State of the boy

This is primarily going to be a mommy / nursing student blog, since that's mostly what I'm doing and have time for these days. Class starts up again next week, and since this is the semester of maternity and pediatrics, the two are probably going to connect a lot.

Since class isn't in session, let's take a look at the kid.

Currently, the boy is fourteen weeks old. I would describe him as a bog-standard infant, except that he's cuter. He's been chugging along the 50th percentile for weight and around 70-80 for length, which can't possibly last once length becomes height. He has a healthy appetite, and only eats breastmilk (with whatever vitamin fortification filters through me). Standard infant immunizations at two months.

Social: So far, he vocalizes with various vowels, and learned to laugh laughing sounds rather than coughs 1-2 weeks ago. Smiling began about week five, and he's expanded his repertoire of expressions to include mournful and baffled since. (He had crying long before week ten, but the pout and lip quiver emerged then.) He is sensitive to facial expressions and tone of voice and laughs when those around him are amused. He enjoys being bounced, strange faces, and fast bouncy songs. He seems equally happy to be held by his parents or by other adults, and usually wants to be held. He sometimes ignores mirrors, sometimes smiles at his image after making eye contact. He has not met anyone younger than himself.

Physical: He has decent neck control, though it tends to fall forward after a while. On his stomach, he can hold his head up for a minute at a time. He has been rolling onto his side from his back since ~week 6, but no further. He began staring at his hands ~week 11, and now often sucks his fist or thumb. He began grasping objects ~week 12, but only when held in front of him -- he has yet to deliberately pick up a nearby object.

He's a good kid, for baby values of good. Recently we began to realize his lack of naps lasting over 30-45 minutes was a problem, and we're trying to get better at setting him down after he dozes off and at having him sleep longer when he does stay asleep, perhaaps someday falling asleep on his own.

If this is too dry and laundry-listish, it's because the most important facts are subjective: he's the most precious person or thing on the face of the earth, and his parents love him dearly and try to do right by him. In an ideal world, this would be true of all babies.