and choked on it, as though it was a dog turd, before spitting it out. Awesome.
Back to Jake's appointment -- this was the first doctor's visit wherein he cried. Usually he's all party, all "Go ahead, ladeez, take a good look at the Nakey Jakey", even when Dr. M is doing her stethoscope and ear-inspection thing. But from naked start to naked finish, this time he fussed. To top it off, he got two shots -- three days after I took him to get his blood drawn to test his iron and lead levels. Apparently it's a Delaware thing, in that Delawareans enjoy poking babies as much as possible. All numbers were completely wonderful, which was almost reassuring enough to drown out the memory of his horrible, plea-ful cries at the blood-draw place.
I brought up his uncooperative stance on milk-drinking, and Dr. M helpfully told me to keep trying. Right now, he drinks maybe a few ounces a day. I've decided we're going to hold off on weaning until he gets over what appears to be some sort of overlapping baby torture of sinus colds and cutting molars. He doesn't nurse that much, only when it's time for sleep. He does eat cheese cubes and yogurt, so he is not without calcium of some sort. But overall I think the problem is that he might not like sippy cups. He does drink well from sippy-less kid glasses, but his "well" is limited to an ounce, maybe two, before it just becomes irresistible to pour the rest of the cup's contents onto the nearest hard surface. Better to splash Big Brother with, don't you agree? Anyway, there is one beverage for which he appears to have a bottomless appetite, and that is unsweetened iced tea, which he will chug from a glass or through a straw. No joke. It's actually really annoying because I can't have a glass at all without him lunging for it or pointing and shrieking "EH! EH!".
If any of you out there have children who eat and who drink their milk, all I can say is that you are possibly the luckiest people alive. And that I hate you with the righteous passion of a mommy watching her boys turn into string beans.
posted by Claire at 10:53 PM
5 Comments:
Hey! I think I must make those same dog turds you mention. K is 11 and I still have a hard time convincing her to try stuff. I am not sure it ever ends.
Great post! I laughed so hard I woke the hubs up.
So funny Claire - I swear our children are the same way (maybe it's in the name). Jake is now almost three and won't drink a drop of milk, and hates yogurt as well as cheese. Put it this way - we are thankful when he eats some mac & cheese. The doctor said not to worry (and he's in the "less than 5th %ile for weight) b/c you can't force them.
Emma - the chubby 10 month old - loves to eat...but hates sippy cups. We found a straw cup. It's either Nuby brand or Sassy - and it's clearly for about one-year olds (because it has two handles, etc). Maybe that's an idea???
I completely and utterly know EXACTLY what you are talking about with the milk thing. I am so jealous of people who have kids who guzzle milk!!! Good luck! ~Lynn
I forget who makes the straw cups but they might work. Or some type of crazy straw action? Hell, maybe drinking the milk through a twizzler? Blowing milk bubbles then sucking them up? (though this could backfire into a purely bubble blowing contest. Food colored milk? Pediasure? Have you tried those Nutripals bars for Isaac? When I think Liam has had a crap-eating day I try to give him one of those. Milkshakes? Vanilla milk? I'm out and I'm sure you thought of most of those things.
my 2.5 year old won't drink milk. at all! he drank milk, sometimes watered down from a bottle at nights up until he turned 2. i did try periodically to give him a sippy cup of milk and he literally would take a sip and gag on it! oh dear! but thankfully, he LOVES cheese and of course, chocolate!!
and i HATE having to cook more than 1 meal in the evenings! i am so with you! hotdogs cut up in mac and cheese with broccoli was always a winner =)
Have you tried the Nuby sippy cups? I do not ask that to incite a riot if you have tried everything... they even have a sport cup that looks like a bottle, but if it works, it works.
Also what about adding a splash of chocolate to the milk? Am I just adding insult to injury here?
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