While I was pregnant, I had all these fantasies, fears, musings over what my child would physically be like. Would she have my husband's fair skin? My lousy hair? Short legs like most Asian kids? Or would she be long-legged like her father's side of the family? Maybe she'd have lighter colored eyes or stick straight black hair.... I don't know if it was a "normal" amount of obsessing, but it was one of my favorite pre-natal past-times.
With her first birthday just behind us - I skimmed through a bunch of the pictures taken of her over the past 12 months. Let me tell you - she's changed a lot already. She started out on the kind of weeny side at 6 pounds 7 ounces. I assure you - she is weeny no longer. So now I know - among the images I had of her prior to delivering her, I can scratch out the one of a lithe, skinny little baby. The "juicy" thighs that were cute during the first few months have decided to take up semi-permanent residence.
This past Monday was the 12 month check up with the pediatrician. During our ONE HOUR WAIT to see the doctor, the nurse did come in and do the standard measurements. Get this - my kid weighed in at 23 pounds 2 ounces. That charts out to the 80th percentile for weight. In plain english - that charts out to "tank-hood".
Holy cow - How did that happen? Because not only do I feel like she's not the best eater on the planet, she's CONSTANTLY moving around. As soon as she started walking, that is ALL she wants to do. You want to eat something? No - let's wriggle around in the chair and get food in my hair instead. Do you want to play with your toys? No - I'd prefer to fall down the steps face first and give you a heart attack, that sounds like much more fun. With all this action and not a lot of intake - I would have thought we were still tracking the 50th percentile curve for sure. My sister ventured to suggest to me that it might be due to the formula she's been on for the past few months. I guess that's part of it - but REALLY?? It's not like I have an IV of Similac hooked up to her arm. I mean c'mon. REALLY??
And of course, as all good mothers do, instead of being happy that my kid isn't falling into "famine-stricken" mode, I stress that she's going to be a chunk for the rest of her life. "But she's only 1 for cryin' out loud" you say. I hear you. My brain hears you. But the logic can't shout over the insanity in my head that says "My kid is going to be one of those statistics about how children in America are obese."
I'll let you know if the voice of reason ever wins out on this particular debate. Something tells me you should put your money on the insanity though. And if any of you have any advice on how to lean the odds towards helping reason and logic win out - let me know.
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2 comments:
welcome back to the blogosphere! i love this post esp since twinkle is now longer a twinkle in our eye but a full fledged, bustling, mobile, 21.5lb 14-month baby/toddler.
i just went through his pics from the past 14 months and you nailed the emotional response about how quickly they've grown.
as for her "chunk". i do agree that similac is a factor but but i bet she's eating more than you let on. also, twinkle didn't start leaning out until after he turned 12 mos. until then he was gaining, gaining and gaining. sadly he's been at this 21lb mark for months -- i worry he's going to be a little one and he'll have to learn martial arts to defend himself on the playground.
Hey there - thanks so much for sharing! It's good to know that the weight gain thing is not guaranteed to continue on this trajectory forever... We'll see if things taper off and she slims down a bit. :-) As for martial arts classes - I think it's a great idea regardless of size. I'm all for being able to defend yourself if you need to!
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