I took Giggles to the doctor yesterday for her 6 month check up and shots.  She is 18 pounds and 26 inches long.  Just like Pookie and Geetle, she is on the top of the chart.  Other than that, she is right on track.  Sitting up, grabbing things, gurgling. 

As you remember from my older post, I lie to doctors.  So, it should be no surprise to you that I also ignore doctors’ advice.  First, let me go on record saying that I do appreciate the skill and expertise of our pediatrician.  She is a very smart and very nice woman.  But sometimes, she is crazy if she thinks I am going to do the stuff she tells me to do. 

Case in point.  She asked me how Giggles does with solid foods, something she just started 3 weeks ago.  I said fine.  She eats a half a jar twice a day, plus cereal for breakfast.  She likes it.  The doctor asked me to describe how the day goes, meaning when does she wake up, when does she eat the solids, when does she drink the formula.

Dr. C:  What does she do first thing in the morning?

BAGM:  Well, in the morning she is very happy, so we can get the cereal in her first.  So, she wakes up, has the cereal first, then the formula, then she plays and naps, then when she wakes up from her nap she has a snack bottle.  By the time lunch comes, she is more frantic, so she usually has the formula first at lunch, then the baby food.  Then another nap, then a snack bottle, then dinner, which is vegetables and milk and then to bed.

Dr. C:  Ok.  Here’s what I would do.  When she wakes up, offer the cereal, then she can play and take a nap, then after the nap, offer the formula.  Food, play, nap, milk. 

BAGM:  (nodding)  Ok, Ok, I see.

Yeah.  That aint happening.  Breakfast is at 6:30.  You are offered cereal and formula.  Eat what you want.  Snack is not until 9:30.  Lunch is at 11:15 so your brother and sister can be on the bus at 12:15.  Plan ahead. 

If I did what she recommended, I would not be giving her a bottle until 9:30 in the morning.  Not to mention the fact that I have to feed Pookie and Geetle 5 times a day as well.  If the meal/snack times do not line up,  I might as well hang up a sign that says “Old Country Buffet- the food aint good, but its always here waiting for you.”

Come on.  I know she has to give advice.  But I am on my third kid, after sucessfully raising twins.   And her advice is wrong.  Giggles is perfectly capable of eating food and milk in one sitting.  BAGD and I have always tried to raise our kids as if they were little adults, meaning that we try to get them to develop habits that will serve them into adulthood.  So, that means you eat at mealtime.  You sit at the table, you use a real cup, you put the Tilapia on your plate even if you don’t plan on eating it, etc. 

So, I am not following her advice, but honestly, I don’t think she expects me to.  I am a very bad actor and I think she saw right through my contemplative “Ok, Ok, I see.”