not abandoned...

I realize that the last few pictures and video clips have all featured Eole on the playmat. In case you think I carelessly abandon my baby to live out her days on the mat, I have posted the below clip to prove you wrong: I also abandon my baby to her bouncy seat. I figure since we've been slow at learning to crawl, maybe we should just go ahead and get a head start on walking, right? So bouncy seat it is. She has recently discovered the beloved turtle on the bouncy seat. Let the below clip be a warning to all you bald turtles, or bald turtle-looking folks. You might want to stay clear of our baby girl for a while.

scooting along

I received some concerned emails and messages about Eole's delayed motor skills, so I am happy to report that we are finally begining to chug along. While we are still not really great at rolling from our tummy to our back, we have, in one short week, become a pro, or at least a semi-pro, at rolling from our back to our tummy. And while we aren't attempting to crawl on our hands and knees, we are very good at scooting around on our back. In fact, a couple of times now I have put Eole on her playmat and only mintues later, I find that she has scooted off the mat and under one of our rocking chairs (see clip below). I'm not sure what fascinates her about this secret world of "underchair." Is it the fact that Mommy and Daddy are forbidden access? Is she now considering a career working under car chassis?

attempting to roll...

... attempting to rollover on our playmat we had an unfortunate collapsing incident. No babies were harmed, however.

the silver lining

Eole had her 6 month appointment with the doctor last week where it was confirmed that she takes after her mom's side of the family. In other words, she is "severely deficient in her gross motor skills." She should be rolling all over the place and sitting on her own. I thought rolling counted if you whipped the blanket out from under her; apparently it doesn't. We all know where this is going to lead: having a mortal fear of P.E. and being picked last for all sports teams. Yes, it's a tough reality that I am passing on to my offspring. But where there is weakness in one area, nature will compensate with a strength in another. Eole is very verbally advanced. I think we all remember that she said her first phrase (not even first word, mind you, but a whole phrase) when she was 2 weeks old: "ohhhh gollly." Now we have moved on to "dummmmb maaaa" Dumb Ma? Well, I'll take what I can get. She also likes to interrupt mommy and daddy's conversations with her own opinion on the topic: "blah, blah, blah, blah-" which is even said in that exasperated tone of a bored teenager. Daddy's afraid that, although smart as a whip, our girl will be so weak that she'll be forever confined to a wheelchair or crutches. He thinks we have mollycoddled her by holding her too much. This is what he says everyday as he interrupts tummy time to cuddle his baby girl.

Raspberries

(I tried to post this last week, but due to my cheap-o internet connection that keeps giving out on me, I was unable to finish!) Mommy also doesn't escape from Eole's disciplining methods. Eole has discovered the power of blowing the raspberry, and she is not afraid to use this new weapon. When she truly disapproves of your actions, such as when you momentarily put her down so you can do something truly banal like make dinner, she will call you on the carpet by blowing raspberries in your general direction. This new weapon is also used to call Mommy in the middle of the night to get her a fresh bum or a warm bottle. I tried to catch her on the camera when she was angry, but, whenever a camera is pointed in her general direction, the frowns are quickly replaced with her coos and glowing smiles. Maybe we're preparing for a career on the silver screen? Anyway, the clip below is the best I could do in capturing the raspberries.

To My Coy Mistress

That's right, Andrew Marvell, we have a new coy mistress for you. Although only few days shy of her six month birthday, Eole already knows how to pull at her man's heartstrings. Of course, we are referring to Daddy here. Eole knows that her Daddy should walk in the door around 6PM and then devote the rest of his evening to her. Should he dare dissapoint her by being on overnight call, she punishes him when he finally does come home. When Daddy walks in the door after a 30 hour call period, he'll sweep Eole up into his arms. She will be very happy about this, but direct all her smiles and giggles towards Mommy. Should Daddy try and hold her up so that she is looking him in the face, she will quickly turn her head away, looking for Mommy. She will give Daddy a few furtive glances when he is not looking, but will then quickly turn away so as not to give way her true feelings. This will last for a least a good three hours before Daddy is finally forgiven for abandoing his girl, and is let back into her good graces. By the way, she learned NONE of this behavior from her Mommy!

barley mush

The pediatrician and our auntie who is also a pediatrician, told me Eole was ready to start on solids-- if you can call barley mush "solids"-- over a month ago. In my heart, I knew she was ready as well. Just after her three month birthday, she started insisting on sitting at the table with us during dinner. Perched on daddy or mommy's lap, she would intently watch each bite we would take, and even look slightly insulted that the food-laden fork was not first offered to her. She may have been ready for solids, but I sure wasn't. It took me an extra month, two baby feeding books, and a carefully calculated feeding schedule before I felt ready to leave our strictly liquid diet. Last Sunday, we took the plunge. Don't let the video clip below fool you however. Although at first excited, now only three days later she will purse her lips and turn away from me when I approach with her spoon full of gruel. Can you blame her??