Week 36

Dear Zayde,


This week I learned to quickly transition from resting on my back to sitting up.  The process is multi-step.  First, I roll onto my stomach.  Next, I push myself up into a plank position.  I then lower my knees and shift my weight back and sideways until my tushie is planted firmly on the ground.  It's far more graceful than it sounds.  The reverse process is much faster, though.  I simply put my hands on the ground, lunge forward, and flip onto my back.  Sometimes my head gets in the way, and I need to yell at Mommy for making the ground rush at my face so quickly.  I'm still working out the kinks.

This week I also learned to crawl, but please don't tell anyone because it's a secret.  Only Daddy knows.  I've been teasing Mommy and all the other grown-ups for weeks with my hands and knees rocking and lunging act and pushing myself backwards across the laminate floor to get to my bookshelf or to wedge myself under the piano or between my exersaucer and the chair.  It's been fun, but we all know that this baby-ish tactic will only be cute for so long.  In the last few months, I've observed slightly older children scurry across carpets, and I must admit that I am intrigued by the idea of being able to follow Mommy anywhere, whether she likes it or not.  This morning, while Mommy was taking what I must admit was a much-deserved nap, I decided to show off all my new skills for Daddy.  I pushed myself from my back up to a sitting position.  Then I pulled myself up to stand next to my toy box.  Daddy was so impressed that I decided to give him a little treat.  When he placed his phone on the mat, I got into my hands and knees position and reached for it.  When he moved it slightly out of reach, I threw caution to the wind and went for it.  I didn't crawl far, but I did move just far enough to delight my poor father before he had to leave for work.  (I learned that lawyers work any day of the week and that this is one of the many reasons Daddy tells me not to be a lawyer.)  After all that moving and shaking, I took an epic nap on Daddy, and when I woke up, Mommy was ready to feed me.  Let's see how long I can wait to show her my new trick.

In the pool, I learned that I can float.  My instructor showed Mommy where to place her hands (under my back and neck) while I stop screaming and relax on my back.  When I'm ready - or rather, when she says I'm ready - Mommy slowly takes away the hand under my back.  If I don't freak out too much, she then removed the hand from under my neck.  I can stay afloat for a couple seconds before I start to wiggle and sink.  Apparently this is a big deal and warranted much praise.  I can't imagine how this skill will prove useful, but I have a similar view of my sippy cup right now, despite everyone telling me how wonderful it is to drink out of a plastic container.  I guess time will tell.

I think all these new movements have made Mommy nervous, which had led to a new discovery this week.  I learned that my crib's mattress could be lowered so that it is only a few inches off the ground.  Now when I sit up in bed, I can't reach the top of the bars.  I've also noticed Mommy putting little plastic things into the electrical outlets, which will make it very difficult for me to stick anything into them.  I'm beginning to think that Mommy doesn't want me to have any fun.  Don't worry; I'll figure out a way to overcome these seemingly insurmountable obstacles.  I always do.


Planning the next step,
Zelda