An 8-pack of teeth

We're back in dental balance with four teeth on top and four beneath. Things were a bit tilted there for a while. Of course, each additional makes the ever popular toothbrushing more interesting. M has never been a fan.

Doctor's visit

We went in for our 18-month doctor's checkup.

M is weighing in at 20 lbs (just over 9 Kg) and reaching 30.5 inches (76 cm) on the length chart. While that is steady progress from the 15-month visit it is still at the 25th percentile lenght wise and 5th percentile for weight (adjusted back to 15 months).

There were also a pair of shots which went over about as well as expected. It was actually over very fast. There were two nurses giving simultaneous shots. By the time he realized what was going on and started howling the needles were already out. We'll be back for a flu shot in October.

He was given a clean bill of health and will only need to come back for a regular visit until age two. At that point there will be no more age adjusting of measurements.

The first haircut

For a long time it wasn't even a consideration. Then the need sort of snuck up on us. My wife and I looked at each other one day and proclaimed our child needs a haircut!

Before:
We did consider the possibility of holding off for another couple of months. He could dress up as Kim Jung-il for Halloween - all you'd need is a pair of over sized glasses and some high heeled shoes.







During:
We took M to a place that specializes in these types of endeavors. The chairs were small, there were plenty of interesting things to look at, and the staff is highly trained at using scissors on a head that is perpetually in motion... It was over in about 6 minutes. M behaved very well. I think he was perplexed at the whole operation and didn't know what to do.



























After:
Isn't that better!?


Mom, of course, has an envelope with the clippings to be saved along with all the other memorabilia collected in the last year and a half.

The Big 18

On Friday M is turning 18. Granted, turning 18 years may be considered a bigger deal than 18 months. But we're all about celebrating and will take every milestone we can get!

In the days before the big event we stopped by Children's to visit a few old friends.

On the way out it seemed appropriate to re-create a couple of photos from the past in a very familiar hallway.

In the cool of the pool

Off and on during the dog-days-of-summer Mom and M have escaped the heat in search of what summer for a kid often is all about.

The first round was by enrolling in actual swim school. As it happens he was the only student enrolled so with the help of mom and the instructor he master the fine art of, well, splashing in water.


We have also ventured to the lake for some good old fashioned beach time.



We proved that a good time can be had in very shallow waters.

We will be back next year!