Super, Fat Tuesday

On Christmas day, CRB amused his relatives by showing his expertise with the ear thermometer. He got it out of my purse, turned it on, stuck it in his ear, pressed the button, and then "read" the screen for his temperature. He did this over and over impressing the relatives and of course his mama.

Last week, I broke down and finally went to the doctor for my sinus problem. CRB tagged along (wait that makes it sound like he went willingly, or cooperatively...) to my appointment. When the nurse took my blood pressure I was absolutely shocked that it was 90/60, because the whole time CRB was intent on grabbing the puffer. Earlier in the visit he almost managed to turn off the nurse's PC (in order to free Elmo I am sure) when we were doing my pulmonary test. S0 though I felt stressed, I guess my numbers did not show it.

A few minutes later, Dr. D began to examine me, listening to my breathing, looking in my ears and throat. CRB was mesmerized. He stood still, and took it all in.

Over the weekend, I bought him a Fisher-Price medical kit. I did this not to cultivate an aspiring cardiologist or reproductive endocrinologist, but to get him something to play with that was NOT something to throw or make noise. The item said 3+ as the pieces looked to be large enough not to be a choking hazard I bought it anyway. I expected complete rejection, and that I would be adding another item to the closet of Toys Not Right for CRB.

The doctor kit has not changed much from the one my friend had in the 70s. The basic contents are the same. I have to admit that I was disappointed when I could not hear my heartbeat with the new stethoscope. ToolMan informed me that it never worked, and I must have just had a good imagination "back in the day." The thermometer now displays a "digital read out " and the whole thing is contained in an aqua colored sack instead of the molded plastic case.

We spent a lot of Sunday playing doctor and vet (thanks Colin!) and we checked out many of the stuffed animals. This afternoon when I arrived home, it was not that surprising when our Nanny said "He has played with this all day. He gets mad if you don't really put the bloodpressure cuff on your arm." He loves to ride around in the Diego car, wearing the stethoscope, ready to make the next house call.

Many, many people constantly tell me how smart CRB is. I say this NOT to brag but to try to state my problem. I am very resistant to agree with them. I have no problem agreeing that he is cute, or social dynamo, but one cannot get me to agree to more than that. Usually I joke and say "Regardless, I still think he will work as a Wal-Mart greeter."

I just don't want to be one of THOSE moms. I find it very irritating when people say that their 18 month old old can subtract, and my irritation is not because I am feeling competitive with those mommies ;-)

CRB does not talk as much or as clearly as most children that I have been around. My parents are full of stories about my (early) talking. ToolMan's mom has a piece of paper with all the letters of the alphabet, and next to the appropriate letters, all the words that ToolMan knew at 16 months. It's a baby lexicon, truly.

CRB talks but I do not understand most of it. I thought that only twins made up their own language. He constantly makes lots of sounds, mostly beginning with the BU, BA, BE. Today, Hannah our 9 year old neighbor said "He just repeated you, he said Thank You!" I did not hear him say anything actually, I was just trying to make sure he did not fall off his new trike. Similarly, my mom is constantly translating RockBaby to English for me. Perhaps it's that I am not listening closely, but I would still expect to be able to understand more of the time than I do.

Maybe he is smart, I don't know. If he is, we cannot take credit for it. If he is polite toddler and teenager, pat me on the back then, because his mama is behind that.

Physicist Richard Feynman's mother has been quoted as saying "If Richard is the smartest man in the world, God help the world!"