Eye Doctor Update

So we went to the eye doctor this morning per the recommendation & found out that Charlotte is not blind, she is just crooked!! She has Pseudoesotropia, which is a really long word meaning crooked head. The ophthalmologist said she had "excessive head molding" in the womb which has caused the whole left side of her head to be a little off-set (eye & ear). She still has a very flat head, which the doctor immediately noticed & led her to her diagnosis. She said that it should round out with time. Apparently it is not uncommon for even the trained professional to think they are seeing a vision issue when it is really the structure of the face. So I am thankful to say that we still have a happy, healthy (albeit slightly crooked) baby girl with perfect vision!!!

We are off to Disney World for Thanksgiving tomorrow morning. I will post lots of pics as soon as we return!! Happy Thanksgiving!!

Charlotte's 15 month check-up

We went to see Dr. Lana for Charlotte's 15 month check-up on Thursday. Here are her stats:

weight - 22 lbs, 2 oz (40%)

height - 31 1/4" (75%)

head circumference - 45 1/2 cm (32%)

This is probably the only time in her life that she will be in the 75th percentile for her height. Poor baby doesn't have a chance at being tall when you consider her parents. She actually lost 1 lb. since our last visit, but Dr. Lana says she is fine. It is interesting to look at her growth chart. She exploded in size during the first 9 months of her life, and now she has a steady horizontal line with barely any weight gain since then. I can believe it, seeing as I chase her up, down, and all around every day! Despite 4 shots, it was a good visit with a doctor's report of a happy, healthy (and smart!) baby!!!

On a side note, I am making an appointment to take Charlotte to see a pediatric optometrist. A parent of one of her classmates is an optometrist & recently let us know that she has observed on several occasions Charlotte's left eye rolling inward. So we are going to investigate, and perhaps the next time you see her she will be sporting some specs.... and , yes, I am already thinking of how to make a 15 month old wear glasses....

 

JabberJaws

Charlotte is talking more & more these days. I can't get over how much her vocabulary has grown over the past few weeks. She currently says: no, down, more, ball, dog, duck, that, mom, dad, bye, hey, boo, wow, baby. 

She has a favorite book, Bad Dog Marley, that she likes to "read". It goes a little something like this: "Mama... Dada... Dog-dog. No-No! (accompanied by shaking her finger)". Yep, she has the story pretty much figured out! 

This weekend she said "move" after hearing it only a few times and tonight she was trying to say "push". I guess we have to start watching what we say around the Freeman household...

P.S. Her dad is most proud that he taught her to say "O- Ba- Ma". Mostly we say "o" & she says "ba", then you get "ma" after a few tries :) Maybe we'll have it by the Inauguration....

Jack's Big Music Show!

Matt  & I have recently discovered the Noggin channel (for all you clueless folk out there, it is non-stop kids programs), which means that we in turn placed our little girl promptly in front of the TV saying "Look Charlotte !" I know, I know, we are GREAT parents. But I must admit, it really is fun to watch her watch TV. Everyone is entertained! Our personal favorite is Jack's Big Music Show. Charlotte has really gotten into music lately & starts breaking it down the minute she hears any tune so this is a natural fit. Jack & his friend Mary & his dog explore all different styles of music in each show, as well as throw in a few music videos. Today's show featured zydeco, opera, a barbershop quintet, and an old school rapping turtle. "Just like a cat likes to nap & hands like to clap, I like to rap". Word.

Charlotte's New Hobby

Lately I find Charlotte in her room playing with her clothes in her dresser. She mostly pulls them out in a big pile on the floor, but lately she has been mixing it up a bit & rearranging her clothes into different drawers. This does not fare well with her obsessive - compulsive mother....

Trick or Treat!

We all survived our 1st official Halloween, but not without some excitement at the Freeman household. We headed over to our friends & neighbors house, the Groves family, for some ghoulish fun. Their street does it right, complete with major decorations, music, and even a bar for the big kids (yeah!). The highlight of the night would have to be when Charlotte decided to have a snack, & despite the piles of chocolate & candy in her bucket, she chose petrified dog poo to pick up  attempt to eat. There was lots of screaming all around, followed by some serious hand washing and cups of water to rinse it all down. She must be a trickster after all..... or perhaps baby girl is just going green, organics are good right???? 

Baby It's Cold Outside!!

We had our first cold spell here in Memphis earlier this week (it is now back up in the 70s). Charlotte has a darling new coat that was a hand-me-down from cousin Molly. We love it!!