Stay-at-home baby

I think Bear likes being a stay-at-home baby. For one thing, he gets to watch Zuzu all day long. When I watch him watch her, I actually feel kinda bad for Zuzu that she doesn’t have an older sibling, so she misses out on all this great entertainment. The other day, Zuzu pretended to pour a bucket of soup on Bear’s head, and then began a laborious process of cleaning him by transforming toys into imaginary soap dispensers and then toweling off his head and torso and limbs one by one. The whole thing was fairly invasive and time-consuming, and all the while Bear sat there quietly in wide-eyed fascination.

He likes to examine things. He seems like he wants to take things apart and put them back together. He leans forward—almost constantly, putting steady persistent pressure on the hands that are holding him back, deeply focused on objects before him. He doesn’t cry or act frustrated when he can’t reach something, he just leans and leans and leans. Since he can’t quite sit on his own, when he leans forward he will just fold double if allowed. And I usually have to use two hands when I carry him on my hip, because he leans forward with such determination.

Part of his examination procedure is, of course, to put things in his mouth. That’s typical baby, but Bear looks like he’s taking notes when he does it. New object appears. Begin by staring. Next, examine with fingers. What does it feel like? What happens when you shake it? Next: examine with mouth. What does it taste like?

He’s big and heavy and plump and feels so good to hold. I’m not into co-sleeping but I’m a fan of co-napping, and so is Bear. For the most part he’s at his happiest when he’s being held. In fact, he’s rather insistent about being held most of the day.