Thursday, September 17, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Milestones
Since I am not keeping up with Gemma's baby book (and don't even have one yet for Guy!) it is time that I record some of what has been going on with our babies. So it will go on the blog in hopes that someday I will get it down on paper, too.
Guy has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past three months. Since his surgery, he has really taken off. He is so curious about everything and determined to go after whatever interests him at the moment. Just before surgery, Guy had started scooting around in a belly crawl. He resumed this mode of getting around just 2 days after his surgery in spite of his healing incision down the center of his chest! It was obvious that he was in some pain/discomfort over the next few weeks but it only slowed him down a little bit. After the first few weeks, Guy would push up onto his hands and knees more and more, as he healed more on the inside, we think. Last week, he must have felt much better in that position, because he has perfected his crawl and only occasionally resorts to his belly crawl. Also, he pulls up on anything available to him and wants to walk so badly! He is very quick and determined, at the peril of his big sister's many careful arrangements of cars, blocks, etc. Gemma got so frustrated with Guy's path of destruction last week, she marched into the kitchen and demanded, "How do you spell 'baby'?" I told her, and she marched away in a huff. Five minutes later, I discovered Guy downstairs, sitting up, staring at the closed door to the toy room/office. On said door, affixed with Scotch tape, was a sign that read, "NO BABYS".
Last night, though, we watched this big sister and baby brother play on our bed. The game involved a ball, some throwing, some gentle tackling. Guy was in heaven, spinning himself in circles on the bed, trying to keep his eye on Gemma as she sprinted from one side of the bed to the other. Their laughter was long and loud, their squeals growing more excited despite the late hour, thirty minutes past Guy's bedtime. But this moment was magical for all of us. And just when I thought my happiness had peaked as I watched my children delight in each other, Gemma reached out to embrace her brother. To my astonishment, Guy leaned in, pressing his face to hers, murmuring, "Mmmmmmm....mmmmmm." That is how he gives "hugs" and "kisses". I get these expressions of love and affection from Guy occasionally and they are divine. But to see Guy and Gemma have this exchange made my heart burst. As Humphrey Bogart once said, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship...
Gemma has also had a lot going on in the past week or two. The same week she started Junior Kindergarten (last week of August), she rode her bike without training wheels, completed her "shark" level swimming class by jumping off the diving board and swimming unassisted to the side of the pool, AND tied her own shoes! She is reading more and more, and at times she behaves in such a mature way that it takes my breath away. I am certainly missing my baby girl but I love the child she has become, and it is a treat to watch her grow and change each day.
Guy has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past three months. Since his surgery, he has really taken off. He is so curious about everything and determined to go after whatever interests him at the moment. Just before surgery, Guy had started scooting around in a belly crawl. He resumed this mode of getting around just 2 days after his surgery in spite of his healing incision down the center of his chest! It was obvious that he was in some pain/discomfort over the next few weeks but it only slowed him down a little bit. After the first few weeks, Guy would push up onto his hands and knees more and more, as he healed more on the inside, we think. Last week, he must have felt much better in that position, because he has perfected his crawl and only occasionally resorts to his belly crawl. Also, he pulls up on anything available to him and wants to walk so badly! He is very quick and determined, at the peril of his big sister's many careful arrangements of cars, blocks, etc. Gemma got so frustrated with Guy's path of destruction last week, she marched into the kitchen and demanded, "How do you spell 'baby'?" I told her, and she marched away in a huff. Five minutes later, I discovered Guy downstairs, sitting up, staring at the closed door to the toy room/office. On said door, affixed with Scotch tape, was a sign that read, "NO BABYS".
Last night, though, we watched this big sister and baby brother play on our bed. The game involved a ball, some throwing, some gentle tackling. Guy was in heaven, spinning himself in circles on the bed, trying to keep his eye on Gemma as she sprinted from one side of the bed to the other. Their laughter was long and loud, their squeals growing more excited despite the late hour, thirty minutes past Guy's bedtime. But this moment was magical for all of us. And just when I thought my happiness had peaked as I watched my children delight in each other, Gemma reached out to embrace her brother. To my astonishment, Guy leaned in, pressing his face to hers, murmuring, "Mmmmmmm....mmmmmm." That is how he gives "hugs" and "kisses". I get these expressions of love and affection from Guy occasionally and they are divine. But to see Guy and Gemma have this exchange made my heart burst. As Humphrey Bogart once said, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship...
Gemma has also had a lot going on in the past week or two. The same week she started Junior Kindergarten (last week of August), she rode her bike without training wheels, completed her "shark" level swimming class by jumping off the diving board and swimming unassisted to the side of the pool, AND tied her own shoes! She is reading more and more, and at times she behaves in such a mature way that it takes my breath away. I am certainly missing my baby girl but I love the child she has become, and it is a treat to watch her grow and change each day.
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