Joshua, four months old
I drafted an unpublished post titled, “Joshua, three months old.” This implies the following: I am a very busy mama, and I either need to type faster or write shorter. Here’s hoping that I finish this post before another month passes!
The baby who sang in his sleep and smiled often from birth, is now a boy that flirts with strangers and boosts self esteem by laughing at dumb jokes. Everywhere I go I hear the laughter of women behind me, as Joshua caught the attention of yet another lady with his wide gummy smile. And not a dry one either. Though the dripping has slowed some in recent weeks (a sign of potential solid food readiness?) for a while there he was quite a drool factory. The possible teether wants to chew on everything, and is fascinated by every.. single.. object.. that surrounds him. I can no longer wear him in the kitchen for uninterrupted chore time, because just about everything that I can reach, he will too. And straight to the mouth! I love the way he is amazed by the sundry items that spots. Today I was rolling grocery bags to store with him on my hip, and lightning fast there is fold of plastic clutched in a tiny fist. The look on his face, wide eyed and intent was like, “Oh my goodness? What is THAT?” He gets the left-right-left-right head exercises as I am working on dishes, or a sunbutter sandwich. Sink, counter. sink, counter. Jar, bread. Jar, bread. I know it is a trite thing to say, but babies are such sponges!
Joshua is an avid eater, and at over 18 pounds at his last check up, it is no secret. He switches from breast to bottle without argument, save for bedtime when he clearly prefers to nurse. Staying in bed is not something that we are blessed with yet. Taking after big brother he wakes often, but usually cheery. Just looking for a toilet, snack or a warm snuggle. Following some of the “attachment parenting” styles I am okay with this, meeting his wants and needs at his whim and request. Though four months of constantly interrupted sleep is starting to get to me! As his pediatrician noted, now I know why they use sleep-deprivation for torture. It sure is a good thing he is so cute and full of love. It makes it all worth it. Last night while reading The Cat and the Hat to the boys, Joshua giggled after every other line. Laughed throughout the whole book! I don’t know if he found the sound of the rhyming sentences amusing, or was just being silly, but I loved it.
Our little Pisces LOVES his bath, and it is no wonder with a middle name that means “son of the sea.” Johnathan snapped photos for me during his fist submersion and despite the occasional shot of the floor or mama’s bum, he did a pretty good job. I wish I knew to take a before and after head shot of the little guy- his first shampooing washed off all his hair! I miss the way his little cowlick in the front looked a like a perfect little whirlpool. It is growing back, a bit lighter and with a red tint in the right light. He still loves the water, and doesn’t even protest much when it gets in his face while I’m washing out shampoo. And no, I haven’t washed off his hair since that first time.
As early as images from in utero, I imagined that our youngest would be our little athletic one. He just had that look about him, the little beefcake. Day one and two home from the hospital he rolled over from back to front, mid fit. No way, I thought. And sure enough it just turned out to be one of those newborn phenomena like the walking reflex, or coming out with teeth. He didn’t do it again until this week. At four months he can roll from back to front, but only with some encouragement from an out of reach toy, or a big brother that is too far away. And he is absolutely smitten with him, speaking of big brother. Those two are inseparable. He follows Johnathan wherever he goes. And Johnathan is a very loving and protective big brother. My mom caught Johnathan on video ordering me to “Take it easy!” when he saw me touching “his baby.” We’ve since had to teach little Johnathan what is and is not appropriate to say to your parents. But more on that in Johnathan’s four year blog post… if this busy mama ever gets to it!