The Really Important Questions

The big three year exam was today. Owen handled it like a champ - stood still on the scale, raised his arm to get his blood pressure checked, and sat patiently while Dr. Mike listened to his heart, peered in his eyes and ears, and gently thumped his tummy. Mom did pretty well too, as I got through the entire appointment and developmental checklist without any of my usual "Kaufmann" anxieties as to whether or not Owen was on track. Yeah for us both!

Thanks in large part to Owen's gymnastics class I could confidently answer yes to all the physical questions: can he balance on one leg, hop in place, jump over things, arch his back. He also recognizes at least four colors, stacks things, knows the difference between cold and hot, uses plurals and knows his first and last name. Just about the only thing I couldn't say yes to was if he can draw an "x" - he knows the letter but I've never asked him to draw it.

Owen is now 27.5 lbs (10th percentile) and a tad over 36 inches (30th percentile). Still a little guy but Dr. Mike isn't at all concerned as he is growing nicely at his own pace and is perfectly healthy overall.

So it's nice to have that done for another year, and of course I am thankful for Owen's continued good health and development, but I realize that they never ask the really important questions. Like

... does he help around the house?

(yep! here he's "watering" the flowers with his bubble machine)

... can he dunk?

(he figures out how to get it done)

... might he have a future as baseball player, and is he a leftie or rightie?

(um, the jury is still out on both counts)

... does he make me laugh every single day?

(oh heck, yes!)

... do his mom and dad love him utterly, completely, and with our whole hearts?

(well, I think you already know the answer to that one!)