Six Month Checkup

“Bella, get your shoes. As soon as Phia’s done eating, we’re going to the doctor. We’re going to take Phia to see the doctor.”

I emphasized that it was Sophia’s appointment and not her own; but I didn’t really expect her to get upset. She started to cry. I thought we’d passed the fear of the doctor when Sophia was born. Bella hasn’t had to get shots in so long. But I guess watching Sophia get stuck last time was pretty hard.

She cries when we go out the door. She cries when we arrive at the doctor’s office. Only a promise that she’ll get to see the fishies calms her down. She runs to stand on the chair as I check us in and pay: “Fishies! Fishies. Hi, fishy, fishy, fishy! Bubbles, Mama, bubbles.” Everyone in the waiting room smiles to hear Bella’s delight ringing out.

And then I sit down and must “read a book, read a book, read a book.”

But the tears resume when we approach the exam room and the wailing bursts forth when I take Sophia in her diaper to be weighed. A small calm returns and we read the book. And when the doctor, our smiling pediatrician whom I love, when Dr. M. enters, she howls. And then Sophia begins to howl too. A chorus.

I talk over the screaming to our still-smiling doctor. He’s used to his unpopularity with his younger patients. When he finally leaves the screaming stops. And Bella begins to name things: changing table, sink, window, paper towels, soap, lotion. Even when the nurse reappears with a fistful of syringes, Bella is calm. Though as soon as my poor Sophia gets pricked, she howls again.

And then the storm is over. I cuddle my baby to my chest and wipe noses and Bella picks up her bag and her book and resumes chatting with the fishies as I check out.

So now Miss Sophia is 25.75 inches long, 16 pounds, 3 ounces. Healthy and growing well.

Isabella helped me make muffins and helped me eat them and then went down for her nap. All is well.