Annual Appraisal

Dear Gusi:

Below you will find my annual self-appraisal. I do, however, believe your role as President of Gusi, Inc is honorary, correct?

Regards,

MamaGus




Dear MamaGus:

You will find my feedback comments as well. As for my role, it is honorary but I still believe in staying on top of things.

Regards,

Gusi


MamaGus's 06-07 Annual Appraisal

Goal #1: Breastfeed

Objective #1: Breastfeed exclusively for 6 months

Result: It took you a while to get the hang of it, but with some professional help (literally) we made it work. You also were very interested in solid food early on so with your doctor's approval, we started you on rice cereal when you were 4.5 months old.

Gusi feedback: It's hard to learn new skills when you're one minute old and have just been kicked out of the warmest, luxury home one could possibly imagine. But I came through for you, didn't I?

Objective #2: Breastfeed until you are at least 12 months.

Result: You are a healthy little boy who has never had formula during his almost one year of life. And since you seem to be dwindling your demand, so my supply is dwindling. One day you will not be interested in nursing and I believe that day will come soon.

Gusi feedback: Those are yours? I thought they were mine. I'll have to do a survey of all toddlers in the household to see whose they really are.



Goal #2: Provide a safe and stimulating environment for play and exploration

Objective #1: Baby-proof the household before you teach us the hard way how we failed

Result: This task was harder than it seemed. Your interest in electrical cords has only grown over the year. Your climbing skills are developing quite rapidly. And you have figured out how to slip your little hand through the "locked" cabinets. I believe this is an area where I need improvement and suggest rolling it over to the next fiscal year.

Gusi feedback: I believe there is a budget line item for a stool, is there not? I suggest we procure it so I can more easily reach the medicines and all other hazardous materials that are up high. That will ensure high appraisal ratings for the next fiscal year.

Objective #2: Do not drop, burn or otherwise harm the baby

Result: Aside from a tumble of about half a foot (onto the bed) when I was trying to put you in a sling, I have never dropped you. Your bath water may have been too hot once or twice when we were first learning to bathe you, but I share that fault with PapaGus since he was present for those first baths.

Gusi feedback: That was you!

Objective #3: Read plenty of books

Result: Every day you take all of your books off of the shelf, pick one, turn the pages and "read". You do this often. You also love reading before bed time. I consider this a big success and also an on-going activity.

Gusi feedback: Please ask the procurement department to procure more books. I particularly like the ones with pages that are easy to turn, few words, big pictures, and if there are animals in the story then all the better.

Objective#4: Expose the baby to music

Result: We signed up for music class which you love. You cry when we leave class and you use your percussion instruments when we sing the class songs at home. I think you will even say your music teacher's name before you say your own. You also love hearing music from all over the world no matter the language. You and I dance to our favorite songs on a daily basis. I'd say we pretty much have this covered.

Gusi feedback: I totally love the teacher, she's so awesome, she always lets me play with all of the instruments. I dig the dancing with you too, but I need to figure out how to climb up to where the CD player is so I can push those buttons which are begging for my fingers!

Objective #5: Take the baby outside as much as possible when the weather permits

Result: We have gone to the zoo several times, different parks, strolls around the neighborhood and spent plenty of time in the back yard. I have a feeling that you'd like to go out more though.

Gusi feedback: I love the flamingos, they're so colorful and they squawk so much. I am not a big fan of the stroller--perhaps you could carry me every where?



Goal #3: Provide nutritious food

Objective #1: As solids are introduced, ensure that natural whole foods are given

Result: I made all of your introductory food from scratch until you discovered the joy of feeding yourself finger foods. You have had different kinds of grain cereals from a box and now you love your "baby power bars" and organic cheese crackers, but you also love broccoli, peas and green beans. Not bad.

Gusi feedback: Who doesn't love broccoli?

Objective #2: Instill good eating habits

Result: You may be cautious but you do try just about anything. I'm not so sure the spitting out of food when you don't like it is the road I want you to go down, but I'll figure out soon enough how to explain that that is not good table manners. Also, you LOVE, LOVE, LOVE fruit, yogurt and cheese. I think we're off to a good start. My only complaint is that you chomp huge pieces of food instead of taking little bites--this results in choking and sending me into a panic, though the food usually ends up going down again.

Gusi feedback: I love food, what can I say?