baby

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Of Words and Poo

Tuesday, I think, I showed Oliver his socks and asked if he could say it. Out came, "DOCKS." But he only said it once. That is his way. If you try to get him to repeat words, he usually won't. So over that day and the next, I would prompt him to say it again, and he would, but just once each time. Its so cute. So now he has "docks" to go with his "chooose."

Today, I showed him his nose and Mama's nose. Repeatedly in one sitting. He was quite focused. Then tonight, I asked him where Mama's nose was, with no gesturing, etc. He pointed right on my nose. Such a smart boy. Which brings me to another question I have been pondering lately. Do parents ever think their kid is NOT smart? LOL.

Oliver isn't seeming to try to say too many words, other than his own babble, which he does all the time. I'm sure it means something to him. But hes not a big mimicker yet. But, he clearly recognizes MANY words. That is the cute part.

For instance, tonight (and I've thought hes done it for a while, but it was confirmed), when I told him we needed to get his toothbrush (with no gestures from me to indicate what I was talking about), he stuck his finger in his mouth, wiggled it around and went, "AHHHHH." Oh man, ....I love it.

Another example. Oliver is very good at shaking his head yes or no. He did "no" for a long time before getting the "yes" shake down pat. Andrew likes to say one or the other and wait for Oliver to shake his head. He always gets it correct. But I theorized at the dinner table that Oliver might be shaking his head correctly only in response to the specific over-emphasized unique intonation Andrew uses for one or the other. So Andrew said "Yes" with the intonation he normally uses for "Nooo" and Oliver still got it right! Hooray! Oh, only a proud parent could appreciate such a tale. Hehe.

Am I the only parent who can't tell if their kid has diarrhea or just non-firm poops? I mean, his poo, when he was exclusively breast fed and under 6 months was runny. I knew that was normal. Then after that, it was quite firm for a few months. Now, it is back and forth. I never know if this is an indication of a) a food allergy (since he eats most stuff now, including dairy and a variety of other things that could potentially bother someone's system b) him still reviving large amounts of breast milk c) a normal variance of poo based on whatever hes eaten - in a non-food-allergy sort of way.

Hmm.

Off to bed I go.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Not Forgetting

In my short parenting career, I've had the best intentions about writing stuff down. Or assuming I'll remember things. Well, I'm realizing there are many things I'm forgetting about these wonderful baby days (yes, my 14 month old is my baby) I don't want to forget.

Here are some things I don't want to forget:
*The way Oliver smells like his California Baby Calming Wash/Shampoo after I've bathed him and we're snuggling in for the night.
*The way hes recently taken to making this growling sound...almost like Louis Armstrong...and how it makes me laugh so hard, he stops growling and looks at me so confused because he doesn't know why I'm laughing.
*When hes nursing while we're laying down, if hes antsy, the way he keep his head in place (still nursing) but stands his feet up and marches with his rear up in the air.
*His odd affinity for the toilet brush. Or plunger.
*The way he WILL put ANYTHING in his mouth. Including bits of paper, dust bunnies, and once recently, a box staple. Which, thankfully, I fished out in time.
*The way he finger paints with his food on his tray when hes done.
*The way he hums while he nurses sometimes.
*The sound of glee he makes when we "chase" him. Like, "huha huha huha huha huha."
*The sound of his feet almost running across the wood floors.
*The way I know if he is very quiet for more than 10 seconds, hes probably in trouble.
*The way he looks even sweeter than normal right after he wakes up.
*The way he loves to give kisses - with an open mouth.
*There is this toy my mom brought that you press on and then it wheels on the floor, playing a crazy tune, and the character in the vehicle is like a loony Carnival Man. I call it the Crazie Carnie. And Oliver loves the thing and is scared to death of it. He will press it down, and run like the wind, and watch Crazie Carnie drive like the maniac he is from afar. At the end it even says something like, "Ya hoo! YIPPEE!" Or something equally as nuts. I don't want to forget him starting the thing up and then running away to watch at a safe distance.