Yesterday, we had Ishu’s 2-year appointment and it all went relatively well.

Minus the hemoglobin/lead finger prick. That felt weird. Because the nurse came in and told him he was going to do a project and paint the circles red. And she made it sound like they were going to paint or color. But really, she was going to prick him and then squeeze his finger ’til the blood dropped. It just sounded a little confusing to me so it must have been confusing to him.

A project? With my blood?

Yikes.

Luckily, we really like the doctor we found here.

It also might be because he, too, is the father of a 2-year old. So we’re kinda going through these same things together.

I like that he explains what he’s doing TO Ishu and not to me. And when he went to open his diaper to check on everything in there, he told him he was doing this because his mama was there with him and she was watching to make sure he was safe.

I appreciated that very, very much.

Sometimes people can kinda rush through all the motions, not realizing that even if a kid is 2, they are a human being who deserves respect. Whether or not you think they understand, they deserve to be talked through a medical appointment in the same way we, as adults, are.

Anyway, yes, it all went relatively smooth and he’s starting to understand the process of a well check-up. He even let the nurse measure his head without crying out. (It probably helped that he was still in my arms).

He’s growing great – in the 69th percentile for height and 33rd for weight. But, more importantly, he’s growing along his own individual growth curve so that feels real nice.

Especially on those days where he says, “NO FOOD, MAMA.” I guess he really does know his little body and what it needs.

Now, our next big transition is to slowly wean him off the pacifier. That’s gonna be a tricky one. The doc said he recommended going cold turkey on this one. He said some people snip off the pacifiers, but doctors don’t recommend this because parts can come off the paci, and it can be dangerous if a kid inhales it. He also says some companies (e.g. Frida) make pacifier weaning systems that make the little nub smaller and smaller. But, then he followed up with, “But I haven’t heard someone say, ‘YEAH, that was a GREAT tool for us.”

So, if any of ya’ll have some pacifier advice for us, let us know. I will occasionally ask him to set it on the table if he’s in the middle of playing. Sometimes he does it; sometimes not. I definitely don’t wanna go down the route of hiding it or ripping it out of his mouth. Or obsessing about taking him out of his mouth.

I know he’s not going to use it forever, but wondering if there are some less-intrusive ways to help him stop relying on it so, SO much right now.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

And happy Friday eve!