G had her 18-month well child check this morning. Her current stats:

Length: 33 inches (85%tile)
Weight: 25.1 pounds (85%tile)

She is a big girl - but very proportionate!

G was in a very friendly mood and hardly fussed at all during the exam. Her physical and behavioral development is right on track. She is walking and running, talking up a storm (with a growing number of intelligible words), and is interested and engaged in the world around her. The one challenge we have is to cut back on her milk intake - she basically drinks milk ad lib throughout the day, taking in between 28-32 oz (well above the recommended 12-14 oz!) We'll be trying to substitute water during meals and snacks, saving those precious few cups of milk for wake-up and bed-time.

It's always a bit of a strange experience to take G to the pediatrician. I feel like I should know everything about the expected growth and development of a toddler, as well as have a differential ready for any concerns that are raised. If the pediatrician brings up something - a physical finding or behavioral issue - that I haven't noticed, I feel like I've missed something huge on an H&P. I have to keep reminding myself that in that office my primary role is parent, not medical student - I'm there to report how G is doing on a daily basis and to bring up concerns that might get missed during a quick visit. I don't have to have all the answers, and it's okay to ask questions or be uncertain about milestones...I'm not her doctor (nor should I be).

Anyway! G is now happily at daycare, playing with all her pals. Mom hat off, medical student hat on. I am headed to clinic, where I do need to remember those specifics of behavior and development, physiology and pharmacology (etc, etc, etc). But I'll be thinking of my girl all day...I guess the mom hat never quite comes all the way off.