Tobin finally had his two-year wellness check-up today. We've been traveling a lot this month, so we weren't able to get to the doctor until today. He weighed in at 27 lbs. 13 oz., measured 34 inches long, and had a head circumference of 20 inches. Everything checked out fine. His doctor was particularly impressed with his verbal skills. She said something like it was "uncanny" that she could have a conversation with him, which apparently is unusual for two-year-old boys in her experience. Tobin finished off his charm offensive by saying, "Thank you, Tobin's doctor" to her as she left. She responded by telling him he could date her daughter (who's about 10 months younger) anytime.
Earlier this week we made the 11-hour car trip home from Tampa. I've written about it before, but I can't get over what a great traveler Tobin is. He is seriously better than I am in the car. I don't want to jinx anything but I also don't want to take it for granted. Our son is wonderful on the road.
Summer officially started for us June 13 with the end of Matt's (eighth!) school year. As we usually do, we will travel to see family, but this summer will be a different kind of traveling. Since Memorial Day, we've covered thousands of miles as a family, most of them in the car. One of these trips involved Tobin and me traveling alone to Atlanta and back (about six hours each way, picking up Aunt Ashley en route to Tampa). Again, he was just about perfect. Tobin has developed a fondness for Chick-fil-a ("Chicka-bay"), particularly for their indoor play areas and apple juice boxes.
When I think about what we're going through as a family right now, I wonder what Tobin will remember about this time. Has he noticed that since late October of last year, when we learned of his Granddad Smith's cancer diagnosis, that we have been to Kentucky more than usual? I know he's missed his daddy, who's been back and forth without us a few times. Did he have any sense of the importance of his birthday celebration to the combined Walsh-Smith family--with Granddad making a tremendous effort to make the long hard trip when he was quite sick and with us also learning only a couple weeks earlier that his Grandpa Walsh also has cancer? Will he have memories of this week in Tampa: visiting fun places with his dad during the day and then making brief visits to "Grandpa's doctor" (actually, Moffitt Cancer Center) each evening?
I don't know what Tobin will remember of these experiences, but I do hope that he will always understand what a blessing he is to us. How he lights up our hearts and lifts our spirits with his wonderful smile, funny syntax, and lyrical laughter.
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