Four-Month Vignettes.

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Christian has been teething a lot lately, which puts him a drooly, clingy mood. (Can you be in a drooly mood? When you’re four months old you can.) This morning, for distraction purposes, we took a little walk around the yard and down the street. He was mesmerized by the sky and the trees, but especially by our neighbors’ sprinkler spewing shimmering droplets.

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Baby milestones are momentous. We celebrate each one. While Sarah was visiting, she was checking her email and I was in the kitchen. Christian was hanging out on the floor next to Sarah. Suddenly she called out, “Did you put him on his stomach? He’s on his tummy now!” That was the first time he rolled from back to tummy. Much cheering ensued.

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People-watching is a favorite activity. I think Christian inherited this from his daddy and me. He’s very content at Panera, at church, at the airport yesterday – eyes wide, feet kicking, sometimes “talking” to the nearest person. Of course, this can be tiring too, and it feels nice to just lay your head on Daddy’s shoulder and listen to the worship music.

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Monday morning, Christian decided to go on a nap strike. He only slept for 10 minutes and woke up screaming. He was still awake after playing and eating. I held him in my lap while I talked with Sarah. Then he got fussy, so I stood up, did the baby-sway, and continued talking. It was almost noon and I wondered why he kept leaning forward and resting his face on my hand. He had fallen asleep in an upright position.

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I read somewhere that babies almost can’t help smiling when someone smiles at them. Christian could be in the crankiest mood, but if I look in his eyes and smile, his huge, gummy grin pops out almost involuntarily. (Then the fussing recommences, but the smile makes for a sweet interlude.)

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Christian’s excitement is contagious. Whether he’s stoked about his mobile, or his daddy playing with him, or something completely random, he tenses his whole little body. Sometimes he shrieks or “roars.” Sometimes his eyes get big and he kicks and waves his arms with all his might.

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I love being a comfort. Christian is tired of playing on the floor. He starts to fuss. Within 30 seconds, the fuss becomes importunate. No one will get me. They’re going to leave me here forever. I pick him up and he cuddles down on my shoulder with a deep breath. It sounds like a sigh of relief.

Oh, baby days…