I heard it from any number of parents: “something just clicks, and away they go.”
Happened over the weekend for the Monkey. He understood that using his hands and knees was more efficient than the army crawl, for movement and also for seeing and grabbing things. In pretty much the same ‘play session’ he also discovered pulling himself to standing.
So, we not only have a little guy who can motor from point A to point B in seconds (whereas before it took ages if he could get there at all), but once he’s at point B, he will grab at anything of a reasonable height and try to pull himself up.
You think to yourself, “When he can entertain himself a bit more, I’ll be able to sort of catch some TV or sort of play some video games while he’s playing.”
Nuh-uh.
Today I put him on a wide open play area, with interesting toys, and hop quickly into the computer room—not to play or fart around, but to gather some stuff I needed for work—expecting that he’d be at least a bit distracted by all the crawling and toys. Look up and he’s ALREADY at the couch, and already standing. No advance warning. No grunting. Just standing there reaching for some folded laundry or remote control or something. Ran back in, not to scoop him up but to be there as his “safety net.” In truth, though, it was more exciting than concerning. Yeah, OK, so it’s not going to free me up any (if anything I have to be more attentive than ever!), but it was so damn cool to see him discovering his own independent ability to move around.
As I sat there next to him on the couch, he pivoted 90 degrees and reached out for my lap. After grabbing it, he brought his legs around as well. He was TOTALLY aware of this action as an “accomplishment”, and looked right up into my eyes, HUGE smile on his face, and made some awesome “happy sounds”.
Shortly after that, he was back on all fours, and crawled to the stairs. Up the first one onto the landing (there’s only 1 stair at that spot). Pulled himself to the “real” stairs and gave it a try. Didn’t succeed, but it’s so crazy that he would even try. I’m not sure if he just recognized it as a great place for vertical movement, or if he made the connection “if I can learn to use these things, I can get everywhere in the house!” I’m thinking it’s the former, but you just never know.
Needless to say, we’ve already done two things:
1. Stored my collection of swords, guns, and cyanide.
2. Bought baby barriers. All it will take is 5 seconds of forgetfulness or not paying attention for the unthinkable to happen. Tomorrow, I will install them if it’s the last thing I do. Unless installing them will wake the baby. Then I won’t. But other than that, I’m ON IT! So, like, 50% going to do it (baby not sleeping at install time), and 50% not. ROCK ON! Or stuff.
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Today he was also ripping into some flank steak during supper. Holding the strip with both hands, strategically positioning it so that he could use his only 2 teeth, and making efficient tearing motions. I said to Alie, “The cool thing is how much of it is instict. He’s never seen us eat quite like that, but he knows it’s the best way to eat that hunk o’ meat!” Even cooler is the observation that pablum-fed babies don’t get to learn most of this until later. Having gone the Child-Led Weaning route, I can’t imagine ever doing it differently for another child. Pablum/cereal/mush parents are missing out on some pretty fun and exciting mealtimes. And, you don’t have to fight a spoon into their mouth! Bonus!
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Tomorrow Grammie comes again. I really should make that wonderful woman some lunch some time. I’m like the WORST ‘host’ ever. :-/
