Rainy Birthday

Well, here it is - the day of dread. Madeline's first birthday. Perhaps it's fitting that it's raining as my heart seems sad instead of happy on this occasion, to which Madeline is entirely impervious. Steve and I took her to the Doctor (s) yesterday and she did great!

We took her to a Pediatric Dentist who looked at her teeth and said everything looked like it was coming in just fine! She even got to join the No Cavity Club and got a new toothbrush! The dentist was incredibly nice, and she just swooned over how cute Madeline was.

At the Pediatrician she measured just over 31 inches long (95th percentile), 22.13 pounds (75th percentile) and - I don't remember how big her head was but she was around the 92nd percentile. She does have one huge noggin - ha ha that's certainly something I remember about one year ago!

Dr. Hill-Burke is going to send her to a Pediatric Orthopedic Specialista because of her "janky" foot. Her left foot still turns in, and she wants to get it checked out by a specialist. She may have to get a brace, wear a cast, or they may say it's fine. (That's what we're hoping for!) She also said that Madeline is very smart for her age!! (No suprise she is my little smarty pants!!) She has 4 or 5 words and babbles constantly. She points, knows where her nose is, and will hand you something if you ask her to. (Hmmmm I wonder if Brown has early acceptance for one year olds - must look into that ;)

She doesn't really have any interest in walking but the Ped said that anywhere up to 15 months is normal. I was a late walker (but an early talker - imagine that!).

We also talked a lot about Autism. I think this is just a fear that plagues parents. We are forgoing her MMR until 18 months - since she's not in day care and not really around many other children that often. I confessed how scared I was that Madeline was/would be autistic. I told her her it was entirely selfish - that I was afraid that I couldn't be a good mother to an autistic child. She told me that mothers magically become whatever their babies need - no matter what they previously thought were their limitations. But then she leaned into me and said "Erin, this baby is NOT autistic. Trust me." So that made me feel heaps better.

She cleared Madeline for all foods except honey and anything that's a choking hazard. (Hmmm so I shouldn't have been feeding her all those trachea sized grapes? oops ;) And who would give their kid honey? Anywho - she even said that Madda could have milk! It's such a weird thought that within a month she'll be off her bottle and just on total cow's/soy milk from a sippy cup. (she hates the sippy at present) Now Steve will feel a little bit of what I did when I weaned her. He put her down at night and I know he'll miss that nighttime cuddle/bottle. I put her down last night since Steve was playing in the mud - I mean - starting work on the pergola. I just treasured sitting there in the dark with her snuggled up against me. I wish I could keep her this age for just a little while longer. But...that's for another post...... I promised myself I wouldn't drone on about her not being a baby anymore in this post.

Happy Birthday Baby!!