Callia Lee Riden

This afternoon at 1:30, Callia had her 6-month checkup at the doctor's office. I'm in charge of taking her in for her shots. Laura took her in for the first set of 'em, and it just broke her heart to see her cry like that. They asked her to hold Callia down while they stuck her, and when they did Laura said Callia turned red and looked at her like she had betrayed her. Laura said, "She cried real tears!" (as opposed to those fake tears most 6-month olds usually cry).

So now anytime shots are involved, it's all me. The appointment went great. The doctor was really impressed with Callia's growth. She was in high percentiles all around for growth and weight. She asked, "what have you been feeding her!?"

"Nothing special. Grubs, worms.. the usual."

"Whatever it is, keep it up! Very healthy looking."

Then, the rough stuff. The nurse came in with the shots. Last time I took her in for shots, she yelled for about 3 minutes, but then she was ok. This time.. a little more harsh. She screamed for at least 5 minutes.. louder than I've heard her ever do. I held her and walked around the room for about 10 minutes until she calmed down enough to leave. As we set up the next appointment, she was wimpering and I had to give her a bottle just to calm her down. In the car, she was wimpering and breathing heavy.. at home, for the next 30 minutes, she was still wimpering and shaken.

Poor thing. She went to sleep sometime before 4 p.m. - about three hours early (and I crashed out too.. daddy was drained). Both of us pretty much slept all night.

I've been meaning to upload these new photos, but just haven't had a chance. Grandma Perry called today demanding that I upload them today.. and she's requested "more close-ups of Callia." I'm not sure if she means *less* photos of Laura and I, or just more of Callia. Either way, I'm pretending that I'm shocked and offended.

Callia and Laura have been sick for about a week. It's not the flu.. just the congested chest / stuffy head / snotty nose / every aspect of life is miserable thing. This morning, Callia woke up early - around 4:15 a.m. I changed her diaper and brought her to our bed so she'd go to sleep faster after taking a bottle. I positioned her a couple feet away, so I wouldn't be breathing her sickly exhale breath, but it didn't work.

I woke up around 5:30 and she had snuggled her way right up next to me. We were face to face about 6 inches apart and she was playing with my beard. I'd been breathing her air for a while.. and I was as sick I could be. I'm not blaming her, but clearly this is all her fault.

New photos from month 7: Aunts Melissa and Jessie visit, Callia gets ready for Christmas, and then catches a cold.

These photos are of Callia standing up (briefly), being snuggly, playing with presents and being a cutie.