Sam had his four month check-up today. Everything looks great. He’s been gaining weight and growing as he should. He now weighs 14 pounds 12 ounces and measures 26-1/2″ long. His upper body is steadily growing stronger. He smiles and laughs a great deal. He likes people. He’s inquisitive. In short, he’s a happy and healthy baby. Still, like Cheryl, I have anxiously compared my baby’s development with that of other little guys and gals near his age. It’s certainly not a healthy thing to do. So what if he’s not reading by the time he’s six months of age. It’s really not a big deal if he can’t solve quadratic equations by 18 months either. He’ll get both of those things when he’s good and ready. To quote Cheryl, “he’s developing the way he’s supposed to, on his own schedule, and no person or book is going to tell me what that schedule is.” It’s great that both of us realize how silly we’ve been 
I finished decorating the Christmas tree yesterday. It looks really pretty. I’m so glad I went to all the trouble. Robert and I had been considering not getting a tree this year, but decided we couldn’t let our baby’s first Christmas be one without sparkling lights and the spicy scent of a pine tree filling our home. He loves looking at the pretty lights and decorations. Seeing how bedazzled he was by the thing was worth every bit of effort we put into it.
By the way, if you’ve sent me e-mail during the past week or so and haven’t heard back, it’s probably because my service provider changed my e-mail address. It’s now imogenation@attbi.com. Thinking about all those messages lost in cyberspace makes me sad.
