9 months-old

Weight : 17lbs 14oz
Height: 27 inches
Headcircumference: Not sure

This time around, daddy can't make it to come with us. So it was just mama and Dylan .. huhu .. I hope you can come next time daddy ...

We took Q58 there, I had the carrier cause I figure it was easier than using stroller. Getting off in Main Street, instead of taking Q20, I decided to take a walk down the busy second China Town road in NY.

We made it on time, I even had a lunch in deli around the corner of Farrington. Carrying a 18-pound baby is, well .. heavy, obviously took some extra energy.

The waiting line was rather long and time-consuming since Maria wasn't there. But we finally made it to our turn. I undressed Dylan and put him on the bed scale. He flipped down to his belly and ready to jump off, WOWWW ... I forgot how fast he is now with his crawling skill. Height is definitely not a good match for a baby like him now. Nurse Michelle was quickly weighed and measured his height.

The weight came rather short than I thought. I expected to be more than 18 lbs, but I realized that Dy had been losing some weight lately. He looked a lil skinny actually.

It's a different doctor today, Dr. Lin. She's young and I never saw her before, but I spoke to her on the phone. I called when Dy had cough and she's the one who told me to give Pedia Care. I saw Dr. Chun, I was tempted to ask for her, but I figured, I'd try this Dr. Lin. She looked nice and maybe I should just give it a try.

Yes, she was nice, but she wasn't as good and colaborative as Dr. Chun. Her questions were not as much and her analysis wasn't too deep.She examined Dy's heartbeat and so, but didn't do much on testing his skill or muscle development by herself (only by asking me). Experience was absolutely a factor in here (guessing from her age). I had a lil regret for not asking for Dr. Chun, but hey .. if you don't try it, you won't know it.

I told her that I was worried that Dylan didn't gain much weight. She said it was okay, he was declining from the chart (from 25th percentile to 15th percentile), but wasn't off it. As long as Dy looks happy and healthy, I shouldn't be worry. It's common around this age for baby losing appetite, due to teething. I told her Dylan didn't have any teeth yet. But later on, ... while he was crying, I found out that pearly baby tooth sticking out of his gum!! (yeayyy).

I asked her about immunization, she said this time was not necessary until he's 1 yo. I was happy. But that was for just a moment. As a matter of fact, Dylan would have to go through some painful procedures. He'd be getting his blood taken for anemia test, and a PPC injection on his arm for any indication of TBC, .. and uh oh .. the missing Pneumococcal injection at the last time when nationwide healthcenter run out of it. Duhhh ..

The fact was, Dylan's card showed that he had the Pneumococcal already, but I knew damn sure that he didn't get it, cause Dr. Chun told me so. Dr. Lin didn't know about it and I insisted that it said deffered on the card. She had to clarify with nurse Kim, and she figured it out in seconds. I was right, ... See, a mother has to really pay attention on details like this.

We had to wait for the injections and blood testing because it's the nurse job. So many babies in and out, and they were all crying! What a headache! .. There was this lil girl maybe over 1 yo with a lip as though she was just got beaten up or fell. So swollen, big, red and slanted. She was stung by a bee. OMG .. scarry view over there.

So we were finally called. Two nurses held down Dylan on the exam table. He was crying and screaming on the top of his lung. His eyes were so sad and he looked at both nurses back and forth. I was standing in front of him. Even one of the nurses said, .. "Oh, please don't look at me. He's very very upset". Uh, my poor baby. They took 2 tubes of blood from him, that made me cringe.

He was crying still when it's done, but not for long. I stayed for a while in the waiting room, to calm him down. I held him, sing to him, rocking him. I tried to nurse him, but he didn't want to. And so we went home, and he felt asleep as we were walking. And I was glad I had the carrier instead of stroller, so I could hold him all the trip home.

Two days later we came back to the Clinic, and TBC result was negative.

