Eek! Mobility Begins!

CURRENT WEIGHT: 12 LBS, 2.8 OUNCES
CURRENT LENGTH: 23 3/4 INCHES

CHRONOLOGICAL AGE: 10 MONTHS
ADJUSTED AGE: 6 MONTHS

In the last few days, Truman has figured out how to move. Eek! Time to think about babyproofing. On May 31, he started rolling both directions. He had been rolling from tummy to back since about 2 weeks adjusted -- way in advance -- but had not yet rolled from back to tummy -- behind the curve. Now, he can go both ways and thus move a few feet across the room. We're not sure if he's aware that he can really get around that way.

However, he definitely has figured out another way to be mobile in the last week or so, and this is one that his occupational therapist says we must break him of. He has figured out how to arch is back and use his feet to push himself backwards on his head. So, he leans his head back and looks behind him and just starts scooting. Imagine a mobile backbend or the little girl going backwards down the stairs in the remastered Exorcist. It's quite odd. Although I'm impressed at his ingenuity, arching the back is a problem developmentally because it causes muscles to develop strengths in a way that will inhibit crawling. That, and he tends to get himself stuck in corners and will make himself bald soon. And, like most of us, if he can figure out how to move in some other way, why learn to do the hard way of crawling. We did sort of laugh when the therapist said we needed to stop him when he starts doing it. "How," we asked? "Haven't you met our headstrong--and preternaturally strong--child?"

In addition to rolling both directions, Truman has also started playing with his feet in recent days and even tried to get one in his mouth during occupational therapy yesterday. We thought he would never do that. If we can encourage that, hopefully, that will help build some the muscles he needs for crawling and counteract all the back arching. He still doesn't sit or really show any interest in it. He is, however, getting a little more willing to be held in a sitting position or spend time in the bumbo seat. That's our currently OT goal -- sitting.

Also, Truman has had a chuckle up to this point, rather than a full-blown laugh. In recent days, however, he's starting to show signs of a more true laugh. We are so excited!

Truman did pick up the pace some on growth over the past three weeks, but he's not back to his usual pace. The pediatrician suggested that if he continues to slow, he will advise that I stop nursing and exclusively pump so that we can add fortifier to more feedings. I might be willing to drop some of the evening pumps, but I am not willing to stop breastfeeding overnight and first thing in the morning. I think there are far too many psychological and bonding benefits that I am not willing to give up.

Truman's pedi and his nutritionist did convince us that it's time to at least recreationally start solids. I've been resistant because breast milk has more calories than any solids, and I don't want to cause a slowdown on his growth. However, we agreed to try 1 TBSP of rice cereal a day mixed with 30-cal formula/breastmilk. We're going to start on Saturday so that I will have plenty of time to be around and take pictures since his best time of day is in the morning. He also has his first water baby swim lesson on Saturday and is going to a picnic with several babies under 1 on Sunday. Quite a Tru-riffic weekend.

Truman had his first out-of-town trip last week. He didn't seem to mind the hotel or the pack-and-play, but the car trip was another story. Needless to say, we have some better trip planning to figure out before his trip to West Texas next month. He was so upset at one point in the car because he was hungry and tired (but refused to do either if we stopped) that the only thing we could do was sing "Row, Row Your Boat" over and over and over. For some reason, it works.

--Kara