Incisor 5 and the Boink
Lisa and I were changing Oliver this morning (this is now, preferably, a two person job) and we noticed that he has another tooth. A lower, right, incisor – that makes 5 total. Growing sooooo fast.
Oliver also weighs about 25lbs, which I’m sure puts him back in the top 10% for weight. Till now, my arms have managed to keep up with him, aka the heavier he gets, the stronger I get, and it all evens out. Now, however, he has totally outstripped me, and I’m in pain. I’m afraid we’re going to have to add regular mommy massages to the budget.
And speaking of outstripping, we can barely keep up with him now. Though not officially crawling, he does push up onto hands and knees and rocks back and forth. But he still prefers full (frontal) body-to-floor contact when it comes to moving. This doesn’t seem to slow him down much. And I can only brace myself for what’s to come when he actually crawls (walks, runs, drives!!!!!) Oliver literally hauls “tushy” (this is a family site) at an alarming rate. Rather than using sheer brute strength to drag himself forward, he’s developed a bit more finesse in his movements. Employing a lizard like side/forward motion, he’s able to at least double his speed. He sometimes looks like he’s in basic training, practicing for dangerous reconnaissance missions under tables and chairs.
He’s also engaging in what my Dad has dubbed, “calculated mischief.” (Dad and Lisa are on nanny-duty this week since Anita is on vacation.) Deliberately pushing a toy that simply must be retrieved (by him) into forbidden areas is one ploy. Another favorite is crawling to the very edge of our bed, so we have to drag him back. Hysterical.
Fun is really what Oliver is all about now. He’s so interactive and all he wants to do is play and play. He’s thrilled that he can control more of his environment, either through “calculated mischief” or other games. He laughs and smiles almost constantly. It’s very rewarding if totally exhausting.
A new favorite game is “boink.” This consists of him head butting something while you say, “boink.” He plays this against your head, or against his own while admiring himself in the mirror. He’s even hit himself in the head with books. Anything to elicit a humorous “boink.” (We’re choosing to take this activity as a sign of creative intelligence rather than wondering if he’s all there.)
Dad and Oliver have devised a new sport called “block overboard.” Oliver stations himself under the coffee table. Dad then sets blocks on the lower rung, and Oliver pushes them off. Dad considers this a most welcome diversion from studying for his Ph.D comps.
When not cruising on “all fours,” Oliver loves to walk. He’s getting quite good at it and can even do it one handed. (Meaning he only grasps one adult hand.)
Oliver has introduced a new consonant into his vocabulary: "G." We now hear lots of "Ga, ga." It's not your typical baby-talk, "gah, gah," accent on the "a." His is more of a throaty "Ga," emphasis on the "g."
Finally, Oliver pulls up onto everything. Now when I come in in the morning, there he is, standing in his crib, bouncing up and down and beaming at me. Unfortunately I also often find him thus when he’s supposed to be going to bed. He’s so proud of his accomplishments though that it’s really hard to get mad at him.
Yes, again to borrow another pithy phrase from Dad, “baby entropy” is in full force at our house. It’s great fun.
Oliver also weighs about 25lbs, which I’m sure puts him back in the top 10% for weight. Till now, my arms have managed to keep up with him, aka the heavier he gets, the stronger I get, and it all evens out. Now, however, he has totally outstripped me, and I’m in pain. I’m afraid we’re going to have to add regular mommy massages to the budget.
And speaking of outstripping, we can barely keep up with him now. Though not officially crawling, he does push up onto hands and knees and rocks back and forth. But he still prefers full (frontal) body-to-floor contact when it comes to moving. This doesn’t seem to slow him down much. And I can only brace myself for what’s to come when he actually crawls (walks, runs, drives!!!!!) Oliver literally hauls “tushy” (this is a family site) at an alarming rate. Rather than using sheer brute strength to drag himself forward, he’s developed a bit more finesse in his movements. Employing a lizard like side/forward motion, he’s able to at least double his speed. He sometimes looks like he’s in basic training, practicing for dangerous reconnaissance missions under tables and chairs.
He’s also engaging in what my Dad has dubbed, “calculated mischief.” (Dad and Lisa are on nanny-duty this week since Anita is on vacation.) Deliberately pushing a toy that simply must be retrieved (by him) into forbidden areas is one ploy. Another favorite is crawling to the very edge of our bed, so we have to drag him back. Hysterical.
Fun is really what Oliver is all about now. He’s so interactive and all he wants to do is play and play. He’s thrilled that he can control more of his environment, either through “calculated mischief” or other games. He laughs and smiles almost constantly. It’s very rewarding if totally exhausting.
A new favorite game is “boink.” This consists of him head butting something while you say, “boink.” He plays this against your head, or against his own while admiring himself in the mirror. He’s even hit himself in the head with books. Anything to elicit a humorous “boink.” (We’re choosing to take this activity as a sign of creative intelligence rather than wondering if he’s all there.)
Dad and Oliver have devised a new sport called “block overboard.” Oliver stations himself under the coffee table. Dad then sets blocks on the lower rung, and Oliver pushes them off. Dad considers this a most welcome diversion from studying for his Ph.D comps.
When not cruising on “all fours,” Oliver loves to walk. He’s getting quite good at it and can even do it one handed. (Meaning he only grasps one adult hand.)
Oliver has introduced a new consonant into his vocabulary: "G." We now hear lots of "Ga, ga." It's not your typical baby-talk, "gah, gah," accent on the "a." His is more of a throaty "Ga," emphasis on the "g."
Finally, Oliver pulls up onto everything. Now when I come in in the morning, there he is, standing in his crib, bouncing up and down and beaming at me. Unfortunately I also often find him thus when he’s supposed to be going to bed. He’s so proud of his accomplishments though that it’s really hard to get mad at him.
Yes, again to borrow another pithy phrase from Dad, “baby entropy” is in full force at our house. It’s great fun.
posted by Justine at
8:53 PM
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