Motherese: Month Four
Posted on 02.20.07 to Clare, Motherese, Personal by JoanMotherese
Vol 1, Issue 4
Dearest Clare,
You rang in the Lunar New Year when you turned four months. As a bonus to us, you were in exceptional form that day, charming the relatives with your angelic behaviour, despite feeling uncomfortable from the teething phase you’re now entering. For real.
The finger eating from last month was nothing compared to the slobbering you’ve been up to. My clothes are perpetually drenched with your saliva, as with yours and your face too! You’ve been extra grumpy and your appetite’s diminished greatly. At least, you take a long feed before you go to bed and when you wake.
This was a month of you asserting yourself – you make it very clear to everyone what you want and what you don’t. Your face lights up whenever you WANT to play, just as we do most mornings. You WANT to sit with us at the dining table. When you WANT to sleep, you give us a few warning grunts and if we don’t act upon it fast enough, your cries will crescendo and will stay that way for a long time. You WANT to be with daddy and mommy most of the time, and we’re thankful that you do.
You DON’T WANT mommy to go to work. You DON’T WANT to drink from the boob for more than five minutes during the day and you bring the message firmly across by arching your back and turning your head all the way to the back. And you definitely DON’T WANT to sit around and do nothing.
The highlight of this month was when we took you for your first holiday in Perth! We were afraid that travelling with you in a plane would be a nightmare for us and the fellow passengers, but you surprised us all by bagging the ‘Best Baby On Board’ Award! Except for one or two outbursts, you gave us a relatively fuss free time and we were most relieved because you and I know you can deliver a loud one!
You recognise me pretty well now and acknowledge me when I step into your field of vision. You either stop wailing, break into your widest smile or cry louder to make sure that I pick you up super quick!
You are also beginning to sit up now. In no time, you can join us in eating solids and am sure you’ll enjoy yourself loads, if you’re anything like your mommy and daddy that is.
Thank you for enriching my life, for yet another month. You’ve no idea how much I love you.
Love,
Mommy
