2/23/2012

The Tobin Times #6

Filed under: — Aprille @ 7:30 pm

My little Tobin,

You can roll.  You can hardly stop rolling.  You are rolling around on the floor right this minute, probably finding gross things and putting them in your mouth.  You like to roll yourself into a position from which you can kick a paper bag full of clothes that’s sitting on the playroom floor.  It makes a neat sound.

You too make neat sounds.  Your laugh has gotten especially funny lately.  It comes out in these explosive, raspy bursts, almost like Ernie from Sesame Street.   When I’m kissing your tummy or your brother is anywhere near you, I can see the laugh bubbles build up inside you.  First you smile silently, holding your breath.   Your shoulders tense up and your eyes narrow with excitement.  Then finally you can’t hold it in anymore, and a laugh blasts out of you.  It’s pretty awesome.

You had your first taste of solid food on your 6-month birthday.  You didn’t seem to like rice cereal very much, so after the 3-day allergy-test window has passed, I’m going to give you something with a little more flavor.  Your brother voted for applesauce, so it’ll probably be either that or squash.  You’ve been pooping a lot since your birthday.  Of course, you pooped a lot before that, too, so I can’t say for sure that it’s related.  I’ve also reintroduced dairy products to my diet, so it might be that too.  You haven’t been crabbier than usual (which is to say you’ve barely been crabby at all, because that’s your way).  You are still such a calm, sweet-natured little guy.  I never worry about taking you anywhere or how you’ll respond to situations, because as long as you’re fed, you pretty much just sit there and pleasantly observe whatever’s going on.

You still don’t like to nap much.  Now and then, like maybe once or twice a week, you’ll do me a solid and nap for an hour or longer, but most of your naps are in the 25-30 minute range.  You do tend to sleep better if someone is snuggled up next to you or holding you, but that’s not very practical on a day-to-day basis.  It happened a lot when we were all sick, but fortunately we’re all past that now.  I’ve been putting you in your crib for naps now that you’re such a good roller, because it doesn’t seem safe to leave you in a bed.  You do okay in the crib.  It’s not your favorite, but you’ll do 30 minutes in there most days.

You still sleep well at night, so I’m happy about that.  Now that you’re big and strong enough that you’re not in as much danger of accidental squishage, your dad has rejoined us in the master bedroom.   It’s nice to have him around, not that I really notice he’s there, because you keep me scootched all the way over to the side.  He has plenty of room, though.  Must be nice.

I’m actually not complaining.  I could put you in a crib to sleep at night, but I don’t want to.  I like having you close to me so I can respond to your needs quickly and without having to fully wake up.  I like that you know there’s someone right there who loves you and will help you.

I’ve been trying to catalogue all the words and phrases I’m sure you understand.  So far you’ve shown solid evidence of understanding:

  • Come see Mommy
  • Where’s Mommy/Daddy/Big Brother Miles?
  • Superbaby
  • Milk
  • Pacifier

You might also understand “nap,” though it might be a coincidence that you started crying when I said that the other day.  You definitely understand the nonverbal signal of me handing you to your dad at night.  Hoo boy, do you hate that.  It’s really nothing personal against your dad, because you love him a lot.  In fact, every night when he walks home from the bus stop, I hold you up to the front window.  When you see him, you smile and wiggle and bat at the glass.  You’re always happy to have him hold you in the morning.  But somehow, once it’s dark out, you know that going to Daddy means bedtime, and you hate it.  It always tears at me while I’m reading stories to Miles and I can hear you screaming through the vents.

It’s not fair to end this post with talk about your grumpiness, because it’s really not characteristic.  You are smiley and excited and love to jump up and down, whether in someone’s arms or in your Exersaucer.  Even though you’re not crazy about the rice cereal, you seem to like sitting up at the table with the family.  That’s when you’re always happiest—when you’re in the middle of the action.  You’re going to love applesauce and bananas, I just know it.  You will make amazing poops and you’ll be thrilled about those, too.

Happy half year, my sweet little chub.  Thanks for giving me so much tummy to kiss.

Love,

Mommy

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