O cruel world

A few (slightly picky, if you ask me) readers have written in requesting more news on Alice, rather than hearing about our many lunches. I snivelled into my skinny, decaf mocha for a few seconds and then remembered that this blog isn't supposed to be my excuse for not e-mailing people regularly, but rather to keep fiends and family up to date with Alice's adventures. Obviously not having worked for 6 months has dulled my ability to take criticism. (No one ever criticises you - to your face - when you have a young baby, it's great. Whatever you are up to, you are encouraged and praised by all health professionals and mothers group compadres and generally reassured that you know your own baby and if they like being held upside down for most of the day and cry at the sight of the postman, then it's just a passing phase/they're teething etc.)

But I digress...again...

Young Alice is plodding along nicely. I don't think she's a terribly advanced baby, but she's no shirker either. Rather, she will learn things very suddenly after weeks of me agonising that she hasn't done it yet and looking fretfully at other babies' antics.

This week/month's "by George, I think she's got it" moments have included:

1. Hand-eye co-ordination - she now reaches out grabs things decisively. No longer is it a game of chance as to whether her dribble-covered fingers alight on a hanging toy or outstretched hand. This is really handy for all the times I need her to hold a toy while I strap her in/ try to finish a pilates class without her screaming/ cook dinner/ need to distract her so that I can put a wash on, as I can thrust something at her rather than unclenching her little hand and then wrapping her fingers around it. She also grabs at water if we pour a stream over her in the bath with her former favourite toy, "orange scoop thing".

2. Giggling - it used to be vaguely amusing to be kissed, but is now a moment of great hilarity. Ditto throwing toys on the floor.

3. Turning pages on board books. OK, so she seems to want to read books from back to front (I blame the 8 hours she spent in Dubai airport in utero) but she is turning pages, nonetheless.

4. The locust position is thankfully on its way out. (See below - very similar, I think you'll agree) A good thing, since it seems to be pretty uncomfortable, even for the lady in the picture, who has a cushion underneath her. And she probably hasn't got a bellyful of breastmilk.




Nameste

Yesterday I put Alice on her tummy on her change mat as I finished off a little massage (gets us through the grumpy stage between 5 and 6pm). Since the mat has slightly raised sides, Alice was compelled to put her arms in front of her and move onto the cobra pose. It was as though a lightbulb went off and she dug her feet in and slithered forward, using her arms to support her, rather than her belly, and moved a whole inch towards a toy at the end of the mat. She hasn't repeated this feat on the floor, but we'll keep practising, although there's no rush for her to crawl, as far as I'm concerned!

Better

5. She continues loquacious. This is mainly a delight to the ears, although when she wants something, she will shout for it at great volume and make quite the fuss. This afternoon, I was baking (an urge that has overtaken everyone I know, post partum) and she wanted to be picked up. I was on my way, but wasn't able to respond to the first couple of minutes of shouting, as I was licking the bowl (another post-natal treat after months of being careful around eggs). In rage, she managed to up end her Bumbo table and throw it across the kitchen. And then giggled for ages. She seems to have her father's temper!