The Stories of our Lives

Transl. “In a few words (10 months already!)”

The older he gets, the faster Xavier develops, so much so that it is becoming tempting to abandon archiving each one of the new aptitudes he acquires each month. I can’t detail his progress anymore, then, but to concentrate on generalities (!) and what was important/striking in May…

In movement
Our little man is now doing pretty much as he pleases. He can alternate from a position to the other – sitting, standing, on his belly – with the agility of a little monkey and move to where he would like in the house (let’s say : in rooms his parents let him access, which excludes, among others, the stairs). He’s completing slowly his transition to crawling on all fours as opposed to on his tummy. His stability has also greatly improved during the last month, which means he’s able to, once standing up, move from a piece of furniture to the next, lower down to the floor without problem and even, more and more often in the last few days, stay standing for a couple of moments without leaning on furniture, or “walk” behind his toy-walker. But the best part is that he has learned the art of falling with the least amount of contusions. First steps forthcoming!

In dreamland
As for sleep, it varies. He can sometimes sleep the night through, or he can sometimes wake up 3 to 4 times a night. We’ll suspect teeth, cold, indigestion, etc., and other times we’ll tell ourselves he’s being difficult. His parents live the situation in different fashions: mom is now an old friend of little nocturnal escapades down the corridor and survives on what sleep she gets, and dad… sleeps like a log. (It would still be tolerable if he wouldn’t complain of sleep loss on top of things!) At least there are no night feedings anymore, and these crying interludes are quick (usually).

In conversation
Xavier had started to “chatter” a lot for a while, short two syllables words (“tudaï!”, “goya”, “aïdaï”) but, for the last week or two, has been less communicative. It will come back… He started playing with his tongue, however, taking it out to make funny sort of faces.

In the high chair
He is starting to eat more and more like us and sometimes even shares our food. He still loves to eat with his hands – and is gaining precision – but restarted to let us feed him with a spoon (which can be useful, especially when eating at other people’s place!). He takes 4 bottles of 6oz per day and has almost switched completely to 3.25% milk. He’s able to hold his own bottle, but is in the habit of playing with it a lot and not drink a lot – and send milk flying everywhere – so his mommy is a little reluctant to let him have it.

In character
Usually in good spirits, still Xavier started displaying some character and will get upset – read: scream really loud – when things are not going according to his will; if, by example, we take back an object he was able to snatch or prevent him from crawling down the stairs. I have then adopted to ignoring these little tantrums while administering a hug and explanations about why he cannot do this or that thing. He does not understand yet, but I think he can perceive the quiet tone and hope he will realise eventually that getting angry will not get him back his new “toy”. I’m also using the word “No” firmly with a dissuading tone to indicate forbidden items; it doesn’t work perfectly yet, but he seems to understand a little, somewhat. The beginning of disciplin, then.

In love
Xavier loves books, watching out the window and the fishtank, ride on his daddy’s shoulders, try the swings at the park, empty containers full of small objects (blocks, etc.) over his head, play peek-a-boo and chase his parents around the kitchen island. Oh, and our little genius understood tonight how his funnel-toy works – it’s a toy he has where the top part is a funnel for rattle-balls which start a tune when they fall, and the toy redistributes the balls at its base. [Author note: Tiny Love toys are great.] Xavier was interested by the process: he was taking a ball from the base, dropping it in the funnel and trying to see where it disappeared to!

In technicalities
Height: 30.5″ (erm… not sure: he was wriggling a lot) - Weight: 21 lbs

Hum. I’m always telling myself I’ll make these archives posts as short as possible… I’m making an effort, I swear. :}