We had simultaneous 2- and 4-year pediatrician visits today, and the kids are - no surprise here - doing fine. We had so much fun catching up with Dr. Martha that it took a little bit to get around to the actual doctor stuff. Alek had to have his blood pressure checked, so Erin insisted on it as well. Erin opened up wide for the doctor, which was what it took (along with threatening to take away Gordon) to get Alek to open his mouth. Dr. Martha found Smudger in there, and James was in the left ear (Gordon was in the right, safe and sound). Erin couldn't WAIT to show off her belly button while Dr. Martha was looking at Alek's. For some reason, Erin didn't feel the need to get any shots even though Alek got four (and was pretty darn brave about it too - he cried, but held still even after the first one). I had the embarrassment of bribing my children with chocolate in front of the doctor, and she didn't seem to mind. For those who are interested, here are the vital statistics:

• Erin is 35.4 inches (82%) and 29.5 lbs (80%) and on track for being 5'8" (double your height at age 2 = approximate adult height).


• Alek is 38.8 inches (18%) and 32 lbs (15%) and on track for being ... 5'8" (plus or minus 2 inches, although I bet it will be plus).

Erin is almost pee-potty-trained, which is following in the footsteps of her brother. This is a new concept I've invented (or that I've been too lazy to look up to see if it exists elsewhere), wherein I am able to keep my child out of diapers for everything except pooping. No hurry on either account - except I'm willing to embrace the idea this time. Pooping in the diaper is a lot better than pooping somewhere else that isn't the potty.

Along cognitive lines, Erin demonstrated some advanced concepts just in time to impress the heck out of her doctor. I was trying to get her to say her name. She obliged ("Ein-in" . . . although ironically the word for underwear comes out "Erin"), then she pointed at Alek and said "Ahl-eh - boy!" Dr. Martha looked appropriately impressed and asked if she was a boy, and she giggled and said "Noooooooooo . . . ". When Dr. Martha asked her what she was, Erin pointed to her belly and said, clearer than any word I've ever heard her say, "Girl!" OK, it wasn't just the doctor who was impressed - Mama was pretty proud, too. As you can tell! Of course, this just may be a by-product of being a working mom - for all I know, their nanny has been working on this concept for weeks and Erin chose this moment to share it.