Xander Week 64 – My baby has morphed into a little boy!
January 16, 2008
Xander is growing at a rate that he seems to be entirely comfortable with. I however, am often struck at how quickly he is growing. It feels like just yesterday we were laughing at his “Wallace hands”, or trying to convince him that rice cereal really does taste good. These days I have become a master of redirection. Let’s not play with the cat’s tail. Here, take this wooden spoon instead. Let’s not climb onto the end table. Let’s play with your Tonka trucks instead. And of course, the no’s. “Xander no” has become a regular part of our vocabulary. Xander, no – don’t hit the speaker. Xander, no – don’t pull the cat’s tail. Xander, no – don’t shake the plant, and on and on it goes.
It’s not all bad though. Xander has some very endearing traits as well. He gives excellent hugs, winding his little arms around our necks. When he’s sleeping he loves to borough into my neck. He likes to laugh, and will sometimes laugh just to make us laugh, which often works, and then all three of us end up giggling uncontrollably. Xander has discovered how to tickle bellies (though it’s often more of a pinch). If we are laying on the floor, he will immediately come over, try to lift your shirt, and “tickle” your belly. The attempt itself is so humorous that I laugh, even if it doesn’t really tickle. Xander loves books. If we sit cross-legged on the floor, he will frequently collect a book or two, back up into our laps, and hold out a book to be read. Xander also can be very particular about where things go. He may not always return them to their correct spot, but if he knows where it’s supposed to go, he often does. On his high chair tray, everything has a place. When he takes a sip of milk or juice, the cup needs to go back in the same location it was removed from. If I move the cup, he stops eating to put it back where it “belongs”. When he is done using his spoon, it has a spot (often at the top of his tray, just barely within his reach). It’s pretty interesting to see where he decides to place things, and try to figure out his thought process. Though I’ve been blowing raspberries on his stomach for over a year now, Xander finally finds this funny. I rarely fail to elicit a laugh (and often a tug on my hair) when I blow a raspberry on his bare belly.
Xander loves shoes – his shoes, my shoes, Zach’s shoes. Anything he can put on his feet. His very favorite is my blue slippers. Xander will take these off my feet so he can put them on and shuffle around the room – which he does quite frequently. He’s become pretty good at walking in them, or shuffling rather and we really need to try to get some video of this because it’s so funny to watch.
Then of course are the sounds and words Xander uses. We love the “ahhh” sound he makes after taking a drink of something or the “ohhhh” sound he makes if something falls or he drops something. He’s got a few words down – shoe (of course), cat, dog, mom, dad, more and occasionally Nan (for Nana). Every once in a while I feel the need to document all of these quirks about our son that makes him the engaging and lovable child that he is. We are so lucky!
Xander is now officially 5 months old. It feels like just a few weeks ago we were bringing him home from the hospital. At the same time, those first sleepless nights feel so far away. But when I say “my son is 5 months old” out loud, I’m shocked at how old he is. For the past week or so Xander has begun to sit on his own – froggie style with his hands as support. He can only stay this way for about a minute or so, but it’s a sign of independence – soon he won’t need me or Zach to sit and see things, he’ll be able to do that on his own. I’m excited by this milestone, and also saddened. I suppose this mixture of emotions is something that I will struggle with for a while – happiness and excitement at my son’s development, and sad that each new development will foster more independence – not that I want to encourage a dependent child – independence is something that both Zach and I feel strongly is a good trait to teach our child, but that doesn’t make it any less heart wrenching as Xander grows up.
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