25th June 2009

360’s On the Floor, and Squeals of Delight

Melina is now 7 months old.  When you pass the six month mark, and it’s already 7 months, you see the 1-year mark coming up fast.  There are so many great milestones that she is passing:

  1. Full 360 degree roll-overs on the floor.  The other day, she started out under the activity gym, and soon had rolled over all the way to the Pier 1 rattan chair - and was playing with the bottom of the chair - fascinated by it.
  2. At that point, I realized two childproofing tasks needed to take place immediately - the chair is not far from the top of the stairs….
  3. Last couple of days, she’s experienced absolute squeals - total squeals of delight - and to my dismay - when she got frustrated today about feeding - squealed almost same way - buggers!  I’m in trouble…. my sweet, calm, Melina - I think I like the gutteral sounds of frustration far more than the squeals of frustration.  I can see temper-tantrums not so far away.  She already stomps her legs and cries when having to go to sleep at night.  I’m giggling as I write this.
  4. Eating solids- -loves peas, loves them!  Not so sure about the tart taste of pears and apples.  Bananas - not a good idea if I don’t want super sticky you know what on her butt….
  5. Sitting up in the baby bathtub, splashing around, curious about everything - fascinated with simple things
  6. Reaching to get whatever she wants, where ever she is
  7. Fascination with things I knowingly will regret later - my cell phone - sorry if she calls you - babbles into your ear - or SQUEALS  into your ear - she’s fascinated by the sound that comes out of the cell phone.  I think she might recognize PaPa’s voice now on the cell phone.  The remote control, my computer - those are the main things she’s fascinated with.  I’ve been advised by wiser parents not to let her do this - but how do you limit an exploring mind at this age?
  8. Bouncing on my hip, my stomach which is slowly dwindling back to its normal state, my leg, a pillow, whatever she can bounce on.
  9. Rolling over and sleeping on her tummy - and scaring the crap out of me when I walked into the room today, seeing her sleep head down, on her chubby little hand, and wondering how the hell is she breathing, is she breathing?  I woke her up, completely, pulled her out of the pack and play and making sure she was completely awake.  She was NOT happy about this.  Seeing her tonight and making her roll back over to her back - seeing her not turn her head to her side - wondering how she’s going to sleep, ACTUALLY going into my room and doing the same thing - to see if I could breathe well like that - deciding I could NOT sleep well that way - and then going back into her room and putting her on her side, and eventually on her back.  Paranoia is good sometimes - who knows what it’ll save her from…..
  10. Fitting into 9 month and 12 month outfits already - and enjoying her weight right now - it feels good to hold her - not so fragile and yet so fragile, you know?
  11. Experiencing the joy of your baby hugging you back, reaching for you, hiding her head in your shoulders - clutching onto you - for the first few times.  I know this will lead to the separation anxiety stage according to the development guides I’ve received from some good friends of mine, as well as all the reading I do online at babycenter.com.
  12. My own milestone of going to work without her on a given day, because I’ve found someone I trust and like a lot to watch her.
  13. Life is good with her.  Work and making ends meet is hard right now - but I know that things will get better and are already beginning to improve.  I see light at the end of the tunnel.  And, I want her to be proud of her mommy when she’s old enough to wonder about her beginnings.