Interesting experience

So I was helping edit video for a conference this past week. Yesterday I had to bring Jordan in with me for a little while. She came in while a panel discussion was underway. Every once and a while, she had to babble about how happy she was with her apple slices. I’d shush her and hand her milk to drink. It was sweet. She was so happy and smiley in her stroller. I was able to keep working. It was great.

At the end of the panel talk, I went to the front to talk to the conference attendees and Jordan could hear my voice. So I said hi to her and mentioned that my daughter was in the room. So all kinds of people had to come over and say hi. Miss Smiles was putting on quite a sweet show. People said hi and moved on.

A couple of people came back to play with her more (after they opened up the cash bar). And eventually some of them were willing to ask about her arm. I had been commenting on how awesome she was doing with her walking skills. That’s when one of the guys (it was all guys, I don’t know why, but that seemed strange) said that other people were whispering “she doesn’t have an arm!” And he said how strange it was to see people walk away instead of ask questions. Our culture is so scared of differences. I’ll be honest. I’m not sure how I would have handled meeting a baby with a missing arm 15 months ago. Probably the wrong way.

I honestly see my ability to raise Jordan as publicly as possible will not only help her feel more comfortable in this perfectionist world, but it will also help inform so many people that you don’t have to look “perfect” to be wonderful.

Today Jordan had her 15 month check up. She’s 21 pounds, 8 ounces. She’s 30 and a half inches long. 25th percentile on weight. 50th percentile on height. She’s doing just great. I’m still shocked to have the skinny baby. Cam was a monster!! Jordan had three shots this morning. It was the first time she didn’t handle it well at all. Poor baby. I took the band-aids off tonight and she cried like I just gave her the shots again. It was miserable. I just cuddled and snuggled her and sang her a lullaby before she went to bed.