funny video of SPL and ZBL taken yesterday (1/23/13) while S was home sick with
funny video of SPL and ZBL taken yesterday (1/23/13) while S was home sick with strep throat (he was not contagious as he’d been on antibiotics for 24 hours).
← Earlier<p>Hard to believe we’ve had ZBL in our family for 7 months! He had another developmentally momentous month due in part to being home for 2 weeks with his big bro and dad — lots of tummy time and stimulation :-)</p>
<p>Mannerisms — my friend Daesman will appreciate that Z is developing some funny mannerisms (she called me Miss Mannerisms in college :-) — one funny one is looking over his shoulder to see if you’re still there. Another one is flapping and then quickly pulling his hands together in front of his face and putting part of a hand in his mouth. A third funny one is saying “ahem” to get attention.</p>
<p>One of his big focal points this month has been learning to go to sleep on his own. We had to transition him from sleeping in his elevated bouncy seat to just sleeping on his back in his crib, which wasn’t an easy process. The first weekend of winter break, we started “cold turkey” by removing the seat for all sleeping and then realized it was too much for Z: he wasn’t sleeping for naps or at night (30-45 min naps and waking at 2:00 am and then again at 5:00 am – yawn!). So we backtracked a bit and gave him his seat for nighttime again. Over the course of the 2 weeks, he made great progress and even had 1 night when he slept in his crib without the seat from 8 pm until 6 am – huzzah! But it was only 1 night. The others weren’t horrible though: 8 pm until 5 am mostly. Some 4:30 am and some 5:30 am. But he would go back to sleep after waking and eating @ 4:30 or 5:30. Until, he stopped. And decided that 4:30 or 5:30 was a good time to start playing. Uncool to say the least. But he made great strides and we are proud of him – not easy to make so many transitions in 2 short weeks. The other big developmental milestone that he accomplished after graduating from sleeping in his bouncy seat was rolling over from back to front (12/29/12). I’d forgotten how much better this milestone makes life: sleeping on his stomach is so much more peaceful and long lasting (hence the 10 hour sleep night :-).</p>
<p>Over the course of the month, it was fun to watch Z try reaching for the harder to reach elements of his exersaucer. It took a bunch of tries and concentration, but he finally was able to figure out how to hold the swinging object with one hand and then pin it with the other. Coordination achievement unlocked! </p>
<p>Just like his brother, Z figured out quickly that he can see the TV reflection in the windows of our living room. Sneaky little guy. This month he added arching his back so he can see the TV to his strategies.</p>
<p>Foods: Butternut squash was not a big fave at first but he learned to like it after gagging his way through the first 3 days of it.</p>
<p>Sucking 2 or 3 of his fingers with regularity – usually it’s his left hand but sometimes it’s his right. It often is a sign that he’s sleepy too. </p>
<p>Less talk more focus on physical: since he has been focusing on rolling over, scooting and getting up on all 4s, he hasn’t been as talkative as in previous months. I miss his chatter but know it will come back after he gets through this physical series of milestones.</p>
<p>Funny finding: Z found his ears! Not sure when exactly this happened but he definitely knows they are there now. And has the scratches to prove it :-(</p>
<p>Best change in his overall appearance: Can see his neck now!</p>
<p>funniest mannerism: Eating zippers. The boy loves zippers. Thankfully both John and I regularly wear half-zip fleece so Z has many opportunities to figure out how they work. The funny thing is that he too has a half-zip and doesn’t seem to be able to see the zipper on his own sweater. Too close I guess.</p>
<p><br/>Windburn look showed up between ½-1/7 and I was thinking he might be getting his first tooth but so far nothin’.</p>
<p><br/>And the 2 most most life changing milestones accomplished: Scooting on Christmas Eve 2012 & a lot on John’s birthday (1/9/13). And pushing up to all 4s on 1/9/13— Time to babyproof!<br/><br/></p>
Later →<p>[Note: tomorrow is actually ZBL’s 9 month anniversary so I am a bit late on this, to say the least — d’oh!)</p>
<p>ZBL loves playing the “Where is Sam” game. When we ask him, Z will reach for Sam (not 100% but getting there)</p>
<p>Object permanence — ZBL definitely has this milestone. He’s been dropping things off his exersaucer and looking for them. Also off his high chair. Here comes the food dropping phase of life! Not my fave. Wish we had a dog :-)</p>
<p>Feeding himself puffs — or as I call them, baby crack. These bits of cereal that melt in the mouth have been a great transitional food for Z as he had more of a gag reflex than SPL did. It’s been amazing to watch his proficiency increase from missing his mouth 50+% to almost 100% accuracy.</p>
<p>Intentional scoot — Like I said above, the kid is on the move! He’s gone from just moving to intentional moving which is a big shift. Still not crawling but he can get places.</p>
<p>Takes off hat — glad winter’s almost over as Z doesn’t like wearing a hat. Not sure what we are going to do about the sun. Note to self: need to figure this out.</p>
<p>Sucking fingers = tired — it’s nice to have such an obvious “tell” when he’s tired. SPL didn’t have one.</p>
<p>Speaking of tired – it’s been a tiring month of waking up early. :-(. As early as 4:30 am but as “late” as 5:30 am – the problem is, he won’t go back to sleep! And we have to drive S to school @ 7:45 am so Z’s nap, which should be @ 7:30 or 8:00, gets pushed off until 8:15 or 8:30. Thankfully we have a carpool 2 (sometimes even 4 :-) times a week and John drives 1X/week so those days Z, gets to keep closer to his own schedule :-).</p>
<p>Forever fidgeting w/.his fingers: textures, cloth, sounds, drawstrings — Z loves textures, cloth fabrics, sounds of toys, wood, the couch — you name it! </p>
<p>Call and response with SPL and me — Z will make a sound and SPL and I will imitate it. Z understands it to some degree and then repeats with a different sound. SPL loves this!</p>
<p>Beginning to give kisses — it’s only to me so I’m not sure if it “counts” or not but more than a few times this month I said “give me kisses” when his face was near mine and he leaned over, opened his mouth and planted one on my cheek! Oh, and then he licked me for good measure. And then we both burst into giggles.</p>
<p>Exploding fist bump — guess who taught him this one??? Of course — John/Daddy. John will stick out his hand and say in a funny voice “Exploding fist bump!” and Z will reach out his hand and as he gets close to J’s hand, J explodes his fist and makes a funny noise. Z loves it!</p>
<p>Shakes head side to side as game & giggles: This is awesome (until it has meaning of course ;-). Love this game. He loves it too.</p>
<p>Pouncing on SPL’s knee or leg: this is a game Z and S have come up with. Z pounces on S’s knee with an open mouth. </p>
<p>9 months here we come!</p>