Doctor, doctor...

...give me the news...

Today was Jayna's 4 month well baby checkup. She had three vaccines...on in each thigh and one oral. She was none too happy about it. It took us about 10 minutes to calm her down this time. Last time it only took about 3 minutes. She was super pissed this time.

Jayna got a very good report from the doctor. She weighs 14 pounds 14 ounces and is 24.25 inches long. Her head circumference is 41 centimeters. She is in the 50th percentile for her height and head circumference and in the 75th percentile for her weight. As the doctor says, she's becoming very well proportioned.

Jayna did well with belly time for the doctor...she was showing off. She secretly (well, secret to the doctor, but not to Chris and me) hates belly time. She stood up and sat up for the doctor and was very interested in just staring at her hands while we were there. Jayna even babbled/cooed for the doctor a little. I told the doctor she had teeth already and she just said, "Oh yeah, an early teether. My son was an early teether. I had to stop nursing him early because of his teeth." That's it. I guess early teething isn't as weird as I originally thought.

I was told that I could begin giving her rice cereal if I want to. I think I'll try it on the weekend and see how it goes. At 5 months, I am allowed to give her a limited amount and variety of vegetables. I don't know if I'll do that. I may just wait until 6 months. I guess I'll have to see how it goes with the cereal before I make a decision on the veggies. The doctor said Jayna may just not be ready for solids. If she rejects the cereal the first few times, quit and try again in a week. And the same goes for the veggies. I'm excited to start solids with her as I think it will initially be fun and cute (but will probably become frustrating and messy very quickly), but I don't want to force her if she isn't ready for it.

All in all it was a great visit. I was told yet AGAIN that it is a good time to wean from the pacifier. I told the doctor that Jayna has begun chewing on the pacifier and she said that it is a good time to replace it with a teething ring/toy. Not only will this help reduce pacifier use but it will also help Jayna with hand/eye coordination and using her hands.

I have noticed in just the past 2 days that Jayna has a new found facination with her hands. I laid her under her floor toy this morning for a few minutes while I started the car and packed her bottles and stuff and I don't think she ever looked at the toy...not even once. She was perfectly content just lying there staring at her hands as she twisted them around and bent her fingers. It was very cute. She's also learning that she can use her hands for things. She used them before, but now she's picking up more things and holding onto them longer whereas before she'd grab something and just drop it.

Well, that's all!! Boy, I love a good doctor visit. That means a happy, healthy Jayna!! And now we work on making that pacifier disappear...