15 months

Meredith with friend "Baby Kara"
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length: 30.75" (60th percentile)
weight: 21lbs, 8ozs (27h percentile)
head: 18-3/4 inches (90th percentile)

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The weight seems to have been off since today's weight is less than her 12 month checkup. She'll go back in a month for some additional shots and we'll have her weight checked again then. I sometimes wonder just how accurate all those numbers are anyway. I mean, really, have you seen how they "measure" the baby's length?

9 month checkup

length: 27" (45th percentile)
weight: 19lbs, 3ozs (55th percentile)
head: 17-3/4 inches (80th percentile)

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We were told when Meredith was born that it would take her entire first year to "catch up" with similar age babies because she was premature. However, seeing her today, you'd never know she was a preemie. She is healthy, thriving and hitting all the typical milestones perfectly. Come to think of it, she did at six months too.

new things

Pictured above: Meredith and her new playgroup friends this week. The babies in the photo range from the hefty 5 month old boy in the left front corner to the two 8 month old boys in the back. The girl laying down is just three days younger than Meredith. Such fun to have groups of babies together!

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New stats from her six month well-baby appointment today...

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length: 25.25" (45th percentile)

weight: 15lbs, 7ozs (50th percentile)

head: 17 inches (89th percentile)

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And a new sleep record! Last night she was put down in her crib at 9pm and she didn't wake until 5:30am this morning. Yes, my friends, a continuous 8.5 hours of beautiful, solid sleep. This mama was doing a little jig this morning!

four months

length: 23.5" (25th percentile)
weight: 12lbs, 6ozs (30th percentile)
head: 16.25 inches (50th percentile)

I'm growing!

Stripped down at the pediatrician's office and loving it!

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Though she's not quite two months yet, Meredith had her two month appointment this morning. Everything looks great and she's doing very well. The photo above was taken before her immunization shots. She wasn't very happy after receiving four this morning - ouch!

length: 21" (20th percentile)

weight: 9lbs, 8.5ozs (25th percentile)

head: 15 inches (20th percentile)

Meredith gets cozy this afternoon for a naptime story with Thomas. Curious George is Thomas' current favorite so we read a Curious George story before every nap and bedtime, sometimes even two. He just can't get enough of that silly little monkey!

the kids are growing!

Doctor appointments today for both Thomas and Meredith:

Thomas at 2 years old is tall and lanky...
height: 37"
weight: 30 pounds

Meredith is growing...
weight: 7 pounds, 3 ounces (a gain of 13 ounces in a single week!)

T enjoying his baby sister

This morning we headed out for our first outing as a family of four. Getting out the door definitely took some extra time, but it was fun to all get into the car together. Thomas got to spend an hour at his friend Kaia's house while we took Meredith to her first doctor appointment with our family's pediatrician. Meredith's stats today...

height: 19.25" (25th percentile)
weight: 6lbs 6ozs (10th percentile)
head circumference: 13" (3rd percentile)

We are so used to seeing Thomas' percentiles shooting off the charts at this age that it was a little strange to see her numbers so low. Unfortunately, these numbers do not reflect her prematurity but instead compares her to full-term babies. But really, do the numbers mean anything anyway?