what's normal, anyway?

It is so hard to tell if your child is "normal". As in developing normally, for them. I mean, I can look at other kids around the same age, and read statistics and averages, but are they still normal within the range of averages, or woefully behind? When do I step in and try to get medical/professional intervention?

These are the things we are considering as we watch N. He is a very sweet, interactive, happy little baby. He is starting to move around more, and although I wish he closer to walking, that doesn't concern me too much at this point. At least we are seeing steady progress. He started crawling 2 months ago, and has learned to go up steps, and pull himself up to a stand, and back down again. He can also cruise around furniture, and takes little steps when we hold his hands. So, slow, but steady.

On the other hand, we also have some speech delay issues. He doesn't have one word that he used for any specific object/person. It doesn't even have to be a word most people can recognize, just as long as it is consistent and deliberate for that object. He babbles constantly, and interacts with us verbally, but we are still waiting for that "mama", or "dada", or anything that resembles a name. Our concern is intensified a bit, by the worry of his hearing possibly being affected by his 5 ear infections since last September.

So we have a doctor's visit set up for this Friday at a CHOP Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist. This way we can at least confirm or rule out hearing problems, and then take the next step-- surgery, therapy, etc. I guess the hardest part for me is in the not knowing. Not knowing if there actually is a problem, if I am over-reacting, if I am just being paranoid about it all. I want to appreciate him for who he is, and the pace he learns things, not judge him by Ellie's, or any other child's milestone achievements. But if there is a problem, I want to get him the help he needs. It's so hard not knowing...