Squidgification

I am 4 months old today! (June 19th)

At Ben's regular 4 month checkup yesterday, the doctor was still able to hear the heart murmur. But the EKG he had a couple months ago now - the interpretable part - showed nothing out of the ordinary. And none of the other tell-tale signs are there, e.g., Ben never quickly gets tired from activity, and he never goes blue or extremely pale. Anyway, if the murmur carries on for another 8 months, an echo-cardiogram may be in his future. That would involve a trip to Vancouver, since the Island is lacking that kind of equipment/expertise. Apart from this common condition, everything else checked out just fine. At 14lbs, 2oz, and a head circumference of 42 cm, he is just below the 50th percentiles. Exactly where he was 2 months ago. Developmentally, Ben is on track. Even in the squidgification department:

Aren't cameras supposed to add pounds? This photo does not do justice to the amount of squidge on Ben's feet. June 19th, 2007.

Roll Over, Roll Over

My babysitter in Victoria - first-cousin-twice-removed Chris (June 6th)

Quality Tummy Time with Daddy on Sunday June 10th

Reaching for Mommy's face, just before bath time on June 12th


I've figured out that I can repeatedly dip my hand in the bath and lick the water off (June 12th)

In the past two weeks, Ben survived a trip to Victoria so that Mom could sit on a thesis defense committee at UVic. And he also sat through his first day-long faculty retreat. He had a few serious things to say at the meeting. (Oh, and yes, Mom is still on Mat Leave....)

Yesterday Ben mastered the skill of rolling over onto his stomach. He also has laughing fits about once per day, and for seemingly random reasons. Though there is one thing that makes him giggle every time, and that is to ask him if he has a "poopie diaper." Mom herself has been giggling about that for days now.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

I'm 3 months old today! (May 19th)

Today is Daddy's birthday. We celebrated by going on a hike around Buttertubs Marsh. Like my hat? (May 26th)

Just last week, I learned how to reach for things and bring them to my mouth. (May 28th)

Reading and touching my favourite book

Every kid has one of these photos. I'm so happy to be out of the bath! (May 31st)

Ben has had quite the developmental past couple of weeks. It seems he picks up something new every other day now. On Monday, he laughed for the first time. He is also considerably more mobile now; not able yet to turn over onto his stomach, but it won't be long since he is quite good at arching his back on his (usually right-) side now. He managed to get his leg stuck dangling out of the crib the other night, having turned 90 degrees from where we'd left him. His favourite word is "ah-goo", and he is a champion gurgler. Ben is also becoming more assertive, and this is most evident when he shreeks (a most unpleasant sound), which he does to let us know that he does not want to be in his car seat when we put him in, or he does not want to stop nursing, or he does not want to be putting all his weight on his legs, or, or, or....