Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Measuring Progress, Literally

Everyone who sees Samantha after a break of a month or so remarks how tall she's gotten.  Like, after just a month!  But I often think those growth spurts really do happen like that (and trust me, I'm more than happy to blame any bad behavior she's had during that time on just such a spurt...LOL), especially when it's well-documented on the wall. 

When Samantha and I got home from the tea party photo shoot on Friday evening, she asked Steve to take her measurements again.  He started documenting them just a few months ago, with the most recent one taken in late May.  We were both completely shocked to see that she'd grown an inch in that short time!  I have to think that there must have been a mistake.  I don't know.  But every time I look at my little girl, I see how long her legs are, how her little Buddha-belly has suddenly begun to slim out, I see the first shadowy images of the leggy teenager she's sure to become.

Forgive the image quality...




I'm 6' tall. Steve is 5'10". The average height for an adult female with Down syndrome is about 4 1/2 feet. When she was a baby and I did those BabyCenter calculations to determine how tall she'll be, based on her height at the time factored in with the height of myself and Steve, it repeatedly turned out a response of 5'4". I haven't done those calculations in a very long time, but I'm thinking she may manage to push at least that when she's done growing. To be perfectly honest, I really don't care how tall she is, but I find it interesting anyway to see how parental height may influence the extra chromosome.

I always had to laugh when people not in the Ds community would see us and say, "Oh, I'm sure she's going to be really tall, like her mommy!" Depending on who they were, I'd occasionally correct them with a quick science lesson in genetics, but usually I'd just say, "Hmmm...maybe."

Eh, who knows?

17 comments:

Unknown said...

This is great! We get the Maddie has grown lots! I snicker! You are 6' really! I hav always dreamed of being 5'8 Yes dreamed! But i am still stuck at 5'3...Chad always tells me it's nutrition Kim with sum genetics! Maddie will be lucky to see 5' but that's ok! Love the pix! Smiles

krlr said...

I love that last picture - Am I really *that* tall?!

Becky said...

Kristen will be lucky to be 4 feet I think! I am ony 5"4' with not much other height in the family. My other daughter is one of the shortest in her class at school. No hope for Kristen really :)... That is awesome for height! Yeah!

Anna Theurer said...

I agree with you, Becca. I think kiddos can just shoot up like that in one month. No lie. Ellie did the same thing--a whole whopping inch and then prompting climbed out of her crib, the little turkey. I am curious to see just how tall Princess Sammi will be. Those pictures are fantastic. "Look how tall I am!!!!"

Beth said...

Where does she fall on the regular growth charts? Hannah is done growing at 5'4", and it has helped her in many ways--people expect more of her because she's not "tiny". But it also has been difficult because she trends toward younger interests (still likes animated TV shows, plays with stuffed animals, coloring), and her physical abilities are more inline with 8-10 year olds. Some times I think it would be great for her to be shorter so she could "pass" in a lower age dance class or sports bracket. But her height works out it in her favor in the long run.
Now, to keep her appropriate weight might be a challenge: the girl loves her some food! She's still thin, but I can see the curves coming down the road.

Becca said...

Okay, so let's just prove how bizarre some of these predictor thingies are. I just did one that calculated her adult height to be 3'11"!!! Hahahahaha!!!! Omg, crazy. She's 3"7' now. Then I just did another predictor from Parents.com, and it said 5'8". I don't think so...

Rochelle said...

You are 6'? Had no idea! I guess the only pics I have seen of you have been squatting or sitting with Sammi. LOL
Hey she might be the tallest girl with ds who knows? She is by far one of the prettiest!

Unknown said...

Hmmm, maybe you can buy adjustable clothes for all the different heights she will be when she is older...just a thought :). Alex is 4'10" - because she has short parents!

Cindy said...

Love that last picture!

I don't remember how tall Beth is. Is that terrible?? I do know that when we take family pictures, she stands in the front! :)

Cathleen said...

Finally catching up on your blog... Those pictures are so sweet, especially Sammi's expression in the last one. I'm the opposite of you, I always think Lilly will be just like us, and it surprises me when her chromosomes have a say in what happens. :) Oddly though - Jon and I aren't tall but Lilly is, relatively - as far as DS goes - but not as tall as your girl! And baby Ben is off the charts tall (and doesn't have DS of course) so I'm not sure where these kids get their height! Can't wait to keep reading your posts from the past month...

Pallavi said...

6 feet. AWww..
I am vertically challenged,barely 5'1'' and my hubby is 5'10''. I really wish she grows close to 5 feet.

We are repeating Nursery year for Navya. She is still the shortest in her class. :)

Lori said...

The height calculators for Anna say she is going to be 5'8"! - ha! Well, I am 5'7 and hubby is 6'3 - so it is not completely out of the realm of possibility -- especially when you consider that Anna is (and has been) off the Ds growth charts and around 60% on reg. growth charts. Yep - she's a tall one with proportionate limbs (but tiny fingers that I love) - and a big belly. Think - pregnant 4-yr. old - ha!

Those growth spurts come out of nowhere -- I am always embarrassed when I finally realize my kids' shoes are too small - only to find out that they are 2 sizes too small! Their poor little piggies all jammed up =(

Looks like it is time to go shopping for new clothes for Miss Sammi! =)

wendy said...

We just remeasured Claire also as everyone was saying she's gotten taller. Love the pictures!

April Vernon said...

I love seeing the excited looks on their faces in those pictures. We have some friends that have the tallest 4 year old I've ever seen...and she has Down syndrome. I guess you never know!

JaybirdNWA said...

I enjoyed reading your post today and catching up on her activities. She is such a beautiful little girl (too bad we live far apart, she and John would have a blast together).

Dolores (D'Argenio) said...

I love the pictures ;-) and I enjoy reading about you all. I hope you all are having a great summer.

Renee said...

I bet she will taller than me!