It seems like not too long, we had a teeny, tiny preemie who, for the longest time, couldn’t even hold his neck steady. Now we’ve got a big, burly 8-and-a-half-month-old boy who has four teeth and is just about to crawl!
James has been inching around the floor for a week or so, bum in the air and face on the ground in such a manner that he is more likely to get rugburn on his forehead than actually reach his intended destination. Occasionally, he’ll get up on all fours; usually, the fruit of his efforts is little more than a bit of rocking followed by more face planting. But yesterday, all the stars and planets aligned properly and, for the first time ever, James took two little crawl-paces! (And then promptly fell on his face and cried.)
I’ve set about trying to babyproof the living room, which is easier said than done. I’ve removed everything “chokey and pokey,” such as crayons, Barbies and the beloved broom, from Maddi’s toybox a half-dozen times and explained to her that these things belong in her bedroom or the dining room. But every time I turn around, I find a new product of Maddi’s frequent “shopping trips” she likes to take around the house — a pointy dinosaur tail here, a Mr. Potato Head nose there — right in the middle of the living room. Again. Needless to say, I spend a lot of time scanning the floor for things that I’ve already removed.
Today, it was an orange crayon. I took Maddi to the potty and returned to discover James grinning and covered in gleaming day-glo slime. Photos are in the offing!
In other news, his fourth tooth made an appearance. As expected, it was the left lateral upper incisor, and he is well on his way to a very unique smile indeed. (And, as some have been quick to point out, to the orthodontist!)