6 month-old

Weight: 16 lbs 1 oz (7.53 kg)
Height: 26 inches (66 cm)
Head: 44.5 cm

When we arrived, Dylan was ok. But when we got into the room exam, he started to cry. I supposed he knew what's coming. The last time he got injections (3!!), so maybe this time he knew.

He cried, ehm no... he was screaming. UUUHH, the kinda scream that happens when he's in pain. But he's not in pain (not just yet).
The scream was excruciating when I put him down on the scale.
Nurse Michelle tells me that Dy is a smart boy. He's only 6-month-old and already knows what's going on. Dy seems to have a good memory ... (I sound bragging, but I don't care .. )

Done with the nurse, off to the doctor's room. Dr. Chun again!! yeayy ...
Dy was still kinda crying, so I didn't put him on the exam table, instead I just held him in my arms. I figure that would help him to calm down. Dr. Chun didn't seem to mind.

She checked on those big bright eyes (beautiful eyes, she said), then on the ears with those little light thingy. Then she checked on the back on the chest. All was done while I was carrying him in my arms.

Issue:
Dr. Chun asked me to put him down on the table to examine the patches on his tummy. Dy got eczema, as so I thought. Dr. Chun said it might be trigger by something extreme: too hot, too cold, too dry, too wet.

I've been putting Aquaphor all the time, which she said is fine. Then she prescribed cortizone steroid cream to rub thinly on the patches twice a day. Make sure I moist/spray the patches with water first. I should continue give him a bath and wash him over after going out. Just in case if he's allergic to pollen or something else in the air.

Physical Development
Dylan's weight and height is on chart, he's chubby but not fat. Falling on the 25th precentile. But his brain is growing rapidly (on the 75th percentile). Dr. Chun said, Dylan has a big brain (good, good). His soft spot is not closing yet, and it's not supposed to until he is at least 9 month old.

Mental Development
Doctor said that Dylan is ahead than other babies his age by showing reactions and good memory on the past. Usually at 6 month, babies don't have that kind of reaction yet.

Dy was still crying from the exam, while Anton and I were sitting down to talk to Dr. Chun. Dy holds on to my breast, so I nurse him right then to calm him down.
His curiousity is high, rather noisy because he always listening attentively on adult conversation. He stops nursing, look at the source of the sound, listen and observe. Meanwhile my breast was just staring at the doctor. (haha)

Food
Dy can start eating no 2 Food now or later on after he finishes trying the entire no 1. But I should avoid giving him meat until he's at least 9 month-old. Twice a day is a good portion.

Immunization
This time around, Dy gets 2 shots. One shot contains 5 vaccines, the other is just one. The same shots he got as the last time, except that Pneumoccical shot which is out of stock nationwide in USA, even in Canada. So it's deffered until then, but shouldn't pass 15 month-old.

The funniest thing happens on the injections part. Remember he is crying like a maniac?? .. Ok, now here comes. Dy is called to the room by nurse Kim. Daddy can't take seeing his son got shot (yes, he's a Mob movie lover, but can't stand this particular event), so he was just standing by the door, peeking with his face rather grunch.

I, mama, of course has to be with Dy ... and I even embrace myself t see the needle goes through my son's beautiful thigh. As I lay him down on the table, I thought, .. ok, he's gonna scream on the top of his lung ... but no, he didn't.
Then the first syringe goes in, Dy was making a face, squirming, but not crying! Ok, one down,... the second syringe goes in, "Eeehhhh", he said, but not a single scream or tears, nothing ... nada.

Dylan wasn't even crying at all on the two shots!!!!!!!!
My brave boy ....

So, it was the scale and the table that you hate, huh??

4 month old

Weight: 14 lbs 1 oz (6.5 kg)
Height: 24.25 inches (61.6 cm)
Head Circumference: 43 cm

This time around, Dylan got to see different doctor. It's dr. Chun today, at first I don't like the fact that he has to see different doctor everytime. In my perception, it's better if the pediatrician is the same all the time, meaning that she already familiar with my baby health history.

