Dear Henry,
I took you for your second round of shots today. I wasn't looking forward to it for many reasons. The last round you were not quite yourself for about 4 days afterward, not to mention the pain it causes you is not super appealing. It went well, you had Nice Nurse and she loved on you a bit before giving you the oral vaccination. While I should have been happy that at least one of these vaccinations was not a shot I hated the sense that I was lulling you into a false sense of happiness and well being.
She pushed the plunger slowly into your mouth and Mommy felt sick as she saw you smiling and talking as if to say, "This is sweet Mommy. Thank you!" Your precious baby smiles all gummy and wet about to be wiped off of your face with the harsh sting of the leg shot.
I put you down so I could get up in your ear and start shshhhhhooshing you... and YOWSAH!
You started screamin'. It lasted about 30 seconds to a minute and then you chilled. You laid there looking at me with your pretty baby blue/greens shocked.
I put you in your car seat and we headed to the license branch. You seemed good. We arrived home, you started to fuss a bit. Mommy laid you on a blanket on your tummy and went to the bathroom. I thought you might like to play when I returned so I set your bowling pin up and left sock monkey next to you for company. I came back and even in your anxious state you had knocked your bowling pin down with your head, rolled over, and fell asleep. 
I wasn't in the other room more than two minutes and you accomplished all of that, grumpy and all. I'm glad that you were sleepin' it off but this didn't last long. An hour or so later you started wailing! and wailing! and wailing! a high pitched sucker punch scream that made me feel as if my ears were pouring blood. Mommy tried to hold you, gave you acetaminophen, feed you, reasoned with you but for 45 minutes nothing was doin'. I called the doctor for advice. There really wasn't any advice except if it continues for 6 hours there might be a problem!!! 6 hours!!! I think my ear drums would have shriveled and my brain explode by hour 3.
About minute 50 a UPS package arrived and it was some new handmade blankies from Greatest Auntie Linda. I spread out the duckie blanket and put you on it. I fixed you a bottle and came back and you were asleep! Hallelujah! You've been off and on with happy sad for last couple of hours but you're still the sweetest thing I've ever held. Mommy is so happy you don't have to go get stuck again for a few months.
Love, Mommy
Dear Henry,
Monday was your 2 month doctor's check. They looked you over and you were a champ. I got you naked then the nurse put you on the paper and traced your head and the bottom of your foot with your leg stretched out and you grew from 19" at birth to 22.5". This puts you in the 25th% for height, which is steady growth. Then we took you over to the baby healthometer scale and when the nurse placed you in I gasped because you filled that thing up like a bag of apples at the supermarket! You weighed at birth 6lbs 2oz and at this check you weighed 11lbs 9oz!!! Check out this post for a contrast.
It is no wonder carrying you in your baby carrier has 
become more and more 
unpleasant to my ever aching arms, you're a GIANT. This new expansion of skin, bone, muscle and fat on your frame boosted you to the 50th% from the 25th% in weight. The nurse told me I needed to start wiping your mouth out because when you get a tooth I'll need to brush it and this will get you used to having something in your mouth. I have a feelin' you're not gonna like that.
You took all this calculating in stride. Then we waited for the doctor. As we waited I could hear a nurse talking in the hallway even though our door was closed, "Lily, that baby girl adopted from California, her mom is here for a belly button check...(I'll spare the details)." I instantly knew that Brook must be in the room next to ours so we went next door and sure enough! Your buddy Lily was there. She is a couple of months behind you so she is still workin' off the stub of the umbilical cord that is left hangin'.
We went back to our room and finally the doctor came in. He laid you on the table and checked your heart and lungs, your hips, your tummy, in your ears and your little mouth and everything looked great! Mommy filled out a chart about all of the great tricks you've picked up on and you've surpassed your milestones for your age. I was proud.
Then it was time... the nurse came in, she has known you as long as I have, she was with you at the hospital when J pushed you into this world. She got the viles ready while Mommy wrapped you up in the beautiful duckie blanket Auntie Linda made for you. I figured the hands that made it have made it through TONS of shots during her cancer battle, more like a war, so it should help you. It did. Mommy swaddled you up in it with your leg exposed and started shssssooooshing in your ear. The nurse said, "Okay!" and poked you the first time. You wailed for about 15 seconds, gave a little hurt face with the corners of your cheeks turned down and your bottom lip puckered out and you took a few deep breaths, found your thumb and moved on with your day. Mommy does have a picture of that first poke but why relive it here?
When Mommy got you home though you were not yourself. You slept all day cuddled up at my side and in your swing. You had a 100.9 fever and groused around like a grump on and off. It made me so sad to see you this way, the next day was more of the same. This morning, however, you woke up and played makin' faces with me and laughing for an hour. I was happy to see my Ole Boy back for a while at least, then you whimpered and laid back to sleep with your thumb firm in your mouth. You just had a bath and are sacked out on the blanket Aimee and Tim sent you. It seems to be your favorite napping blanket right now.
I can't imagine if I let the nurse give you all of the vaccines at one time!!! JEEZE! OWIE! There are like 5-8 total depending on which ones you choose.
I am glad it is over, until next Wednesday when we do it all over again.
My hope is that you continue to be your healthy, good natured self. I wasn't sure what to do with a grumpy baby!
Love, Mommy
She pushed the plunger slowly into your mouth and Mommy felt sick as she saw you smiling and talking as if to say, "This is sweet Mommy. Thank you!" Your precious baby smiles all gummy and wet about to be wiped off of your face with the harsh sting of the leg shot.
You started screamin'. It lasted about 30 seconds to a minute and then you chilled. You laid there looking at me with your pretty baby blue/greens shocked.
I wasn't in the other room more than two minutes and you accomplished all of that, grumpy and all. I'm glad that you were sleepin' it off but this didn't last long. An hour or so later you started wailing! and wailing! and wailing! a high pitched sucker punch scream that made me feel as if my ears were pouring blood. Mommy tried to hold you, gave you acetaminophen, feed you, reasoned with you but for 45 minutes nothing was doin'. I called the doctor for advice. There really wasn't any advice except if it continues for 6 hours there might be a problem!!! 6 hours!!! I think my ear drums would have shriveled and my brain explode by hour 3.
