Chunky Monkey

I've touched on how complete strangers want to hold the baby, compliment the baby, talk to the baby, throw rocks at the baby. Also, you occasionally run into people who think you want their opinion. Like the woman who thought that our 9-week old Alina shouldn't be outside in mid-April even though she already had a round of shots. Then there are usually benign comments about her pretty blue eyes, all that hair, how she smiles so much, and those little chubby thighs. But, the problem is that last one. To the casual observer, Alina in fact has chubby little thighs. No problem. But it's what follows that particular observation that I feel warrants a smack to the sides of some heads, like: Don't worry, my daughter had thighs like that and now she's skinny or Don't worry, those thighs will go away. WHAT? People! She's a BABY. She eats the dietary equivalent of whole milk for most of her meals (although recently we added veggies/fruit after 6 months), she doesn't yet have the burden of moving around under her own steam, and did I mention she's a baby. I hate that I feel the need to whip out the pediatrician's growth curve chart and point to the dot that says she's perfectly healthy. Or get into a debate about self-image, self esteem, and all the problems that can arise if those aren't addressed correctly. Do they really think I'm worried about her thighs and need to be consoled? The next person who tries to assuage my fears might find me consoling right back with "Aw sweetie, no wonder your kid was bulemic. It's okay, you did your best, I'm sure." At least the fall is coming which means more pants.

In The Future...

Baby treadmills, formula lite, and low carb teething biscuits -- Baby Cosmopolitan with 10 Ways To Turn Those Chipmunk Cheeks Inside Out -- New Slimming Huggies -- Pacifiers With Whitening -- Baby Wigs, why wait for hair when you can be strand-tastic!