Off to the Races!

I love this video. Henry loves crawling. There may be a chance he never walks. Every time I tell someone he's not yet walking, I get the same reaction: "Don't worry. Every child progresses at his own rate." Followed by a furrowed brow of concern that I'm worrying too much. I know I'll miss his crawling - it's so adorable and speedy - but sometimes I just want to put him down on the ground without getting his hands and butt filthy. This weekend I was excited to see that he stood unassisted for a few seconds - is that sad?

Incidentally, I turn 30 tomorrow. We had 2 amazing meals in celebration of my birthday. Friday was a casual meal with a few friends at Mado, a neighborhood foodie joint. http://madorestaurantchicago.com/index.html On Saturday, we went upscale for a 12-course meal at an undisclosed location. It was a meal to remember. After the smorgasbord, I looked 6 months pregnant and Chris looked 8 months pregnant. But it was worth it!! Yesterday I said to my 8-year-old niece that I am her "old aunt," and she replied, "YOU are not old." I love her. When I had Henry I felt old, so I'm feeling surprisingly ambivalent to turning 30. Maybe the fact that my sister is 5 years older numbs the pain. I get to be the youngest forever. Although, maybe I shouldn’t be so thrilled considered everyone says we look like twins.

First word ... "Dadda"

Henry has started speaking his first word:  “Dadda!”  Around 8 months he was babbling “Dadda” and “Momma” without any meaning.  Then 2 weeks ago, he started babbling “Dadda” exclusively.  Last weekend (10 months) he said “Dadda” as he crawled towards Chris, but I wasn’t convinced he meant “Dadda.”  Then on Monday, Chris called from work, as he does every day, to check-in, and Henry cried out, “Dadda.”  Now each time I pick up the phone, Henry says, “Dadda.”  How do I know he doesn’t think the phone is called “Dadda?”  I don’t.  But I do know that every morning at 6:30 I nurse Henry, and then we head into the master bedroom to wake up Chris.  On the way into the bedroom, Henry says, “Dadda” the entire time, and looks for Chris, who is usually hiding under the covers.  The sound of his voice, high pitched with lots of inflection, is so sweet. 

Every day Henry gets more interactive.  He’s starting to copy our actions.  If Chris spits out his tongue, Henry spits his tongue back.  He waves hello and goodbye by folding his fingers down with his palms facing him (although it’s usually very delayed).  He smiles at the camera.  He reads books on his own – i.e. sits on the floor with books turning the pages independently.  He can hold half a pear (very ripe and skinned) and take bites out of it.  If I get down on the floor and crawl, he’ll chase me around the house.  After I change his diaper on the floor, he usually escapes (he has an amazingly quick first step), I let him crawl away and then I chase him.  Each time he'll take a few paces then stops and looks back at me grinning from ear to ear.  He turns the wheel on his leapfrog play table to trigger the music, cruises away while dancing (bending his knees), and when the music stops he returns to spin the wheel and start the music again.  He dives at me when I play peek-a-boo.  He gently pets dogs (he used to gouge out their eyes).  He can sit in a toy car and hold the steering wheel as I push the car.

Unfortunately, he is also learning to scream and growl when he doesn’t get what he wants.  He arches his back when he doesn’t want to sit in the stroller.  He deliberately drops food and toys on the floor when sitting in his high chair.  He opens doors and cabinets.  He pulls up on furniture and grabs at the stove knobs – we have covers now.  He also pulls up on the toilet – a no no.  I’ve resorted to putting his toys in a bunch of cabinets, so that he can explore.  I got tired of saying “no” all the time.  Baby toys and other baby safe items that aren’t toys, are exploding from every nook in our 2-bedroom apartment. 

This is a very fun time for us.  *Sigh*tear* good times.