First was dr. Chung, then the Indian doctor (I couldn't even remember her name, it was hard to prounounce), and now another doctor. To my surprise, I reaaalllly love this dr. Chun. She's a middle-age woman with a lot of smile. It's not just the smile that made me happy, but the fact that she eagerly answered all my questions and concerns with full explanation. Up to the details, and even more. She asked a lot of questions and very friendly to Dylan, trying to make him feel comfortable.

We addressed all the issue, the rash in the body is probably from the detergent that I put in the laundry (this was my assumption) and she believed it might be it because the rash was only on the body parts area, not on his face. The cradle crap, to be treated by shampooing his head and rub baby oil afterwards.

Solid Food
Dr. Chun said to postpone giving solid food as long as possible, because it doesn't really give nutrients to the baby. When baby starts eating solid, he will decrease the intake of the formula/bf milk, which is actually rich of nutrients. When Dylan is ready, I should start by giving one teaspoon of rice cereal in the morning and in the evening (yes, one 1 teaspoon!).
Then about a week, see if Dylan is ok or not with it. If he develops allergy, then stop giving the cereal and just back to formula for the whole week.

Next is giving vegetable (carrot, green pea). Dr. Chun warned that it's important to start teaching baby about good eating habbit in this stage. Parents sometimes assumed that when baby refuses to veggie, then he doesn't like it and keep giving fruit instead. She emphasized the importance of keep giving the same amount of fruit and veggie, so baby gets used to the taste of both world. For now, Dylan should only get the single-ingredient foods to see if he gets any allergy.

Physical Developments
Dr. Chun examined Dylan by putting him on his belly. Dylan did "the defensive mode" by using his wrists to hold his upper body instead of using his arms. His eyes were examined as "sunset eyes" or "doll eyes". Dylan was then held up, and doctor was surprised because Dylan was already stepping!! (he was actually walking on the exam table when dr. Chun hold him under his arms). He's not ready yet, but it's a good sign. Conclusion: Dylan was ahead in mostly every aspects and I'm a proud mama!! and Anton is proud daddy!

Mental Developments
Dylan was alert to strangers already. He was staring at dr. Chun with full attention and listening to our conversation by turning his head to us back and forth. I told her that this morning, daddy and Dylan was playing and suddenly Dylan said .. "paaaapppaaa" .... She said, "Yeah, yeah, ... all parents like to lie about their kid" .. HAHAHAHAHA ....

Dylan got another 3-shot-vaccine again of DTP, Polio and Hib. I gave him 0.8 ml drop of Tylenol for comfort and dr. said to give more if Dylan developed fever (high possibility, I cross my fingers it's not happenning). He was a little warm before, but seems cheerful right now. Dylan is such a good sport, he was screaming at the top of his lung when he got the three injections. I held his hands and sang to him, but couldn't bare to see him getting the shots. Heart wrenching moment. But stop completely after I held him.

Next visit, May 25th. Hope to see dr. Chun still there. See how much I can write on this time. She's funny and explain everything while examining my baby. I'm so content.

2 month old

Weight: 11 lbs
Height: 23 inches

Dylan got 3 shots vaccines of DTP, Polio and Hib.

DTP: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough).

Hib: Influenza type B bacteria.

Mama was afraid that Dylan's gonna get a fever, but luckily not. Such a relief. Anyway, the nurse told me to give you few drops of Tylenol. I guess that saves the worry.

1 month old

Weight: 8 lbs 2 oz
Height: 22 inches

Dylan got a shot of Hepatitis B. The result of X-Ray for the dimple is ok. Nothing to be concern of.

2 Weeks Old

Weight: 7 lbs 5 oz
Height: 20.5 inches

Hepatitis B Shot
Dr. Susan Chung

Newborn

Weight: 6 lbs 4 oz (2.850 kg)
Height: 19 inches (48 cm)
Apgar Score: 9.9