She crawls

How she move

Emmeline is definitely on the move these days.  She doesn't just roll over anymore.  She rolls and rolls and rolls.  I don't think it's intentional -- as in, I want to get over there, and so I'm going to roll that way.  But she definitely is trying to get around.  I put her down in the middle of the rug, and within a minute or so, she's across the room.  She only stops when she runs into the couch or the side table or the wall.  When she's on her belly she makes clear moves to try and crawl.  She can get her knees up under her and sometimes gets into some kind of three point stance trying to reach out for a toy, but she hasn't actually gotten far in her attempts.

When Emme does get where she's going, she either puts whatever she's found in her mouth -- the base of the Exersaucer, the bottom of her car seat, my shoelaces -- or wails because she can't roll any further.  I think it will be a few weeks still until she's really moving well in a crawl, but I don't think it will be long, either.

I like to move it, move it

Crabby

Ollie seems to enjoy having a backyard and is especially fond of being out there when we're working in the yard. He is, unfortunately, particularly interested in the three brick steps that lead up to the garage and heads straight there when placed almost anywhere in the yard. He doesn't seem to mind the dirt or bugs on him, but recently, he's started moving like a crab in the grass, keeping his knees up but otherwise using a crawling motion. I've seen him do it on the cement when he's wearing shorts, though usually he just roughs it. I don't know if the grass tickles or the ground is mucky or he's using this as a phase towards walking, but it's hilarious to watch.

Ollie's Journal, Week 30-36

Things I did:

1. Started CRAWLING. Hello. My favorite thing to do now. I like to go see Lucy on her bed and play with her toys, bang the baby gate keeping me off the balcony, rip the cover off the computer, chew on the straps that dangle down from the high chair, check to see if mom and dad left the front bathroom door open so I can play in Lucy's bowls, bang on the washing machine -- and, oh yeah, occasionally play with some of my toys. (Notice the words repeated here: Lucy and bang).
2. Got two bottom teeth and am thinking about two on top (the white bumps are visible, but I won't let mom or dad get a good look). I can now eat some special crackers and chew them up. Mom promises I can have Cheerios and Goldfish when I have four teeth in.
3. Discovered wheels. I like to push the stroller back and forth in the hallway (and chew on the stroller wheels when mom's not looking, as pictured here) and spin the wheels on my dump truck. Such a stereotypical boy.
4. Felt grass for the first time. Yes, it's finally warmer here in Chicago, and everything is green and beautiful. Mom and Katie have both taken me to the park, and I got to try the swing (not a big reaction, so we're going to go back when I'm better rested) and lay in some grass. It pokes me on my cheek!
5. Got on something of a schedule. I usually get up between 6:30 and 7am (no matter what day it is), nap from 9-11, again from 2-4, then go to bed around 8pm. Mom doesn't understand how I sleep more now than when I was littler, but she says she's not complaining. I'm also doing better at night. I just get up once now, and it's usually only for 10-15 minutes. I'm going to try really hard to sleep all night soon!
6. Gave mom her first Mother's Day present -- a pink hydrangea and a funny card (dad helped me write a nice little sentiment, and then Lucy made us per her name on it, too).

Right now: It's 3:17pm, so I'm in the middle of my nap, of course.

Under

Ollie has learned how to get himself into the base of the Exersaucer. What is so appealing about this, I'm not sure, but for now I'm satisfied if he doesn't wonk his head on the top piece, sending him wailing for help. He has not, as of yet, learned how to get himself out.

In other developmental news, we've also dropped his crib mattress to the second setting. The last few times I've taken him out of the crib -- morning or afternoon -- I've found him with his hands latched onto the side, pulling himself up. We wanted to get the mattress lowered before he figured out how to push up with his feet, too. The added bonus is that he can no longer wonk his head (are you seeing the pattern here?) on the underside of his changing table, which is affixed to the top of the crib.

Wes and I figure we're good now until we leave here in about 5 weeks. In Nashville we'll reassemble the crib all the way at the lowest setting, stash the playpen (only kept out now to provide a place for one of the boys to nap when Jack and Katie are here), and store the Exersaucer.

Found the yellow ring.

