Check-Up @ 4-months

Jaxen's doctor's appointment was this morning.  It was really nice to be able to spend the morning with my boys -- Jacob and Jaxen --  before I had to go to work.  Jaxen was a good and happy baby this morning, totally showing off to the doctor. . . that is until the shots!  Jaxen weighed in at 15 pounds 1 ounce (88%) and was 25.5 inches long (62%).  Which means my little 4-week early baby is totally caught up to other kids his age!  And at 4-months old he is only 4 ounces heavier and 1 inch longer than Chloe was at 4-months and 2 pounds 8 ounces lighter and 1/2 longer than Jacob was at 4-months. 

[Baby book notes: At 4-months: Chloe was 24.5 inches long & 14 pounds 14 ounces.  Jacob was 25 inches long & 17 pounds 9 ounces.  Jaxen is 25.5 inches long & 15 pounds 1 ounce.]

We were given the green light to start trying out infant cereal and stage 1 baby foods with Jax.  He's big enough and can sit with support now.  Now the fun begins. . . messy dinner times!  Also, Jaxen did very well with his shots.  He's running a low grade fever and wants to be cuddled a little bit more than normal.  But I'm totally okay with that!  I'll cuddle my littlest love bug all day long!! 

I finally asked the doctor about Jaxen's belly button.  I couldn't tell if anything was wrong with it, but it's always looks odd to me.  He doesn't seem to be bothered by it - but at times, his belly button looks swollen and bruised.  Come to find out, Jaxen has an umbilical hernia, which should go away on it's own.  Which some of you might know what that is, but I had to ask for further explanation.  And I will share it with you!  When his umbilical cord was cut and tied off, a part of his intestine got caught in his belly button area and was tied off with it.  So the bruising isn't because of his belly button, it's actually the color of the intestine.  Nothing to be concerned about and he said that it wasn't something that the delivery doctor did, it just kind of happens -- more often in baby boys -- Just something we have to watch, to make sure it goes away on it's own. 

And as most of you family have seen and probably commented on, Jax also doesn't like to use both sides of his neck.  He uses both sides but he prefers to look to the right all the time . . . which is making his head sit kinda tilted on his shoulders.  I thought it was because he is still small, so I left it alone.  But the doctor mentioned it this morning, he asked some questions and took note of his preferences.  But the doctor said not to worry.  He's not majorly concerned, Jaxen might grow out of it but it's definitely something to watch.  But in the worst case scenario, if he continues on this path eventually his muscles on the right side of his neck will shrink and he won't have the full range of motion that he should.  So between now and June (next appointment is at 6 months) we have to work with him and make him use the other side.  Otherwise, he'll have to wear a brace or do physical therapy to stretch the muscles.  Again, right now it's not worth worrying about to much -- Doctor stressed that to me!! -- Just something to watch.

And that was our appointment in a nut shell!  Jaxen's next appointment is at 6-months old - June 20th.