Weighing in...

She's gained about three pounds

and grown over three inches this year!

I finally got Caroline in for her three-year check-up...I sort of remember the days of having one or two kids...when I actually managed to make those well-child appointments during the same month as the birthdays...oh, well...

These pictures were taken with the purse camera...

Should've taken the time to grab the Nikon...

So, at three years and two months, Miss Caroline weighs in at 26.8 lbs. and stands 36.5 inches tall. According to the charts, she's in 5th percentile for weight and 10th percentile for height. And 136th percentile for personality. Just a short two years ago, this little thing would scream bloody murder if our doctor even looked at her. Now, our pediatrician is so pleasant...not even remotely intimidating...she always hugs the kids (sometimes even me). She makes it a priority to develop a relationship with her patients and their parents. Too bad for her that the doctors in China had already made an extremely bad first impression. And then there was the whole issue of hard-as-nails ear wax. And shots. And blood tests. Oy.

The butterfly is gone...her head healed up quite well!

But over time, things have changed. Caroline now calls the doctor by name, and there's usually no screaming involved. She was a little put out over the swab up her nose during the whole influenza debacle a couple of weeks ago. Assurance that there would be no repeat performance got us in the door this time. This whole change of attitude might have something to do with the fact that she manages to walk out of there with a handful of tongue depressors and stickers. And the fact that when she asks in her most mannerly voice to borrow her stethoscope, the doctor hands it right over. This time, Dr. HB let her keep it until she was done getting dressed. In all manner of self-importance, Caroline delivered the stethoscope to the nurse's desk with clear instructions to make sure the doctor got it back right away. The toy stethoscope at home, however, may not cut it much longer. She can't hear my heart with it. Thanks, Dr. HB.

See how far she's come?

As we were finishing up, the doctor told me that she was really advanced for her age and that we were doing a great job with her. I looked at Caroline and realized all over again that it's really not about anything we've done. All we've done is love her to pieces, which is just about the easiest thing in the world. No, this amazing child came to us just as God designed her. And He did a really great job, if I do say so myself.