50%

This is an interesting tid bit I saw on a breastfeeding blog: http://breastfeeding.blog.motherwear.com/2009/04/dr-jen-on-you-and-your-doctor.html

"I think we’ve given away a lot of what “mothering” is to experts and books.  My wish is for mothers to take that incredible power back.  It is not the responsibility of that mother to make herself heard.  As doctors, it is our responsibility to listen. 
"Here’s the thing: we are the hired help.  We are the people that family has chosen to help them through their journey. We are not the arbiters of right or wrong, good or bad. We are the people who are supposed to give the information they need to make an informed decision, to help aid in the encouragement of and confidence in parenting instinct.  So much of what we do as providers, so much of the advice we give, is counter to maternal instinct which makes me sad to my soul.  If there was a right or wrong way to parent, like six of us would make it to adulthood and that’s not good for a species that wishes to continue to exist. 
My first day of medical school, one of my deans told my class 'fifty percent of what we are teaching you is wrong - we just don’t know which fifty percent,' a phrase that has stuck with me when I begin to feel like I have it 'right' or I know what is 'best' for a child in my practice.  It keeps me humble and open to change.  All we can do as providers is give the information or make a recommendation (not make a command) based on our current knowledge base and be willing to learn and adapt when the fifty percent starts to change.  I hope the parents are then enabled  to integrate that advice into what works for them as a family.
"I am a big fan of giving messages that make sense to a family, of encouraging the course of action they have chosen (as long as it doesn’t involve juggling chain saws near the kids or parenting while on heroin or something else we can be pretty sure is going to stay a non-recommended parenting practice!).  I can’t and shouldn’t dictate a course of action or stifle a dialogue on topics where we might have differing opinions.  In the end, as long as the debated parenting practice is not illegal, I am the paid employee.  If that kind of dialogue is not encouraged, if that freedom to parent is somehow curbed by a provider who is sure they have it right, if that mother feels as if she somehow has to modify what she says or outright lie about how she parents for fear of backlash from a physician, that family should fire that provider and hire a new, more-compatible employee.
And if she is stuck with only one doctor on the planet, then well, she should speak up.  Take the power of motherhood back.  If that isn’t going to work, I would suggest using another doctor to help.  For example, my families will ask me to intervene if they have been asked to discard milk after surgery or if they have been given other advice with which they don’t agree.  I can advocate for those families by engaging their provider."

Interesting, nicht?

My beautiful children

Levi is growing: growing up, growing tall, growing heavier. He is amazing! 

He is becoming less and less contrary. He gets over his whining bouts more quickly and easily, it's a lovely thing. He is very kind and tender and loving. He hugs Ivy at least three times a day: good morning, naptime, and good night. He always wants a mommy-hug at bed time. The other evening, I peeked in for a Levi-hug before he'd gotten around to requesting a mommy-hug and he popped off Nate's lap and ran to me with arms open and gave me a super-sweet hug and kiss and nose kiss. He is learning that markers are only to be used when Mom or Dad are right there, he needs to put the lids on in between uses so that they don't dry up, and they need to be put away when we're done using them. He's learning to brush his teeth morning and night and he's learning to use the potty. He also is becoming more and more helpful, e.g. helps to clear the table after meals. Our whole family is starting to learn to clean up after ourselves and to put things away before we move to something else.

Levi is able to reach more and more and he is able to get up and down from more and more things. He displays great creativity in getting what he wants. He is adept at moving the kitchen chairs around to get whatever he wants out of drawers or off of the counter. And he is increasingly difficult to lift.

Ivy is also growing. She weighs just  over 13 lbs. She started smiling about 2 weeks ago and gets better at it every day, they cover her whole face. She's even cooing with her smiles. She recognizes faces and interacts more and more. Many say she looks a lot like me, tee-hee. 

Star Wars Ivy

Silly Levi

Levi and Nate read a book.

Levi and Daddy being silly.

 

Nate teaches Levi to pop.