4 months old! I picked out a half-zip for this photo shoot b/c it’s a fave of his dad :-) It’s been a big month for ZBL! His major accomplishment was rolling over on October 4th, from tummy to back. Most of his efforts, however, have been focused on using his hands: to get things to his mouth, to move objects, to grab things. It’s been fun watching him realize he can control them and do things with them. I can see the look on his face, the intensity with which he is focused on his goal. He is definitely moving out of the 4th trimester set of needs into a broader and more interesting set. This month I’ve seen him engage with people more. When we drop SPL @ school, the other kids come to say hi and he smiles at them and their parents. Sometimes he’ll even talk with them. When we go to SPL’s various activities too, the parents and other kids often visit with Z and it’s clear he enjoys the interactions. Talking: ZBL likes to talk with people. I see him talk with our babysitter as she replies in Mandarin (side note: I think many of the initial words that babies learn are easier in Mandarin: big brother vs. gēge (pronounced “guh guh”) and big sister vs. jiě jie (prounounced “jeh jeh”) and little sister mei mei (pronounced “may may”) and little brother vs. di di (pronounced “dee dee”). It’ll be interesting to see how his language develops. SPL didn’t get exposed in earnest to Mandarin until he was 3 years old but spoke his first word in English, “hi”, at 10 months. Z is at his most interactive on the changing table. Often we will have lengthy conversations or laughs while he’s getting his diaper changed or right after. His vocalizations have increased dramatically this month and he clearly has something to say when he’s talking to me/John/SPL/our babysitter. His eyebrows will arch and his lips will change shape along with the rest of his face to express emotion along with the sounds. Our biggest effort this month as a family has been towards getting Z on a better day time sleep pattern. For awhile, he was sleeping 4 20 minute naps a day and even this good natured child was Mr. Crankypants by the end of the day. A friend recommended a sleep coach for us and after working with her, Z and I have found better sleep patterns. He now sleeps in his papasan bouncy seat, which elevates his head above his stomach to help relieve any reflux that he’s been suffering (undiagnosed) from. He struggled so much on his back, even with the swaddle, and was much more peaceful in the bouncy chair (it’s not vibrating though – just used for the elevation). The first nap he got after working with the sleep coach was 3 hours?!?!? Unprecedented. His babysitter and even many parents at SPL’s school noticed the difference in his face and skin. He’s like a new kid! Let’s hope it keeps going.

October 26, 2012 · PHOTO

4 months old!

I picked out a half-zip for this photo shoot b/c it’s a fave of his dad :-)

It’s been a big month for ZBL! His major accomplishment was rolling over on October 4th, from tummy to back. Most of his efforts, however, have been focused on using his hands: to get things to his mouth, to move objects, to grab things. It’s been fun watching him realize he can control them and do things with them. I can see the look on his face, the intensity with which he is focused on his goal. He is definitely moving out of the 4th trimester set of needs into a broader and more interesting set.

This month I’ve seen him engage with people more. When we drop SPL @ school, the other kids come to say hi and he smiles at them and their parents. Sometimes he’ll even talk with them. When we go to SPL’s various activities too, the parents and other kids often visit with Z and it’s clear he enjoys the interactions.

Talking: ZBL likes to talk with people. I see him talk with our babysitter as she replies in Mandarin (side note: I think many of the initial words that babies learn are easier in Mandarin: big brother vs. gēge (pronounced “guh guh”) and big sister vs. jiě jie (prounounced “jeh jeh”) and little sister mei mei (pronounced “may may”) and little brother vs. di di (pronounced “dee dee”). It’ll be interesting to see how his language develops. SPL didn’t get exposed in earnest to Mandarin until he was 3 years old but spoke his first word in English, “hi”, at 10 months.

Z is at his most interactive on the changing table. Often we will have lengthy conversations or laughs while he’s getting his diaper changed or right after. His vocalizations have increased dramatically this month and he clearly has something to say when he’s talking to me/John/SPL/our babysitter. His eyebrows will arch and his lips will change shape along with the rest of his face to express emotion along with the sounds.

Our biggest effort this month as a family has been towards getting Z on a better day time sleep pattern. For awhile, he was sleeping 4 20 minute naps a day and even this good natured child was Mr. Crankypants by the end of the day. A friend recommended a sleep coach for us and after working with her, Z and I have found better sleep patterns. He now sleeps in his papasan bouncy seat, which elevates his head above his stomach to help relieve any reflux that he’s been suffering (undiagnosed) from. He struggled so much on his back, even with the swaddle, and was much more peaceful in the bouncy chair (it’s not vibrating though – just used for the elevation). The first nap he got after working with the sleep coach was 3 hours?!?!? Unprecedented. His babysitter and even many parents at SPL’s school noticed the difference in his face and skin. He’s like a new kid! Let’s hope it keeps going.