Excuse Me While I Brag
Alexis finally had her two-year checkup today. Can you believe it was the first time she had been to the Pediatrician's office since her 18-month appointment? Indeed, it was.
I love taking her to the doctor's office. It helps immensely that it's seldom because she is sick and more often the routine stuff. And today's appointment? No shots. How can you not love that? I mean, any time a trained professional wants to tell me my kid is perfect, I'm all for it. I love it even more when the wise and wonderful Dr. W tells me that my kid is smart.
That particular issue was a concern for us, I'll admit. There's a whole lot of dumb in my family. A WHOLE LOT of dumb. My Dad is one of seven kids. While there is one college grad in the mix, there is also a nice mix of illiterate, not bright, and just plain dumb in there as well. Imagine, if you will, the stereotypical West Virginia hillbilly, complete with the obese wife, ten dogs, broken down pickup truck, missing teeth, and inability to add two plus two. Yeah, I'm related to that guy. I have cousins that have actually made the decision to not take the risk. They aren't having kids just in case that dumb gene runs through them (it seems to skip generations in most instances and at least two of the littlest young 'ins are keeping the dumb spirit alive).
Mr. Husband has met most of the cast of characters, so he was fully aware that he was playing with fire when he married me. And yet, he took the risk. We even chose to procreate. When Alexis was just a few days old, I distinctly remember us staring at her, trying to determine if there was anything going on upstairs. I think it's safe to say that while she's a goofus (really, she is a goofy little kid--in a good way), she is not a dumb goofus.
I'm fully aware that Alexis is ahead of the game when it comes to communication skills, but that doesn't mean I can't look forward to that portion of the conversation at her routine appointments. I mean, you have to celebrate the little things like knowing your kid is going to learn to read and might even someday bring home a good report card. If you're not grateful and celebratory of those things that go right, well then, you're just not making the most of parenting, are you? There is so much that can go wrong, when something goes right, you have to be thankful.
So when Dr. Walcyk asked the million dollar questions, "Does she have a vocabulary of around 50 words?" and "Does she speak in two-word phrases?" OF COURSE I beemed. Girlfriend knows the alphabet, counts to ten, knows the colors of the rainbow plus some extra colors, identifies many shapes by sight (darn that octagon, though, she just can't seem to get that one), and I think that already takes us to fifty words. Then she could probably name fifty animals (the kid recognizes leopards, for goodness sake!), and she'd still have a whole slew of food words. And then some.
Because Alexis loves me, as if on cue, she started talking about the murals in the exam room when the good doc started with the vocabulary questions. "Mommy, ook, da piggies are line down!" and "Mommy, ook at da rainbow! Purdy! Red, orant, wewow, geen, boo, puple!" Uh huh, that's my kid right there. She may not have perfect enunciation, but she sure can talk. And her doctor says she's smart. :-)
Thank goodness, thank goodness, thank goodness. I would have hated trying to figure out how to get her grandparents to take her if it had gone the other way.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Reader Comments (39)
You are too funny! I am so glad that the doctor appointment went well! Hey- no shots now until she is 4! I remember that appointment when I went- woo hoo no more shots! Now I am at that 4 year check up with shots again!
She is a smart one! She will get the rest of the words as she goes on! Way to go Alexis and jumping right in there for mommy! You go show off for the doctor!!
Cute! And hooray for no shots!!
Yeah for smart girls (cute and funny is a bonus).
Girl, she obviously got your smarts.
Is there any way we could be related b/c my family sounds EXACTLY like your family. Exactly. Weird.
Yay! I love the picture with the kitty:)
I had to LOL. You know I'm originally from Western PA. I grew up very close to the WV border. Heh. Good stuff.
And why would you say, OUT LOUD, that your kid is never sick!? That's tempting the Ick Fairy! Spray your kid with Lysol tonight. I believe, via Twitter, she's in bed! Spray her now! NOW!
I obviously am so delirious after four days alone. I should be sleeping. SLEEPING!
(FireDad and I will be alone in DaBurgh on St. Patty's Day weekend.)
"Mr. Husband has met most of the cast of characters, so he was fully aware that he was playing with fire when he married me. And yet, he took the risk. We even chose to procreate." Are you and I related? I really need to know?
I was at Walmart in WV tonight. Yup. I live very CLOSE to WV, not in it, mind you, but very, very, very close.
Hooray for no shots. Hooray for having a beautiful and brilliant little lady! Yeah!
Yay for a smarty-pants :-)
Though this may lead to earlier smart mouthing. Watch yourself!
I'm with Jayna - not to poop on your parade, but smarty toddlers can turn into smarty mouth teens...speaking from first hand experience here! But hell, that's eons away - for now, brag away!!
