Ingrid had her 2 month appointment today, at 9.5 weeks she weighs 11.5 pounds (50th%, so totally average) and is 24.5 inches tall (95th%, so very above average) and has a head circumference of 15.75 (75th%, so above average.)  Basically, she’s long, lean, and smart as a whip. OBVIOUSLY.  I actually wonder if the long/lean thingis why the prefolds have been absolutely befuddling to us, if that affects the fit or whatever. Oh well.  She also had her first set of shots, and after debating between "stagger the shots, so use more needles over a longer time and if there’s a reaction, it’s easier tofigure out" and "go whole-hog like most babies, and if there’s a reaction, stagger from then on, why use more needles than necessary."  We went with whole-hog, and she was a trouper. SHe shrieked at the first shot (and I welled up, because I had to hold her arms 🙁 ) but by the time the band aids were unwrapped, she was totally cool.  That’s my big brave girl!

I also, again, found the sling-love. I never DON’T have it, really, but when I took her to the ped, I briefly thought about just carting her in without it, since we don’t have to park far away or anything. But, I figured I’d throw it on anyway, since (and I know how self-righteous this is) it’s good for people to see that there are other ways to conveniently carry your baby beyond a bucket seat.  Really, though, it’s not seen that often ’round here, and I’m really NOT a super-hippie, really!  Anyway. 

The receptionist loved it (I wore my Terrababy pouch, with the funky print) and said "I see some plain ones, but never a cool one!) and handed me a clipboard, which, OH YEAH, THAT’S why it’s good to use the sling at the ped’s — it’s not about the walk in, but what you do inside. I take the clipboard, fill out everything and immediately interpret the "FOR OFFICE USE ONLY" column of the developmental milestones sheet, and determine that Ingrid was right on target, and then I just stood up and rocked my hips back and forth while Ingrid slept in the pouch, as we were there at what seems to be a typical naptime.  After her shots, I scooped her up and tucked her in before gathering our stuff and going to the checkout area, and she just pressed against me and was totally content, and the receptionist (a different one) commented on how calm she was for just having her first shots. But really?I think the sling TOTALLY HELPED. I’m very "do what you need to do, follow your own instincts" etc, but as a total babywearing convert, I just can’t fathom the "Welcome to your first taste of pain. Now sit in this bucket on the floor while mama makes your next appointment."  I really, really think that everyone should have a good pouch, at the very least, along with all the other things babies ‘require.’ It’s sad that they aren’t more readily available, or that they are so often super-hippie-ass looking, enough that ‘mainstream’ mamas are icked out by it. And hell, *I* wouldn’t wear anything too hippie-ass, because it’s not my style. I tend to be one to wear jeans or khakis, and a solid color knit top (oh giant boobs, how I long to fit into a button up in my lifetime) and my terrababy is like my glasses (which are black, rectangular, and have rhinestones in them) — an accessory that is fun to wear, when you aren’t typically a fun-dressing person.  I like my KKAFP (avocado green) and my slingset pouch (a lavender color) as well, but my terrababy is fun to wear.  It doesn’t make one automatically assume that I don’t shave my armpits and only drink milk from goats I own, you know? (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) ANYWAY. Along with the Raising Readers pack (which, aside, I love the Raising Readers program, and I didn’t realize we got free books after we left the hospital, too! But we do, at every wellbaby visit til she’s FIVE) there should be a sling program as well. It’ll never happen, but it would be great if it were mentioned in infant care classes, or at the peds (Why is there no PSA about carseats and flat heads, you know?) or… something. But when your ‘sling’ options are a snugli, a baby bjorn, or that giant pillowcase called a NOJO, how else would you know unless you were an internet junkie (ahem) or saw them around… so I like being seen around. I’ve been asked about them, I always rave about it, and now with my local project, I can send people to my website to find out more, but providing links to TBW and suchlike.

I do love my stroller, too, don’t get me wrong! Yesterday we went on a loooong walk (I seriously had no idea that I’d been gone for more than 2 hours, and was totally shocked at the time when I got home) around city forest with a friend and her baby, and the Mac totally took the gravel road by storm. Ingrid digs the stroller, too — kicks back and takes in the world around her, or falls asleep, and wearing her on a walk like that would be DAMN HOT. (I was a sweaty pig when we got home, but a GOOD sweat — if I’d been wearing her, we both probably would’ve melted.)

I joked with my friend that I’m the 80 percent mom, because I do everything in an 80/20 fashion. 80 percent cloth, 20 disposable. 80 percent sling/20 stroller. 80 percent nursing, straight from the tap, 20 bottle of expressed. 80 stay at home mom, 20 working/studying. 80 crib/20 cosleeping. Obviously 100 love, but that’s just a given. And that’s the groove that works for me.  I don’t think I could do anything 100% without being really stressed out at STAYING at 100%, you know? So, I’m the 80% mom. It works.