C: I want to talk about the doctor!
Me: OK, go ahead.
C: First the nurse came in. She put the blood pressure around my arm and listened with the stethescope. It went up and up on the wall. (the mercury) Then the doctor came. He had a duck on his stethescope, and it flashed two colors. Then he turned off the lights and checked my eyes. I walked to the corner and back and got a sticker. And I didn’t cry!

And now I want to talk about the doctor.

C weighs 34 pounds and is almost 39 inches tall—60% and 95%, respectively. She is right on track for a 3-year old. Despite a fascination with all things medical, she was very anxious at first. She didn’t answer any of the nurse’s questions, which had me worried about a meltdown when the doctor arrived.

But she did well. It was fascinating to watch her work out her anxiety. She started on my lap and let him examine her, but when he asked her to get up and walk towards the door and back, she started to get really clingy and almost-teary. So he backtracked and asked me to help her get up on the table. He was making jokes, which she laughed at in that hysterical-laughing-through-tears way. By the end she was joyful and chatty.

She had a good birthday. It snowed at least 8 inches here, so we made a snowman and threw snowballs at each other. Then we went to see Curious George. It was very simple and sweet; I recommend it for the preschool set.

Ms. M is awake and in need of service, so I’d better go.