Yesterday, my baby had his 18 month doctor's appointment. This meant he would need his final 2 immunization needles. I hate shots days, because I hate seeing my baby go from happy and laughing to scared and crying. Of course, he is familiar with the waiting room. And as soon as we walked in, he motioned for me to leave. He started crying - first, the sad lip - oh, the sad lip - doesn't this just kill you with sadness? Then, the tears. He was out of control crying, and he hadn't even been seen by the doctor yet!
We got into the examination room, and I undressed him. All the while, he was crying, and trying to get his onesie back on himself. He got weighed - 28.5 pounds. (Yay!) And then we waited a few more minutes for the doctor to arrive. I passed some time by walking in the small hallway with him, showing him a few prints that were done by my mom. Still, he continued to cry.
Finally, the doctor came in. The same pediatrician who looked after my sister and I. (And somehow, this man does not age!) Through my baby's sobs, he examined him, and then gave him his 2 needles - one in each arm. All I could do was hold him tightly to my chest, telling him it was okay... and all he could do was cry. It broke my heart.
Of course, as soon as we left, he calmed down, and then proceeded to fall asleep in the car on the way home.
"What happened to Dimitry?" Christos asked, who was waiting outside with his father.
I told him he was okay, that Dimitry just got upset when he got his needles.
And in my hands, I was holding my baby's immunization record, in a nice little plastic folder. When I got home, I put it away, next to Christos's immunization record, and that made me very sad. That made me realize that my children were really out of the 'baby' stage. It was like staring at documentation of their baby months, now safety stored away next to other important documents.
No more needles. A relief, on one hand, but also a realization that my boys are growing up quickly. Those precious baby months are gone! And yes, I also totally enjoy them at the ages they are at now - it is just as awesome - but yesterday felt like the real end to the 'baby' stage - it was so final.
Only 1 more needle to go, for both of them - the one they get between the ages of 4 and 6. For some reason, I don't think this will be that easy to deal with, either.
We got into the examination room, and I undressed him. All the while, he was crying, and trying to get his onesie back on himself. He got weighed - 28.5 pounds. (Yay!) And then we waited a few more minutes for the doctor to arrive. I passed some time by walking in the small hallway with him, showing him a few prints that were done by my mom. Still, he continued to cry.
Finally, the doctor came in. The same pediatrician who looked after my sister and I. (And somehow, this man does not age!) Through my baby's sobs, he examined him, and then gave him his 2 needles - one in each arm. All I could do was hold him tightly to my chest, telling him it was okay... and all he could do was cry. It broke my heart.
Of course, as soon as we left, he calmed down, and then proceeded to fall asleep in the car on the way home.
"What happened to Dimitry?" Christos asked, who was waiting outside with his father.
I told him he was okay, that Dimitry just got upset when he got his needles.
And in my hands, I was holding my baby's immunization record, in a nice little plastic folder. When I got home, I put it away, next to Christos's immunization record, and that made me very sad. That made me realize that my children were really out of the 'baby' stage. It was like staring at documentation of their baby months, now safety stored away next to other important documents.
No more needles. A relief, on one hand, but also a realization that my boys are growing up quickly. Those precious baby months are gone! And yes, I also totally enjoy them at the ages they are at now - it is just as awesome - but yesterday felt like the real end to the 'baby' stage - it was so final.
Only 1 more needle to go, for both of them - the one they get between the ages of 4 and 6. For some reason, I don't think this will be that easy to deal with, either.
Comments
(And I still vote for no caps on doctor and pediatrician, BTW!)
And if you miss it that much, you could always get to makin' baby #3. :)
Oh well at least you'll have a few years before the next horrid visit.
By the way, that's so cool that your mom's an artist. I'm going to check out her site when I have time later.
Your boys will be happy for the pin cushion break though :-)
Thank you for telling us about her amazing talent.