For BRoqq

Who IS this BRoqq character, anyway?

Here's your pic, BRoqq.

The big weigh-in

Well, we did it. We fattened Kaylin up enough this past month to satisfy the doctor that she can, in fact, gain weight like a normal toddler. We've gone nearly bankrupt buying massive amounts of yogurt and cream cheese, but it was worth it. Now she doesn't have to undergo any blood work and I don't have to be grilled by the pediatric dietitian. For now.

In other exciting news, we're finally taking Kaylin to Niagara Falls. Yes, it will be nice for her to see the Falls, one of the Seven Forgotten Natural Wonders of the World (exactly who forgot about them??). But Brian and I are equally excited about taking her to Marvel Superheroes Adventure City and the Hershey Store, respectively. Hey, those things are important too!

Ooooh, that's scary!

Kaylin "The Ham", as we sometimes call her, is well on her way to becoming a Hollywood star. Here is her latest - something we call the "scary face", though it's really the "scared" face Kaylin makes when she's pretending to be frightened by something.

I'm thinking Oscar Award winner, 2024.

Happy (belated) Father's Day...

...to the best daddy in the world!

Kaylin loves her some books

Here's Kaylin "reading" one of her picture books. I'm not sure what the hurry is, but she always reads this one really fast.

Enjoy.

A bit of mother guilt

Despite what this Blog might have you believe, the life of Kaylin isn't always wine and roses. No, Kaylin actually faces a number of issues which continue to make her life an uphill battle. The main problem (at least as I see it) is ME, her own mother. Maybe it's just a little of what I call "mother guilt," but I feel the need to confess a few roadblocks I've inadvertently placed in the way of K's healthy development.

1. I'm negligent.

Case in point, Kaylin fell into the fountain at the mall last week. I turned my head for a second and in she went. After I yanked her out, I laughed. I laughed my head off for two minutes. OK, so the water was only about 2 inches deep and she only got her shoes and the front of her dress wet, but still...I was being a bad mother.

2. I'm letting her brain turn to mush.

Since we moved, I've done what I always swore I wouldn't do: let my child watch too much TV. (See the picture above. Not only is she staring mindlessly at the TV, but she's in the laundry basket, with laundry on her head!) Maybe I'm not being strict enough and should learn to say "no" more or maybe I just really like watching Dora the Explorer. I'm not sure. But either way, I'm being a bad mother.

3. I'm letting her waste away.

This one may be serious, it's too early to tell. K's doctor is worried because she's not putting on much weight. Yes, she's a thinner toddler. But she's always been long and lean. He's instructed me to give her all the fattening dairy she can eat and don't worry so much about those pesky low-cal fruits and veg. (Never thought I'd hear a doctor tell me that!) Anyway, it's been two weeks now and she hasn't gained an ounce. On one hand, I'm not worried because she's happy, healthy, and smart as a whip and clearly developing well. On the other hand, the mother guilt is becoming all-consuming to the point where I almost break down in tears when she refuses the odd meal. It must be my cooking, the type of yogurt I buy, the way I spread the cream cheese on the toast, the time I serve dinner at....it must be that I'm being a bad mother.

Sigh.

So there you have it. It's off my chest and I feel better already. Thanks for listening. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think Dora is about to start.