This is my baby. His name is Joseph Arthur. We call him Joseph, Joe, Joey, Curly Bear, Captain Wonderful, Small Boy, Buddy, Wee Laddie and Snuggle Bug.
And isn’t he beautiful?
These days:
- He yells. A lot. When he’s happy or mad or wants something, he just yells. It can be a little disconcerting for people when we’re on the phone. They hear a baby yelling and say “Oh, you’re busy! I’ll call you back.” And I nonchalantly say “Oh, that’s just Joe. He’s just perched at the toy box yelling in delight. Really, he’s fine.” and just keep talking.
- He is a snuggle bug. I’ve never seen a kid so snuggly. He would be happy if he could live in the sling and in my bed or on my lap. Or with Brian. He loves to sleep with Brian. They are Saturday afternoon nap buddies.
- He’s got dimples everywhere. Two in each elbow, a plethora on his bum, in his knees and creases in his thighs. He’s pudgy and delightful. I love to just hold his thights in my mouth.
- He hardly ever cries. I don’t think he’s cries much since birth to be honest. He’s a happy go-lucky laddie with a deep well of happiness.
- When he laughs, it’s this unexpected little gurgle followed by a “heh heh heh heh.” Brian and Anne can really get him going. I have to resort to tickling.
- He has just learned to wave. He turns his hand towards himself and moves just his fingers like “come here” all together. He is learning to wave his whole arm while doing it. So when we go to the store or to the park, he perches on the edge of his stroller, leaning all the way out. As soon as he catches someone’s eye, he waves and waggles his fingers and grins. Then all the ladies at the Safeway call him a Big Flirt.
- Speaking of grins, he’s got a mouthful of teeth! 8 already, if you can believe it.
- He hates food. I was worried about it but not so much anymore. My mother really put my mind at ease by reminding me that I didn’t eat solids until I was 13 months (sickness related but still). And after doing some research, it’s pretty normal. So we’re just dialing it back again. And we’ll try again later.
- He hates to sleep. Honestly, if I didn’t make it happen, he’d never sleep. And probablly still be pretty happy about it. We ran into a rough patch because I wasn’t nursing him much during the day (trying to get him hungry enough to eat food) so then he’d nurse ALL THE NIGHT LONG. I was shattered. So I stopped that nonsense (again, thank you Jesus for the advice of my mother) and just nursed him as much as he liked during the day. Which is a lot. (He’s a big boy.) And sure enough, he was only up once that night for a feed. Anne still loves her nap and would sleep every day for three hours if I let her. Him? It’s a battle and even when I win, he’s glorious in defeat.
- He’s 21 pounds. *faint*
- And his hair is starting to curl!
- He’s sweaty. I love this about him. Whenever he has a big sleep, he wakes up all damp and curly-haired, red-faced and sweaty. He smells like such a boy.
- He absolutely adores his sister. He thinks she hung the moon. It’s like wrestle-mania in here some days. They do everything together. A favourite pastime these days are Splash Parties in the Bathtub. Oh, they have a time. And I get just as wet as they do.
- He went right from crawling to standing up with furniture to now walking all over the furniture.
- He knows his name.
- He says “Mum” all the live long day.
- He is learning the word “hi” right now.
- He is a very fast crawler.
- He loves to make noise. I don’t know if this is a boy thing or what but whatever is in his hand is being whacked with all his strength against the floor. If it’s in his hand, it’s for banging. And that’s that.
- His favourite toys are the Princess Magic Party Bus and the Princess Tea Set. My sister is determined to get him some boy toys.
- He’s obsessed with the bathtub. Whenever I can’t find him (which isn’t often….I live in 800 sq ft, remember?) he’s always perched in the bathroom, clinging to the side of the tub. I think he just wants to get back in because this kid loves his bathtime.
- Speaking of which, lately he’s taken to howling at me while I’m showering. Which isn’t exactly empowering. I mean, I know that my figure has changed since having two tinies but that is hardly necessary.
- He’s a joy.
- He seems like he’s taking his time growing up. I have to confess that I love his clinginess. My sister, my cousins, even my doctor have all told me that boys are like this. They have this reputation of being independent but it’s not true. They are slower to grow away from their mothers. They nurse more intensely and longer. They want to co-sleep. They want to be close. They want to be held. They take longer to walk. And I’m rather happy about that. Anne grew up so fast. She’s all legs and arms and chatter. I cherish my nights spent with Joseph, the heft of him on my right hip, his hand tangled in my hair as he hollers his delight.