Oliver at large

Ollie is a full 7 1/2 months now and has really started to reveal his personality. The kid is an absolute riot. He smiles and laughs. He's curious as anything and just loves to watch and touch and interact with everything around him. He likes to handle the brightly-colored afghan my mother made for him, looping his fingers through the holes, and run his fingers through my hair (only occassionally pulling on it). He has a strange penchant for strings and loves to put them in his mouth -- the pull strings on the toy bag, the ties on the camo liner we use a blanket on the couch, strings from my hood on sweatshirts or blouses, the straps in the high chair and stroller, and -- my favorite -- shoelaces. Without fail now, Oliver will find his way under the kitchen table to chew on our shoelaces if he's loose on the floor while we're at the table. And when you take them away and run to hide your shoes in the closet, he lets out a little wail of protest. He's sleeping better at night though still not "through the night." When he's falling asleep in my lap or the stroller on a walk or in the car or when wakes at night and is soothing himself back to sleep, he makes these long, monotone noises (his "whale mating noises," I call them). He's "crawling," dragging himself across the hardwood floor, ever faster these days. He can sit for long periods, leaning over and the righting himself. He's not figured out a good way to get from sitting to on his belly, and there have been some head vs. hardwoods incidents. He likes the dog and the window, which has been open the past few days in the warmer weather.

I know I've said it before, but it's a little sad to realize that Ollie won't remember any of this time of his life. I guess there's plenty of theorists who say what happens to a child even at this stage can affect him long term, shape his personality and such, but obviously he won't remember being this happy. I suppose it's enough that we will.

Things I have taken out of my son's mouth today:

• Grass, leaves, and other particles from the earth
• The dog's rawhide chewie
• My shoelaces (while my shoes were still on my feet -- when I feel something under the table, I can no longer assume it's the dog)

And the day is still young...

"Crawling"

Man on the move

Oliver is busy these days. He has been dragging himself around the floor for a few weeks, but in the last day or two he's become truly mobile. He still doesn't crawl, per se. It's more of an army crawl, owing to our super-slidy hardwood floors. Of course this also means that his front side is constantly covered dog hair and other dirt. His increased mobility in the last day or two also means he's into more things: just today, the dog's water bowl (splash!) and the dirt in one plant (so sorry, Paul). Both have been relocated. I usually let him feel, test, try things out, then interrupt when it becomes unsafe or, in some instances, just unsavory (for example, I draw the line at him putting the dog's rawhide chew in his mouth). This definitely makes "oh, I'll just (fill in the blank of some household chore) while Ollie plays" much harder than before. My mind keeps leaping to the stairs in the new house. Trouble, right here in River City...

Gotcha!

Ollie is on the move. He's not crawling, and I'm not sure if he can move this well on carpet, but on the hardwoods he is definitely a man with a mission -- or fifty constantly changing missions. He stretches, rolls, wiggles, squirms, and inches his way around the apartment -- especially the living room -- anytime he has the option. The primary object of this movement is to seek out the dog, but since she's a roving target, he often goes for her toys. Specifically, he likes the dog rope. While almost certainly just as disgusting as the rawhide chew, it just doesn't look quite as nasty. And he usually doesn't put it in his mouth -- just play with the strings. If nothing else, all this movement seems to be wearing him out a little so he'll nap and sleep at night more soundly!

Terrific Tummy Time

Ollie has finally come around on tummy time. He'll now play contentedly for quite some time on his belly and is really starting to move around, though I'm confident we're still some time from crawling. When we put him on the bare floor, he's able to spin himself around in a 360 and thus engage in his absolutely favorite pasttime -- dog watching. Oliver is completely enamored with Lucy. He watches her from the crib, from his Exersaucer, or from the floor. She'll walk around, and he'll spin himself in the Exersaucer or on the floor to watch. The bare floor is also his location of choice for rolling over. He evidently sees no point it on the monkey mat, but he's always happy to roll over when down on the floor.

The dog is, of course, the one danger down on the floor. She's been really great with him -- even when Ollie feeds her dog bones (after attempting to eat them himself) -- but Lucy isn't aware of herself or her claws when people are coming or going. If Wes gets home and the baby's on the floor, I've got to scoop him up before Lucy can skid by and poke an eye out. Hopeful with time, and as Ollie gets bigger, Lucy will become a bit more aware of him.