Ben is now 15 months old. Where does the time go? He's 30.5 inches tall and 18.3 pounds. That weight apparently puts him in the zero percentile for his age. It's really difficult to pack pounds on this kid. He still will only eat pureed baby foods, which have hardly any calories, and he crawls around all day burning off those calories. Whenever I try to give him chunkier food he gags and sometimes throws up.The doctor gave me some suggestions on adding more calories to his diet. For example, adding instant breakfast powder to his food or giving him Pediasure. We haven't given him whole milk yet because Logan had an allergic reaction to milk when we switched him from formula to milk. Ben seems to do better on the soy formula, so we are afraid that he might be allergic to milk also.
After trying to add different things to his food, trying to feed him more and having him throw up a bunch because he's either too full or something we gave him didn't agree with him. I've decided to trust my own instincts and just gradually add things and not stress out about it. One thing that Ben's occupational therapist suggested adding to his food is olive oil. Ben doesn't even notice it and it adds quite a bit of calories. Did you know that there are 120 calories in 1 tablespoon of olive oil?
Ben also had his IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) review through the Early Intervention program that he's in. IFSP is where they go over where Ben is at developmentally and set new goals to work on with him. This is what his report said:
Cognitive development: Age level: 8 months
Stops activity when told "no"
responds to verbal requests
Communication development: Age level: 10 months
Imitates simple sounds
Looks in appropriate place when asked, "where's the ball?" (note: he does this sometimes, he does better when asked, "where's mommy, daddy, or Logan?"
Social/Emotional development: Age level: 12 months
Wants to be near adults (note: loves to be around other kids)
Gives toy to adult upon request
Adaptive/Self Help development: Age level: 6 months
takes formula from a bottle
eats pureed foods
tries small bits of solid foods
Gross Motor development: Age level: 9 months
Crawls on hands and knees
Lowers self to sitting, pulls up to knees
Fine Motor development: Age level: 9 months
Uncovers toy seen hidden
Overall all, I think he's doing really well. He's the happiest, sweetest baby and he brings so much joy into our lives!
In other news, Ben got Dafo braces (Dynamic Ankle Foot Orthoses). It's a brace that helps keep his ankles aligned. Due to his low muscle tone his ankles are really weak and he rolls them in or out instead of standing straight on them. The braces will give him more stability to stand and eventually walk. So far he doesn't mind being in them too much. He's still getting used to crawling in them because his feet are now bigger than he's used to. The shoes have to be a size larger to fit the braces.
What Ben is working on now: crawling up stairs and standing.
A few of Ben's favorite things:*Loves playing with his toys and crawling everywhere
*Logan-everything he does makes Ben laugh
*climbing on and hitting the X-Box (because he knows he's not supposed to do it)
*peek-a-boo-he pulls his bib over his face and peeks out from behind it
*shaking his head no, sometimes does this like he's dancing
*learned to say "mmm" when he's eating, and he can growl
*taking baths-loves to splash in the water
*music-almost always calms him when he's upset
8 comments:
He is so cute! He sounds like he's doing great to me! Sounds just like June. I'm glad he is doing so well. I hope those leg braces help so he'll be running around with June in no time...at this rate he might be running before she is. :)
Hey, I have those swim diapers for you, I'll bring them on the 18th (Twilight party).
I can't wait till he starts walking in those braces! You better let me do pics of him when he does or I'll be so sad. Sounds like he'll be a social butterfly since that's what he's doing the very best at. With that adorable smile I don't know how he couldn't be a social butterfly.
Those leggings are cute! Wish I would've thought of that when Freddie was crawling his poor little knees were always scuffed up from the hard wood floors.
PS This was a really good post. Thanks for sharing it.
Oh he is such a handsome sweetie! It IS hard to get kiddos to gain weight once they get so mobile. I remember with Sarah once she started walking she lost weight and my pediatrician totally spazzed on me. It was frustrating, Ben is so lucky to have such an amazing mom!
Oh and I was going to say:
I bulk June's baby fruit purees up with vanilla or plain yogurt every time. I feel like they are so thin otherwise and just don't fill her up enough. With the yogurt it adds more calories, makes her fuller, and gives me double the amount so I don't have to buy baby food as often! I just buy a big tub of yogurt, the Kroger kind. Hope that helps! :)
Thank you guys so much for all for your encouragement!
Ash, you can do pics of him anytime you want! I made the leggings, I saw this tutorial online and thought I'd give it a try they were super easy. I've been on a sewing kick lately, maybe I'll have to post some of the stuff.
I just started giving him yogurt, at first he didn't like it, but now he'll eat it. I didn't think of adding it to his food, thanks Deb!
Those leggings are super cute! I didn't know you made them! I have some really cute stretchy fabric that would be perfect for leggings now that I think of it...maybe I'll have to copy you and make some too. You should post your projects, I always like to see what other people are doing and get inspired!
YEAH you should post some projects! I like to see other peoples talents so I can get inspired to try out new things. If I could only get the sewing thing down that's the best talent of all to have as a mom. Now WHErES THE PRESCHOOL GRAD POST!?
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