Pt 2 of them (continued ver)

Chapter 228

At Carter's pediatric checkup, Malia and Colby sat in the brightly colored waiting room, keeping Carter entertained with a small dinosaur toy. Despite being three years old, Carter looked visibly taller than most kids his age, and his energetic personality didn't help him stay still for long.

"Carter, buddy, we need to wait for the doctor," Colby said, gently stopping him from climbing on the chair. Carter looked up at him with wide eyes, holding his toy tightly, before squirming out of his grasp to explore again.

When the nurse finally called them in, Carter hesitated, clinging to Malia's leg as she reassured him. "It's okay, sweetie. We're just going to see how much you've grown."

Inside the exam room, the nurse measured Carter's height against the wall. "Wow, 3'5"!" the nurse exclaimed with a smile. "You're quite tall for your age, Carter. Do you like to play basketball yet?"

Carter blinked at her, clutching his bottle. "Dinosaurs," he mumbled, pointing to the dinosaur print on his socks.

Malia chuckled. "He's obsessed with anything dinosaurs right now. But yes, he is tall—definitely growing faster than we expected."

Next came the weight check, which Carter protested slightly, squirming on the scale until Colby distracted him with a soft dinosaur plush they'd brought along. "You're doing great, bud," Colby said, giving him a high five after the nurse jotted down his weight.

The pediatrician entered shortly after, reviewing Carter's chart. "He's growing very well," she said, smiling. "His height is in the 95th percentile for his age, which is fantastic. It's clear he's getting the nutrition and care he needs."

"Though he's been picky lately," Malia admitted, brushing Carter's hair back. "He mostly wants milk or soup. It's hard to get him to eat anything else."

The doctor nodded. "That's not uncommon at this age, especially if he's teething or recovering from being sick. Keep offering a variety of foods, even if he doesn't eat them. Eventually, he'll come around. For now, just make sure he's getting plenty of fluids and the nutrients he needs."

When it came time for the physical examination, Carter fussed a bit, not liking the cold stethoscope or the way the doctor gently pressed on his tummy. "Almost done," Colby said soothingly, holding Carter's hand.

Afterward, Carter got a sticker for being brave, which cheered him up slightly. "Dinosaur!" he exclaimed, pointing at the colorful dino sticker the nurse handed him.

Back in the car, Colby helped buckle Carter into his seat while Malia packed up his bag. "Well, he's officially a tall little guy," Colby said with a grin. "We might need to start looking into some basketball lessons soon."

Malia laughed. "Let's get him through his dinosaur phase first." Carter smiled from the backseat, hugging his new sticker and his plush dinosaur tightly. Despite the occasional challenges, his growth and development were clear—and his family couldn't be prouder.