As a parent, I have to say that most of the concern I have seen about small children's weight has had to do with underweight - lots of breastfed babies who are wee and the moms are getting lots of medical pressure (note: breastfed babies show a different growth curve than formula fed babies, which doctors should know but many seem not to; also, if mom is Asian and dad is 5'4" it's perhaps not a shock that baby is 10%ile, and the most common growth charts are white babies from Ohio in the 1960s) and picky eaters. I haven't seen concern about childhood obesity, either from doctors or socially, for kids in the age range I know (under 5). More it's, "My three year old will only eat white foods and french fries! Will he die of scurvy?"

I do think that school lunches have a strong tendency to be nutritionally crap. It's pizza and chicken nuggets and stuff all the time at Casper's school, which are fine as part of a diet, but that's why I pack her lunch (which she doesn't eat, because she wants cookies or pizza. Or, you know, kalamata olives and feta cheese. She's odd.)

I should note that Casper, while the world's worst sleeper as a baby, now always sleeps through the night, and has done since about 3.

Or, you know, kalamata olives and feta cheese.

Mmm. Casper and I should have lunch some time.

sobs (I've had to cut my salt intake ... and I love olives and feta cheese)

BUT! last time I went to the doctor my BP was 110/60!

Question - what if the kid is lactose-intolerant? Or does that not show up until after 2?

My lactose intolerance showed up as an infant. I think I was given soy formula then, but Lactaid does make whole milk now that is 100% lactose free.

Jessica, all sorts of ~ma and good luck with the sleep training.

Buffista ~ma is strong stuff. I got through the signing of the lease without any problems. The place is still gorgeous and wonderful and I cannot wait to move in.

kalamata olives and feta cheese

Iris and Casper will enjoy dining together at the sprog retreat.

Her next favorite? Tabouleh. Also, spinach and ricotta pizza.

and then mac-and-cheese, spaghetti with cheese, plain cheese, cheese and crackers, and anything that has been proven beyond a doubt to be NOT CHICKEN.

Somehow it seems appropriate that at least some of the Buffista-sprog are adventurous eaters.

on my phone, but I was on goat's milk as a kid 'cause I couldn't digest cow's. also yogurt has all the calcium & fat of milk sans lactose. so there are options for lactard babies & toddlers.

Glad lease-signing went well, sj, and (as always) sleep~ma to ALL Buffista babies.

My interviews went really well despite this throbbing headache. I won't lie, though, I'm not sure if I even want this job. The principal called it: I really am more of an academic than a dean. I think they may offer it to me anyway, but I'm not sure how I feel about that.

In some ways, I think they should just reject me. It would be easier.

Gods, my head is hurting. That may be affecting my overall attitude about this situation.

I have nothing to say about feeding babies or kids.

I do have to say that I had a very very Monday with tons of crazy callers all of whom would top any kind of crazy caller MiracleMan gets. I know you get a lot, but I got to hear from the guy who was sure the VA was out to get him by hiring unlicensed people to do medical work, forged all consent forms and documents, and then had him arrested when he showed up for a meeting with some hospital bigwig.

And that was the nice crazy caller of the day.

The principal called it: I really am more of an academic than a dean. I think they may offer it to me anyway, but I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Don't let them psych you out of it Kristin. Even if you try it for a year and decide 'no, not me.' it's still part of your experience, which is a plus for any academic.

Just me and two of my pennies.