Fourth month...

Our friends stop by after midnight with a dozen farm fresh corn and their three beautiful kids, all fast asleep. It's their first time seeing the baby, who is still wide awake as we stand around their car catching up. My husband and I peek in at their kids, who are so big now, and all long and lean. Their youngest has curly hair and sleeps with her heels together like a frog. She must feel absolutely secure in the car between her siblings, and her parents in front. Later that day we have lunch with friends who are adopting a Vietnamese baby boy, currently four months old. They have two pictures, and he has soulful, wise eyes. I am moved, and tear up, perhaps because this boy and mine are a month apart. I tell the mom-to-be that he's beautiful, but of course she knows. After lunch, we say a goodbye to a family we know...we're not sure when we will see them and their child again. These kids, they grow quickly...

We 'project' on the baby, but in a good way, thinking about activities we enjoy that we would like to pass on, like borrowing stacks of library books, boating & fishing, bike-riding, playing in the park, 'camping' in a tent in the backyard (outdoors experience with indoor amenities). It's still early enough that we are still receiving gifts (clothes via Fed-Ex from Singapore!) and 'first-visits' from friends. 

When I bump the back of the baby's head on the change table, he is startled and initially whines, about to cry, but I see that he is also looking closely at me for my reaction, and whether it was intentional. I apologize profusely, and touch him where he hit, and he is reassured. He smiles and starts swatting at a toy. I'm taken by how intelligent he is to assess the situation. I think this is the perfect age, when he is still portable, and alert and affectionate. His cognitive skills are contributing to his physical skills - between repeats of rolling side to side, he pauses to think about the coordination of it. 

I host a play date with my colleague and her daughter. She is unlike any other mom I've seen so far, very matter-of-fact, and rational. She uses cloth diapers, has resumed running competitively, took her four-month old on a long flight, will use a daycare centre after a year, and is doing baby-led weaning. She is  very attuned to her daughter's needs but not so seemingly sentimental...she is a scientist. I have an artist's sensibilities and a child's eye perspective. 

I notice I am already deferring things to do, like Shakespeare in the Park, which isn't (crying) baby-friendly. I have to think we will catch up later on outings when the baby is a child. 

I become fascinated by the trapped Chilean miners, who seem to be doing well. I am a civilian and would not thrive - I would sit in the corner and chew on my hand. 

I create a twitter account @relytwu and my first follower is @polkaroo. 

We head out of town overnight for a wedding - we sit with other parents of young children: our new demographic. I have a conversation with a six-year old, asking her questions for her to think about and respond to, such as her preferences for various activities. She has three younger siblings, so is able to advise me on the developmental stages to look for at each age. 

We dress the baby in scrubs and take him to the doctor September 13 (6.56 kg, 65 cm). 

Reading:  http://www.brainchildmag.com/