You've got one smart cookie on your hands!! You need to get her a tshirt that says "I'm Smart!!"
Don't you just love it when they make you look like the best mom ever?? Your little smarty sure is cute!
Her piwwow wooks suspiciously wike a cat.
Yay! No shots!
Woot! Well, a hearty congratulations on the official pronouncement of your kids smarts! This is a thing to celebrate for sure! :)
I have a friend whose daughter did the exact same thing -- right after the pediatrician asked about vocabulary, she started naming shapes.
Congrats on passing with flying colors!
Punkin did the same thing...started naming the shapes on a little toy that was in the room. The pediatrician was like "Wow."
Yay for no shots...and for making mommy proud!!
She's not smart...she's a genius! I taught four year olds who couldn't do some of the stuff you mentioned. I found it hilarious that you wrote this, because last night I started a post bragging about Dylan, and I was thinking, "People are going to think I am so annoying". But, you are right - we have to celebrate the good stuff!
P.S. You need DVR, so Alexis stops interrupting our boyfriend!
gotta love the good genes!! and especially when she shows them off in front of a professional! :)
i just love to pull up your blog. that smile at the top of you page just makes me grin like and idiot. she is soo durn cute!!
Jayna and Jenn--Oh, I know I'm screwed. For now, I'll enjoy the smarts, but in a few years, I'll be in for it. Oh well, still better to be a smartass than a dumbass.
What a hoot. It's nice when your performing monkey plays nicely with others, isn't it? :-) LOL.
She's such a cutie and you have such a great storytelling ability! thanks for the giggles and grins!
HEY!
I am from West Virginia and I take offense.
Hey, I brag about Jonathan and half the time it turns out he's not so smart after all. But his doctor thinks so and so does his grandma and grandpa so it makes me feel good about his "smartness" I think it is good to brag about our little ones when we are told they are smart or simply know they are. And I can tell by your posts that Alexis is indeed smart!
She's got looks AND brains :)
Ha ha! So I take it none of your relatives read your blog! ;)
Last year Snacks told the pediatrician his favorite foods were BROCCOLI and CARROTS and I didn't even COACH him!!! I love those appointments too! :)
Marlee--Half can't read, the other half don't know how to use a computer. The truth is the truth.
I was teasing.
I wasn't actually born in West Virginia.
But some of my in-laws do live in Weirton.
I lived two blocks from the old state pen. Good times. Only in WV is the prison a landmark in the middle of town.
We go to church in WV (even though we live across the line), and let me tell you, there is a reason for the stereotype.
Her verbal skills are as good as my 3 year olds! No kidding.
Congrats!!! It's always great to hear things like that. It makes us feel like we're not completely screwing up as parents ;)
I can relate to your concerns though, our daughter has a pretty sad gene pool.
You are so sassy!!!!!
Yeah for the smart little cookie!
Yeah! She's such a supergenius!!!
And good timing, kiddo! Way to show off your stuff!
Snort. She made fun of her hill billy relatives. Glad to hear of A's super IQ.
what a little smartypants she is! too cute!
Well, I guess I say... congratulations on having a smart kid? I love how you spelled her words!
yay for smart kids...i should know...i have 3 smart ones!!
i love that pic...the poor cat is trying to escape!!
so...we can fix up your daughter with my 4 year old son, right?
xoxo
Burgh,
You and that "yung-un" of yours are just too adorable! (and you would NOT have given Alexis to your parents, I refuse to believe you!) :)
Lizzy
I have great respect for you for breaking out of the WV-style mold you were cast into. AND for procreating. There is no doubt in my mind that Alexis is a brilliant little thing, and I've never met her!
Oh, I love when the shot appointments are done. At least done until school. I always feel so sorry for the little ones, they have no idea it is coming.
And she does sound like a smart one! I am sure she will definitely will NOT be following in your relatives footsteps!
haha that was always my most favorite part of Kassidy's well baby checks too! The BEST though was when she was 18 months old and the nurse gave her her shots... she didn't cry, she just stuck out her bottom lip and said "I DON'T love you!" The nurse just stood there in shock like, "did she just say that?!" haha THAT'S my girl!
I agree, she's got looks and brains. Girls talk! My girl used 50 plus words by the time she was 1. It slows down later, as a teen, your vocabulary gets more limited. I already knew Alexis was smart. As for your family, you sure you're not adopted?
I was about to ask the same thing Shellie did! LOL!
Don't you love it when the kid shines at just the right time? It is such an awesome feeling to have people look at you mmmmm. I mean the child (lol) with amazement and wonder.
It's a good thing you are keeping track of all this stuff here, because being that smart, when she becomes a teenager you may need to be reminded how glad you were of that at one point in her life! ;o)