Since Ben was born, lots of people have asked me if he is a good baby. I am always a bit unsure of how to answer this question. I usually settle for, "I think he is a wonderful baby!"-which is utterly true. However, I am not answering the question that I know they are REALLY asking.
When people ask if Ben is a good baby, they really mean "Is he an easy baby?" The answer to that probably depends on your perspective. From an eating angle-yep, he's pretty easy, unless you consider wanting to eat and/or nurse very frequently (he is a growing boy!!) to be difficult. From a sleeping perspective-I'd say he wasn't ever really an easy baby, and still isn't-naps are a bit of a challenge still, but thankfully night sleeping has gotten incredibly better. Yet, I really can't blame him for that one-his previously extremely wakeful nights were directly tied to me going back to work. From a play perspective-yeah, this kid doesn't like to play alone. He is really happiest if he is touching someone all the time. He CAN play alone, and will for short periods, but I definitely can't plunk him down somewhere and leave him for an hour. From a diaper perspective-I think he's about as easy as it gets! He has unfailingly pooped in the potty since he was about 6 or so months old, with only one accident between now and then (and that was because he asked to go when we were in the middle of nowhere, and there was literally nothing that could be done about it). He's going through a pretty extreme clingy/stranger anxiety/separation anxiety phase, so that's not that easy either...
But he is a truly wonderful little boy-cheerful, happy, and interactive most of the time! His sweet little voice chatters away, mostly baby babble still, but with a few words mixed in, as he charges about the house exploring his world. He gives the sweetest hugs, and his face lights up when he sees someone he loves. He plays peekaboo and "clap your hands" when we sing the clapping song. He has the sweetest laugh, and it is readily extracted. His snuggles are priceless.
I wonder what it says about our culture when the words "good" and "easy" mean the same thing in any context. Really, very few of the truly good and worthwhile things in my life have been easy, in the traditional sense. But they have all been worth it, and my precious son is no exception.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Monday, May 13, 2013
11 Months!
Thsi past weekend, my sweet son officially became an 11 month old. As insane as this is to imagine, next time I write a blog post update on his age he will be A YEAR OLD! Whew. Fastest/craziest/great year of my life.
New things he is doing:
He DEFINITELY has more stranger anxiety and a MUCH stronger preference for Mommy and Daddy (and other people he knows). He's pretty good about going to my parents and siblings since they watch him while Josh is in school. The nursery is a bit more iffy, and he is definitely not thrilled when strangers try to hold him. Fair enough!
He sleeps in his own bed at least part of every night now (the thing that determines when/if he goes back into his own bed is whether I am awake enough to put him back in there after he nurses). He's actually really good about going to sleep there at night.
He is walking around like crazy-he still needs hands, but I have noticed a definite improvement in his balance-I think he'll be walking around with no problem really soon! His favorite thing is to walk-and preferably outside. He LOVES putting his shoes on because he knows that usually means we are going outside (I don't like him to walk barefoot outside because he has a habit of dragging the top of his toes on the pavement and scraping them up).
He has become more vocal again (he wasn't talking much when he first started walking but has recently started again). He says "Daddy" very clearly and definitely knows what it means. He says "Mamamama" too, but I have yet to determine if that means me or if it means "nurse."
He has become much more affectionate-he gives hugs really frequently (which is SO heartwarming and sweet), and he sometimes gives kisses too.
My favorite new development is that he has started becoming MUCH better about sleeping at night! He has had several nights where he woke up only 1-2 times. He does still have nights with 4-6 or more wakeups, but we are about 50/50 with good nights and tough ones now-so I am hoping this trend continues to move toward fewer and fewer awakenings! Mama definitely feels better on the nights when he sleeps longer!
He has 4 teeth now.
He still loves cheese.
I think those are the big things-time is still flying by far too quickly, and I feel like I am constantly trying to grasp the tender, wonderful moments and this life rushes by!
New things he is doing:
He DEFINITELY has more stranger anxiety and a MUCH stronger preference for Mommy and Daddy (and other people he knows). He's pretty good about going to my parents and siblings since they watch him while Josh is in school. The nursery is a bit more iffy, and he is definitely not thrilled when strangers try to hold him. Fair enough!
He sleeps in his own bed at least part of every night now (the thing that determines when/if he goes back into his own bed is whether I am awake enough to put him back in there after he nurses). He's actually really good about going to sleep there at night.
He is walking around like crazy-he still needs hands, but I have noticed a definite improvement in his balance-I think he'll be walking around with no problem really soon! His favorite thing is to walk-and preferably outside. He LOVES putting his shoes on because he knows that usually means we are going outside (I don't like him to walk barefoot outside because he has a habit of dragging the top of his toes on the pavement and scraping them up).
He has become more vocal again (he wasn't talking much when he first started walking but has recently started again). He says "Daddy" very clearly and definitely knows what it means. He says "Mamamama" too, but I have yet to determine if that means me or if it means "nurse."
He has become much more affectionate-he gives hugs really frequently (which is SO heartwarming and sweet), and he sometimes gives kisses too.
My favorite new development is that he has started becoming MUCH better about sleeping at night! He has had several nights where he woke up only 1-2 times. He does still have nights with 4-6 or more wakeups, but we are about 50/50 with good nights and tough ones now-so I am hoping this trend continues to move toward fewer and fewer awakenings! Mama definitely feels better on the nights when he sleeps longer!
He has 4 teeth now.
He still loves cheese.
I think those are the big things-time is still flying by far too quickly, and I feel like I am constantly trying to grasp the tender, wonderful moments and this life rushes by!
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