Strange Machines

We were just sitting on the bed, me with my magazine and he flipping through Brain Child when I spotted Buffy at the window. His back was facing me when I said, “Hey look, Wolf, it’s Buffy at the window. Say hi to Buffy.” He looked straight at the window and then looked at me squealing in delight. Later, he said “Mama” which thrilled me to no end.

If you ever have any doubt whether your child understands you, try a similar experiment. In our case, the opportunity simply presented itself and I grabbed it. It’s a wonderful revelation but it also means everyone has to watch what they say around Wolf now. I do try to keep things on a positive note and ask that my family does too. Children are the best mimics.

Lately Wolf has been most preoccupied with his left hand. He spends hours on end staring at it and putting it in his mouth. It’s been a source of comfort, sucking his fist. He’s soothed himself back to sleep some 7am mornings when I’d been too tired to get up.

My Mom bought some side padded thingys for his cot now that he’s too big for his sleeper. They’re of the Cat and the Fiddle (she thought I’d like it). He was so intrigued when I first placed him inside with the new sides. He stared and stared at them, cooing and shrieking in delight. At the same time, I installed his Humpty mobile and he lay there entertaining himself for over an hour.

He’s so keen to learn these days. His eyes widen when I bring out the flash cards and he smiles when he sees his favourite animals. He still loves staring at the lights and happily lies in his cot watching the Humptys turn round and round (he likes the red ones best because he’s had two bigger ones in his cot), or looking at the cat and the fiddle, the cow and the moon, and the plate and the spoon.

Last night he laughed and laughed when his aunt B carried him and talked to him. He loves to be carried and talked to. My Dad talks to him everyday for a half hour. Everyone agrees he’s going to be a talker when he grows up.

This whole day Wolf has been looking at his own hand, as if amazed this contraption gripping his shirt is attached to him. He also likes Vanessa Paradis.

From Babycenter:

“… you may notice that he’s started to drool. He’s also putting everything in his mouth and producing more saliva than he can swallow.”

Just a little drool but more from sucking my arm or his fist. He does blow bubbles though. I noticed this since 2 weeks ago.

“The good news is that your baby’s drool coats toys and other objects with disease-preventing proteins.”

That is good news!

“If your baby’s sleeping through the night (five or six hours at a stretch), you’re one of the lucky few.”

I am fortunate. But I do believe practicing good sleep hygiene plays a big part too.

He does get fussy from 10pm though. I realise it is because he wants to be placed in his crib. So many nights already he abruptly changed from fussy baby to cheery cooing baby the moment he was put in his crib.

“Your baby is learning how to rock and roll — well, maybe just roll. At this age, he’ll probably be able to move from his side to his back and his back to his side.”

Yes he does.

He’s also just started fitting into M size diapers. I’m so proud!

Sleep: 5 + 3 (2) + 1.5

In other news, a nice story on Niki Taylor picking motherhood over modelling.