Last week I talked about Nico’s first Christmas, but didn’t mention much about his actual development. He’s really growing up before our very eyes, and it seems like every day there’s something new that he can do. For one thing, his salivation glands are in total overdrive, and there was a moment or two when I thought he might be teething. And while excessive drooling is the first sign of teeth, I think we’ve still got a month or two before we have to deal with that.
He sits up pretty well now, and can even stand (with our help for stability of course). He reaches for things in a much more deliberate way, and is almost always successful in gabbing them. And of course, the first thing he does once he’s grabbed on to something is bring it up and into his mouth. We’re always impressed with his intense focus when he’s discovering something new. The other day I watched him as he “figured” out the best way to hold on to one of his toys so that he could bring it up to his mouth. After having dropped it once or twice, he slowly turned it over and grabbed it from the other side that was better suited for his little hand. It was really amazing to watch.
He still loves his Jolly Jumper, amusing himself for whole minutes at a time! Actually, he’s also getting better at sitting all by himself on the couch. I’m happy to see that he’s gaining some independence, even though the majority of his days are still spent in someone’s arms (not that I’m complaining!!).
We’re still going out for walks, despite the much colder temperatures (Winter has finally reached the capital!) which meant I had to rethink my baby-wearing setup. While I love the Boba Wrap, Nico has never been a big fan of facing inwards, and now that he’s a little older, a little more alert, he’s even more reluctant to settled into the wrap for our walks. He usually fusses and arches his back, which stretches the wrap and I end up holding him with both my arms (so what’s the point of putting him in the wrap if it’s no longer arms free??)
I went back to Milkface (are you starting to notice a pattern here? It’s my go-to shop for things baby) and I asked about front-facing carriers. They showed me the Beco Gemini, and gave me a loaner for five days. I put Nico in it, and was AMAZED to see that he not only didn’t protest, but actually LIKED it in there. We went out for some walks with him in it, I did the dishes and tidied the apartment with him in it (!), and by the time my five days were up, I knew I wanted to get one. It’s good for kids up to 35lbs, so I’ll be able to take Nico around in it for a long time. I’m really pleased with it.
And finally, let me tell you about Nico’s mood… The kid LOVES to smile and laugh. He loves it when we stare and coo at him, which produces the best heart-melting smile you’ve ever seen. He’s also a big talker now – making all kinds of super cute sounds like he’s trying to say things to us. Sometimes we have full on “conversations” I love making that kid laugh, and I love that his personality is so friendly and happy.